Wordpress Guide

A Talk About Local guide compiled by Nicky Getgood using:

• Nick Booth’s Beginners Guide to Wordpress at www.podnosh.com/social-media-help/

• Floss Manuals: Wordpress at http://en.flossmanuals.net/wordpress

 

 

Creating a Wordpress account

The most widely used blogging platform that is available as a hosted version (i.e. where a you can have a free blog) is Wordpress.  This is because it is very easy to use but also quite flexible, so you can develop it and add further features as your confidence grows.  

 

A blog can be set up in a matter of minutes.  But before you set up your Wordpress blog you first need to sign up for a Wordpress account.  Here’s how:

• Go to http://wordpress.com

• Click on the ‘Sign Up Now’ button in the top right hand corner of the page.  It will take you to a form to complete.

 

 

• Create a Username – this is not the name of your blog, but will be the username you will sign into all the wordpress.com blogs you create or write on in the future.  Make it unique, but something you’re happy to be connected with.  Your username cannot be changed.

• Create a password – this should be something that is hard for others to guess.  A combination of numbers, letters and symbols will make it stronger.  A coloured bar underneath the password box will tell you how strong or weak your password is.

• Type in your email address.

• Tick the Legal Flotsam (you are not signing your soul away here!).

 

• Make sure the option ‘Gimme a blog!’ is checked and click ‘Next’ button at the bottom of the form. 

• Note, if your username is taken, or your password isn’t strong enough, you will need to change those before continuing.

 

 

Creating a Wordpress blog

Now you have created your Wordpress account, you will now go on to create your first Wordpress blog.

 

 

• On the next page you choose your domain name.  This is your unique web address (e.g. talkaboutlocal.wordpress.com).  Choose this carefully as it cannot be changed!

 

• You can also give your blog its title. You can change the title in the future if you need to.  You should now also set the language to English using the drop down menu. 

• Press the “Signup” button.

 

 

• The Privacy option lets you decide whether or not you want your blog to appear on search engines for others to view.  Uncheck this box if you wish to keep your blog private.

• Click sign-up and an activation email will be sent to you.  

 

• Whilst you are witing for your email, update your profile by filling in your details (first name, last name, etc.) further down the page.

• Go to your email inbox and click on the confirmation link in the Wordpress activation email.

• It will tell you your account is now active and you have the option to view your site or login. Click on ‘Login’.

• Enter your username and password and click ‘Login’. You will be taken to your Wordpress blog dashboard.

 

Congratulations! You have created your first Wordpress blog.

Now you have created your first blog read our guide on changing the appearance of your blog