Adding Categories and tags to your posts

Hello SI Participants!

Many of you have asked about adding Categories to your blog posts. Without further ado, I am glad to present the WordPress HowTo Video on: Adding categories and tags to your posts!

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Tired of searching the internet for everyone’s blog? Try adding them to your Blogroll using the Links feature.

Want to know more cool stuff? Check out the Getting Started section of the WordPress Help Forum.

For more information on the NWP Tech Toolbox, check out the Technology Integration page on the wiki.

Developing Your Blog, continued (courtesy Dr. Darren Crovitz)

1. Create a blog post with hyperlinks (i.e, turn words or a phrase into a link, like this). Basically, instead of copying the actual link directly into a post (which looks really awkward) you can turn words or phrases into links. For instance, if you were talking about how great the Arizona State Sun Devils football team is, you could link that phrase to an appropriate website. Similarly, if you think the Georgia Bulldogs are no good, you can create another link showing why. To do this, in the text field for your post, highlight the word or phrase you want to turn into a link, and click the “chain link” icon in the toolbar. Paste in the appropriate web address.
2. Create a blog post with an embedded image. To do this, locate and download a free image using a site like Spffy or EveryStockPhoto. Then create a new post, type an introduction, and then upload your image by clicking the “Add an Image” icon in the “Upload/Insert” toolbar. Then upload the image. (You can also link directly to the image if you like. Try both ways.)
3. Create a blog post with an embedded video clip. This may sound hard but it’s actually pretty easy. Go to YouTube and copy the URL (the web address) for a video clip of your choice. Create a new post, type an introduction, and then click “Add Video” in the “Upload/Insert” toolbar. Click the “From URL” tab at the top of the page, paste the URL in the space provided, and WordPress should automatically format it correctly.

Blog Widgets

1. Experiment with widgets on your blog (widgets are small applications that add various functions, from a calendar to file-sharing). In your Dashboard view, go to “Appearance,” “Widgets” to see a list of the available widgets.
2. To add a widget to a sidebar area on your blog, click “Add,” and then “Save Changes.” You can re-order widgets in a sidebar by grabbing them and moving them around.
3. Other widgets require you to create accounts with other sites in order to use the application. Experiment with some that look interesting (I like Box.net and Vodpod). Drag a widget to the Sidebar and click “Edit” for instruction on how it works and what it does. This is usually a very easy process, and you can always change it back if you don’t like it.

Play around with other features of your blog. Notice that by clicking “Users” on the right side of the Dashboard, you can allow other people controlling access to your blog…this may be helpful should you choose a blog as a group project platform.

Filed under: KMWPsi09, NWP Digital Toolbox