Getting Started with WordPress

Getting started with WordPress isn’t that difficult as long as you know the basics and concepts behind websites. When you’re done getting started with WordPress, adding content and more pages isn’t at all difficult. In order for you to get your website up and ready, you need to find a web hosting provider first. When it comes to getting started with WordPress you must pick out a host that is compatible with the WP software. You shouldn’t have to worry too much about hosts because most of the time web hosts support the software. The next thing to do is to register for a domain name. The domain name is the website address that you will use and starts with “www” and often ends with “.com”.

Getting Started with WordPress: Download

After finding a suitable host and securing your domain name, getting started with WordPress means it’s time for you to download the WP package. Closer to getting started with WordPress, download and extract the WP package from wordpress.org/download. For ease, after unzipping the package you can use a service known as ZipDeploy to instantly deploy WP to your own web server.

The second step to getting started with WordPress is to create the database and a user. Most of the time, your web host will have already set up your own WP database or they may provide you with an option for automated set-up. Make sure to ask your host about whether they have such feature. Manually setting up the database and user will employ some of the following techniques: cPanel, custom cPanel, phpMyAdmin, MySQL Client and Plesk.

Getting Started with WordPress: Setup & Installation

After you have set-up your database and user, the next step to getting started with WordPress is to configure the wp-config.php. WordPress can help you with this step but you can also do things manually as well. To do this, go the WP package that you have downloaded and then rename the wp-config-sample.php file to wp-config.php. Using a text editor, open this file and then key in your database information below the section that says: // ** MySQL settings. You can get this info from your web host, and then enter your secret key values under: * Authentication Unique Keys *.

The fourth step in getting started with WordPress is to upload the WordPress files. This is required because you need to be able to post information and content appropriately. Content could be published in the root directory of your site or also in a subdirectory. This feature is also determined by your web host. If you want to publish information in the root directory, upload the contents of the WordPress directory into the root directory of your site. On the other hand, rename the WordPress directory and then upload it to the location you want within the root directory if you want information to appear to the subdirectory.

Almost done with getting started with WordPress, the next step is to install the script. Go to yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php. if you decided to make use of your root directory, otherwise, go to yourdomain.com/blog/wp-admin/install.php if you made use of the subdirectory. Input your database information and then finish installing the script.

Now that you’re done with the technical stuff of getting started with WordPress, the next step is to pick out an appropriate theme for your website. WordPress will help you out by providing you with a number of custom themes but you can also scour the internet with more themes. For a really unique look, you can even commission a wordpress designer to design or customize a theme for you. To add plugins, make use of the built-in installer to install and activate plugins that will give you the ability to add feature-rich applications such as calendars, calculators, social media tools, and more. You can always make use of the built-in installer to search for plugins but you can also broaden your search with the help of internet.

If you need help getting started with WordPress, contact GoMeetPete.com for affordable WordPress training online.

I realize an update during the holidays is no fun, but this one is worth putting down the eggnog for. In the spirit of the holidays, consider helping your friends as well.

If you are a security researcher, we’d appreciate you taking a look over this changeset as well to review our update. We’ve given it a lot of thought and review but since this is so core we want as many brains on it as possible. Thanks to Mauro Gentile and Jon Cave (duck_) who discovered and alerted us to these XSS vulnerabilities first.

WordPress Tip
Although it is important to update your blogs & websites to take advantage of the security fix, PLEASE REMEMBER that IT IS CRITICAL that you make sure that each of your plugins are compatible with WordPress 3.0.4. If they are not, you run the risk of experiencing major issues with your site. For more information, please read “The 10 Commandments of WordPress“, specifically commandment #3.

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In less than 4 minutes, they also outline some of Google’s new services, including Google Tags, Google Boost, and Google Hotpot, which are all tools aimed at improving the search visibility of local businesses. Enjoy!

Below is a list of issues that have been resolved in WordPress 3.0.2:

• Fix moderate security issue where a malicious Author-level user could gain further access to the site.
• Remove pingback/trackback blogroll whitelisting feature as it can easily be abused.
• Fix canonical redirection for permalinks containing %category% with nested categories and paging.
• Fix occasional irrelevant error messages on plugin activation.
• Minor XSS fixes in request_filesystem_credentials() and when deleting a plugin.
• Clarify the license in the readme.
• Multisite: Fix the delete_user meta capability
• Multisite: Force current_user_can_for_blog() to run map_meta_cap() even for super admins.
• Multisite: Fix ms-files.php content type headers when requesting a URL with a query string
• Multisite: Fix the usage of the SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL constant for upgraded WordPress MU installs.

WordPress Tip
Although it is important to update your blogs & websites to take advantage of the security fix, PLEASE REMEMBER that IT IS CRITICAL that you make sure that each of your plugins are compatible with WordPress 3.0.2. If they are not, you run the risk of experiencing major issues with your site. For more information, please read “The 10 Commandments of WordPress“, specifically commandment #3.

1. You Shall Not Use a “1-Click” Installer to Install WordPress – These days, most web hosting companies have incorporated a “1-Click WordPress Installation” script into your control panel that gives you the ability to install WordPress with a simple click (or two). Although free and convenient, the 1-click installation can cause a few problems:
• Deletes/Overwrites Important Files or Existing Websites – Some 1-click installers do not come with the option to specify the folder where you want WordPress installed. By default, the installer will place WordPress and its files into the “root” or main folder of your web hosting account. If you have any important files or an existing blog or website in your root folder, the 1-click installer can overwrite or delete these files during the installation process.
• Easy Access for Hackers – Using a 1-click installer, you have less control over adding extra security that will help keep your blog or website safe from hackers. In a manual installation, you have the ability to name the database, change the database prefix, generate security keys, and specify a database username and secure password. Customizing each of these items will add extra layers of security to WordPress and help protect you from hackers.
2. You Shall Change the “Admin” Username & Password – During the installation process, it is extremely important that you change the default “admin” username and create a secure and easy-to-remember password. Taking these steps will help add an extra layer of security to protect your site from hackers and also allows you to create a customized password that you will remember. When creating a password, you should always use a combination of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, and numbers to make it more secure.
3. You Shall Only Install Plugins that are Compatible with Your Version of WordPress – We all love WordPress plugins. What you would pay a web developer hundreds or thousands of dollars for; you can download & install for free and start using within a matter of minutes. WordPress plugins give you the power to add features & functionality to your blog or website that only “big budget” companies have been able to afford in the past. Though with this power, comes great responsibility…

   Before installing a plugin, you should always make sure that it is compatible with your version of WordPress. By following this WordPress commandment, you will reduce your risk of experiencing a major catastrophe such as a corrupt database or losing important files. Recovering from such a catastrophe is extremely difficult, and in most circumstances you will be forced to re-create your blog or website from scratch.

4. You Shall Install a “Backup” Plugin Immediately – This one is a life saver. At any time, you can become the victim of a server hardware failure, hacker attack, or other issue that causes your website and all of your hard work to be lost forever. In only a few minutes, you can install a backup plugin such as WP-DBManager and have a backup emailed to you on a daily basis. Don’t make the same mistake other have made. Get protection now!
5. You Shall Not Organize Your Uploads into Month/Year Folders – By default, WordPress will organize any file that you upload into folders labeled by year and month (i.e. 2010/12). For some WordPress users, this is fine. However, this will be an organizational nightmare for those of you who will be more involved with your blogs & websites. By organizing all uploads into a single folder (Simply uncheck the “Organize My Uploads” box under Settings > Media) , this will give you an easy way to find your files when using FTP software such as FileZilla.
6. You Shall Update Your Permalink Structure – What is a permalink in WordPress? A permalink is a URL that points to a specific page in your blog or website. Using WordPress, you can change the way a permalink is displayed in web searches and to your website visitors. Let’s take a look at a few different permalink formats:
• http://www.gomeetpete.com/?p=9
• http://gomeetpete.com/2010/12/01/?p=9
• http://www.gomeetpete.com/wordpress-services/wordpress-website-design

If you were searching for “WordPress Website Design Services” on Google, which format would catch your attention? For most of you, the last option (Called “Pretty Permalinks”) would be the most visually appealing and would likely result in you clicking the link to visit our website. Now, apply this to your website and the best choice is easy!

In addition, using the pretty permalinks format allows you to include keywords in your page & post urls, which helps to optimize your website and improve search engine rankings.

7. You Shall Only Use the WordPress Text Editor in “HTML Mode” – WordPress is arguably the best blog/cms (content management system) software available, but it’s not without its flaws. The WordPress text editor, although flexible, can be difficult to use for those users not familiar with using web-based text editors. The WordPress text editor comes with 2 different editing modes:
• Visual Mode – Using Visual Mode, you can use easy ‘point + click’ buttons to add photos and format text. Although this method is visually easier to create content, it is also the most frustrating since pictures & text will not always display in the same place or way in your web browser as they do in the WordPress text editor. Without installing additional plugins or customizing WordPress itself, simple things like moving text to a new line or creating a paragraph of text can be a daunting task.
• HTML Mode – Using HTML Mode, you have more control over adding photos and formatting text, however, you must have a basic understanding of writing HTML & CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to place and format items exactly as you like. Although there is some learning involved in using HTML Mode, it is by far the most effective and reliable way to add content to your WordPress blog or website.

Please make sure to check out our WordPress Text Editor Cheat Sheet to help you get started.

8. You Shall Use Premium WordPress Themes – Compared to most free WordPress themes, premium WordPress themes are better constructed, more visually appealing, offer more features and controls, and provide customer support that is worth more than the cost of theme itself. There are dozens of sites to purchase premium WordPress themes and we have created a list of the best premium WordPress theme providers on our links page. We have personally used all of these theme providers and can attest to the quality of the themes and customer service they provide.
9. You Shall Use WordPress Plugins Sparingly – WordPress plugins are great, but there comes a point to where having too many of them installed will start to slow down your blog or website. Not only does this affect you from managing your site efficiently, it also affects your website visitors and the amount of time they have to wait for your pages and pictures to load. For most of you that are using a shared web hosting service such as Go Daddy or Blue Host, you should be able to install and use 20-30 plugins before you start seeing a decrease in overall performance.
10. You Shall Not Update WordPress Right Away – We all get excited when a new version of WordPress is released, however, you should remain patient and hold off on updating your version of WordPress for a 2 reasons:
• New Versions Have Bugs & Errors – Although WordPress goes through rigorous testing to minimize the number of errors in a release, there can still be issues that are overlooked that can cause major issues with your WordPress site. We highly recommend waiting until a subversion is released. For example, instead of upgrading to WordPress v3.0, you should have waited until WordPress v3.0.1 was released.
• Your WordPress Plugins May Not Be Compatible – As we discussed in Commandment #3, you should always make sure that your plugins and version of WordPress are compatible with each other. We all get excited by new features offered by WordPress and WordPress plugins, but we must remain patient until everything is compatible. Otherwise, we increase our risk of experiencing major issues or losing our data all together.

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WordPress Tip #1 – Adding Post Tags to Your WordPress Theme’s Blog Posts

Are your WordPress post tags not working? Like many WordPress users, you may have found that your WordPress theme has not been set up to display post tags in a single blog post.

Showing the post tag in your theme’s blog posts has 2 benefits:

• Site Searches – Using post tags in your blog will allow your users to find articles by entering keywords into the search feature of your blog.
• Search Engine Optimization – Adding post tags that are keywords used in each blog post will help increase the keyword density of each article.

Instructions

Note: It is highly recommended that you save a backup copy of any file before editing.

Step 1 – Log into your WordPress Dashboard.
Step 2 – Go to Appearance > Editor.
Step 3 – From the list of pages on the right, click on “Single Post” (single.php).
Step 4 – Once single.php has loaded in the editor, click anywhere in the box and do a CTRL+F to perform a search (Apple+F for Apple Users).
Step 5 – In the browser search box, type “php the_content” (no quotes) and click find/enter. If your theme is using the content tag, it should find and highlight it in the editor.
Step 6 – Create a new line by placing your mouse cursor and pressing enter after the following code:

<?php the_content(); ?>

<?php the_tags('Tags: <b>', ', ', '</b><br />'); ?>

There is a famous saying that goes “Many hands make light work”. This is something that you need to remember as an entrepreneur. You need to employ professionals to help you out with certain sections of your business, if you want to be successful. Undertaking too many tasks will result in a huge loss of your productive time, that could be well spent doing something else. The same is applicable while creating a website. If you don’t know how to create a WordPress website, it’s best to hire a WordPress designer who knows his job and can help you create your first website.

On the surface, creating a WordPress blog or website might seem like a simple task, but the whole point of hiring a WordPress designer is to make your blog or website look appealing and simple to use. You need a website design that catches attention in a fraction of a second, or else you could end up losing a potential customer. Since WordPress designers have devoted a major portion of their lives improving their web designing skills, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to hire them. By employing a WordPress designer you not only get your website done, you also get a chance to learn for free.

Every WordPress blog has a huge number of plugins, themes and settings that need to be taken care of. Also, uploading themes and plugins could be a time consuming and frustrating thing at times. Other times you’ll lose track of the folders where you need to upload PHP files which will get you even more frustrated. So why not save all your time for something more productive?

Besides the design and functionality of your WordPress website, you need to take care of another very important factor, which is search engine optimization(SEO). Search engine optimization is the process of getting your website on the first few pages of Google and other search engines. This process is amongst the most important processes involved in succeeding online. Search engine optimization is a totally different process from website creation, but WordPress designers should be able to give you a few tips for free, which is another reason why you should hire a WordPress designer.

Even if you somehow created a WordPress blog, you wouldn’t know the right positioning of ads, resulting in a loss of clicks or even sales. Many times WordPress themes are designed in such ways that website visitors don’t even notice the ads posted on the site, which is why you should avoid these themes. If you’re planning on hiring a WordPress designer, it’s important that you inquire about the placement of ads and the maximization of click-through rates.

You can hire a WordPress designer by paying a few dollars and enjoy the enormous benefits. WordPress designers usually have a bunch of themes and plugins at their disposal, which is something you will love, because you won’t have to purchase them individually by paying thousands of dollars. So, if you are thinking of hiring a WordPress designer, go ahead. You will not only save a lot of money on themes and plugins; you will learn a lot about search engine optimization and marketing too!

This article was written by Pete White, WordPress designer and creator of GoMeetPete.com, a website offering affordable and reliable WordPress services including WordPress installation, blog and site design, theme customization, site management, and training services.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Pete today at http://www.gomeetpete.com.

Yes … that’s right! As a lot of you know, I’ve been working hard to get the new GoMeetPete.com website ready and as you can see … It’s finally here! Here’s a list of the new features I’ve added:

• View my training schedule and register for a class
• Earn cash & discounts with the Customer Referral Program
• View current invoices and make payments
• Read reviews from satisfied customers
• Watch short WordPress training videos (New Video Each Week)
• Links to Helpful Websites

New Features Coming Soon …

• Regularly updated list of Pete’s favorite WordPress themes & plugins
• Customer Support Ticket System
• Frequently Asked Questions

Stay tuned for more!