wordcamp columbus-100-things

www.jtpratt.com/wordpress-100-things

WordCamp Columbus 2011100 Things You Should Know

About WordPress

http://www.jtpratt.com/wordpress-100-things


About the Presentation Originally given at WordPress Ann Arbor Presented by WordCamp Detroit founder

Anthony Montalbano and myself 10 Topics with 10 Things Plugins, Themes, Tips, Best Practices... Links and Resources at the link below



The 10 Topics• Webhosting

• Setup and Installing WordPress

• Choosing a WordPress Theme

• WordPress Security

• Default Plugins to Install

• Content Creation

• Theme Modification

• Fundamental Plugins to Install

• Content Organization

• WordPress Resources



1. WordPress and Webhosting• Choose a WordPress web host by reading complaints in official support forums

• Unlimited Web Hosts aren't really unlimited

• Keeping domain registrations separate makes it easier to move in the future

• Backing up off-site is best for disaster recovery

• Change all passwords every 30 days (wp-admin and web hosting control panel)

• Directory indexing should be turned off

• Minimize resources by caching your site as much as possible

• Keep other software up to date so WordPress doesn't get hacked

• Optimize your database tables automatically

• Webhosts do server related support – not WordPress support



2. Setting Up and Installing WordPress• The Simple WordPress install

• Automated WordPress install

• More installation help

• Don’t create a wp-config.php file manually

• Don’t user ‘admin’ when installing WordPress

• Don’t use ‘wp_’ as your database prefix when installing WordPress

• Install more than 1 WordPress site to the same database

• Build your site offline

• Install multiple sites under one WordPress installation

• Use help and support forums for setup



3. Choosing a WordPress Theme• Never search Google for Free WordPress themes

• The more professional your layout is, the higher your conversion rate will be

• If you like a theme google the name + conflict, broken, and help

• Premium themes generally come with more mature code, multiple revisions, and support

• In most cases rely on a theme for design and layout - not functionality

• Some themes excel at functionality: directories, auctions, classifieds, video, magazine

• View admin functionality before choosing a theme; make sure you're capable of customizations

• Use "Maintenance Mode" or "Theme Test Drive" plugins when switching themes

• Test in Windows, Linux, Mobile, and Mac before launch

• Always be aware that design changes always affect search rankings



4. WordPress Security• Hide WordPress files

• Excellent password practices

• Change your default login link

• Prevent too many login attempts

• Monitor your WordPress installation

• Upgrade WordPress to latest version

• Scan your install after making admin changes

• See installing WordPress tips

• Backup your database regularly

• I’ve been hacked, what do I do?



5. Default Plugins to Install• Akismet

• Hotfix

• Jetpack

• Revision Control

• Subscribe to Comments

• Contact Form 7

• Error Reporting

• Login Lockdown

• Secure Wordpress

• All in One SEO Pack / Google XML Sitemap / Robots Meta (or WordPress SEO)



6. WordPress Content Creation• Make a post sticky

• Require a password to view a post

• Schedule posts for the future

• Make images “web friendly”

• Re-use the same images when possible

• Spell check your posts and pages

• Copy and Paste your Microsoft Word content properly

• Link to other posts quickly

• Easily search and embed content from the web

• Write for the web



7. WordPress Theme Modification• Widgets enable drag and drop functionality for content or plugins (usually sidebar / footer)

• A WordPress theme can have unlimited "widgitized areas“

• Widgitized areas can be "conditional" (for specific conditions or pages)

• WordPress 3.0+ adds custom "menu" functionality (like widgets, but for navigation)

• Core theme files are index.php, single.php, page.php, header.php, footer.php, style.css

• You can create custom headers, footers, and stylesheets to be used in certain conditions

• Custom theme page "templates" can be used and then assigned to display for specific pages

• You can control how many posts "the_loop" shows

• You can control the display of each post (content or excerpt)

• Small modifications can alter meta info and navigation for posts



8. Fundamental Plugins to Install• The Events Calendar

• MapPress Easy Google Maps

• NextGEN Gallery

• Audio Player

• WordPress SEO by Yoast

• WP-Touch

• GD Star Rating

• Lightbox Gallery

• WP Table Reloaded

• Theme My Login



9. WordPress Content Organization• Update "previous" and "next" post links to standard pagination

• Add Breadcrumbs to pages, posts, categories, and tags

• Pages are meant to be "static" (infrequently change), Posts are frequently added

• Pages can have heirarchy (children), Posts cannot

• Posts can be assigned to tags and categories (and sub-categories), Pages cannot

• Posts can be grouped and sorted (custom post types like blog / products / services)

• Organization plugins exist (PageMash, Category Manager, Custom Post Type UI)

• Provide relevant content options for visitors (related posts, tags, categories)

• Redundant navigation is good (header / sidebar / footer)

• You can schedule, update, and re-publish posts



10. WordPress Resources Available• WordPress Dedicated Sites

• Blogs with Heavy WordPress Categories

• WordPress Roundups

• WordPress Books

• WordPress Podcasts

• Free WordPress Theme Lists

• Help/Support Forums

• WordPress Videos

• WordPress Cheatsheets

• WordCamps and WordPress Meetups



We Share A LOTof WordPress Stuff

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wordcamp columbus-100-things

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