WordPress basics

The basics & first steps

http://bit.ly/makewp

First, .com vs .org

• Self-hosted
• Open - customizable
• Any theme
• Do whatever you want
• Free & open source

• Automattic-hosted
• Closed - tweakable
• A few hundred themes
• Pay for whatever you want
• Keeps WordPress free & open source

How the web works

• Send a request - "facebook.com"
• DNS converts the request
• Facebook receives the request
• Facebook sends the website

69.171.230.5

Facebook

"facebook.com"

Your Computer

DNS

"Domain Name Server"

Components we need

• A domain name "yourname.com"
• A web host
• A WordPress installation
• A pre-built "theme"

##.###.###.#

A web host

"whatever.com"

Your Computer

A domain name

Files / Theme

Cost

• Domain name
  • $10-$15 a year
  • always buy privacy protection
• A web host
  • $0, or $1-$10 a month
  • be careful with free
• Themes
  • $0-$60

##.###.###.#

$1-$10

"whatever.com"

Your Computer

$10-$15

$0

WordPress is a powerhouse

Cost

Time commit

high

low

low

high

HTML/CSS

>20% of the web

1) Find a theme you like

• Theme Directory
• Themeforest
• Creative Market
• Google
  • "Minimal WordPress theme"
  • "Minimal" is cliché but helps avoid feature bloat
  • Spend a lot of time searching
  • Stay away from flashy effects
  • Always view the demo
    • The more you have to tweak or change, the longer it'll take to finish

2) Choose a Web host

• Big names $10+
  • GoDaddy
  • Bluehost
  • Dreamhost
  • Hostgator
• Cheaper ~$3-$5
  • A Small Orange
• Higher-end $5-$10
  • Digital Ocean
• Geeky but cheap <$5
  • NearlyFreeSpeech

3) Choose a domain name

• NameChk - check availability
• Normally bought through your web host
  • For email addresses, buy through Hover instead
• Spend a lot of time finding a good name

Trying out WordPress

• Windows
  • Use Instant WordPress
• Mac
  • Use MAMP
  • Follow this guide

Customizing a theme

• NEVER edit the theme's files directly
  • A royal pain to re-add your tweaks after a theme update
  • Use a child theme instead