WordPress Hands On - Build a Website in a Day

Create a fully functional website and blog in a single day! This class is a practical, hands-on introduction to WordPress that will get you up to speed fast. We will start by creating a simple blog, and will have an entire website by the end of the day. Some knowledge of HTML and other web technologies is helpful, but not necessary. Every student will be provided their own computer in a state of the art classroom. Investment: $275.

Open to public. Please register at:

http://www.luminousworks.com/class/wp1

TOPICS:

Introduction

• what is WordPress?

• creating a free blog through WordPress.com

• logging in and managing your account

• using WordPress to manage your blog

• using WordPress as a content management system (CMS) for your website

Basics of Blogging

• creating a new post

• adding text

• adding images

• adding URLs and links

• publishing a post

• editing the HTML

• categories, tags, excerpts

Customizing the Appearance

• changing logo and tagline

• changing the banner image

• widgets

• adding custom sidebars and footers

• creating a custom menu

Pages

• understanding posts and pages

• creating a page

• modifying a page

• creating page hierarchies

• creating a custom menu

Themes

• finding themes

• switching themes

• customizing themes

Media

• managing images and other media

• adding video from sources such as YouTube and Vimeo

Shifting to self-hosting

• thinking about self-hosting

• requirements for self-hosting

• transferring a WordPress.com hosted site to a self-hosted one

Plugins

• 10 powerful plugins every WordPress site should have

• adding SEO functionality

• adding a contact form

• web stats at you fingertips

• social media plugin for integration with Facebook, Twitter and others

• image galleries

• translating your site into other languages

• searching for plugins that add powerful functionality with one click

Customization Beyond the Dashboard

• limits to theme customization through the Dashboard

• purchasing third party themes and installing them

• creating your own themes visually using tools such as Artisteer

• learn all the basics of WordPress and be able to manage and create their own sites
• each student will have their own computer with choice of Windows or Mac operating system
• small class size. Maximum is 8, average is 5.
• highly interactive class format with plenty of time to ask questions
• highly experienced instructor
• comfortable classroom with full kitchen, and large outdoor patio

1. Learn WordPress quickly in a highly engaging and interactive environment.
2. Learn from an experienced web developer and instructor who will guide you at every step and answer all your questions.
3. Learn to harness the power of WordPress for your own business ventures.
4. Get up to speed quick!
5. Free refresher class. (You can attend this same class any time in the next year.)