WordPress For Dummies, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Lisa Sabin-Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 9, 2009

Bloggers love WordPress! If you're ready to start using this free blogging software, WordPress For Dummies, 2nd Edition is just what you and your blog need to make a splash.

Professional blog designer Lisa Sabin-Wilson shows you how to use all the latest upgrades to WordPress and helps you decide whether to use the Wordpress.com hosted service or self-host your blog with WordPress.org. Whether you're just venturing into the blogosphere or you want to shift an existing blog to WordPress, WordPress For Dummies, 2nd Edition will help.

Explore theme development and learn where to find free WordPress themes Extend WordPress through plug-ins, CSS, custom fields, and more Find out about archiving, interacting with readers through comments, tracking back, and handling spam Get the scoop on domain registration, Web hosting providers, basic tools like FTP, and more Create a unique blog theme and presentation by using template tags with CSS Sign up for WordPress.com, log in, set options, and create a profile Install WordPress.org, set up a MySQL database, explore RSS feeds, and organize a blogroll Discover the secrets of creating a blog that draws readers Get tips on wonderful widgets, upgrades, and plugins you can add to make your blog extra cool Learn how to use the Dashboard, manage comments, and make permalinks work with your Web server With WordPress For Dummies, 2nd Edition on hand, it's easy to make the most of the free software and build a blog that stands out in a crowd.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Discover why bloggers love WordPress and make your blog the best it can be

Blogs are as much a part of life today as the evening newspaper was fifty years ago, and for much the same reason: Inquiring minds want to know. WordPress powers some of the most popular blogs on the Web, and with this guide to help, it can work for you, too. Here's what WordPress does, how to set it up and use it, and some cool bells and whistles to make your blog stand out.

• Pick your flavor — decide whether to use the WordPress.com hosted service or self-host your blog with WordPress.org

• Customization — discover CSS and template tags and how to use them to create your own unique style

• Blogging 101 — find out about archiving, interacting with readers through comments, tracking back, and handling spam

• Host with the most — get the scoop on domain registration, Web hosting providers, basic tools like FTP, and more

• Do it yourself — install WordPress.org, set up a MySQL database, explore RSS feeds, and organize a blogroll

• Beef up your blog — insert audio, video, images, and photos

• Think theme — discover where to find WordPress themes, explore various options, and work with template tags to create a unique look

Open the book and find:

• Advice for creating a blog that draws readers

• Tips on managing comments, trackbacks, and spam

• How to use the Dashboard

• Wonderful widgets and plugins to add

• How to make permalinks work with your Web server

• The standard templates and how to tweak them

• Ten popular WordPress themes

• Where to find help when you need it

About the Author

Lisa Sabin-Wilson is a designer of blogs and Web sites and founder of E.Webscapes Design Studio. She has been working with WordPress since 2002. Lisa's client list includes over 1,000 personal and professional blogs, and she is a frequent panel member at blogging and social media conferences.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 2 edition (February 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470402962
• ISBN-13: 978-0470402962
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #383,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

E.Webscapes Design Studio
http://ewebscapes.com

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/LisaSabinWilson

Facebook:
http://facebook.com/LisaSabinWilson

I design because it makes me happy to create. I write because it makes me happy to share. Other than that? I breathe. I drink espresso. I love my family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome beginner's guide, March 4, 2009

By 

Todd Hawley (San Francisco CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: WordPress For Dummies, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

Over the last few months, I've read a few books about WordPress, all of them quite good and ones I'd recommend. I'd highly recommend this one for the so-called "average, everyday person" wanting to get started with a WordPress blog. Ms. Sabine-Wilson gives detailed step by step instructions for every WordPress task and explains in detail various options and settings. When you first look at a WordPress dashboard, one may get daunted by all of the options present and Sabine-Wilson gently leads you through all of them. This second edition was delayed because WordPress latest major upgrade (2.7) was itself delayed. This book has the latest WordPress screen shots in its figures, which helps avoid confusion.

Among the topics Sabine-Wilson covers are getting set up with a blog at WordPress.com or WordPress.org (if you decide to find a site host already running WordPress), how to manage your blog, what all the Admin panel options mean, adding images and/or audio files, themes and plugins. To someone just getting started, WordPress might seem bit difficult to master. But it's actually pretty straight forward to use once you get familiar with it. This book is a good way to become familiar with using WordPress.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent tool for blogging and website newbies!, April 13, 2009

By 

R. Riley "Spiritual pilgrim" (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: WordPress For Dummies, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

I have (slowly) been building a website for the purpose of advocating for more action worldwide to minimize fire-related deaths in dwellings. Having started with a CMS (content management) application installed by my webhosting company and ending up with much (newbie-caused, not blaming anyone else) frustration, I investigated WordPress and found that it is a Blogging-CMS package that can be a powerful tool for setting up a website. I bought two books from Amazon about WordPress. Both are excellent, the other being "Building a WordPress Blog People Want to Read."
"WordPress for Dummies" is an excellent and thorough introduction to the power of WordPress. It covers the use of WordPress in several settings, including but not limited to: 1) the WordPress.com setup and 2) a situation like mine, where WordPress is provided by a webhosting site. In both cases, the book provides excellent coverage of the software's dashboard, organizing a blog, dealing with allowing for both comments and new articles from others (if you desire), adding third-party articles, etc.
The book covers much more than I have listed above, but for people like me who are new to setting up software for blog/website building, "WordPress for Dummies" (Second Edition) is simply an excellent tool which I strongly recommend.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginners and intermediates, March 23, 2009

By 

Greg Sheppard "Mega Reader/Gamer" (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: WordPress For Dummies, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

I bought this book because I wanted to familiarize myself with the inner workings of PHP, and how it affects the layout of a WordPress blog. I definitely got my money's worth, because I learned so much about PHP in the half an hour I spent reading that chapter. In addition, it gave a great chapter on using WordPress as CMS which came in helpful.