Folks,
I’ve uploaded a list of online video tutorials that will teach you how to use WordPress and see how easy it is to add, edit, and delete content. And that includes photos, audio, and video. To start this process I would suggest you run through the first three video tutorials I’ve listed below. The first is very basic so just give it a quick skim. The other two teach you how to deal with text. It will take about 30 minutes to view them all and perhaps another hour to practice the lessons they teach.
I often use custom menus in the themes I create for clients. Here is a video on how they work:
WordPress has two editing modes. Most folks will spend the vast majority of their time using the “Visual Editor” mode. Many folks coming from the Microsoft Office application will assume WordPress works exactly the same in its “Visual Editor” mode. They would be wrong. WP tries to pair up similar functions with the icons it displays across the top of the visual editing menu. But, there are enough differences to cause some confusion. We’re just going to have to work through it. Be quick to call or e-mail. That’s why I earn the big bucks. The next tutorial talks about what function each icon in WordPess represents.
Keep in mind there are some limitations at play when creating content for the web vs. creating content for the printed page. Fonts and how they display are part of that. Here are some tutorials talking about the differences.
- Changing Fonts and Font Size in WordPress
This tutorial talks about using the font editing tools in the video editor as well as alluding to inserting CSS in HTML view. CSS is beyond most folks and my advice is to ignore those bits for now.
- Playing with Fonts
An Overview of Fonts and All Things Font Related in WordPress – This is really geeky and only included for those wanting to dive into the deep end of the pool.
HTML Editing Mode is often used when entering “shortcode” or when the author needs to control how content is displayed using HTML or when entering specialized code.
Here are several more video tutorials for you to work through. These tutorials teach you how to handle more complex things like links, pictures, audio, and video clips. Many of these features are accessed through using shortcode.
- Page Revisions – How to undo changes and go back in time
- Whats a Shortcode?
- A Glossary of WordPress Terms for Beginners
- A Beginners Guide to Posting on WordPress
- User Roles
- Links within pages
- How to upload PDFs
How to embed pictures using WordPress’ native gallery functions:
- Generic Picture Gallery in blog posts
- A Comprehensive Overview of Gallery Shortcode
- WordPress Codex on Gallery Shortcode
- Video Tutorial on the Gallery
There are a host of plugins that add to WP’s gallery features. Here are some tutorials about the ones I like.
- Lightbox Gallery
This adds a “lightbox” display to your existing galleries. Its quite easy to use, but doesn’t have the ability to change the navigation display.
- Portfolio Slideshow
This one is a paid solution, but it seems to be easy to use with a lot of features people like. It allows one to turn thumbnail navigation on or off as well as a whole host of other features. - Here is a video that gives a good overview
How to embed audio with a fancy player:
Audio Player
Audio plugin site and instructions on how to use it- Here is a better HTML 5 Audio Player widget
How to embed video using external video hosting sites like Youtube or Vimeo:
- Viper’s Quick Tags for Video
Embedding a YouTube video into WordPress
How to embed video on your own site:
- Tutorials coming, but its complex and beyond what most folks want to do at first. But, if you absolutely must retain copywrite control there are solutions.
More details about WordPress’ intermediate features:
- Excerpts, More tag, NextPage, Page Jumps
- More Tag
- HTML & QuickTags vs. Visual Editor
- Page Revisions and Version Control
- How to Use the Sticky Feature on Blog Posts
- WordPress’ Support Forums and FAQs
Plugins to Integrate WordPress with Social Networks:
- Facebook Like Button
Adds a “Facebook Like” button to pages and posts. - WordBooker
Integrates blog posts with Facebook and Twitter. When an author posts a new page or post the same content is automatically mirrored on the linked Facebook and Twitter accounts. - Post Notification
Sends e-mail notifications to subscribers when new pages and/or posts are created. - Sociable
Adds buttons that allow a viewer to easily tag and add your content to any number of social media networks.
There is a problem with posting “naked” e-mail addresses. Here’s a series of tutorials about that.
The problem – just skim these:
The solution: