Get Your Bearings
Update Text
Add Images
Add Pages

We will talk about things like plug-ins and widgets in another article.

Getting Your Bearings

1. Login URL. This is the web address to get to the login screen
2. Username
3. Password

Once you are in your control panel you will see a screen like this:

For the most part WordPress divides your site into two basic things: Pages and Posts. You will see the number of pages and the number of posts listed here. Because each theme interacts with Pages and Posts slightly differently you will want to click into each one and see where various content of your site is kept.

When you click on pages you will be able to see the titles of each page like int he sample above, the same will be true for posts. From here you will be able to click on the name of the page you want to change.

UPDATING TEXT

Now, this part is IMPORTANT. Once you have finished making your changes you need to be sure to click on the UPDATE button. You can see it on the right hand side of the sample screen above. This will make your changes live on your site. If you want to see what you changes look like before taking them live to your site you can click on PREVIEW. This will open a browser window showing you your changes. The changes WILL NOT be live and will not be permanent. You must click on UPDATE for them to take effect.

To see your changes navigate to that page on your website. Then, be sure to click on the REFRESH button in your web browser.

When a computer accesses a web page it has been to it uses what is called a cache. It saves the site to its memory which allows it to load the site more quickly. The problem arises when you go to a page you have made changes to. Your computer will access the page from it’s cache and not show you your changes. This is why you must hit REFRESH.

ADDING IMAGES

This will bring up this box. Click on SELECT FILES. This will allow you to choose which image to upload from your computer. Choose the file you want and click OPEN.

This box will come up giving you options of how you want your image displayed. Where it says title I would type in a word or two that describes the picture. You also have the options in this box to add a caption to your image, or an outside link. (For instance if you were putting up a picture of a company’s logo with a link to their site)

You will then need to choose your Alignment. This is were the picture will appear on the page. You will then choose how big you want your image to appear in your page. Select from either thumbnail, Medium, Large, or Full Size. If you are familiar with photo editing programs such as Photoshop you can customize your image to the size you want it to appear. Be sure to resize it at 72dpi which is thedisplay resolution and then upload it and choose the Full Size option. (If what I just said makes no sense, don’t worry! WordPress does a great job of resizing)

Once you have selected your image, chosen it’s location and size you must be sure to click INSERT INTO POST. This will place your image on your page.

Just like when you change text you must now click on UPDATE for your image to be seen on your site. Anytime you make a change that you want to be seen, Be sure to click on UPDATE.

ADDING PAGES OR POSTS

If you want to add a page. Go to the Pages menu and click ADD NEW. This opens up an empty page. You will need to add a title for the page.

Now add your content. Use the instructions above to add text and images.

If what you are adding is a Page you will have the option of selecting a Parent Page. A parent is the header on your menu bar on your site.

Once you have your page ready click PUBLISH. This is the same as the UPDATE button but for a new page. Once you have PUBLISHED your page this button will become UPDATE.

If you are adding information about staff you may choose to have it under the About Us tab. However, if no parent is chosen (again only when working with a Page) your new page will become a main menu option.

Often your website will have highlighted posts at the bottom. These are almost always posts and are displayed with the newest ones first. You can add posts here by simply adding a new post. Be warned that it will remove one of your current highlighted posts. If you are happy with the three boxes at the bottom of your page, don’t mess with this.

Some newer wordpress themes are coming with a menu option that allows you to choose specifically which pages or posts show up in your menu and in which order. TO find out if your theme has this option choose MENU’s under the APPEARANCE tab on the left hand side of your control panel. If you see your menu’s filled in you have this feature. If the boxes are there but grayed out your site does not have this feature. The menu option is theme specific.

Maybe you are a business owner who is looking to start a web presence. Or maybe you are the Director of a non-profit organization who deeply desires to help people. But no one trained you about the need for, or what a website entails. This article attempts to de-mystify starting your web presence.

I have tried to make this explanation ”Mom friendly.” I love my mother very much, but computers are not her strong suit. I have tried to go out of my way to explain things here so that she could understand. You may find these thing rudimentary, if so feel free to skip this article.

In this article we will look at:
The Components of a Website
Choosing a Domain Name
Buying a Domain Name

Components of a Website

A website consists of three parts:

1. A domain name

This is how people find your site. For instance, www.threemonkeymedia.com is our domain name. It is what you enter into that bar at the top of your web browser. We will look at choosing a domain name in a minute. A domain name will typically cost between $10 and $15 annually.

2. A host

A host is often confused for the site itself. I think the most useful way to look at it is to see the host as the box in which you will put your site. It is essentially storage space that is connected to the internet.

That place, where your site is stored, is called your host. Your host and your domain name do not need to be with the same company (something we will explain later).

3. Site Content

This is the actual site design that you see on your screen. It is placed on the host. It is placed on the host so that it can be accessed by computer users world wide.

Choosing a Domain Name

Open your web browser to one of the excellent domain registars that are available online. (ie.Network Solutions)This will allow you to test various domain names to see if they are available. Just because you type a domain into your browser and no web page comes up does not mean that the domain is not taken.

There are four questions to ask when selecting a domain name:

1. Does it reflect your business?

This may seem self-explanatory, but not always. Your business name is always the best option (as long as it doesn’t violate the other three criteria below). If that is not available get creative, try different variations.

2. Is it memorable?

You will be telling people your domain name often, in hopes that when they sit down at their computer they will be able to remember it. Make sure that what you choose has sticking power. The shorter the better.

3. Is it easy to spell?

The most memorable domain name that is hard to spell will still cause you problems. Remember that every time you give someone your web address they are going to have to spell it correctly to get to your site. If you choose something difficult to spell you are going to have to spell it for that person every time you give them your web or e-mail address, and then you have to hope that they remember or record it correctly.

4. Are there unintended consequences?

Sometimes when you squish words together in a domain name new words unintentionally form. Sometimes words you don’t want associated with your business. A friend wanted to start a BLOG named Corey’s Hat. unfortunately when put into a domain name it looks like: coreyshat. Not what he had in mind. (if you don’t get it, don’t worry, it’s not that important)

Buying a Domain Name

Buying a domain name is something that anyone can do, and is not as complicated as it sounds. We will be happy to help you with the process as a part of a website design package. (there is a $10 charge for this, not for our time but for the cost of the domain.) However if you are working on your own, here are a few things to think about.

1. Use a reputable domain registar.

There are tons out there, and any of them will work. Networksolutions and Godaddy are two of the most popular.

2. Beware of the upsell.

These companies offer low priced domain names ($10-15 annually) because they know they can sell you on other products. When you go to buy your domain name they will try to sell you on tons of services they will try to convince you that you need. I know of one person who went to buy a $10 domain name and ended up spending $120, and they still didn’t have hosting. Feel free to buy whatever you think you need, but for me I simply keep clicking “No Thanks” until I get to the payment options.

3. You can easily host anywhere

This is a question I get asked often, and is a misconception about domain names. Say you buy your domain through Network Solutions and want to host with us. No problem! You do not need to buy hosting with the same company you buy your domain name through. It is very easy to point your domain to your hosting and it is something we will walk you through.

4. Just buy it

Domain names are cheap. If you find one that you like my advice is to buy it. If you find you don’t use it you can always let it expire in a year. This way when you are ready to set up your site you already are guaranteed to have the name you want. If you wait to buy there is always the possibility that the name you want could be gone by then. Don’t laugh, it’s happened to me.

Too often people buy a site that they cannot update and spend more money on keeping their site up. The result us usually a site that quickly becomes outdated.

All websites at Three Monkey Media are created in the WordPress Content Management System (CMS). Originally designed for Blogging, it has far outgrown those simple roots. This powerful platform allows you to be able to make changes from any computer, anywhere.  There is no special software to buy and learning to use it is easy.

Using WordPress you will be able to easily learn how to make your own changes, including adding pictures and pages to your site. The price of the website packages includes one hour of training on how to update your site. (More training can be provided if desired at an additional charge)

Services Offered

Website Design
Social Media Set-up
Custom Favicons
E-mail list set up
Podcasting Set up
Online Donation Set up

Website Design Package

For Profit: $450      Non-Profit: $350

This includes creation of a website using a WordPress theme chosen by you, to meet your needs.  You provide the content (text, pictures, etc), I make it look good. I will spend time with you to determine the best navigational structure for your site, who your target audience is, and what your website goals are. The price also includes one hour of training on how to update your new site. Social Media set-up, Podcasting Set up, Online Giving Set-Up, and E-mail marketing can be provided for an additional charge.

Services Offered:

Business Cards
Brochures
Promotional Postcards
Newspaper Advertisements
Annual Reports
Banner Design

You have spent hours pouring over your manuscript. You’ve edited, written, and rewritten until your book is perfect. Now you are ready to publish. Let us help you from here. We can create a custom cover and interior for your work. We can even help you format your book for the Amazon Kindle and Nook e-book readers.

Services Offered

Cover Design
Interior Formatting
e-book Formatting