Workshop 2012 – A

Sunday 14 October – CMU 302 – 9 am – 4 pm

LAMP [Linux (Kathy), Apache (Ranjan), MySQL (James), PHP (Jake)] CSS (Iku) FTP(Annette) Books:

• Using WordPress
• Beginning Web Programming With HTML, XHTML, CSS.

1. Getting Started

WordPress: Chapter 1&2

• Overview of the day
• Warriors of the Net (humorous overview of Net technologies)
  • Ping
  • Traceroute
• What is FTP? (Annette)
  • Software check (recommended FTP client – FileZilla – if you have not done so, please download the client not server)
  • Configure FileZilla to connect to your web host
• What is Linux and Apache? (Kathy, Ranjan) – video on Linux
• Explanation of WordPress.org (Kathy)
  • How does WP.org dashboard differ from WP.com dashboard?
  • Using your control panel (SafariBooks link to book vide0)
  • Demo one-click install  (SafariBooks link to book vide0)
• Everyone does a one-click install
  • If you have the ability to change the table prefix from wp_, the default, do so. (security)

Where y’all are hosted

HostGator Iku		FatCow Ana Flair Fina Ian Jake Linda Lukindo Ranjan
BlueHost ?		Other Daimon

3. Begin customizing your WordPress installation 

• Thinking about security

Specific changes in the Dashboard (Chapter 3, Using WordPress):

• Settings -> Permalinks : change permalink structure (factors to consider)
• Settings -> General : Title/Subtitle; Time-zone; date format; time format
• Settings -> Writing : Disable “Post Via Email” and “Remote Publishing” unless you plan to do these things. Note: “Remote Publishing” must be turned on to use ScribeFire or iPad/iPhone apps
• Settings -> Discussion : Review settings/make recommendations
• Users -> Users -> Authors & Users : Set up new admin and disable default admin privileges or delete account (security)

4. More Geek Speak

• What is MySQL and PHP? (James, Jake)

5. Essential PlugIns

(Chapter 6, Using WordPress) What is a plugin (and a widget) and how do I install one?

• Pick and install one plugin or widget from the “must-have” list. Recommend everyone install JetPack.

Must-Haves:

• Akismet [configure – get API key]
• All in one SEO Pack [competition: HeadSpace: WordPress SEO Made Simple and WordPress SEO]
• Google Analytics for WordPress
• Google XML Sitemaps
• JetPack
• WP DB Manager (discuss backup)
• WP-typography

Sharing (pick one)

• Add-to-Any
• Sexy Bookmarks (my fav)
• Sociable

Twitter

• TweetBacks (tweets as comments)
• TweetMeme (retweet your blog posts)
• Twitter WidgetPro (embed twitter stream in a sidebar widget)
• Blackbird Pie (easily embed tweets in blog posts – competition with JetPack)

Other PlugIns to consider:

• Adwit Banner Manager
• Amazon Auto-Affiliate Linker
• Antivirus for WordPress
• BuddyPress
• bbPress
• Contact Form 7
• Donation Can
• External Links
• Facebook Like
• Feedburner Feedsmith or FD Feedburner Plugin (first, set up Feedburner account; second, configure WP)
• Google +1
• Gravity Forms ($)
• No Self Pings
• Post Editor Buttons
• Slideshare (shortcode)
• Subscribe To Comments
• W3 Total Cache
• WPtouch iPhone Theme
• WP-polls
• WordPress Editorial Calendar
• WordPress Popular Posts

Don’t Do It!

• Pop Up Domination

 

6. Time for pairs

7. Moving on to Appearance

(Chapter 7, Using WordPress)

• Final GeekSpeek of the day : CSS (Iku)
• What are themes?
• Anatomy of a traditional theme [screencast]; difference between posts and pages.
• Things to think about when looking at themes
• Free theme sites (download one or two themes)

Install a new theme (long-division!)

• Download themes to your computer (remember location)
• Connect with your host via FTP
• Navigate to the folder where WP is installed (discuss WP file structure)
• Find the wp-content/themes folder
• Upload themes to this folder
• Double-check “Appearance” in dashboard to confirm that the theme was uploaded
• Activate one of them!

Find a theme available on WordPress.org and install (short-division!)

Resources

• CodeAcademy
• W3 Schools
• WP Gravatar (update/activate)