Getting started video tutorials with WordPress – Moving at the Speed of Creativity

I’ve set up three different websites with WordPress in the past year for local nonprofits, and I need to help the leaders of each organization begin using their sites to post updated information. I’m utilizing screencast tutorials from WordPress.tv in this post to create training materials for these individuals as they start using WordPress. I’m sharing this information and these videos here since this also might be of interest if you’re getting started with WordPress!

To use and apply these tutorials, you’ll need the login credentials to your WordPress website. Generally that is the public address of your site, followed by the directory name “/wp-admin” (without quotation marks.) This should direct you to the login page for your site. Then use the username and password for your account. Depending on the “rights” assigned to your account, you’ll have different authoring and configuration abilities within the WordPress administrative area. If you don’t have a WordPress account but would like to try one out for free, setup an account on WordPress.com. If you’re an educator, I recommend you setup a free WordPress account with EduBlogs because of their great support and the very active educational bloggging community (with students as well as teachers) already there.

Let’s get started with a few basic WordPress user tutorials. Click the direct link for each one if you’d like to view a larger version.

1. Start off with an overview / introduction to the WordPress dashboard.

2. Second, learn how to write and publish a post on WordPress.

3. You won’t always finish a post at one sitting, so next learn how to write draft posts which you can return to at a later date with WordPress.

4. Organization of WordPress sites is accomplished mainly through the use of different categories for posts as well as “tags.” Learn how to add categories and tags to your WordPress posts.

5. Last of all, learn how to add photos, video, and other media to your WordPress posts.

Many of the screencast tutorials on WordPress.tv apply to WordPress developers, rather than users, so don’t be overwhelmed by the options. As a new user, I recommend starting with the tutorials available in the Writing with WordPress category after you view and practice with the five tutorials I’ve highlighted in this post.

In addition to these tutorials also utilize the free “how to” articles on the WordPress Codex.

Good luck with your WordPress writing and publishing! Blog on!