Monday, September 16, 2013

WordPress DIY Questions

Bolt with WordPress logoThe following is a collection of the most common questions I receive on WordPress, the world's most popular web publishing platform. These answers can be a great help to any DIYer managing their own WordPress websites. You may want to bookmark this page for future reference.

If you manage your own sites and are wondering if you should use WordPress in the first place, this post will answer your question: Why WordPress May Not Be The Answer

Questions



Many of the answers to these questions relate to theme selection. A good theme with a various configuration options and easy to use administration panel will give you a painless method for customizing your site's layout, style, header and footer. Consider paying for a premium theme that has all the features you want and is easy to use.

What's the best photo gallery plugin?


This is impossible to answer since there are so many photo gallery plugins available with various styles and features. But I am going to answer it anyway since I get this question just about every week.

When selecting a gallery plugin first look at any available online demos. Does it have the features you're looking for? Does it fit in with your site's style?

Read the feedback. How is the support? Is it easy to use? Has it been updated recently?

Free Plugins


The advantage of using free gallery plugins is that you can test various galleries on your site to see which one you like best. You'll also discover if any plugins have problems.

NextGEN Gallery is the most popular free gallery plugin available. Because of its popularity (over 7.5 million downloads) it has good theme compatibility and decent support.

Paid Plugins


Paid plugins often have more features than free plugins and good support. When it comes to gallery plugins, some paid plugin have dazzling visual effects and enhanced customization features. There are some amazing gallery plugins at Codecanyon.net.

The risk of a paid gallery plugin is that it may conflict with your theme and you may not be able to use it, thus wasting your money. The gallery may be difficult to position correctly or have script issues because of other plugins or your theme.

The plugin developer may help you if the problem is a bug with the plugin or if they are interested in making the plugin compatible with more themes. If the developer is unresponsive you may need to try a different gallery plugin.

How to switch the side column (sidebar) from the right side to left?


The answer depends on the theme you're using.

In the Twenty-Eleven theme, go to Appearance -> Customize

Under Layout are options to change which side your content appears or you can opt for no sidebars at all.


Some themes, like those developed by StudioPress, allow you to change sidebar layouts for individual posts and pages if you want that level of control:


The entire site has a default layout which can be set in the theme's settings, the post option overrides the default settings. If no layout is selected in the post, the default sidebar layout is used.

How to add a menu item that goes to another site? How do you link Pages in WordPress to the navigation bar?


Easy.

  1. Sign in to the Administration Panel, then go to Appearance -> Menus

  2. Next to Select a menu to edit, choose the menu you want to add a link to in the drop down list (some themes allow for multiple menus), or click the link to create a new menu (refer to your theme's documentation for details on custom menus and where they are positioned on your site).

  3. Click the Links bar to open the options. Add the URL and use Link Text to display the text you want to appear in your menu. Click Add to Menu and your new link will be added to the menu on the right. Drag your new menu up to reposition it if you like.

  4. Click Save Menu.



To add a Page in your menu click Pages instead of Links. Same if you want to have a category in your menu.

You add as many Pages, links and categories to your menu as you like and arrange them as top-level and submenu items. To make any menu item a submenu, simply click and drag the item slightly to the right until you see the dotted outline move. The dotted outline represents the new position of the menu item you selected, where it moves while you drag is where your menu item will be positioned when you let go. Click Save Menu when you are done.

The number of menus you can use and their placement depends on how your theme was designed. Refer to your theme's documentation for details.

How to add YouTube videos in my blog posts?


There are plugins that can insert videos, but they complicate one of the easiest tasks you can do in WordPress.

  • Step 1: Copy the link of the YouTube video you want to insert.

  • Step 2: In Text mode (not Visual), insert the link anywhere into your post.

  • Step 3: Publish or Update your post.


That's it. WordPress recognizes YouTube links and will automatically format the video. No plugins, no embed code. Also works with video links from Vimeo, Viddler, DailyMotion, Blip.tv and other sites.

How do I make my WordPress site mobile friendly?


There are two common ways:

  • Mobile "responsive" theme: a theme designed to work on both large and small screens. Basically, the theme rearranges sidebars under the main content, wraps text and scales images for narrow screens.

  • Redirect plugin: a plugin that will detect visitors on devices with small screens, such as smartphones and tablets, and redirect them to a mobile optimized version of your site. The mobile optimized version may have a completely different theme than the desktop theme, a version of your site designed and dedicated to small screens devices only. You may also have a completely different website with distinct content for mobile visitors that the plugin will redirect visitors to.


Which is better? It depends. Installing a responsive theme is an easy way to make your website instantly mobile friendly. Some companies recognize that visitors on mobile devices may be interested in different information and prefer to use a plugin that shows these visitors mobile targeted content.

How can I put my logo in the header of my theme?


This is a common question, but the answer depends on the theme you're using.

The overall appearance and layout of your site is determined by the theme, which controls what appears in the header area.

If you have a well-designed, user-friendly theme, adding your logo should be a straightforward task. You may find the option to update the logo in your theme settings.

In the WordPress administration panel, go to Appearance -> Header

This may show the theme options you have available to you in customizing your header and adding a logo.

Some themes add an additional item to the standard WordPress themes menu as seen in the following example for the "Flexibility" theme:

Selecting Flexibility Theme Options from the menu will produce a screen with an array of theme options, including Header Settings which allows you to use a custom image that has your logo:

If your theme does not provide any options to customize the header or insert a logo, then your only choice is to edit your theme's PHP header file. If you don't know how to code PHP you should hire a professional to edit the files. If you're not dead set on using a particular theme that lacks header and logo settings, consider changing themes.

Installing a new theme should not affect your content. It's one of the benefits of using WordPress. If a theme doesn't meet your site's needs you have the freedom to use one that does. In the future you may want to new add features to your site, upgrading themes and plugins is a way to enhance your website.

How do I set my site's home page to NOT be a blog page?


By default WordPress is setup to display your posts in reverse chronological order on the home page. This is how most blogs and news sites are organized. However, you may not want to use WordPress as a blog and have your home page setup differently. Here are your options:

Set your home page as a static Page:

  1. Sign in to the WordPress administrator panel. Create the Page you want to show on your home page.

  2. In the left menu, click Settings -> Reading.

  3. At the top are the settings for Front Page Displays. Select A static page.

  4. Select the Page you want on your home page from the drop down list. No need to change Post page.

  5. Click the Save Changes button at the bottom.


You may have a specific look in mind for your home page, with image sliders, post summaries and other widgets. With plugins, you can add some of these elements to a Page you create for your home page, including animated image sliders.

A better method might be to use a theme that has a home page layout and widgets that matches what you envision for your site. These themes have specially coded the home page to be uniquely different from the rest of the site. Finding these types of themes is as easy as visiting theme sites and browsing screenshots and demos for the look you have in mind. Most themes, especially premium themes, will have documentation on how to properly set up the home page.

I don't want to show "Meta" or "Categories" on my sidebar - how do I remove them?


When you install WordPress the first time, you may see links already in your sidebar. This appears by default and can be easily removed.

Sign in to the Administration Panel and go to Appearance -> Widgets

  1. On the right side are the sidebars and other widget areas available in the theme you're using. Click the sidebar area you want to remove items from. It may be labeled 'Main Sidebar' or 'Primary Sidebar'. You may want to refer to your theme's documentation if you're not sure.

  2. Once you've clicked the sidebar area it should expand showing the widget items in that sidebar. If the sidebar contains widgets you don't recognize, or is empty, you have selected the wrong sidebar area. Again, refer to your theme's documentation in this case.

  3. Click on any widget item you want to remove. Clicking will open the item for editing and will display the Delete link. Click Delete to remove the item, your changes will save automatically.


If you want to add any new widget items for your sidebar, just click and drag an item from the left and release it in the sidebar or other widget area you want the item to appear in. Your changes will save automatically.

When you add a new widget item, review it's settings. You may need to edit the widget's settings for it to work properly.

How do I add an email subscription form to my sidebar?


If you use an email service such as MailChimp or AWeber, the two easiest methods are:

  • Creating a form using your email service's tools, and copying the code into a new text widget; or

  • Using a plugin.


Popular email service providers usually have tools to create custom subscription forms which allow you to copy and paste them into your website. If using this method you may have use the tool to adjust your form to fit your site's sidebar. It may take a few iterations of adjusting and pasting into your site before you get it right.

Depending on the email service you use, a plugin may be available. If it's a good plugin it may be easier to add a form to your site than using the cut-and-paste tool. You'll have to search to see if a plugin has been developed for your email service.

A plugin worth mentioning is Gravity Forms. This powerful plugin can create custom forms of any size that can integrate with a number of services that include MailChimp and AWeber ("Business" version). It also has add-ons that can integrate with services like PayPal and Authorize.Net (requires the "Developer" version).

For more information about the Gravity Forms plugin, see Gravityforms.com.

How do I remove the Date from all of my pages and posts?


Some themes allow you to edit or completely remove the date and byline information in your posts. Check your theme settings or documentation to see if it offers this option.

There is also a free plugin called WP Date Remove available from the plugin repository: http://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-post-date-remover/. This plugin doesn't have any options; it just removes dates site wide. For more control over dates consider a premium theme that has built in settings for date and byline editing.

How do I change the copyright and credits in the footer of my theme?


Most premium themes have settings built in that allow you to edit the footer credits. Some free themes also offer this option, but most don't because having credits in your site's footer gives the developer free exposure. This is yet another reason to use premium themes where you have control over footer.

If you're using a theme that doesn't have settings to edit the footer, you can edit the PHP file yourself. However, if you're using a free theme you could get into trouble with the developer. As mentioned before, a developer often lets people download and use their themes for free in exchange for having their name or site links in the footer. If you edit the PHP file to remove the developer credits, they may view that has breaking the agreement to use their theme for free.

If you want to edit the PHP footer file to add information but not delete anything, that should be acceptable by the developer. Footer credits are usually found in a theme file called footer.php. If you are not comfortable editing PHP you should hire a professional to help. It's literally a 5 minute job for a professional.

How can I remove the sidebar from selected pages?


WordPress lacks control over context sidebar display. Perhaps they feel it's the job of the theme to determine when and where sidebars are displayed. As a result, to control sidebar display you need to use a theme that has this feature or a special plugin. Some themes and plugins also allow you to create variations of sidebars, so you can have custom sidebars that are used on select pages.

There are several plugins available that will add these features to your site. I prefer using a theme that has these features built in. Some plugins I've used seem to slow down my site, while I've never had the same issue using themes. However, you may have no choice but to use a plugin if you don't want to change themes.

To find a plugin you can search the WordPress plugin repository. Be sure to read the comments. If you are considering a new theme, look for one that has dynamic or custom sidebars in feature list.

How do I put Adsense advertisements on my site?


There are two methods of placing advertisements from Google Adsense on your site. One method simply involves copying and pasting the Adsense code provided by Google into a widget area on your site, or in your site's code if you know how. The other method is by adding an Adsense plugin to your site.

You must always obey Google's terms of services which currently say that you cannot place more than three Adsense ads on any given page. You also have to be careful placing pictures around ads, or using text to draw attention to them.

There are a number of plugins that allow you to add Adsense to your site. The Easy AdSense plugin is a popular choice that has a number of ad placement features. Here's more information: http://wordpress.org/plugins/easy-adsense-lite/

How do I add Google Analytics to my site?


Google Analytics is a tool that allows you to measure and analyze the traffic on your site. It is an excellent tool that's free to use. For more information about Google Analytics, I wrote this fine article that gives you everything you need to get started: Use Google Analytics to Know What's Working on Your Site.

To install the Google Analytics tracking code on your site, your theme may have a box you can paste the code into that will automatically place it on all your site pages. You might find this in your theme's settings in the Administration Panel.

If you're theme doesn't have this feature, there are a few different plugins that will do the trick. Here's a popular one that's free to use: Google Analyticator

How do I put a Google Map on my site?


Google Maps are a great addition to web pages, especially sites for businesses that have physical locations. Maps are ideal for a "contact us" type of page.

On Google Maps, you can create a map of any area and select the embed code to add that map to a website. Here are the steps to create a custom map and copy the embed code: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/72644?hl=en

Once you have copied the embed code, you can place it in any post or page of your site. Make sure you're in Text mode and not Visual mode to ensure the code is saved and rendered properly.

Another option is to use a plugin. This free to use plugin can be used to add several Google maps to your site: WP Google Maps

How can I move my WordPress site to a new host?


Basically, moving a WordPress site to a new host is not really a complex task, but it is one you have to be very careful about doing. A problem could cause a lot of headache! If you don't feel confident doing this on your own, have your hosting company perform this operation or hire a professional.

Keep in mind that a typical WordPress installation really consists of two components: the site files and the database. Both need to be backed up and copied to the new host. Some configuration files and database entries need to be adjusted to reflect the new URL and new database settings.

In a nutshell, the following steps are what you need to do:

  1. Copy the site files to the folder where the new site will reside

  2. Create a new database on the new host and import the old database

  3. Edit wp-config.php to the new database settings. If your domain or URL has changed (you moved the site to a folder, www.example.com/blog, or subdomain, blog.example.com) you'll need to do these two steps:

  4. Add the following lines in wp-config.php, replacing "example.com" with the right domain:

    1. define('WP_SITEURL', 'http://www.example.com');

    2. define('WP_HOME', 'http://www.example.com');



  5. Install the Search and Replace plugin and use it to do a search and replace for your old URL's and change them with your new URL's.


Tips:

  • Delete spam comments and site cache if there are any. This will reduce the size of the database and site files and make the transfer go faster.

  • Update your old site to the latest version of WordPress. Install a new instance of WordPress on the new host that is the same version of your old site. (Most hosts have a "quick install" feature that will install the latest version with just a few clicks.) Copy just the wp-content folder from your old site and replace the same folder in the WordPress files on the new host. Do step #3 above.

  • Use a backup plugin like the fantastic BackupBuddy.


For more detailed instructions, we have a PDF guide that will walk you step-by-step in transferring a WordPress site to a new web host: Transferring a WordPress site

How do I backup my WordPress site?


I'm glad you asked! Backing up your site is a vital task that many people overlook, and that neglect can be disastrous if the site falls victim to a hacker.

As mentioned in the last question, a WordPress site really consists of two components – the files and the database.

You can simply backup your files with your FTP client, just like you would any website. Use your FTP client and connect to your WordPress site, you can then copy the entire site and all of its directories down to your local computer.

The database backup can be done a number of ways; one of the easiest is to perform a WordPress Export.

In the Administrator Panel, go to Tools -> Export. Simply click the Download Export File button and save the file to your local computer. If you ever need to restore the site you can simply perform an "Import".

You can also export the database in SQL format if you prefer. This is my method of choice since I'm familiar with databases and can edit the export file if necessary.

There are also several backup plugins available, some better than others. The best one in my opinion is BackupBuddy.

More WordPress training and resources:


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