Build A WordPress Website

Using WordPress as a Content Management System and Blog

You are here: Home / Archives for Weblog News

Weblog News

WordPress 3.4 Green Release

Filed Under: Weblog News, WordPress Themes

If you login to your WordPress website you will see a notice about the new WordPress 3.4 release. If you want to start a new WordPress website, this release is the new stable version.

There are several great improvements in this release, like the theme preview function.

With this option, you can check how your website would look with a new theme, and you can change configuration options without activating the theme!

WordPress Twenty Eleven Preview
WordPress 3.4 Theme Preview. Read more on WordPress News

Besides this theme preview you also get better performance and better image handling with captions. You can now place HTML code like a link into the caption field.

Do I Need to Upgrade?

It is always a good idea to keep up-to-date with a new release, but make sure you first make a good back-up. You can then always revert back if you run into trouble with a theme or a plugin that is not compatible.

I will update some minor WordPress website first and take it from there.

Be Carefull, if you changed the standard Twenty Eleven theme, make sure you back it up. This new version will overwrite your changes!

If you want to read more on the new features, like the embedded tweet function, go to http://wordpress.org/news/2012/06/green/

Together with some good performance updates definitely a fine update, so go ahead and try the new WordPress 3.4 Green Release on your blog / website.

Upgrading WordPress The Easy Way

Filed Under: Weblog News

WordPress core versions are released on a regular base, with security upgrades in between if needed.

You want to upgrade as soon as possible, and as of WordPress version 3.7 automatic background updates for security releases is introduced.

If you want more controle, or even get the newest Core, Plugins and Themes (aff) updated automatically? What is the easiest way to do that?

To help take the necessary steps for a secure upgrade, you can use a plugin called WordPress Automatic Updater.

This plugin upgrades your WordPress installation by doing the following:

1 .Backs up the files and provides a link to download.
2. Backs up the database and provides a link to download.
3. Downloads the latest files from http://wordpress.org/latest.zip and unzips file.
4. Puts the site in maintenance mode.
5. Deactivates all active plugins and remembers the settings.
6. Upgrades WordPress files.
7. Gives you a link that will open in a new window to upgrade installation.
8. Reactivates the plugins.
This plugin can also can be run in an automated mode where you don't have to click any links to go to the next step, but I prefer to have more control. It's as simple as clicking through to the next step and downloading the backup files (as the plugin suggests).

This website was upgraded to a new version in about 5 minutes. I did this without leaving the WordPress Dashboard or writing down which plugins were or were not active… and without doing any FTP uploads.

If you want minimal downtime when upgrading your website, I recommend using this plugin for a fast and easy upgrade to the latest WordPress version.

Affiliate Link Disclosures

Moving a WordPress Site to a New Host and Domain – WpSiteBuilding.com

Filed Under: Weblog News, WordPress Blog, WordPress CMS

Moving a WordPress Website

I decided to move this WordPress website from the “old” subdomain (www.hummerbie.com) to a new domain (aff) and hosting (aff) company.

The main reason I moved is because I was unhappy with the hosting (aff) provider of the main site. Recently they moved to faster servers and a better internet backbone, but after moving there are still ongoing issues with some of the other sites that run there.

The second reason is, I wanted to see how well Google and other search engines will pick up the 301 redirects (permanently moved pages) and hold my current rankings in the search results. Another part of this SEO exercise is to see how the rankings and number of visitors to this site are influenced by the move of a Dutch hosting provider with servers in Amsterdam to a USA-based hosting company JustHost.com (Geo Targeting in Search Engine Optimization).

After the dust settles, I will write a page/post about the process of moving a WordPress site. I've already found one major problem that is now fixed, but I need to do some more testing and tweaking to be sure. After that, I will give you a complete overview of all the pitfalls to avoid in a process like this and how to handle it the right way. Subscribe to the e-mail or RSS updates on the right side of the menu to get those updates.

Affiliate Link Disclosures

Finding the Right WordPress Pages Ordering Plugin

Filed Under: Weblog News, WordPress CMS

Running a WordPress Based website produces a Lot of Pages.

But WordPress does not allow you to assign Pages to Categories, But this might be a great function to reduce the number of Links in your Page Menu.

So currently I am looking at the new Plugins from Andy Staines who creates some great Plugins like the "Page Category Plus"
Once I figured out how to use it, you will find the examples and Configuration and Usage Instructions on the Pages..

Building a Website with WordPress as Content Management System

Filed Under: Weblog News, WordPress CMS


I am setting this website up as an example on how to use WordPress as a Content Managment System, and will be posting about the things I find and work with.

The Site will have three Silos to work with:

WordPress Setup:
The Configuration settings to use WordPress as a Content Management System with a static Frontpage

WordPress Plugins:
An overview and Manuals on how to use the Plugins that complete the CMS part of WordPress and makes it easier to work with.
You will also get some tips on Plugins you can use to further Optimize your site for Search Engines.

WordPress Themes:
Some themes (aff) just work better for Building a Website with WordPress, you can read about them here with tips and trics how to use and improve them to suite your needs.

Enjoy the ride ride with me and scubscribe to the RSS Feed or the E-mail version.

[techtags:WordPress, CMS, Website, Building]
Affiliate Link Disclosures