Learn How To Use WordPress Admin Area
This Guide is perfect for users who are completely new to WordPress. You will have a better understanding on how to manage the WordPress back end or Dashboard.
So you just installed WordPress and want to start creating you blog, this means you are on the right track so far. WordPress is the best Content Management System available, powering approximately 30% of all websites on the internet and have a estimated 60% market share of CMS sites! Why is WordPress the best Content Management System?
What is the Admin Area?
The admin area or WordPress Dashboard, is the administrative area where you will manage all your blog’s content, design and functionality.
How to log into the WordPress Admin Area
To login to the WordPress Dashboard, enter your login URL in the address bar of your browser. The URL usually looks like this: http://www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin
Enter the Username and Password created when you installed WordPress.
How to use WordPress Admin Area
After you logged in, the Dashboard screen will open, this page will give you an overview of whats happening on your site. On the left side of the Admin Area you will see a list of all the admin options.
Posts
Posts typically appear in a blog. When you write a blog entry, you will use a post. Posts appear in reverse chronological order on your blog’s page. Posts also have a build in commenting feature that allows users to comment on topics. To create a post, simply click on Posts > Add new.
Media Library
The Media section allows you to upload images, videos and files to your blog. You can also edit, view and delete files previously uploaded.
Pages
A Page do not appear in time structured views in the blog section like posts. Pages can be used for hierarchical content, e.g. they can be organized into subpages. Pages are used for static content, which isn’t time dependent, for example About Us or Contact Page.
To create a new page, Select Pages > click on Add New.
Comments
Comments allow your readers to communicate with you or with each other on your website. In the comment section you can Approve or delete comments on your blog posts or pages.
Appearance
The Appearance menu is where you can change the design and looks of your website.
Themes – The Themes screen allows you to manage all your themes. You can install new themes, activate, update or delete themes. A WordPress Theme modifies the way your site is displayed, e.g. changing the layout, colors, fonts and styles.
Customize – The Customizer allows you to change certain theme features such as layouts, fonts, colors, logos and menus in a live preview format.
Widgets – On this screen you will find a list of all available widgets, they allow you to add content and features to certain areas of your theme. Widgets were created to provide you with a easy way to control and design your WordPress theme.
Menus – You can easily create and manage menus. Menus help you to create structure to your website. Links such as Categories and Pages are usually added to the themes menu.
Editor – A Simple text editor that allows you to view or modify theme files.
Plugins
Plugins extend functionality by adding features to your website.
Installed Plugins – A list of all installed plugins. From this screen you can activate, deactivate, delete or change plugin settings.
Add New – From this screen you can easily search and install new plugins to your WordPress Site. You can also upload downloaded plugins.
2 Recommended plugins that I use:
- Rank Math is a great plugin you can use to improve SEO. Alternatively you can try Yoast SEO.
- WPForms is a very handy drag and drop form builder.
Users
The WordPress Users options allows you to control what users can or cannot do on your website.
Add New – Allows you to add new users to your website. You can also set user roles from this screen. The user roles defines certain permissions of a user.
Your Profile – Several settings and preferences can be set here including your username, email address, profile picture, color options and other personal information.
Settings
General – Contains many basic settings for your website such as Site title, Tagline (what your site is about), Site URL, Email address, Language and Date and Time settings.
Writing – The Writing screen allows you to change certain post settings, such as the default post category and format.
Reading – On the Reading screen you can decide how many posts displays per page, if your home page should display a static page or recent posts, whether to show each article in a feed full text or summary. There is also a option to discourage search engines from indexing your website.
Discussion – Contains settings on how users or visitors interact with your website.
Media – Settings related to images that you use on your site, e.g. image sizes.
Permalinks – Allows you to create custom URL structure for your permalinks.
What you should know about Fiber Optic cables.
