Once a web author has configured and revised the theme for a WordPress blog, it is customary to hand off the maintenance of the blog site to the client. This tutorial can help the client remember how to log in and add posts, pages, and links.
Logging In
As the owner of the web site, you become the web site "Administrator". This level of privilege allows you to register other "users" so they can help maintain content or respond to your news posts. You can also update content, add categories of posts, links, and pages, and turn features on and off.
To login, click the Login link on your site’s home, journal, or blog page. The link may be in the right, left, or bottom section of the page.
Dashboard and Main Menu
Logging in takes you to the Dashboard screen, where you can access the main administrative menu, which includes:
- Dashboard
- Notices from WordPress.
- Write
- Write new posts (news) or add new pages.
- Manage
- Add new categories, edit posts, edit pages, turn posts and pages on and off. Review and approve comments, and upload files.
- Links
- Sort, add, and categorize links. Import links from other documents and databases.
- Presentation
- Update the page design (theme). This task is for experienced web designers and programmers only.
- Plugins
- Additional features may be turned on and off
- Users
- Add a list of users who may provide comments on the news posts, or update content pages.
- Options
- Settings for the blog.
- Logout
- Be sure to logout each time you are done editing.
Some of these menus may have a submenu as well. Submenus show up under the main menu, but in smaller type.
If you’ve registered other Users, they too will see the Dashboard and main menu, but will only have access to sections you assigned them to.
Managing Posts and Pages
Click the Manage link in the Dashboard, to see a list of news/blog items.
- Click the Edit button next to item you want to modify.
- The text will appear in a text box so you can edit it.
- You’ll also see .html and .php <tags> within the textbox.
- Be sure to leave them in place so the page layout does not break.
- You can paste text in from Word, AppleWorks, other web pages, email messages, etc., but may need to add, replace, or remove tags to format the text the way you like.
- The text will appear in a text box so you can edit it.
- Save and continue editing, or publish the post.
To view the edited item:
- Click the View Site link, which is next to the site name in the Dashboard header.
Some pages will have an Edit this entry link at the end of the post/page.
Once you have logged in, the login link will change to Logout. To reach the dashboard, click Edit this entry.