Introduction to WordPress
WordPress is one of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMS) in the world. It allows users to create, manage, and publish content easily without requiring advanced technical skills. Initially developed as a blogging platform in 2003, WordPress has now evolved into a versatile CMS that powers various types of websites, including portfolios, e-commerce stores, news portals, and business sites.
Features of WordPress
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User-Friendly Interface: WordPress offers an intuitive dashboard that simplifies website management.
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Open Source: It is free to use and can be modified as per user requirements.
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Themes and Plugins: WordPress supports thousands of free and premium themes and plugins that allow users to customize their sites effortlessly.
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SEO-Friendly: Built-in tools and plugins help optimize content for search engines.
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Responsive Design: Most themes are mobile-friendly, ensuring a seamless experience across devices.
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Community Support: A large global community contributes to WordPress, offering continuous updates and assistance.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com
| Aspect | WordPress.org | WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Self-hosted; user provides hosting | Hosted by WordPress |
| Customization | Full access to themes, plugins, and code | Limited customization (depends on plan) |
| Monetization | Complete control over ads and revenue | Limited unless on premium plans |
| Cost | Free software; user pays for hosting/domain | Free with paid upgrade options |
| Flexibility | Suitable for advanced users and businesses | Best for beginners and casual bloggers |
Interesting Facts About WordPress
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WordPress powers over 40% of websites globally.
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It’s available in more than 70 languages.
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Well-known organizations like BBC, TechCrunch, and The New Yorker use WordPress.
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The WordPress Plugin Directory contains over 60,000 plugins.
WordPress Pages to Demonstrate
Common pages used in WordPress include:
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Home Page: The front page that introduces your site.
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About Page: Describes you or your business.
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Blog Page: Displays your latest articles or posts.
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Contact Page: Provides visitors with ways to reach you.
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Services/Portfolio Page: Highlights your work or offerings.
Installing WordPress on Localhost, XAMPP Server, Web Hosting & Domain
XAMPP Server
XAMPP is a free and open-source local server environment that allows you to run WordPress on your computer. It includes Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Perl—components necessary for WordPress to function.
To install:
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Download XAMPP from apachefriends.org.
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Install and start the Apache and MySQL modules.
Download WordPress Files
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Visit wordpress.org/download.
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Download the latest version of WordPress.
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Extract the files into the
htdocsfolder in your XAMPP directory.
Create a Database
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Open localhost/phpmyadmin.
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Click on Databases → Enter a name → Click Create.
Install WordPress
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Open your browser and type
localhost/wordpress. -
Follow the on-screen instructions to connect the database.
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Enter a site title, username, and password to complete installation.
Web Hosting
When moving your site online, you’ll need a web hosting provider (e.g., Bluehost, SiteGround, or Hostinger). They store your website files and make your site accessible worldwide.
Domain
A domain is your website’s address (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com). You can purchase one from registrars like Namecheap or GoDaddy and link it to your hosting account.
Pages, Posts, Categories, Tags, and User Accounts
Pages
Pages are static content sections such as Home, About, and Contact. They do not change frequently.
Posts
Posts are dynamic entries typically used for blogs, news updates, or announcements. They are displayed in reverse chronological order.
Categories
Categories help organize your posts into broad groups. Example: Technology, Lifestyle, Tutorials.
Tags
Tags are more specific keywords associated with posts to improve searchability and navigation.
User Accounts
WordPress supports multiple user roles:
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Administrator – Full access.
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Editor – Manage content.
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Author – Write and manage own posts.
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Contributor – Write but cannot publish.
Subscriber – Read-only access.
WordPress Features (Themes, Plugins)
What is a Theme?
A theme controls the design and layout of your website. It determines how your site appears to visitors.
Install Themes
Navigate to Appearance → Themes → Add New, then search and install a desired theme.
Customize Themes
Use the Customizer tool under Appearance to adjust colors, fonts, headers, and layout options.
Plugins
Plugins extend WordPress functionality. For example, you can add contact forms, SEO tools, or e-commerce features.
News Site using Newsberg Theme
Newsberg is a professional news and magazine WordPress theme. It offers pre-built layouts and widgets perfect for creating an online publication quickly.
WordPress General Settings and Tools
Create a Navigation Bar (Menu)
Go to Appearance → Menus, create a menu, and add pages or links. Assign it to your primary navigation location.
General Settings
Includes site title, tagline, timezone, and date format. Accessible via Settings → General.
Tools
WordPress provides import/export tools to transfer data between sites.
All-In-One Migration Plugin
A backup and migration plugin that simplifies site transfer between local and live servers.
Plugins
How to Install Plugins
Go to Plugins → Add New, search for a plugin, and click Install Now, then Activate.
Some of the Most Important Plugins
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Yoast SEO – Optimize your content for search engines.
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Contact Form 7 – Create contact forms.
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WP Super Cache – Speed up your website.
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UpdraftPlus – Backup and restore your site.
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Elementor – Drag-and-drop page builder.
Multilingual WordPress
Plugin for Multilingual
To create multilingual sites, you can install translation plugins.
Polylang Plugin
A free plugin that allows you to translate posts, pages, categories, and tags into multiple languages.
Weglot Plugin
A premium plugin that automatically translates your content and provides a simple interface to manage translations.
Widgets
Widgets
Widgets are small blocks that perform specific functions such as displaying recent posts, a search bar, or social media links.
10 Most Useful WordPress Widgets for Your Site
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Recent Posts
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Categories
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Calendar
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Custom HTML
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Social Media Icons
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Text/Info Widget
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Search Widget
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Image Widget
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Tag Cloud
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Custom Menu
Visual Composer & Elementor
Why WordPress Page Builders Are Popular
They allow users to design professional websites visually without coding, using drag-and-drop functionality.
Visual Composer
A powerful page builder plugin offering design flexibility with responsive templates.
Elementor
Another leading page builder with a real-time editing interface and a vast collection of templates and widgets.
How to Use Astra Theme
Intro to Astra Theme
Astra is a lightweight, highly customizable WordPress theme ideal for blogs, portfolios, and business websites. It integrates seamlessly with Elementor and Gutenberg.
Booking Calendar, Chatbot/LiveChat
Booking Calendar Plugin
Allows users to schedule appointments directly on your website.
Chatbot Plugin for WordPress
Plugins like Tidio or WP-Chatbot provide automated chat features for customer engagement and support.
CSS Editor, Simple CSS, Smart Slider
CSS Editor
You can modify your site’s CSS by navigating to Appearance → Customize → Additional CSS.
Simple CSS
A plugin that allows you to add custom CSS directly from the dashboard.
Smart Slider
A plugin used to create responsive image sliders or carousels with animation effects.
WordPress SEO, Google Webmaster Tool
What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) improves your website’s visibility on search engines like Google.
SEO Tips
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Use descriptive titles and meta descriptions.
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Optimize images.
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Use internal and external links.
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Publish high-quality content consistently.
Download Yoast SEO
Go to Plugins → Add New, search Yoast SEO, and install it.
Using Yoast SEO
Yoast helps analyze content readability, keyword usage, and provides on-page optimization tips.
Webmaster Tools
Submit your site to Google Search Console to monitor performance, fix indexing issues, and track search traffic.
LearnPress LMS Plugin
Intro to LearnPress Plugin
LearnPress is a free Learning Management System plugin for creating and managing online courses.
How to Create a Course in LearnPress
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Go to LearnPress → Courses → Add New.
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Add lessons, quizzes, and course details.
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Publish the course.
How to Take a Course
Users can register on your site and enroll in available courses directly through the front end.
WooCommerce
What is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is a powerful WordPress plugin that transforms your site into an online store.
Benefits
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Free and open-source.
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Supports physical and digital products.
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Secure payment gateways.
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Extendable with plugins.
Install WooCommerce
Go to Plugins → Add New → Search “WooCommerce” → Install → Activate.
Using WooCommerce
Set up products, payment methods, and shipping options through the setup wizard.
Five Star Restaurant Plugins
Five Star Restaurant Plugins
This suite of plugins is designed for restaurant websites. They include features like:
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Restaurant menu display
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Online reservation system
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Review management
These plugins enhance the user experience for food service websites built on WordPress.
Best regards,
Roneda Osmani
