Clear the "blog fog" with this complete visual guide to the WordPress platformTeach Yourself VISUALLY WordPress, 3rd Edition introduces you to the exciting possibilities of one of the world's most popular blogging platforms, and shows you how to build your blog from idea to execution. This edition has been updated to reflect the changes and new features of WordPress, and includes coverage of mobile blogging solutions that allow you to post on the go. Richly illustrated with screenshots and examples from the author's own WordPress blogs, this highly visual guide walks you through the setup and creation process step by step, and offers expert tips and tricks every step of the way. From installing WordPress and choosing a theme to custom site editing and self-hosting, this book provides the answers you need and helps you get organized and published quickly.This is your essential guide to getting the most out of WordPress, from basic setup to advanced mobile features.* Customize your site with plug-ins, themes, and personalized editing* Blog whenever, wherever, with mobile blogging solutions* Buy your domain, choose a hosting service, and set up the admin stuff* Learn the best practices that result in engaging, dynamic websitesWhether you're promoting a business, building a personal brand, or just have something to say, this is your no-nonsense guide to building your blog.

Chapter 1 Introducing WordPressChoose a Version of WordPress 4Choose a Site Topic 6Understand WordPress and Website Terms 8Plan Your Site's Content 10Research Site Titles 12Buy a Domain Name 14Chapter 2 Setting Up Your WordPress.com SiteSign Up with WordPress.com 18Set Up Your New Site 20View Your New Site 22Get to Know Your Site's Dashboard 24Understand the WordPress.com Toolbar 26Select Your General Settings 28Choose Your Personal Settings 30Create Your Public Profile 32Consider Premium Features 34Chapter 3 Setting Up Your WordPress.org SiteChoose a Host for Your Site 38Install WordPress via Your Host's Auto?]Installer 40Get an FTP Application for Manual Installation 42Download WordPress Software 43Set Up the MySQL Database 44Upload the WordPress Files 46Complete the Configuration and Installation 48Troubleshoot Installation Errors 50Log In to Your Site's Administrative Area 52View Your New Site 54Know the Administrative Screen 55Get to Know the Dashboard 56Get to Know the Toolbar 57Check Your General Settings 58Select Your Profile Settings 60Choose a Theme 62Install Your New Theme 64Chapter 4 Knowing Your Administration ToolsCustomize Admin Screens 70Review the Writing Settings 74Set Up to Post by Email 75Choose the Discussion Settings 76Learn about Site Visibility Settings 78Select Your Site Visibility Settings 79Set the Permalinks Structure 80Consider Other Settings 81Chapter 5 Creating Written ContentGet to Know the Add New Post Screen 84Introducing the Visual Mode Button Bar 86Introducing the Text Mode Button Bar 88Try the Alternative Post Screen at WordPress.com 89Write and Publish Your First Post 90Add Styling and Formatting to Your Text 92Add Text Hyperlinks to Your Content 94Use Distraction?]Free Writing Mode 96Publish from Your Mobile Device 97Create Post Teasers 98Write and Publish a Page 100Restore an Earlier Version of Posts or Pages 102Import Posts from Existing Sites 104Chapter 6 Creating Visual and Audio ContentThink Visually about Content 110Prepare Images for Uploading 112Upload and Insert an Image to a Post 114Work with Images in the Content Editor 116Upload Images to the Media Library 118Edit Images in WordPress 120Understand Featured Images 124Add a Featured Image 125Insert an Image Gallery 126Edit an Image Gallery 128Embed YouTube (and Other) Videos 130Upload and Insert Video to a Post 132Upload and Insert Audio to a Post 134Chapter 7 Organizing and Managing Your Site ContentUnderstand Categories and Tags 138Add New Categories 140Manage Categories 142Add New Tags 144Manage Tags 146Convert Categories and Tags 148Find Posts and Pages 150Quick Edit Posts and Pages 152Bulk Edit Posts and Pages 154Chapter 8 Using Widgets and MenusUnderstand Widgets and Widget Areas 158Get to Know the Widgets Screens 160Choose and Add Widgets 162Rearrange and Remove Widgets 164Manage Widgets from the Customizer 166Understand Menus and Menu Locations 168Get to Know the Menus Screen 170Create a Menu 172Reorder Menu Items 174Assign a Menu Location 175Edit and Delete Menu Items 176Add a Custom Menu 178Chapter 9 Tweaking Your ThemeUnderstand Options for Tweaking Your Theme 182Get to Know the Theme Customizer 183Add a Logo 184Add a Header Image 185Change Color Scheme 186Change Background Color 187Change Text Color 188Add a Background Image 189Get to Know Theme Options 190Use Post Formats 192Use Page Templates 193Make Your Site Mobile Friendly 194Understand CSS 196Experiment with Your Site's CSS 198Modify Your Site's CSS 200Understand Child Themes 202Chapter 10 Adding Functionality with PluginsUnderstand Plugins 206Find Plugins 208Choose Plugins Wisely 210Install and Activate Plugins 214Deactivate and Delete Plugins216Add a Contact Form 218Control the Display of Widgets 222Use the Jetpack Plugin 224Consider These Admin Plugins 226Consider These Content Plugins 228Chapter 11 Making Your Site SocialUnderstand How to Make a Site Social 232Let Visitors Share Your Content 234Add Follow Buttons 236Display Social Feeds 238Publicize Posts on Social Media 240Understand Mailing Lists 242Offer Email Subscriptions 244Add a Mailing List Manager 246Understand Comments 248Choose Comment Settings 250Moderate Comments 252Edit Comments 254Deal with Comment Spam 256Display Testimonials 258Chapter 12 Managing Your WordPress SiteChange What Your Front Page Displays 262Use a Page Builder Plugin 264Edit Content for Search Engines 266Use an SEO Plugin 268Track Site Statistics 270Understand Site Statistics 272Understand User Roles and Capabilities 274Add New Users 275Chapter 13 Maintaining Your WordPress SiteUnderstand WordPress Backups 278Back Up at WordPress.com 280Use Server Backup Tools 281Use a Backup Plugin 282Understand Updates 284Update WordPress Manually 286Update Themes 287Update Plugins 288Check for Broken Links 290Keep WordPress Secure 292Force Strong Passwords 294Limit Login Attempts 295Troubleshoot WordPress 296Find Support at WordPress.org 298Find Support at WordPress.com 299Discover More Support Options 300Index 30