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Learning WordPress: Overwhelmed by the Challenge?

April 19, 2011 · · Google+

You are not a Dummie, but you own the WordPress book. Eyes glazed and mind frazzled, you wonder why the words are gibberish to you.

So, you decide a personal approach is better. You attend Meetups, Tweetups and user groups, yet are still not sure how to get started. Is it me?, you ask.

Maybe you made headway with your WordPress site and like the way the colors and fonts capture your personality. Now you are questioning if you set the site up right.

Over the last several months I have met many folks  eager to learn WordPress. They are coaches, consultants and entrepreneurs struggling to take charge of their business while operating on a shoe string budget — just like you.

They feel powerless to make simple changes on their “old” website. Some of them feel hurt and abandoned by their WordPress designer when they reach out for support and guidance.

So, I’m asking my three readers who are tech-savvy:

  • Are you a self-taught blog / website designer?
  • What is your learning style?
  • Do you recommend others follow your path?
  • How would you approach the project differently today?
Filed Under: Working With WordPress
  • http://www.redvelvetconfections.com Teresa

    I’m no expert but I do have a recipe blog that I learned to personally customize using tips and tools from blogs like yours, HTML books, WordPress books, and by asking coding questions of people with related experience.
    I learn by hands-on experience…by trial and error. Because blogging and EVERYTHING related to it was foreign to me, I had to be right in front of any site issues before knowing that it was something that needed to be addressed. For example: I learned that Akismet is my very best friend after receiving hundreds of them in my mailbox one day. Learning hands-on, can be a very time consuming method so I would only recommend it if time isn’t an issue.I wouldn’t change how I’ve approached building my blog because I’m personally familiar with the nuts and bolts behind it, I can fix my own problems instead of waiting for someone else and my successes will give me the confidence and desire to learn so much more. My blog is http://www.redvelvetconfections.com. I learned of your blog via the Atlanta WordPress Users Group.

    • http://SweetTeaGroup.com Kathy Drewien

      Yum! Red velvet, buttermilk pie, brown sugar pound cake… I’m hooked and
      subscribed!

      Hands-on, trial and error echoes my experience. I’m an early adopter, so
      that often limited my local resources for learning experiences. When I
      finally met someone face-to-face who spoke my language… I soared for
      weeks!

      Your experience with Akismet is a great example of why I love teaching.
      Folks don’t know what they don’t know. And if they can’t identify or name
      the problem, they can’t find the solution. How many sites do you run across
      with permalink settings which do nothing to enhance SEO? Do-it-yourself
      types like you and me are ofter quick to research SEO, but permalinks…
      What kind of word is that?

      Looking forward to meeting you face-to-face and learning more from you. Who
      knows. You may inspire me to actually cook instead of eat!

  • Debbie Johnson

    Kathy,
    Thanks for letting me drop in tonight! I felt quite out of my element. Hopefully left with some morsels to chew on …Debbie Johnson 

    • http://SweetTeaGroup.com Kathy Drewien

      I’m glad you joined us, Debbie. Feel free to call or email me at anytime.
      I’d enjoy talking about your plans, ideas and strategies in more detail.