The WordPress dashboard
The WordPress Dashboard gives you an all-in-one glance at your website’s statistics and activity. This table gives you brief descriptions of the main menu items in the WordPress Dashboard that apply across all versions of WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Each version provides different options, but the basic main menu of the Dashboard is standard across all versions.
| Menu | Description |
|---|---|
| Dashboard | Find basic information and statistics for your site, as well as information from the WordPress Development Site and other sites run by those involved with WordPress development or resources. |
| Posts | Write new posts and edit previous ones. Create categories to organize your posts by topic; upload images; create post excerpts; send trackbacks; manage custom fields. |
| Media | View all media files you’ve uploaded to your site, including images, audio, and video. Upload and manage new media files with the built-in media uploader. |
| Pages | Write and publish new static pages for your site, edit or delete previously published pages, and assign pages to custom page templates. |
| Comments | Manage comments here by viewing, editing, or deleting them; also manage your comment moderation queue and comment/trackback spam. |
| Appearance | Manage your WordPress themes by viewing them, activating them, and editing them using the site editor. Use and create block patterns. |
| Plugins | View a listing of plugins installed in your WordPress site. Find new plugins, and install, activate, deactivate, upgrade, and edit them. |
| Users | Manage your users and subscribers and edit your own profile. |
| Tools | Import data into your site from another content management platform (such as Blogger, Typepad, or Movable Type) or export your current site data into a backup file. Upgrade your WordPress software to the latest version using the auto-upgrade feature. |
| Settings | Set the general options for your site, and find settings for posts, RSS feed, discussion options, privacy, and permalinks. |
WordPress content types
Content is the lifeblood of a website, regardless of author or topic. Populate your site with a variety of content types to engage reader interest and to ensure return visits. WordPress offers several types of content that can be published on your website using the different, built-in features.
| Menu | Description |
|---|---|
| Posts | Articles that get written and published to your site — posts are included as part of your archived site. |
| Pages | Static, individual pages do not get published and archived as part of the site on your site; rather are used as standalone pages to publish items like an “About Me” page. |
| Categories | File your blog posts into different topics. |
| Tags | Define micro-categories for your posts by using tags to define extended keywords to help your readers locate posts on your site relevant to the topic they want to read about. |
| Images and Galleries | Upload photos or images and create photo galleries, or a portfolio of images. |
| Media files | Upload audio files for podcasting, or video files for video publishing. Even upload files like PDFs or Microsoft Word documents to provide downloadable content, like e-books or manuals. |
| Custom Post Types | Create different methods of posting niche content types on your site, like a photo gallery, video gallery, or a repository of reviews for things like movies, books, and music (just to name a few of many examples). |
| Custom Post Formats | Create customized display of different post formats like photos, quotes, posts, links, videos, and so on. |
| Custom Fields | Use custom fields to attach different post metadata to individual posts and pages, like your current mood, what you’re currently listening to or your current local weather. |
WordPress resources
If you use WordPress as the platform for your blog or website, you can make use of any or all of the many tools WordPress offers. Tap into some solid information from WordPress user forums, get ideas for themes, and boost your WordPress knowledge.
| Name | Description |
| WordPress Plugins | Offers thousands of downloads that let you do almost anything you can imagine — and you can imagine quite a lot, can’t you? |
| WordPress Themes | Lets you choose from hundreds of themes to manage the look and functionality of your home page. |
| WordPress Documentation | Use WordPress Documentation to tap into the encyclopedia of WordPress knowledge. |
| WordPress News & Updates | This section of the official WordPress website gives you the latest news and notes on all things WordPress. |
| Support Forums for WordPress.com | Lets you post questions, answers, and comments for other WordPress users who are using the hosted/commercial version of WordPress.com. |
| Support Forums for WordPress.org | Post your questions and obtain answers from the vast WordPress community for users of the self-hosted WordPress.org software. |
Designing a website with WordPress designers
Turn to WordPress designers if you need help designing your website. The look and feel of your website are critical to its success, so take your time when choosing themes, color, and layout. If you’re looking for a cool theme, or someone to add pizzazz to your site through design, you want that person to know your WordPress platform. These designers fit the bill.
| Name / URL | Description |
| WebDevStudios | Cutting edge, custom WordPress design and development |
| Freshy Sites | WordPress web design services |
| KadenceWP | Purchase and download easy-to-use WordPress premium themes. |
| GB Digital | Custom WordPress design and development for small businesses and organizations |