In this session the student will learn how to install WordPress plug-ins to extend the functionality of their website. A demonstration of commonly used plug-ins such as “SEO- Search Engine Optimization”, “online forms” and “email subscriptions” will be shown. Students will learn to search and evaluate plug-ins for the specific functional needs of their own website.
Right brain
Before you need a plugin, you need a creative thought, something that you want to do creatively on your website that isn’t built into the basic functionality of WordPress. You want your site to be unique. To create a unique website think about it on the right side of your brain. Or in other words, think creatively.
Suzi Blu – Art Journal Playshops
Suzi Blu - A Lovely Dream
Export-Import
WordPress.com does not allow the installation of plugins so we will be exporting your website from wordpress.com, creating a new website on phylliserck.net or your own hosted site and importing your website content into the new website.
Plugins used here
- Akismet
- BM Custom Login
- Broken Link Checker
- Contact Form 7
- Google XML Sitemaps
- Link Library
- NextGEN Gallery
- Ozh’ Admin Drop Down Menu
- Share On Facebook
- Subscribe To Comments
- WordPress Video Plugin
- WordPress Video Plugin Instructions
WordPress.org for documentation and other resources
WWW in Plain English
Domain Registration – approx $12/yr
Hosting Options – Requires database and PHP – quick install needed so you don’t have to know how to create database.
- GoDaddy <$100/yr
- Network Solutions <$50/yr
- Modwest <$200/yr
- Centric Internet >$200/yr
- Most any hosting company if you don’t mind setting up database
Exercise
Create your WordPress blog on phylliserck.net
Activate Contact Form in your phylliserck.net hosted blog
Add a Contact Form to your blog on phylliserck.net
phylliserck.net sites
- Krista Miller
- Lea Hawkins
- Ronda Smith
- Cherie Newman
- Linda Smith
- Kathy Yelsa
Kathy Yelsa Studio - Jodi Rave
- Lila Cleminshaw
Lila Cleminshaw Studio
Lila Cleminshaw Gallery - Carol Mclinay
- Roni Bradley
- Tanath Bradley
If you’ve purchased a domain or hosting, post a comment here with your hosting provider and domain name.
Share on Facebook
Hi Phyllis, I have enabled XML Google Maps, and got my API code, but can’t figure out how to actually get the map on any of my pages. Doesn’t seem to be a widget, and no little icon on the page edit page either. Thanks!
more info: I’m wanting a map to my voice studio. thanks
Plugin “Google XML Sitemaps” will generate a special XML sitemap which will help search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask.com to better index your blog. The sitemap is not visible on the site.
Phyllis, I’ve finally found a theme that I’m (almost) happy with, but I can’t remember how to get the blog to function as a page, instead of appearing on the home page. Please remind me. Thanks.
(http://cherienewman.com)
Also, can I change my settings (I know where, but I’m afraid … ) so the site URL shows as http://www.cherienewman.com?
And, I installed the Contact plug-in on my phylliserck site (http://phylliserck.net/cnportfolio/contact/) and sent several messages (to 2 different addresses). None of them arrived. Last week, I used the contact form at phylliserck.net to send you a message. But, I don’t think you received it because you didn’t answer.
It’s COLD!!
Lila, you can create a map to your voice studio with MapQuest, save it, and then copy and paste the link into your pages.
Does anyone remember how to change the home page into a blog page?
http://cherienewman.com
Thanks, Cherie..I’ll try that. If you go into Settings>Reading, you can choose which page is your front page — the blog or a static page.
OK, putting the link in worked, but a person has to click on it. I’d really prefer a map sitting there on my page that they can look at — any ideas?
Here’s a link to a Google function that will allow you to register the location of your business:
https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=lbc&passive=1209600&continue=http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter?hl%3Den%26gl%3Dus&followup=http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter?hl%3Den%26gl%3Dus&hl=en
Maybe after you register, they’ll give you the option to copy and paste code into your site that will display a map. Have fun!
- C
P.S. In order to receive e-mail notifications, we have to put a check in the “Notify me of followup comments via e-mail” before we click “Submit Comment.” !!! (too many things to see around here)
1. Ensure that the map you’d like to embed appears in the current map display.
2. Click Link to this page in the top-right corner of the map.
3. In the box that pops up, copy the HTML under ‘Paste HTML to embed in website,’
4. switch to HTML view in your WordPress editor
5. paste the code where you want the map to appear
These instructions are from:
http://maps.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=72644
That worked great, Phyllis. Thanks.
Tada! Thanks, Lila. I’m writing it down.
As Lila pointed out:
Settings -> Reading -> Front Page Displays
select “Your latest posts”
Phyllis (or anyone): I’ve installed a plug-in on my cherienewman.com site, and it’s there and activated. But how do I get it to appear on a page?
It seems that some plug-ins have a widget connected to them, so check your widget menu. Sometimes a little icon shows up in all of the text icons on the page edit page (I have a yellow subscribe 2 icon there). Otherwise, see if the plug-in has its own drop-down menu up at the top (main menu bar), or if it shows up as a choice in the “settings” drop-down menu. Other than that…???
Thanks for the map tip. I did register my business with them a few days ago and am waiting for a confirmation letter. I’ll see if your link brings me to the same place.
Yeah, a couple of my plug-ins showed up as widgets, but the one I just installed. I’ll keep investigating. Thanks!
which plugin are you working with?
Just purchased my domain and was ready to buy my hosting site on go daddy. Due to the fact that I need a database to hold client info, due I need to purchase something more than the minimum. I currently have 200 – 300 clients??
Based on what you are planning to do with your website, I recommend you purchase Deluxe Hosting.
Also, I am going to have links in my site to State/government sites for forms. You made mention two classes ago about not letting people/clients leave your site. Is there some special “back” button??? Government and state sites constantly change their forms and will reject a filing if not made on the “correct” form. More questions to come…..
When defining the link, click the checkbox “Open link in a new window/tab”
Is anyone else encountering bugs in their themes? I’ve tried out many, many themes — at least a dozen — and have encountered functionality issues with all of them except one. My theme du jour will not arrange the menu items in the order I’ve lined them up. I put them in this order: Home | About | Articles | The Write Question | Blog | Contact.
But, as you can see (http://cherienewman.com), they are not in that order.
I’ve tried going to the theme’s Web sites and reading through the issues on the forums. Others are having the same problems, but I don’t find fixes that work.
Am I the only one having these problems?
re: theme bugs
Yes indeed I have experienced this too. One time I had a theme that I was totally attached to and had used on a site for years and when I updated to WordPress 3.0 it broke. It was heartbreaking to have to go to another Theme. But I was able to duplicate the theme using Thesis. I used to think that purchasing a premium theme solved the problem of lack of support from the Theme author. But, I have purchased premium Themes that are widely used and have reputable authors and had problems. I guess it’s the nature of the beast. For me the trade-off is worth it to not have to spend countless hours twiddling bits in CSS and html files. That is one huge time suck. Trade-offs.
In general, if the bug in a Theme is something I can’t work around, and the theme author isn’t offering a solution I move on.
re: page order
I put together a tutorial site to test out this Theme (see http://phylliserck.net/pressplay/category/theme-update/) and the page order thing is working. I added you as an admin on that page so you can try things out there. By default, all pages are set to 0. So, if you change any page order you need to change them all. If you don’t, then all of the ones you don’t change will appear 1st in the order. The “My Page Order” plugin lets you order the pages visually by dragging the pages around in a list
case in point
http://www.phylliserck.net has problems today after updating WordPress and my Theme
Domain name is http://www.builtonthecornerstone.com hosted by dreamhost