What you will learn:

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS). According to www.wordpress.com 43% of the web is built on WordPress. In the mini course we will take a crack at teaching you how to get up to speed with wordpress.

Table of Contents

What you will need:

  • A Windows Operating System physical or virtual machine with all the updates installed
  • A reliable internet connection

Install a webserver (XAMPP)

Installing a webserver is an essential first step in setting up a website or a blog. A webserver is a computer program that serves content over the internet, such as HTML pages, images, and other media.

One of the most popular options for this is XAMPP, which is a free, open-source software that allows you to run a webserver on your own computer.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to install XAMPP and get it running:

  1. Download XAMPP from the official website (https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html). Make sure to select the version that is appropriate for your operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.).
  2. Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the prompts to install XAMPP on your computer.
  3. After the installation is complete, launch the XAMPP control panel.
  4. In the control panel, start the Apache and MySQL modules by clicking on the "Start" button next to each of them. These modules are the components of XAMPP that allow you to run a webserver and a database, respectively.
  5. Once the modules are started, you can access the webserver by opening your web browser and visiting http://localhost/. This will take you to the XAMPP dashboard, which will show you the status of the webserver and the database.

Create database

Once you have a webserver up and running, the next step is to create a database. This is where you will store all of the data for your website or blog, such as posts, pages, and user information.

To create a database in XAMPP, follow these steps:

  1. In the XAMPP control panel, click on the "Admin" button next to the MySQL module. This will open the PHPMyAdmin dashboard in your web browser.
  2. In the left-hand menu, click on the "Databases" tab.
  3. In the "Create database" field, enter a name for your database and click on the "Create" button.
  4. Your database will now be created and you can start using it to store data for your website or blog.

Download Wordpress

Now that you have a webserver and a database set up, it's time to download and install Wordpress. Wordpress is a popular content management system (CMS) that makes it easy to create and manage a website or blog. Here's how to get started with Wordpress:

  1. Download Wordpress from the official website (https://wordpress.org/download/).
  2. Extract the downloaded file and move the resulting folder to the "htdocs" directory inside the XAMPP installation directory on your computer.

Install Wordpress

Once you have downloaded and extracted the Wordpress files, you can begin the installation process. Here's how:

  1. In your web browser, visit http://localhost/wp-admin/install.php to begin the installation process.
  2. Follow the prompts to set up your Wordpress site, including entering your database name, user name, and password.
  3. Once the installation is complete, you will be taken to the Wordpress dashboard, where you can start creating and managing your website or blog.

Install Themes

One of the great things about Wordpress is that it has a large selection of templates (also known as "themes") that you can use to give your site a unique look and feel.

To install a theme in Wordpress, follow these steps:

  1. In the Wordpress dashboard, go to the "Appearance" menu and select "Themes."
  2. Click on the "Add New" button to browse the available templates.
  3. Use the search and filter options to find a template that suits your needs.
  4. When you find a template you like, click on the "Install" button to install it.
  5. After the theme is installed, click on the "Activate" button to apply it to your site.
  6. You can now customize the theme by going to the "Appearance" menu and selecting "Customize." This will open the theme customization page, where you can change the colors, fonts, and other settings to your liking.

Install plugins

In addition to themes, Wordpress also has a large selection of plugins that you can use to add functionality to your site. Some examples of popular plugins include contact form plugins, SEO tools, and social media integration.

To install a plugin in Wordpress, follow these steps:

  1. In the Wordpress dashboard, go to the "Plugins" menu and select "Add New."
  2. Use the search and filter options to find a plugin that suits your needs.
  3. When you find a plugin you like, click on the "Install" button to install it.
  4. After the plugin is installed, click on the "Activate" button to enable it on your site.
  5. Some plugins may require additional setup or configuration. In these cases, you can find the settings for the plugin by going to the "Plugins" menu and selecting "Installed Plugins."

Create page

To create a page in Wordpress, follow these steps:

  1. In the Wordpress dashboard, go to the "Pages" menu and select "Add New."
  2. Enter a title for your page and add the content using the visual editor.
  3. Use the options in the right-hand sidebar to set the page's attributes, such as the parent page, the template, and the visibility.
  4. When you are finished, click on the "Publish" button to make the page live on your site.

Set up a blog

To set up a blog in Wordpress, you will need to create a page that will display your blog posts. Here's how to do it:

  1. In the Wordpress dashboard, go to the "Pages" menu and select "Add New."
  2. Enter a title for your blog page, such as "Blog" or "News."
  3. In the right-hand sidebar, under the "Page Attributes" section, select "Blog" from the "Template" dropdown menu.
  4. Click on the "Publish" button to make the page live on your site.
  5. Now, when you create a new blog post, it will be displayed on this page.

Create blog posts

To create a blog post in Wordpress, follow these steps:

  1. In the Wordpress dashboard, go to the "Posts" menu and select "Add New."
  2. Enter a title for your post and add the content using the visual editor.
  3. Use the options in the right-hand sidebar to set the post's attributes, such as the category, the tags, and the visibility.
  4. When you are finished, click on the "Publish" button to make the post live on your site.

To create a menu in Wordpress, follow these steps:

  1. In the Wordpress dashboard, go to the "Appearance" menu and select "Menus."
  2. In the "Menu Name" field, enter a name for your menu and click on the "Create Menu" button.
  3. Use the options on the left-hand side to add items to your menu. You can add pages, posts, categories, and custom links to your menu.
  4. Use the options in the right-hand sidebar to customize the appearance and behavior of your menu.
  5. When you are finished, click on the "Save Menu" button to save your changes.
  6. To display your menu on your site, you will need to assign it to a theme location. To do this, go to the "Appearance" menu and select "Menus." Then, under the "Theme Locations" section, select your menu from the dropdown menu and click on the "Save" button.

Backup Wordpress

It is important to regularly back up your Wordpress site to protect against data loss due to server crashes, hacker attacks, or other unforeseen events. There are several ways to back up your Wordpress site, including using a plugin or doing it manually.

To back up your Wordpress site using a plugin, follow these steps:

  1. In the Wordpress dashboard, go to the "Plugins" menu and select "Add New."
  2. Search for a plugin that offers backup functionality, such as "BackupBuddy" or "UpdraftPlus."
  3. Install and activate the plugin.
  4. Follow the plugin's instructions to set up and run a backup of your site.

To manually back up your Wordpress site, you will need to follow these steps:

  1. Connect to your site's server using a FTP client or a hosting control panel.
  2. Download a copy of the "wp-content" directory and the "wp-config.php" file to your local computer. These files contain all of your site's content and settings, respectively.
  3. Download a copy of your database using a tool such as PHPMyAdmin.
  4. Store the downloaded files and database in a safe location on your computer or on an external storage device.

Migrate Wordpress

There may be times when you need to move your Wordpress site to a new server or domain. This process, known as "migration," can be complex and requires careful planning and execution to ensure that your site's data and functionality are not lost.

To migrate your Wordpress site, you will need to follow these steps:

  1. Back up your site using the methods described above.
  2. Set up a new webserver and database on the destination server or hosting account.
  3. Install Wordpress on the destination server.
  4. Restore your site's backup files and database to the destination server.
  5. Update the "wp-config.php" file with the new database credentials.
  6. Update the site's URLs in the database using a tool such as "WP Migrate DB."
  7. Test your site on the destination server to make sure everything is working as expected.

Wordpress Resources

There are many resources available for learning more about Wordpress and getting help with your site. Some of the most useful resources include:

  • The Wordpress Codex (https://codex.wordpress.org/): The official documentation for Wordpress, containing tutorials and reference materials for developers and users.
  • Wordpress.org (https://wordpress.org/): The official website for Wordpress, containing information about the software, its features, and how to get started.
  • Wordpress.com (https://wordpress.com/): A hosting platform for Wordpress sites, offering a variety of plans and features for creating and managing a Wordpress site.
  • W3Schools (https://www.w3schools.com/wp/): An online learning platform that offers tutorials and reference materials for Wordpress, including HTML, CSS, PHP, and more.
  • WPBeginner (https://www.wpbeginner.com/): A comprehensive resource for beginners learning how to use Wordpress, featuring tutorials, articles, and videos on a variety of topics.
  • Stack Exchange (https://wordpress.stackexchange.com/): A community-driven Q&A website for Wordpress developers and users, where you can ask and answer questions about Wordpress and get help with your site.
  • Codeable (https://www.codeable.io/): A platform for hiring Wordpress developers and designers for custom projects or support.
  • ThemeForest (https://themeforest.net/): A marketplace for purchasing and downloading premium Wordpress themes from a variety of designers.
  • Plugin Directory (https://wordpress.org/plugins/): The official directory of Wordpress plugins, featuring thousands of free and premium plugins for adding functionality to your site.