Blog Basics
This is Mr. Sloth’s build-a-blog workshop, which goes over how to build a basic WordPress blog step by step.
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From the Beginning...
Here are posts arranged by category in sequence as Zip goes about creating his blog, Slothverse.com.
Before You Start Blogging
Here are some preliminary posts written about things to consider and to do before you even install WordPress.
Why Blog? A Sloth and His Blog
Meet Zip the Sloth. He's lazy but wants to make a WordPress blog. Let's help him.
Do you REALLY want to blog? 20 or More Things to Think About Before (and After) You Start
There are so many things Zip should think about before he starts blogging. But, meh, he's too tired. Let's wake him up and give him a bunch of advice in random order. Here's some things you should think about before -- and after-- you start blogging and some advice on good habits to get into right from the get-go.
Sloth is Master of His Own Domain (Name)
Before Zip installs WordPress, he should name his website and register a domain name! Why should he be master of his own domain (name)? Because, among other things, it gives his site the appearance of extra credibility. Here's some advice for naming a blog and how to register a domain name.
I've Installed WordPress, now what?
Zip has installed WordPress. Here are some tips about preliminary steps in configuring WordPress and your new blog.
WordPress Admin and Dashboard Quick Tour
Before Sloth gets going with installing a plugin or configuring settings, let's take him on a quick tour of the WordPress admin area and dashboard.
Sloth’s First Plugin
Zip has finally installed WordPress. While there are a bunch of settings he should change right away, we're going to, instead, do a tutorial about installing WordPress plugins starting with a simple Coming Soon page.
WordPress Settings: Things Sloth (and You) Should Update Right After Installing WordPress
Slothverse.com is coming along...very slowly. Zip is getting bored, if a sloth can do that, and wants to get to writing and designing. But, first, there are some important settings he needs to change! Let's go through the WordPress settings menu.
Customizing Your Appearance
Zip is ready to do some basic customizations to the appearance of his new website. Here are some basic tutorials from adding a theme to configuring a menu.
Sloth’s First Theme (Adding A WordPress Theme 101)
We're finally getting around to some design work. Zip the sloth is ready to add a theme to his website. Here's how.
Sloth Has a Child (Theme): Configuring a Child Theme for Your WordPress Theme
Zip has added a theme to his new blog. But if he's going to customize it, he should add a child theme so his changes don't get overwritten. Here's how to configure a child theme using a plugin.
Search Engine Optimization
These are basic posts for setting up an SEO plugin and doing prelimiary search engine optimization for your posts and pages.
Sloth Installs an SEO Plugin (Why You Should Use an SEO Plugin and How to Configure Yoast SEO)
Zip has completed basic design work on his blog. Next, he's going to move on to Search Engine Optimization. In this post, we briefly look at some of the plugins available to help with SEO, and install and configure the Yoast SEO plugin.
How to Use Yoast to Configure Your Post for SEO
Zip's added the Yoast SEO plugin to his blog. Let's look at how he can optimize a post (or page) for search engine optimization using the Yoast plugin as well as some things to keep in mind when using this helpful plugin.
Adding Google Analytics to WordPress
Zip has installed an SEO plugin. So he probably wants to be able to find out how many visitors are actually coming to his website and what pages they are viewing. In this post, he'll install Google Analytics using a plugin so he can start viewing analytics data for his new website.
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Search Engine Optimization
Adding Google Analytics to WordPress
Zip has installed an SEO plugin. So he probably wants to be able to find out how many visitors are actually coming to his website and what pages they are viewing. In this post, he'll install Google Analytics using a plugin so he can start viewing analytics data for his new website.
Search Engine Optimization
How to Use Yoast to Configure Your Post for SEO
Zip's added the Yoast SEO plugin to his blog. Let's look at how he can optimize a post (or page) for search engine optimization using the Yoast plugin as well as some things to keep in mind when using this helpful plugin.
Search Engine Optimization
Sloth Installs an SEO Plugin (Why You Should Use an SEO Plugin and How to Configure Yoast SEO)
Zip has completed basic design work on his blog. Next, he's going to move on to Search Engine Optimization. In this post, we briefly look at some of the plugins available to help with SEO, and install and configure the Yoast SEO plugin.
Design and Appearance
15 Places to Find Free Stock Photos or Vector Graphics for Your Website (and When to Attribute Them)
Zip is designing his website and starting to write some posts. But where can he get photos and graphics for his website? Let's look at 15 websites where you might find free stock photos or vector graphics.
Design and Appearance
Hueman Free Theme CSS Tweaks
Zip is using the Hueman free them currently. Here are a few CSS changes he made for styling the author box, links, and tags.
Design and Appearance
Post Formats in WordPress
Zip is using a theme that supports post formats. What are post formats in WordPress and how do you use them?
Design and Appearance
How to Add a Favicon in WordPress
Zip wants his website to show the little icon that appears in the browser tab. Here's how to add a favicon (and site icon) in WordPress.
Design and Appearance
Sloth Adds a Logo (Adding a Logo to Your Header and Where to Get One)
Zip's theme allows him to add a custom logo to his header. If your theme offers the ability to add a custom logo, here's how and where to do it. Also, this post provides some tips for creating a logo and links to some websites that allow you to create logos easily.
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