Overview: How do I manage my Wordpress website?

If you've been looking for an Overview, then "How do I manage my Wordpress website?" is the right page to start with. Let me see if I can explain it to you in the simplest of terms - no jargon or gobbledegook - please let me know if something doesn't make sense and I'll do my best to clarify it for you :-)

What is Wordpress.org?

Wordpress.org provides software which helps people create websites on their own hosting space. All you need is a hosting account, a domain (website name e.g. google.com), and the desire to own a website. You don't need to know HOW to install the software, I do that for you.

Will my Wordpress website look like everyone else's?

Good question!

The answer is, "No, it won't!" especially if you have an idea of a colour scheme, we can help you find the perfect website design ("Theme") and install it for you.

Manage your website's 'look' and design with Themes

Use THEMES (website designs)

Some Theme designs are free, and some professional designs require a one-off payment.

We will provide you with instructions on how to search within Wordpress from the thousands of Themes available, and we'll also provide you with links to several excellent websites who provide quality professional Themes from around $US15.00 each. Some Themes require more work than others to add special features - check with us with your Wish List :-)

Will my menus drop-down and look automatic?

Yes, if the Theme you choose has drop-down menus, then that is what you will have on your website after the Theme has been installed.

The Wordpress Dashboard is 'control central' where yu manage your website from

What happens when I login for the first time?

When you first login you will be in the main part of the Admin area called the DASHBOARD. From here you can add website PAGES, blog POSTS, upload images, add functionality like Plugins and cool little tools to appear on your website in the sidebars (called Widgets). You can also approve comments, check your website traffic statistics, manage your Theme and many other things.

Choose Heading 1 from the Paragraph Menu drop-down list

Will I have to know how to make changes to fonts every time I change my Theme?

No, all font colours and settings are automatically managed by the Theme.

To select the largest Heading when you're typing, all you need to do is select or highlight the text then choose Heading 1 from the drop-down list.

If you would like to make changes to the overall Theme font colours, let's talk and work out what your requirements are.

Choose the colour Theme for your website

Will it be easy to change my colour scheme for my website?

Many Themes come with several different choices of colours, so the answer is yes - if the Theme you choose provides other colour choices, you will be able to change the colour scheme with a click or two of your mouse.

Wordpress page options depend on the Theme you choose

Will my website have different types of pages to suit the different types of information I provide?

Many Themes come with a variety of Page Layouts to suit websites who need lots of options. When you create new website Pages, all you'll need to do is select the TYPE of Page from a drop-down list.

I can't find the Paragraph drop-down list - how do I turn it on?

When you're in typing mode in either a web PAGE or a blog POST in Wordpress, you will see a little menu above the typing area. This is called the WYSIWYG Editor (What You See is What You Get). There is one button which turns ON the rest of the buttons, and it is affectionately called The Kitchen Sink :-)

In the image at left, it is the button on the RIGHT hand side with lots of dots on it.

Wordpress Plugins provide functionality for your website

What is a PLUGIN?

There are many software developers who create amazing add-on functionality called Plugins. These are small pieces of software which are added to the website via the Dashboard. Plugins cover so many essential things for your website from Search Engine Optimisation tools, statistics, slideshows, backups etc etc - thousands of plugins are available for Wordpress, and are updated with a click of the mouse when required.

Wordpress Widgets provide additional features for your website

What is a WIDGET?

A widget is a piece of software which can add features to the live website, for example Forms for people to sign up to your newsletter, or buttons for Facebook, Twitter, RSS etc, Calendars - all those cool things you see in the sidebars on other websites.

Ask me about the ones you'd like to implement on your website.

"Do I need to know how to do all this??? I am NOT technical!"

No, you don't need to know how to do any of this :-) All you need to do is type and upload your photos - the design and functionality will be built-in and I will ensure the installation of your chosen Theme goes smoothly and that the options/widgets/plugins needed to run your website are working perfectly.