Objective:

To help participants develop a basic website that can be a starting point for a business or individual looking to be found online.

Getting Started: Hosting & Domain Names

In order to create a website, participants will need to have a web hosting account. The workshop will demonstrate how to use a hosting company to install the WordPress Framework to start the website build.

WordPress Dashboard – How to login and how the dashboard layout on WordPress works. Participants will learn where content is categorised and how to access key elements.

WordPress Themes

Themes are the design templates that dictate the overall structure and look of the website. Understanding how themes work and choosing the right template is the fundamental building block of a WordPress website.

This part of the course will show participants how to find WordPress themes, what to look for when choosing the right theme and how to add the theme to their website.

Website Layout: The header, footer, and sidebars. Where to make changes and how to add links to telephone numbers and email addresses.

WordPress Plugins - Plugins allow users to add functionality to websites.

Participants will learn what plugins are and what beginners should be looking out for when using them and how to install required plugins that come with the theme.

Menu – Learning how to create menus and how the menu structure works, participants will understand the different options in adding posts, pages and custom links to the main navigational bar and also how to create custom menus for sidebars and widgets.

Widgets – Participants will learn what widgets are and how to use them correctly to add extra content elements to posts and pages.

Posts and Pages – Commonly one of the frequently asked questions, participants will learn the difference between the two and how to add them to their website.

Images – How to upload images and how the media library works. Also, how to embed images on posts and pages using the correct dimensions for posts and pages.

Website Security, Back Ups and SSL Certs

Keeping a WordPress website updated means that there is less chance of websites being compromised by hackers. Participants will perform a basic back up of their website, learn how to add a firewall to their website and understand what an SSL Cert is and how it keeps data secure when transmitted from their website. An SSL Cert is now a Google requirement for all websites.

Q & A Session

The final part of the workshop will allow participants to share their website and ask any questions relevant to the workshop.

The course is delivered by Fiona McGuire of Join the Dots Online