WordPress
Tris Hussey
Mr Oddo
800 East 96th Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
,Contents at a Glance
Introduction...........................................................................................1
1 How Websites Work .............................................................................5
2 What WordPress Is and How It Works ................................................15
3 Installing WordPress ...........................................................................25
4 Installing WordPress Plugins ...............................................................49
5 Installing WordPress Themes ..............................................................67
6 Setting Up Your WordPress Site Right the First Time ........................89
7 Setting Up Your WordPress Site the Right Way: .............................121
SEO, Social Media, and More
8 All About Jetpack Settings ...............................................................145
9 How WordPress Themes Work .........................................................167
10 Tweaking, Tuning, and Customizing Your WordPress Site ..............179
11 Using WordPress: Content................................................................207
12 Using WordPress: Images, Videos, and Other Media ......................259
13 WordPress and Mobile Users............................................................285
14 All About WordPress.com.................................................................307
15 Maintaining WordPress Sites ............................................................333
16 Customizations Without (Much) Coding ...........................................345
17 Advanced WordPress Settings and Uses ..........................................365
18 Troubleshooting Common WordPress Problems .............................393
Index .................................................................................................399
,iv
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1
Who This Book Is For ................................................................................................ 2
How This Book Is Organized .................................................................................... 2
The Only Constant Is Change…and WordPress Updates .................................... 2
A Note About Browsers and Such........................................................................... 3
Conventions Used in This Book ............................................................................... 4
1 How Websites Work ................................................................................................ 5
All About Domain Names and DNS ........................................................................ 6
Choosing a Good Domain Name ............................................................................ 9
Choosing a Web Host............................................................................................. 10
Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 14
2 What WordPress Is and How It Works ..............................................................15
What Is WordPress? ................................................................................................ 16
How WordPress Works ........................................................................................... 17
WordPress.org Versus WordPress.com ................................................................. 19
Which WordPress Is Right for You? ....................................................................... 22
Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 24
3 Installing WordPress ..............................................................................................25
Using One-Click or Easy Installs ............................................................................ 26
Installing WordPress Manually ............................................................................... 29
Before You Get Started ..................................................................................... 29
Manual WordPress Install .................................................................................. 32
Quick Look at the WordPress Dashboard ............................................................ 44
WordPress Directory Structure ............................................................................... 45
A Note About Users ................................................................................................ 47
Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 48
, v
4 Installing WordPress Plugins................................................................................49
Choosing WordPress Plugins ................................................................................. 51
Finding Plugins ................................................................................................... 51
Installing WordPress Plugins .................................................................................. 56
Easy Install ........................................................................................................... 56
Two-Step Install .................................................................................................. 58
Manual Install ...................................................................................................... 61
Plugin Tips ................................................................................................................ 63
Recommended Starter Plugins .............................................................................. 64
Commercial Plugins................................................................................................. 65
Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 66
5 Installing WordPress Themes...............................................................................67
Choosing the Right WordPress Theme for
Your Website............................................................................................................ 68
Installing Themes on Your Blog ............................................................................. 73
Easy Install ........................................................................................................... 74
Two-Step Install .................................................................................................. 77
Manual Install ...................................................................................................... 80
Recommended Starter Themes ............................................................................. 83
Commercial/Premium Themes ............................................................................... 83
Advanced Tip: How Do I Find What Theme a Website Is Using? ..................... 85
Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 88
6 Setting Up Your WordPress Site Right the First Time ...................................89
Basic WordPress Settings ....................................................................................... 90
General Settings ................................................................................................. 90
Writing Settings .................................................................................................. 92
Reading Settings ................................................................................................ 93
Discussion Settings............................................................................................. 98
Media Settings ..................................................................................................103
Permalinks .........................................................................................................106
Akismet ...................................................................................................................109
Setting the Right User Roles ................................................................................114
Conclusion ..............................................................................................................119
Tris Hussey
Mr Oddo
800 East 96th Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
,Contents at a Glance
Introduction...........................................................................................1
1 How Websites Work .............................................................................5
2 What WordPress Is and How It Works ................................................15
3 Installing WordPress ...........................................................................25
4 Installing WordPress Plugins ...............................................................49
5 Installing WordPress Themes ..............................................................67
6 Setting Up Your WordPress Site Right the First Time ........................89
7 Setting Up Your WordPress Site the Right Way: .............................121
SEO, Social Media, and More
8 All About Jetpack Settings ...............................................................145
9 How WordPress Themes Work .........................................................167
10 Tweaking, Tuning, and Customizing Your WordPress Site ..............179
11 Using WordPress: Content................................................................207
12 Using WordPress: Images, Videos, and Other Media ......................259
13 WordPress and Mobile Users............................................................285
14 All About WordPress.com.................................................................307
15 Maintaining WordPress Sites ............................................................333
16 Customizations Without (Much) Coding ...........................................345
17 Advanced WordPress Settings and Uses ..........................................365
18 Troubleshooting Common WordPress Problems .............................393
Index .................................................................................................399
,iv
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1
Who This Book Is For ................................................................................................ 2
How This Book Is Organized .................................................................................... 2
The Only Constant Is Change…and WordPress Updates .................................... 2
A Note About Browsers and Such........................................................................... 3
Conventions Used in This Book ............................................................................... 4
1 How Websites Work ................................................................................................ 5
All About Domain Names and DNS ........................................................................ 6
Choosing a Good Domain Name ............................................................................ 9
Choosing a Web Host............................................................................................. 10
Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 14
2 What WordPress Is and How It Works ..............................................................15
What Is WordPress? ................................................................................................ 16
How WordPress Works ........................................................................................... 17
WordPress.org Versus WordPress.com ................................................................. 19
Which WordPress Is Right for You? ....................................................................... 22
Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 24
3 Installing WordPress ..............................................................................................25
Using One-Click or Easy Installs ............................................................................ 26
Installing WordPress Manually ............................................................................... 29
Before You Get Started ..................................................................................... 29
Manual WordPress Install .................................................................................. 32
Quick Look at the WordPress Dashboard ............................................................ 44
WordPress Directory Structure ............................................................................... 45
A Note About Users ................................................................................................ 47
Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 48
, v
4 Installing WordPress Plugins................................................................................49
Choosing WordPress Plugins ................................................................................. 51
Finding Plugins ................................................................................................... 51
Installing WordPress Plugins .................................................................................. 56
Easy Install ........................................................................................................... 56
Two-Step Install .................................................................................................. 58
Manual Install ...................................................................................................... 61
Plugin Tips ................................................................................................................ 63
Recommended Starter Plugins .............................................................................. 64
Commercial Plugins................................................................................................. 65
Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 66
5 Installing WordPress Themes...............................................................................67
Choosing the Right WordPress Theme for
Your Website............................................................................................................ 68
Installing Themes on Your Blog ............................................................................. 73
Easy Install ........................................................................................................... 74
Two-Step Install .................................................................................................. 77
Manual Install ...................................................................................................... 80
Recommended Starter Themes ............................................................................. 83
Commercial/Premium Themes ............................................................................... 83
Advanced Tip: How Do I Find What Theme a Website Is Using? ..................... 85
Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 88
6 Setting Up Your WordPress Site Right the First Time ...................................89
Basic WordPress Settings ....................................................................................... 90
General Settings ................................................................................................. 90
Writing Settings .................................................................................................. 92
Reading Settings ................................................................................................ 93
Discussion Settings............................................................................................. 98
Media Settings ..................................................................................................103
Permalinks .........................................................................................................106
Akismet ...................................................................................................................109
Setting the Right User Roles ................................................................................114
Conclusion ..............................................................................................................119
