In using WordPress, some people would think there was a standard. This includes, using WordPress in regards to blogging, designing, and developing with it. However it’s not the case. Why? Well, each person using WordPress has a different level of learning and also a different purpose. What one tutorial may say, might not be understood by everyone.
Yes, the end result may be creating a post, uploading an image, creating a gallery, or something, but in getting there, some people have their own little method that works for them. It’s kind of like a ritual. For example, I don’t use the Visual editor in WordPress. I know it’s there, I’ve used it, but I like the Text editor better. Some things I prefer to use code snippets rather than install another plugin, but other’s I will use the plugin. My method to my madness in using WordPress is not the same as the next WordPress user.
We’ve got plenty of tools and resources in learning WordPress like:
- WordPress Codex
- WordPress Code Reference
- WordPress for Dummies by Lisa Sabin-Wilson (not an affiliate link)
- WordPress Support forums
- WordPress at Stack Exchange
- WPBeginner
- All About WordPress on Facebook
- Advanced WordPress on Facebook
- WordPress Community on Google+
…and much more. Sorry that I don’t list a ton of places, and maybe another time I will, but this is a good chunk of resources to learn from. There are also courses available at Lynda.com, and Udemy.com. There are also thousands of free videos that are WordPress-related on Youtube too!
Using WordPress: Not Everyone Will Use It The Same Way
The reason why I write this post, is because I recently started making sure to go back to some of my WordPress tutorials, and add other methods that may make it easier. Also, I recently read a comment to one of my articles, by a developer who wanted to be snarky and suggest a method, with regards to saying that it was “for the grownups.” His method was an honest and valid suggestion, but his attitude was poor.
Well, we’re all adults here (except for the teens and kids using WordPress out there…lol), but in saying something like that, it fueled me to write a post like this to maybe give some food for thought, and change the thinking for those who are teaching people on how to use WordPress.
We don’t need another cocky or snarky developer or designer who has no patience (psst- I’m a developer too, so I had to really change my thought process on this long ago), and their chosen method is the only acceptable method. We need those people to be more understanding and direct people to the proper channels, especially if those people aren’t considering who they are talking to. An exit strategy for learning WordPress are really important, even if the learning method is from another resource.
In not doing this, it is why we have frustrated people with a website they can’t use, and the designer or developer wonders why their feedback is negative, or they aren’t re-hired. I’ve heard this story repeatedly at WordCamps. There’s really no excuse with the amount of amazing resources out there for this to be happening.
When you install WordPress and are using WordPress, it’s yours to do whatever you want. You should have that freedom to choose how to learn to use it and choose what method suits you. If it’s easier to understand a longer method, and work with code or commands, by golly, then do it. If you prefer a plugin method… again go for it.
For those reading this, and they are the end user wanting to use WordPress, if you’re confused when you read a tutorial, ask questions. You may find that you motivated the author to revise and improve their tutorial. There’s enough eager content creators in the WordPress community that someone will do it, whether on their own website, guest blogging, contributing to the WordPress Codex, or answering in other places.
How do you think WordPress tutorials can be written better? How do you think designers and developers can do better in educating their clients on using WordPress? How can we make it better?
I believe that if your tutorial solves the problem of folks, your target is achieved. You have mentioned different sources above like our own group All About WordPress. IMHO, we must write tutorials (small or big) on the questions asked in these communities. It will solves the problem and the content lasts forever.
We all use WordPress for different ways. In a room, we have technical people who code and have no interest to be mentioned anywhere. On the other side of coin, we have folks who love to juggle the communities and question the problems. In a positive instance and as I always say, we live WordPress! 🙂
Using the topics on my group- This is one of the issues that I’ve been slowly trying to tackle and one of the goals for this year as I go through 2 years of questions and content.
I do agree. I just wish people would think the same and not get an attitude about it, as if we all should know better. lol
Well, lets sit for it sometime. We can do it together. Aha!
Great ARTICLE.. I used the cuckootap theme to make these beautiful sites on wordpress.. I used themes but added some custom code where needed.
I like reading about your WordPress findings. I am not a techy person I find it easy to follow visual tutorials, it can be pictures or video. Thanks for sharing.
I’m use WordPress for long time and now still use it. I also switch to some other platforms but none of them are flexible and easy to use like WordPress. With WordPress, we can easy to turn to any kind of website we like such as blog, news, magazine, simple website, porfolio, gallery or even a landing page.
I love wordpress for my site. I think this the best software for blogs and sites.
I’m certainly no developer, Nile, but I do know my way around a bit on my WP sites.
When I look for tutorials to learn more, I often find that the trainer is incomplete with their information.
For instance, I recently accessed a training by a “WP pro” to find out where to integrate my WP pages with the Facebook targeting pixel. The training said (as the FB training did…) to “simply” insert the code before the tag.
That all sounds simple to a developer I suppose, but I was lost (and still am) to find out where THAT is. If I have a WP landing page, I don’t see anywhere to add that code, or anywhere that I can identify the header tags. Now, as I continued to bang my head against the wall, I discovered there are plugins for this. But do I really need another plugin?
Then I tried to find out how to put both FB and Twitter targeting codes on a landing page. Do I just stack them one after the other, or should one be in the footer another in the header….
These seem like pretty simple and straight-forward questions, and I’m sure the “answer” is drop-dead simple. But WP trainings always seem to presume that people like me know exactly what they mean when they say “enter your code in the header code”. I think EVERY time a training tells you to do something like that, it should then go on to explain HOW and WHERE, preferably with screen caps.
I must admit I’ve not accessed your WP trainings, Nile, but I’m sure they’re more thorough than some of the ones I have looked at.
Thanks for the interesting article, here.
I love your perspective about multiple ways of doing things. I have no feedback about WordPress tutorials, though, because I’ve never used any. I’m a “figure it out myself” kind of person unless I get really stuck with something (and then I post for help in a particular Facebook group :)) but I haven’t had struggles with WordPress directly.
Hi Nile. I definitely agree that there are many ways to do something and that we all learn and teach differently. For me, having clearly delineated steps with accompanying screen shots showing how to do something is helpful. For example, when tutorials mention how to insert some type of code on a particular page they often don’t show how to get to that page or how the inserted code will appear. So, visuals are great! And breaking down things even into several steps is helpful, especially if someone is totally new at something. The more info. the better.
Hi Nile,
yes, we all have different ways of learning and using things.
I appreciate the links you provide.
Finding tutorials that work for the individual can be a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack.
You have provided a ‘magnifying glass’ for the search.
Thank you for sharing this!
Cheers,
Yorinda
Hello Nile, Great post my friend, I would never call myself a techy person yet, I have done A LOT Of training to get to where I am today and I have learned that if I need help ASK!
I believe I have asked for your help once or twice over the past few years Yes? See if we don’t ask we wont know Right?
Thanks for all that you do Nile, I just love visiting your site, I am always learning something new..
Chery :))
Hi Nile, good article and thoughts on how everyone is different in regards to using WordPress. I remember years ago, when I purchased the Thesis theme – I know very little about php code, but I knew how to write code in other programming languages. So, I was trying to achieve the look I wanted quickly, by reading tutorials, instead of learning php from scratch.
And, there were many times when I was naughty and trying to get something done quickly, and I copied code on a tutorial, without checking it first. I messed things up pretty bad sometimes, although luckily I was sensible enough to keep backups LOL.
So, for me, I would like to see Technical Tutorials tested before publishing – preferably tested by a person without the knowledge that tutorial is meant to teach. I know it takes time to do that, but you did ask for suggestions 🙂
Nile, I have been using the WordPress platform for about 3 years now and I have learned so much about it from checking out tutorials and also from my developer who gave me a training manual he put together when I first got started with my new site. I am still learning more and more every day but I would really enjoy having some video tutorials that offer simple explanations for someone to be able to implement that is not a tech person. If I didn’t have the help of you and Kim I would be lost especially with some of the extra things I have had to add on my site. Thanks for sharing all the resource links to help us!
The best tutorials either assume nothing, or begin with their assumptions, e.g. “For this tutorial, we assume you understand the navigational functions of WordPress and know how to install a new plugin. If that isn’t you, then check out our beginner’s tutorial here.”
Also, it really helps to have screenshots of what the tutorial is explaining, too. Step-by-step.
I am still learning WordPress and only use the free blog version of it for my second blog. It can be VERY overwhelming!
I’m not a techy. I’ve learned a few things along the way, so I know more than a lot of people, but I’m no expert. I like David’s comment about using screen shots (or videos) as tutorials — and Zach’s comment about assuming nothing, or showing a person exactly where to go if he needs more background. I’ve learned so much from bloggers like you and Kim.
It really is amazing the plethora of tools out there that can help to learn and utilize wordpress. I think what i have found though that has helped me the most is the endless amount of communities out there that are so willing to give a helping hand to anyone that may need it. From time to time i find myself venturing to your website when i think you have probably written a article on it! 🙂
Hi Nile,
Once again you have written excellent post.
I am not developer but i like to learn about Word press and i like to do some nice experiments on my site using word press plugins. I do agree that there are various ways to do things we can not depend on only one way to do any perticular thing.
I prefer visual learning beacuse we can actually see what’s happing and where to do things, and in text format i personally get little confused.
There are plenty of word press guidance and tutorials are available and each way is different from another.
I find a lot of help on WP on the web. I code my own customizations on the free Atahualpa theme – a delicacy 🙂
Hey Nile, I couldn’t have said it better. Not only will everyone not use it the same way, but will not learn the same way. Myself, I tried to fix that with my tuts by offering videos and text and screenshot highlights, but that’s a lot of work.
I could talk on this all day… but I will leave it at that. Cheers and thanks for the post!
Hi Nile. I love WordPress. I’m not nearly as talented you are, but I love the fact that a non-techie like me can maintain my own site. I did have a blog designed once, but when I wanted a new header, it just didn’t get done. I finally got disgusted and learned to do it myself.
It is amazing to me that so many bloggers use WordPress, and yet it is difficult to find two blogs that look alike. I’m addicted to plugins – so cool. And a pox on the developer who was snarky with you. I love you blog look and contents.
All the best,
Leslie
Hey Nile, thanks for your post on using wordpress, not everyone will use it the same way….
There are many things you mentioned I hadn’t even heard about yet.
Hi Nile,
I love WordPress, and am not a techie. I like to visit your blog all the time because you do write in a user friendly way that even I can understand.
I don’t do anything techie, not even install a plug in. But I know I can trust your advice. And it is important for me to learn the lingo so if I want something done, I can explain it using the correct words. OK that’s how bad I am at this.
Over the years, you have provided so much great information. If someone ever asks me a techie question, I know I can refer them to you and they would be in good hands.
-Donna
Nile, we have come along way from building sites, off of pure code?
I love the easy way anyone can watch a tutorial and create a blog in minutes. We have this one locations that does just that using our WordPress platform. I love it!
My love is that all my registered readers contact information is stored. Just until I can place it where it will be best used, for my purpose of support. This alone has won my loyalty.
Thanks Nile for providing one stop service for our technical issues. Your support is valued.
Thanks Nile!
But most of time when the really heavy techie talk starts,
my main cue is as soon as my eyes start glazing over!
It’s time to take a deep breath and move along!
I’m barely able to find my way around WordPress, but I really don’t
try to go too deep into learning every potential use for it!
i can stumble through the basics, and that’s about all I really need!
Bu thanks for clarifying certain things!
Hi Nile,
I am new to WordPress. So I am learning things as I go along. Thank for the wonderful information that you have provided. I Will be checking out some of your tutorials!
Incredible how ungrateful people are when someone takes the time to post free information.