Creating a Website Using WordPress

 

 

• Why You Need a Website (5 min)

  • A website is the most cost-effective method of promotion/marketing.

  • A website can supply basic information and a means of getting in contact.

  • A website can help your business increase profits and make it easier for potential customers to find you.

  • A website can help you collect users for an email marketing campaign.

  • A website can help you evaluate your marketing strategies by providing visitor stats.

  • A website for any business these days is a must; it is a great addition to all your marketing materials.

  • An Example: http://lincolnwellnessaz.com/

 

• What is Wordpress? (5 min)

  • In a standard website (.html based), a developer/designer creates a template shell, saves each individual page as a separate file, and uploads the content.  When an item needs to be changed, it has to be changed on the individual file and re-uploaded.  If you’re a small business with a small web-budget, you don’t have resources to have someone change a single word every time you need one changed.

    

    WordPress does things differently. Instead of storing the content in files, it stores the content in a database.  The database is either stored on a different part of the server, or sometimes on a different server altogether.  Whereas a static page contains both structure and content, the WordPress theme envelops and wraps the content in the theme files – meaning you can change, edit, delete, and add new content using one set of template files (Studio NashVegas).

 

• Wordpress.com vs. wordpress.org (5 min)

  • The distinction between WordPress.com and WordPress.org can cause some confusion for people. Let’s clear it up.  WordPress.com is brought to you by some of the same folks who work on WordPress, the open source blogging software.  WordPress.com utilizes the same WordPress software which you can download at WordPress.org.  With WordPress.com the hosting and managing of the software is taken care of by the team here at Automattic.  With WordPress.org you need to install the software on your own server or with a 3rd party provider (Wordpress.com).
  • Pros and Cons of Both: http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/
  • Let's start with a free Wordpress.com site and you can switch it over to a paid Wordpress.org site later

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• Obtaining a domain name and hosting space (15 min)

  • Buying Domain Names - I buy from GoDaddy, but some hosting sites (below) will sell a package (domain + hosting)
  • Wordpress Web Hosting - Average cost for hosting is anywhere from $5-$15 a month. The longer the plan the lower the monthly cost.
  • My Recommendations: and

    • SiteGround Special - $3.95 per month - 1 year = $47, 2 years = $95, 3 years = $142 <--Great deal

    • One Year SiteGround Deal - 1 year for only $9.95

 

• Register and Purchase your Hosting Space

  • Register as a New Client or Transfer Client

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  • Remember to record the hosting site login area URL, your new username and password created during the process

• Installing Wordpress on Server (30 min)

  • Go to your hosting website and log in

• • Access Fantastico De Luxe in the CPanel

  • 

  • Inside choose Wordpress under Blogs on the left menu

  • Click New Install

  • Install Wordpress

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  • If you want for Wordpress to be the main website for your domain (http://freshmancomp.com), choose the domain in the first box and skip the "Install in directory."

  • If you want for website to be installed in a subdirectory (http://freshmancomp.com/blog), then write the name (blog) in the "Install in directory."

  • For Admin access data, create a username and password for your website. Be sure to write this down. Make sure you use a good secure password.

  • Lastly, for Base configuration, add a nickname or your real name and an email address for your website. Site name and description can be changed later, so it doesn't really matter what you put here.

  • Click Install WordPress

  • You'll get a notice with your username and password, along with the access URL: http://freshmancomp.com/play/wp-admin/ You should bookmark your link. Not mine.

 

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• Break (5 min)

Configure your Wordpress Site

 

• Login to Your Wordpress Dashboard (10 min)

  • Login using your new username/password. The address will be similar to this: http://freshmancomp.com/play/wp-admin/ Just add the /wp-admin on the end of your domain name.

  • You'll enter in the Wordpress Dashboard

  • 

  • You should already be familiar with this area, as we will not be spending a lot of time learning about the dashboard. See Wordpress workshop.

  • To view your site, click the Visit Site link at the top. You will see a pretty generic looking website/blog.

 

• Choosing an Appropriate Theme (20 min)

  • 20 Best WordPress Themes For Small Business - Most are not free

  • There is a built-in theme installer. In the Dashboard, click Appearance, Add New Themes.

  • Use Wordpress's Free Themes Directory. Remember, you get what you pay for, so for your business you may opt to pay some money for a nicer theme.

  • Choosing the right theme is important and can take you days. We don't have days, so let's play with this one: http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/download/arjuna-x.1.2.4.zip

 

• Installing Themes (45 min)

  • Install the FireFTP plugin for Firefox.
  • 
  • Click here to read more about FireFTP and to add it to your Firefox browser. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/684
  • Customize your toolbar by adding FireFTP
  • Open FireFTP in a new tab on your browser by clicking the icon
  • Set up a new FTP account using your new hosting account information.
  • 
  • Put ftp. in front of your domain name and then add your username and password created during the hosting set-up phase - not the Wordpress username and password.
  • Click Connect to connect to your hosting server.
  • On the left is your harddrive on your computer, and on the right is the hosting space.
  • Click public_html, then click wp-content. If you're using a sub-directory, it will look like this.
  • 
  • In the wp-content folder, you'll find a Themes folder. This is where we will install new themes.

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• Break (5 min)

• Plugins? What plugins do you need? (35 min)

  • With self hosted Wordpress.org sites, you can add lots of plugins.
  • Optimize your Wordpress blog for Search Engines (Search Engine Optimization) - All in One SEO Pack

  • Ultimate List Of 15 Necessary Wordpress Plugins For Any Installation

  • Basic HTML:  http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/tut/

  • Install plugins in the Dashboard area. Click Plugins, Add New, Search for WP Shopping Cart

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  • You configure and learn how to use the plugin by visiting Settings - WP Shopping Cart.

  • 1. To add the 'Add to Cart' button simply add the trigger text [wp_cart:PRODUCT-NAME:price:PRODUCT-PRICE:end] to a post or page next to the product. Replace PRODUCT-NAME and PRODUCT-PRICE with the actual name and price. For example: [wp_cart:Test Product:price:15.00:end]

    2. To add the shopping cart to a post or page (eg. checkout page) simply add the shortcode [show_wp_shopping_cart] to a post or page or use the sidebar widget to add the shopping cart to the sidebar.

 

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Additional Services:

If all of this seems more than you bargained for, try a pretty inexpensive alternative to doing it yourself.  Page.ly is a premium hosting service that does one thing very well: WordPress. Page.ly takes the hassle out of setting up your self hosted WordPress site by automating the entire process. Your website is pre-configured with important plugins and custom themes so you can start adding content immediately. Page.ly lets you create your own site in a matter of minutes, not hours and has your back on the important stuff. Automatic nightly backups and software upgrades keep your website safe and secure all in quick 2 minute setup. The cost is $14.98 mo. No e-commerse (PayPal Shopping Cart) allowed.

 

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