There are now a number of Content Management System [CMS] platforms available that will allow you to manage your own website. They all offer simple management systems, seamless integration with Social Media, RSS feeds and they perform really well on the major Search Engines.
I have chosen WordPress as it has all the features you will need, yet it is the most simple to use.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- WORDPRESS TERMINOLOGY
- INFORMATION REQUIRED
- SETTING UP YOUR SITE
- MANAGING YOUR SITE
INTRODUCTION
You need no programming knowledge to keep your WordPress website or blog up to date. Installing share buttons is quick and easy. This will allow you and your readers to share your posts on the various Social Media platforms with one mouse click. RSS [Really Simple Syndication] feeds are automatically generated. This allows other webmasters to embed links to your latest posts on their websites – more about this later. Google loves WordPress because it creates a Search Engine Friendly website and makes Search Engine Optimisation a breeze.
- WORDPRESS TERMINOLOGY
1.1 Directory:
When you open a WordPress web site, everything you see – including all its components – is called a directory.
1.2 Pages:
Pages contain information that seldom changes like your “About Us” or “Contact” information.
1.3 Posts:
Posts are the articles you publish on your site, much like the news articles published by an online newspaper.
1.4 Themes:
The theme is the template you use to build your site. WordPress offers free and premium themes which cost up to about R1000.
1.5 Plugins:
Plugins are little add-ons that enhance your site – like Photo Galleries and Social Media share buttons. Most plugins are free, although there are a few specialised premium plugins.
1.6 Widgets:
Widgets are the little blocks around the content of your posts and pages into which you can publish text, photos, adverts etc.
1.7 Menus:
Menus are the navigation structure of your site – like when you click “Home” you are taken back to the Home page.
1.8 Post Categories
All your posts should be categorised e.g. Press Releases, Specials, New Products and Company News etc.
1.9 Post Tags
All your posts should have tags – these are like sub-categories
This is all the terminology you need to know to do the basics.
- INFORMATION REQUIRED
2.1 Logo
Most WordPress themes are designed for a long, shallow logo. I find the best proportions are 4 wide by 1 deep. Square logos usually end up being too small.
2.2 Page: About Us
Tell your clients about you and your business – including a Vision and Mission statement. Three to five hundred words is great.
2.3 Page: Contact Us
Your contact details including physical-, e mail-and postal addresses as well as the telephone, mobile and fax numbers of all the relevant people. Images add value.
2.4 Products and/or Services
All the information and images you want displayed on your site.
2.5 Links to Social Media
If you have existing Social Media pages, please supply links to those.
2.6 Lots & lots of photographs
Nothing enhances your web site like good quality photographs.
- SETTING UP YOUR SITE
3.1 Choosing a Theme
Go to www.wordpress.org – click on the ‘Themes’ link and search for a suitable theme. Don’t pay too much attention to the colours and the images – most of these can be changed. Look at the structure. There are two basic types of themes – those with static front pages and those which feature your latest posts – like an online newspaper.
3.2 Enhancing your site
There are many things one can do to enhance your site – like contact forms, weather widgets, Google maps etc. Make a list of your requirements and mail them to your webmaster. Ask your webmaster for suggestions.
- MANAGING YOUR SITE
4.1 Basic Management
Once your webmaster has set up your site, adding and editing Pages and Posts is really simple.
4.1.1 Accessing your Dashboard
Your webmaster will mail you a URL link to your Dashboard with a Username and Password. These will look like this:
URL: http://www.mysite.co.za/wp-login.php
UN: admin
PW: admin2013
4.1.2 Adding or Editing a Page
Once you’re on the Dashboard – look down the left for the “Pages” link.
To edit select “All Pages”, find the page you want to edit, hover you mouse on the Page Title and select “Edit”. Here you can edit the page. Be sure to click the “Update” button when you’re done.
To add a Page click “Add New”. Type in the Page Title. Type in the Page Content. Select a Category and add a Tag. Be sure to click the “Update” button when you’re done.
There are some advanced option like assigning “Parent” and “Child” settings. You may want to assign a new product to the correct “Parent” page.
4.1.3 Adding or Editing a Post
Look down the left hand side of the Dashboard and click on the “Posts” link.
To edit a Post click “All Posts”. Edit in the same way you did with the Pages. Be sure to click the “Update” button when you’re done.
To add a Post click “Add New”. Add in the same way you did with the Pages. Select the Category and Tag. Be sure to click the “Update” button when you’re done.
4.1.4 Adding or Deleting Images
Place the curser where you would like to insert the image. Click the “Add Media” button. There is an option to add a new image or select one from your Media Library. There are also options to align the image left, right or centre as well as to select the size. Insert the image and “Publish” or “Update”.
4.2 Advanced Management
Making changes to Menus, Widgets, adding Galleries etc is a little more complex – more about that in a later article.
