Demonstration of live websites showing the wide variety of ways it’s currently being used. This demonstration will help to stimulate the creative side of the brain as the student begins the process of planning their website. An overview of the current state-of-the-art social networking environment to show how free tools such as Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Flickr may be integrated into WordPress website to leverage this powerful marketing engine.
Phyllis Erck, Instructor
phylliserck@gmail.com (please email your feedback)(406) 546-6327
WordPress Overview & Demo
Demo of WP sites by me:
Demo of WP sites at large:
Break
Satisfaction guarantee. If this class is not what you were expecting you may drop it after the 1st class.
Welcome and Introductions
- Introduce yourself
- Describe your website idea.
- Do you have an existing website?
- Previous experience developing websites?
Lab
- Register on the class website* (PhyllisErck.net) and login (see instructions here)
- Add your first & last name to your user profile (see instructions here)
- Post a comment on this class webpage with the Mission Statement for your website.
*Use Student Logon Datasheet to keep track of your logon info.
Beyond WordPress but covered in this class.
Your website is part of the bigger picture which is your Web Presence. In this class we discuss the importance of of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and how to leverage blogging and Social Networking tools to create organic search results. We’ll also learn how to use WordPress Plugins to help with your website placement with Search Engines.
Separation of content and design. The CSS Zen Garden Website provides a live demonstration of the
WordPress Theme Library – http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
Lab
- Create your first WordPress website on WordPress.com. (instructions here).
- Post the URL of your wordpress website as a comment on this class webpage. It will look something like http://phylliserck.wordpress.com
Homework
- Market Research
Search the internet for websites in your same market looking at the type of content that are on these sites and how it is organized. Also, note any cool functionality (like the free campsites map) that you might eventually want to add to your website. - Post a comment on this class webpage with your website menu items.
e.g. Home, About, Contact, Products, Photos - Design Research
Surf the internet looking at the overall design of websites that appeal to your taste. Collect links to 3 sites that you like.
Browse WordPress Theme Library – Collect names of 3 themes that you like and note why. - Post a comment on this class webpage with links to the sites and/or themes you like and an explanation of what you like about them.
- Begin to draft the Content for your website Sections. These will be Pages in WordPress.
- Collect at least one image for your website of you or your products or services
Change is challenging – try to go with the flow
Don’t be afraid of breaking things. Explore and let your imagination go.
