Clicking the image will make it bigger, duh!
Now that you have a basic site, you need to know how to properly create articles and post them.One of the easiest parts of WordPress is it’s ability to let you create articles anywhere that has a web connection or if you have an iPhone, until you have a connection (to be explained in a later tutorial). Simply log into your administrative area (mysite.com/wp-admin) and click new post at the top right. You can also use QuickPress, which is useful for posting very quick articles that don’t require much formatting or media. To manage the articles simply click on posts to the left and it will pull up a list of articles you have recently published.
The article
Posting an article is relatively simply, if you actually have something to write about. If you are just going to spew garbage that nobody wants to read, don’t waste your time. There are so many worthless blogs out there that just repeat and steal from others, at least if you are 12 and writing about your cat Miffy you are learning how to use the Internet. The next important detail, as one of the biggest that gets lost between college and your first writing based job is opinion. Unless you are reviewing something, making use of an opinions section or are a celebrity, nobody gives a shit about what you ate for breakfast (same goes for Twitter/Facebook).
Use words that apply to your readers: For instance, I am cussing like a sailor because this article is being directed towards college aged students and reading is boring to them. Apparently when you say bad words they can read on just a bit further.
Be interesting: Don’t bull shit the reader. If you use headlines like “Steve Jobs ate my baby” or “LOLZ PEW PEW PEW I’m awesome” only one thing will occur from this. Your reader will see in the article that Steve Jobs did not eat a baby, and it was actually just a dingo named Steve Jobs. They will also already know you are new awesome, which makes you in fact a douche.
Keep it brief and to the point: You remember those long articles that would actually be a standard size of 750 words? Don’t bother. If you can get someone to read past the second paragraph it would be a world record. Ok, so that word size hasn’t been seen since my days with the college newspaper (thanks Kelley), apparently real papers can’t find writers who breach 500 words.
Pretty Pink Ponies: Just like the odd bold font peaked your curiosity, the use of pictures will do the very same. Use them as much as possible, in fact if you can write an article in pictures you will be golden. *Note, videos don’t work as well.
Article Formating
Clicking the image will make it bigger, duh!
- The more button: This button will separate the brief information posted on your home page from the body of the article. You can fit about a sentence or so in there, so make it count.
- Full Screen: WordPress takes over your screen.
- Pictures: Upload your images in this area, or copy an image URL to steal borrow it from another site.
- Video: Upload a video, using embedded Youtube videos tends to be easier though. This option is good if you post videos on your home page.
- Poll: Regardless of what news publishers say, polls are not a good way to interact with your readers. Either nobody will vote, some dumb ass will try to fudge the numbers or it will be a biased vote.
The other options listed on the article posting area are basic word processing buttons. The quote symbol also makes boxes like the one surrounding this text.
Editing Articles
Clicking the image will make it bigger, duh!
Clicking on the left navigation where it says “Posts” brings up the list of articles you have published. By published I don’t mean the kind that is useful on a resume, I mean the weird stuff you feel should be spread across the Internet (Unless you get paid per post).
Quick edit allows you to change basic information without having to go into the actual article, this tends to be very helpful.
This should help you on your way to creating articles worth reading. If you have any specific questions as to posting and creating articles we would be happy to lend you a hand. Members of Play This also have extensive graphic design skills so if you need pretty boxes or logos e-mail us at evolutionfreelancemedia@gmail.com so we can get you some good connections. Having a good brand on your site is rather important and it helps to remain consistent (Facebook, Twitter and shitspace all use consistent branding properly).
Also it’s not wise to actually steal images from other people, if you ask for them good, but there are many stock photo sites with desperate emo kids photography that would happily give you free images.
