So You Want to Learn WordPress?

So you want to learn WordPress?

It is as easy to do as learning to ride a bike or drive a car or cook breakfast or… well, you get the idea. Probably none of the tasks just mentioned were initially that easy to do but after lots of practice and a few bruises, burns, cuts, and dings, most of you were able to master them.

Same holds true for WordPress. The more you are exposed to it the better you can use it.

But…

There’s always a but, isn’t there? So many small things can stop you from fully exploring and using WordPress. What’s a domain name? How to I use it? How much does it cost? What’s FTP? How do I use it? Why do I need it? How much does it cost? And on, and on, and on.

I’ve noticed that many of you are at the level just depicted. You want to learn WordPress but you just don’t know exactly how to start. I am currently working on an online program that I will offer for a fee when it is finalized. Since it is not yet finalized and is in an evolutionary process, I am considering offering it to a select and dedicated group of people (probably no more than 10) in a four to five week series on Thursday nights from 6:30-8:30PM at the Chase Bank Tower at 7600 Burnet Road, Austin, Tx.

We will cover:
1. Getting the WordPress application
2. Loading it to a server using FTP
3. Installing WordPress
4. Configuring WordPress
5. Learning about pages and posts
6. Installing Spam deterrents
7. Installing Search Engine Optimization options
8. Learning about themes

When the last class is done, you will have your own temporary website/blog located on my server (starting as simply as the one at http://www.newmediauses.com/lindseyA)  for one month beyond the completion of the class. You can choose to move it to your own hosted account or say goodbye and good riddance to it. I can be of help with either decision.

So to recap:
1. At least 8-10 hours of instruction.  You decide the frequency – once a week, twice a month, once a month.
2. You decide the cost of the classes – a nominal amount, thousands of dollars. Consensus rules.
3. Learn how to get, install, and configure WordPress to meet YOUR specific needs
4. Make it work first then make it pretty.
5. Install security measures.
6. Make your website known to the Internet.
7. Finally, make it pretty.

8. And remember, since this is an evolutionary process, EVERYTHING is subject to change.

For more information or to ask questions, please contact Lindsey Allen at 512-921-2618 or lindsey@exploringnewmedia.com. Initial informational meeting will be held at 6:30PM on April 29th at a location to be revealed to interested and dedicated applicants. Reservations are mandatory.

Tagged as: Blogs, pages, plugins, posts, SEO, wordpress, wordpress themes