New to Wordpress

[Faith]

For the first time ever, I tried today to set up a Wordpress site. I had already bought a domain name and hosting. Since so many people say Wordpress is easy to set up, I wasn't anticipating too many problems.

Boy, was I wrong.

I got all the settings taken care of, but when I tried configuring my theme and making my first post, nothing seemed to work.

I'm using one of the featured themes in Wordpress, and am wondering now if I had just used the default theme, it that would have been easier.

So, I looked around to see how to uninstall the featured theme that's called Arjuna, but there doesn't seem to be a way to do that.

Any advice from anyone?


Faith

[Engage]

Hi Faith,


Since so many people say Wordpress is easy to set up, I wasn't anticipating too many problems.

Well, as you've seen, so many people are wrong.

If it makes you feel better, I'm a programmer with 15 years working online, and I couldn't get it set up either. It's not you, it's Wordpress.

I PMed you an alternative option.

[LaShae]

Faith,

Congratulations on installing wordpress and moving forward.

When you want to change themes, you won't actually "uninstall" it, you'll activate a new one.

If you're logged into your wordpress installation, go to Appearance - Themes and select a new theme. Select the preview and if you like the way it looks, click Activate. It will immediately change the look of your site. It will only change the way your site looks, it will not change any posts or pages that have already been published.

If there isn't a theme there that you like, click on the Add New Themes and using the search options locate one from the wordpress.org/extend/themes - directly inside your wordpress installation, select the preview button and once you find one you like click the install button.

You'll then be given the option after it's installed successfully to activate your new theme.

As far as posting in wordpress, do you want it to be a blog post or a blog page - posts scroll down the page in reverse chronological order and pages act more like a static web page.

To do either look on the left navigation bar and select either add new "post" or "page".

Themes are going to rarely cause issues with posting to the blog, unless some other issues are happening as well.

If you're still having issues with your posts or pages showing up, why not post a link to the site here and I or someone else will be more than happy to help you figure out the issue.

[angienewton]

Faith,
We'll help you get it all figured out, don't give up on Wordpress and your hosting. Stick with what you have and our members will help you out. Once you have done it, it will become easier over time.

[Faith]

Thanks, Ladies, for the help.

It is so much appreciated.

I will install a different theme tomorrow, and press forward. I'm really determined
to learn this.

If other people can do this, then so can I!


Faith

[russell]

You also might want to try the default theme to make a post in, just to see how it looks. Then you can switch themes, and see if you like how things look with the new theme. If you dont like it, switch back.

It can be very frustrating choosing a theme. There are so many out there, and a lot of them dont work that well, or are coded poorly, and therefore are missing functionality.

You can uninstall a theme, although there isnt much of a need to. To uninstall the theme you will need to ftp to your site, then go into the wp-content/themes directory, and delete the folder of the theme you don't want anymore. This is also where you would install a theme manually. You would just drop your new theme into that directory, and then you should see it in the wordpress dashboard under themes.

You will find some themes and plugins do not show up in the wordpress themes search area, but are availle on the interenet elsewhere. In this case, you would have to do a manual install.

[jkgourmet]

Actually, Russell, doesn't WP do all that for you if you select a theme that you can install directly through the Admin area? I mean, if you deactivate a theme you don't want, then delete it, I think the files get ripped out of your c-panel. (I avoid the FTP stuff whenever possible and try to do everything I can through the Admin area.)

I recognize this would only work if the theme you selected is available in the themes that you can install directly from Wordpress.org - not a premium theme or one you have to download yourself.

[russell]

Actually, Russell, doesn't WP do all that for you if you select a theme that you can install directly through the Admin area? I mean, if you deactivate a theme you don't want, then delete it, I think the files get ripped out of your c-panel. (I avoid the FTP stuff whenever possible and try to do everything I can through the Admin area.)

I recognize this would only work if the theme you selected is available in the themes that you can install directly from Wordpress.org - not a premium theme or one you have to download yourself.


You are right, there is a delete in the dashboard, and it looks like it removes the theme nice and clean....

Learn something everyday.

[AlexNewell]

For the first time ever, I tried today to set up a Wordpress site. I had already bought a domain name and hosting. Since so many people say Wordpress is easy to set up, I wasn't anticipating too many problems.

Boy, was I wrong.

I got all the settings taken care of, but when I tried configuring my theme and making my first post, nothing seemed to work.

I'm using one of the featured themes in Wordpress, and am wondering now if I had just used the default theme, it that would have been easier.

So, I looked around to see how to uninstall the featured theme that's called Arjuna, but there doesn't seem to be a way to do that.

Any advice from anyone?


Faith

As it happens I installed a new blog today and used the default theme - so far. ( bottom link in my signature file)

One thing to check Faith is under the Privacy settings. Some hosts have this set up so that the blog does not allow search engines to find it. Make sure that the setting is set up so that search engines CAN index it!

Pop the link in your post so that we take a look and one of us will help you get sorted!

:-)

This is not just a discussion forum this a an action orientated forum!!

[LaShae]

Russell,

If you're using the newest version of wordpress you can even install themes that aren't in the wordpress.org/extend/themes directly from inside the Admin. You'll just use the upload instead of search feature.

It's one of the reasons Wordpress is so friendly if you don't even know what the heck FTP is, you can still do it like a pro.

[russell]

Russell,

If you're using the newest version of wordpress you can even install themes that aren't in the wordpress.org/extend/themes directly from inside the Admin. You'll just use the upload instead of search feature.

It's one of the reasons Wordpress is so friendly if you don't even know what the heck FTP is, you can still do it like a pro.

Thanks LaShae,

I see it now. Lol, guess I havent been in the themes area much lately, so I forgot about that feature. I see you can uplaod plugins also.

[Engage]

Hmm...

Well, are we building web sites to be website artists, or to do business?

I do understand how some of us could enjoy installing software, themes and plugins, and overcoming the technical challenges involved etc. I like challenges like this so much that I became a programmer, so I get what's fun about it.

I don't see what wrestling with Wordpress etc has to do with business.

And novices especially, why should they pick up this unnecessary burden when they have so many other more important things to attend to?

Here's a reality check, our readers, the people who have the money we want, really don't care about our theme, or Wordpress installation skills.

Why is it good advice to tell Faith to stick with a process that requires her to look for strangers on the Internet to help her, just to get a site up and running?

She's here because her host won't help her with this, and neither will the people who coded Wordpress, right? Why is that a good situation to be in?

The "Do-It-Yourself" lone wolf everybody is a technician model left over from the early days of the Net is a dying paradigm.

Here's a replacement.

Pretend we were just hired to write a daily column for the New York Times. Our editor demands we meet the deadline every day, and they hired us to produce excellent content.

Producing excellent content on a regular basis, becoming experts on our topic, is a big enough job by itself. And, it's a job our readers, the people who have the money we want, do actually care about.

Unless we are going to learn technology well enough that we can charge for our skills, every minute spent messing around with technology is a minute spent hiding from the real job.

[Faith]

Gosh, that's a lot of great replies. Very helpful. It's interesting to see how the capabilities of Wordpress have continued to change and expand.

Except, to be honest, Engage, I couldn't quite get the point you were trying to make in the above post. I want to learn this stuff. I turned down the option of paying for already built websites, because they wouldn't feel like mine. I want something to feel like "mine," at least until I have some measure of success. I want to be confident of my own capabilities. That's a very important goal. Along with making money, of course. ;)

Faith

[Engage]

Hi Faith,

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it. Your original question and follow on comment do a great job of introducing issues that are common to whole webmaster community. Thanks for that. I really don't mean to focus on just you and your situation only, which is of course fully your decision.

A desire to have a site that "feels like ours" is very very common. And it's completely understandable, as creating websites (especially our first ones) feels a lot like going on stage in front of the whole world. There's not a thing in the world wrong with this feeling.

It's also true that this feeling is all about our human egos, and has little to nothing to do with our business.

Being a website artist is a fun hobby. If someone wishes to pursue this hobby, and enjoys the challenges involved, they should go for it. I've done the same myself many times.

I'm trying to make a case for clear mindedness.

There is a widespread impression among publishers that climbing the technical learning curve is taking our business forward. We feel like we are working productively. We are swept along in a group consensus flood (which is driven by commissioned sales people) that tells us buying and learning all this stuff is necessary, important.

In fact, all we are doing is delaying our business progress by focusing on things our customers don't care about.

This principle extends beyond just technology.

Go to any webmaster forum, and read through the conversations. And then ask yourself this...

Which of the threads on webmaster forums would the readers of our sites find relevant and interesting?

Very few, almost none.

That is, the things we webmasters typically consume ourselves with are out of touch with the interests of those who have the money we want.

If we were to put aside all the fancy tools and clever strategies that endlessly distract webmasters, and limit ourselves to just pen and paper for a bit, we would have the opportunity to direct our attention to the real job...

Finding out if we have anything to offer that will help our readers. Mastering our topic. Discovering ever better ways to say what we have to share.

A New York Times columnist, a real publishing professional, will leave the messy mechanics of producing the newspaper to the tech guys downstairs in the printing press operations.

Follow the development of web publishing since 1995, and project the pattern forward.

In coming years, everybody on earth will be able to create a very professional looking website filled with fancy gadgets, with just one click.

In such a world, there will be only one thing that can distinguish us from our competitors.

The quality of our mind.

Focus on that.

[AlexNewell]

Engage

"Producing excellent content on a regular basis, becoming experts on our topic, is a big enough job by itself. And, it's a job our readers, the people who have the money we want, do actually care about."

Totally agree.

"Here's a reality check, our readers, the people who have the money we want, really don't care about our theme, or Wordpress installation skills."

True and important to point out to us

"I don't see what wrestling with Wordpress etc has to do with business. "

To do business on the Net mandates a website and we have the options of self build, hire a tech or buy a site.

Frankly if you have the cash the latter is by far the best. Buying an earning functioning site is now doable at a reasonable cost. The earnings you can devote to expanding your biz and learning more.

Hiring a tech is OK and I've done it but there's a whole hassle of communicating and supervising and sometimes it can be easier just to do it yourself!

The D-I-Y option is now much easier than years ago, due to Wordpress and other, simpler web editors. This learning curve is optional as you point out, but some folks even build their own house and for many the cost free option is the only feasible one.

And some just like the, " I did that myself feeling!"

:-)

All The Best

Alex

[Engage]

Hi Alex, thanks for joining in, good to hear from you.


To do business on the Net mandates a website and we have the options of self build, hire a tech or buy a site.

The reasonable rules of the forum format prevent me from offering another option here in this thread. :)


Buying an earning functioning site is now doable at a reasonable cost. The earnings you can devote to expanding your biz and learning more.

This is a quite interesting contribution, and I'd like to hear you expand on this if you wish. Yes, buying an existing site, and diving immediately in to promoting it, is in tune with the spirit of my comments.


And some just like the, " I did that myself feeling!"

Yes, indeed. Me too! If I had a dime for every hour I've spent fiddling with buttons and colors and such over the last 15 years, I could buy Hawaii.

I'm passionate about this topic, because I've spent years making all these mistakes myself. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, would I trade all my nice buttons and colors for a beach house? Um, yea, I think I would! :)

[Scootek]

i use wordpress and have no problems its nothing to do with your coding expiriance what so ever its to do with the expirance you have using content management systems all coding will get you is knowing what code is running behind the scenes and how its doing stuff it takes time to learn how to use wordpress

keep trying its a good platform i use it myself for my tech blog

[AlexNewell]

Engage:

Hi Alex, thanks for joining in, good to hear from you.

It's nice to pop in - I'm busy!

The reasonable rules of the forum format prevent me from offering another option here in this thread. :)

Are you sure - this is not just a nice forum to be in but a very liberal one too. Could you pm me?

This is a quite interesting contribution, and I'd like to hear you expand on this if you wish. Yes, buying an existing site, and diving immediately in to promoting it, is in tune with the spirit of my comments.

This is recent speculation on my part. I spent tons of time - like all of us trying to "build a website" in my early days...when I could have been getting value from a website instead.

Thinking on the situation of a beginner - something I am passionate about - it seems obvious that since a blog nowadays can be picked up for LESS THAN A PDF on how to "build a website" we are wasting TONS of time - even those of us who are not beginners.

Yes, indeed. Me too! If I had a dime for every hour I've spent fiddling with buttons and colors and such over the last 15 years, I could buy Hawaii.

I'm passionate about this topic, because I've spent years making all these mistakes myself. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, would I trade all my nice buttons and colors for a beach house? Um, yea, I think I would! :)

A nice header graphic or a beach house? Yeah I'll take the beach house too !!

:-)

[tibby2000]

Hi,

Here is a free site that gives videos and lessons on wordpress blogs. http://www.mybloggingblueprint.com
or there is http://www.wordpress.tv both these are good resources for anybody using Wordpress

[Engage]

Are you sure - this is not just a nice forum to be in but a very liberal one too. Could you pm me?

Yes, the management here are good sports, agreed.

I feel like I sometimes ride the line of what is appropriate, in uh, more ways than one, so I'd be happy to PM you details, and would direct other curious parties to my sig.

Darn, there I go again! :)


Thinking on the situation of a beginner - something I am passionate about - it seems obvious that since a blog nowadays can be picked up for LESS THAN A PDF on how to "build a website" we are wasting TONS of time - even those of us who are not beginners.[/B]

I love where you are going with this. I really do.

Honestly, I feel you are right in the same groove as my thinking, but one step ahead.

After all, there's no easier way to build a site than to buy one that's already built. The simplicity of this solution is very appealing.

My coding addiction seems to have prevented me from really grasping this point, until your post.

I'm aware that people buy and sell sites, but that's about it. Most of us are probably in that situation.

I hereby nominate you to become our tutor on the subject. Could be a site for you, an ebook, a membership site, etc.


A nice header graphic or a beach house? Yeah I'll take the beach house too !!

When we become really successful, we'll have a site about our beach houses, and our site will have a really nice header graphic. :)

[jkgourmet]

Engage, Not to be a skeptic (although I am), I find it somewhat suspicious that accessing your website through the link in your signature line leads to a site that does not tell anything about what you are selling. All links on the site end up at a page that says it's being updated and to contact you via email for information. If I recall correctly, that page has been "being updated" since you first began posting here in late March.

Additionally, your real name is no where to be seen - either on this forum, your profile or your own website.

I can't help but wonder: Is it SBI that you are promoting? No problem with that - there are many who like it and a few who use it around here. But it isn't "free" as you signature indicates. In fact, it gets quite expensive if you are running more than one site, as you pay per site, not per hosting account.

Engage, transparency is a good thing, especially in a forum like this one. You've made contributions and given advice that's been helpful. If the moderators feel that you are spamming by discussing what you REALLY are suggesting as an alternative to DIY or WP, I'm sure they will take care of it.

So - with all due respect: why don't you share it openly instead of via PM or email. Or, at the very least, let people read it for themselves on your own site?

[Engage]

Hi Jeanette,


Engage, Not to be a skeptic (although I am),

No problem at all Jeanette. You see, I'm always challenging every thing I meet, so challenging is welcome here. Really, it is. And, net business is full of baloney, so being careful is wise.

And of course, any thread about me is a good thread. :)


I find it somewhat suspicious that accessing your website through the link in your signature line leads to a site that does not tell anything about what you are selling.

Ah, ok, fair question, with an easy answer. I'm not selling anything. Anywhere on the Net.

Well, you are rightfully skeptical, so let's be more precise.

My services are free ad supported technical services. Like Google. So my focus is not to get your money. I have no big sales page urging you to ORDER NOW! before the fake javascript clock runs out etc etc. Perhaps that feels unfamiliar?

I do however have a paid option so that users can remove my ads from my services if that is what works best for them. I just wrote an article about that today, which you can find here.

http://page-engine.com/main/free-or-paid-its-up-to-you.cgi


All links on the site end up at a page that says it's being updated and to contact you via email for information. If I recall correctly, that page has been "being updated" since you first began posting here in late March.

I'm sorry, you don't recall correctly. That "being updated" page has been there only 24 hours. And it does offer a link to my personal email, so if folks have questions, it's easy to find me.

As you can see, I'm happy to answer questions. In other words, if someone wants an account right now today, for free, here I am, ready to help.

The problem is not getting me to talk, it's getting me to shut up. :)


Additionally, your real name is no where to be seen - either on this forum, your profile or your own website.

Hmm... I'm puzzled by this, as my name and photo is the very first thing you encounter on the home page of each of the three sites listed in my sig.

That said, I do agree more detail about me would be a good idea. For starters, my name is Phil Tanny. A personal blog will appear at tanny.com, as soon as I have time.

What should I write about on that blog, what would you like to know? Give me your advice here please, because one of the reasons the "all about Phil" blog is not up now, is that I'm not sure what, if anything, readers would like to know about me.

Well, here's a quick summary. Nature and the Net. That's me.

Let's get another one of my URLs in here! :) http://nature-talk.com

My wife Kathy is a passionate wildlife rehabber, and we currently have 3 bunnies, 2 woodpeckers, 3 wrens, and 6 squirrels living with us in our house until they grow big enough to be released. My best pal is Myra, a friendly retarded squirrel who lives in a big cage on my office desk. You can find videos of Kathy and I and our squirrels on Nature-Talk.


I can't help but wonder: Is it SBI that you are promoting?

Oh my, no! NO! :)

I have nothing against the good folks at SBI, who deserve recognition for their substantial accomplishments, but I've coded my own site builder from scratch. Thousands upon thousands of lines of code tended to lovingly, at great cost.

So I'm promoting that!

Plus the free ezine and forum hosting services.


No problem with that - there are many who like it and a few who use it around here. But it (SBI) isn't "free" as you signature indicates. In fact, it gets quite expensive if you are running more than one site, as you pay per site, not per hosting account.

Agreed. Again, I have no relationship of any kind to SBI, and am promoting my own competing service, which is entirely free. Not that expensive really!


Engage, transparency is a good thing, especially in a forum like this one. You've made contributions and given advice that's been helpful.

Thank you. Please understand, my main goal as a poster, as a writer, is to TRY to say something interesting. In that effort, I'm always exploring the boundaries of the group consensus, and thus will not always be right. I don't worry about that, when I'm wrong, someone always jumps to the rescue.


If the moderators feel that you are spamming by discussing what you REALLY are suggesting as an alternative to DIY or WP, I'm sure they will take care of it.

I guess we'll find out after this post. :)

Here's my situation. I am very interested in the world of online self employment, and have invested an incredible amount of time and energy in to providing free solutions to common problems faced by webmasters.

But, it's challenging to give my work away for free, because if I reference it in public discussions, I'm a spammer. One forum actually wouldn't let me use the word "free" anywhere in any sig.

Thus, you see these discussions where I reference the issues involved generally, and leave it to readers who are interested to find my sig, as you have done.

In other words, I'm am happy to spell out exactly who I am and what I have to offer in great detail, if that's what readers want. But until someone like you demands I do so, I have to be coy. I don't object to this, as I agree with the need for forum policies, but it can lead to some confusion, as it has here.


So - with all due respect: why don't you share it openly instead of via PM or email. Or, at the very least, let people read it for themselves on your own site?

Everyone is most welcome to read my sites! Just see my sig. And please, send me your questions and suggestions.

Finally, it's true I would be very pleased to form a partnership with Lynn and members of this forum, and would welcome any of you on my server. I see this site as a great complement to mine, as Lynn specializes in business consulting, where I'm more of a code nerd. If this site wants an experienced in house programmer and host, for free, here I am, waiting patiently to be called in to service.

But I should emphasize, I am completely sincere about the points made in my posts. It's not just sales pitch. After 30 years of self employment, I feel very strongly about these issues, which is where the energy comes from to go beyond blowharding theory, to practical real world solutions for the issues we're discussing.

Oh my. See? This is kinda embarrassing. You've asked me to talk about myself. And boy, did I.

I hope I've addressed your questions, and thanks for the challenge, and opportunity to explain myself.