Don’t you just love the feeling when you receive some new software and you load it on your PC or Mac for the first time?
There it is, in all its glory; a blank workspace with a menu across the top and some tools or options down one side.
O.K., now what?
If you’re anything like me you ignore the instruction book or tutorials that came in the box and just get stuck in, clicking buttons and generally messing about.
After a while you realise that to get to grips with it you’ve got to refer to the manuals, or you’ll get nowhere fast.
That’s how it was for me with my WordPress Dashboard when I first fired it up.
I must say it looked pretty cool, nicely presented with lots of options and sure enough, it doesn’t take a lot of working out to make your first post.
But then there’s a theme to choose, some images to insert, backup to think about and security, of course.
Lots of lovely widgets to insert; but there needs to be some order here, or you’ll get carried away and end up with a mess.
Best Consult an Expert To Fast Track Your Blog
After I’d had a little play with it and decided I needed some direction, I logged into the students area on the Alex Jeffreys Forum.
After reading a few posts I noticed one that referred to Matt Wolfe and his free videos ‘The WordPress Classroom’, so I followed it up.
I’m so glad I did.
Matt is a well established blogger who runs several blogs of his own and offers free video training for WordPress newbie’s like me.
I have to say that his free videos are superb.
See How It’s Done – Then Just Do It Yourself
I much prefer to watch a tutorial video rather than read instructions. And what’s so good about it, is that I can pause the video, go back to my blog dashboard, make the change, and then go back to the video again to continue watching – step by step.
Video is where it’s at now and very soon it’s an area that I will need to get into, and get good at.
Matt’s videos are so easy to watch and follow and they got me fast tracked to organise my blog with security and backup settings as well as an understanding of the Dashboard.
They saved me so much time and cut out the hassle.
I thoroughly recommend that you take advantage of Matt’s Free Video training.
Here are some of the topics he covers:
• How To Set Up A WordPress Blog
• What To Write About On Your Blog
• How To Get Traffic To Your Blog
• How To Add Email to Your Blog
• How To Install Google Analytics
• How To Add A Contact Form
• How To Make Money With Your Blog
• Advanced Blog Editing
And plenty more.
To access the free videos just click on ‘The WordPress Classroom’ box in the right sidebar of this page or Click Here.
Sweet!
Hi Peter,
I’m a bit the same – I usually setoff on my own to try and get learn new software, but I must admit that when I used a blog setup ebook it made it so easy and I felt less stressed about the whole thing too – I could then focus on the next stage of learning.
Great Blog. Keep up the great articles.
Cheers
Alina
Hi Alina,
Good to hear from you.
It does make sense to refer to the guide or ‘a guide’ – it helps to get up and running faster.
It’s always good to cut down the stress factor too!
Many thanks for the compliment and encouragement.
All the best
Peter
Hey Peter,
Good job so far on your blog! Thanks for posting this. I agree that we should look at how it’s done then do it. Great advice.
Peace,
Darren L Carter
Peter I love this theme and I use it too. Its easy to customize it yourself now you have it set up for you. You are going to go well from now on. There is sure a lot to learn when you get started but you have done well. Congrats. Oh and if you need some help with the theme let me know. You can see mine to see what I have done with it.
Hello Pauline,
Thank you for your offer of help with my theme.
I must say I took some time choosing a theme and was impressed by this one.
The header graphics are not exactly ‘marketing’ relative; but on the other hand it makes a refreshing change to see a bit of nature on the page every time I open it up.
I think I’ll wait awhile, until I can find the time to do it!
Your comments and offer of help are appreciated.
All the best
Peter
Video tutorials are the best way to learn online. Its just like being in a classroom and learning. Great advice