Widgets are another set of small functions that add a little bit of flare to your website. The basic widgets add a search bar to your site (SUPER important), add notes about comments and categories, and can even add a calendar. Reason There are certain areas on a WordPress site that are designated “widget areas”…

There is so much more to say than what the written word allows you to. Pictures, audio video and other written formats are all ways that you can allow your audience to consume your content. Reason For some of this content, you will the media to be available on your website. Until you develop a…

Websites and blogs can get pretty bland pretty quick. There are also plenty of functionalities that you’ve probably seen on other sites that you have though, “Ooo, I want THAT on my website!”. Enter Pugins… Reason Plugins also you to simply and easy add to the functionality of your website without necessarily needing to know…

Websites are more than just a landing page. They contain blog posts, about pages, different categories, even shopping carts and contact forms. Reason People want to see ALL of your content and they need to be able to navigate to the different parts of your site quickly and intuitively. This is where menus come in.…

Like snowflakes and Danny Boyle movies, no two themes are exactly alike. There is a theme for everyone out there, and you will probably want to change your theme as the personality of your website changes. Reason The only way to know if a theme will work on your website is to preview it with…

As humans, we categorize so many things: our clothing, our food, our friends, and even our coffee (I’m drinking some decaf, fair trade, fresh ground coffee now!). We also like to comment on anything and everything:-). Reason Breaking your content down into categories will allow you more flexibility on rendering that content on the front…

If the post is the fresh and dynamic content, the page is the foundation and static portion of your site. Pages inform and typically or more general than posts. Typical pages are titled About, Resources, Services, Portfolio, and Contact Us. Reason You don’t always want your content updated in a “tumblog” fashion. Pages allow for…

We all want a website for different reasons: blogging, content management, display our portfolio, put a professional foot forward, etc. Here is how to create your first post. Reason More and more, blogs and new posts are becoming a central way to update your audience and keep your website fresh with content. Fresh content is…

“The beginning is always today.” ― Mary Shelley Getting Started Off Right This assumes that you have installed your WordPress software on your self-hosted website. You can also use these tutorials on your WordPress.com account, though some of the functions will be a little different. If you need help installing the WP software on your…

What is Your Situation? Do you have a WordPress based website but you feel like you don’t know where to begin?  21 Days to WordPress Proficiency will take you from the initial install of your site to installing plugins, do basic customizations in HTML and CSS, and, most importantly, allow you to be a self-educating…