Wordpress Material

 

📢 Welcome to the WordPress Masterclass at Nobigdeal Training Centre!

📍 Instructor: Salau Raheem
📍 Duration: 8 Weeks
📍 Objective: Train students to become WordPress experts, ready to design blogs, business websites, and e-commerce stores with strong SEO, security, and hosting knowledge.

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Week 1: Introduction to WordPress

📌 Day 1 – Introduction to WordPress
1️⃣ What is WordPress? – A website-building tool that powers over 40% of the internet.
2️⃣ History of WordPress – Launched in 2003, it started as a blogging platform but evolved into a full CMS.
3️⃣ Uses of WordPress – Blogs, business sites, e-commerce, portfolios, forums, and more.
4️⃣ Advantages of WordPress – Free, easy to use, customizable, SEO-friendly.
5️⃣ Installation of WordPress – Using XAMPP (local) or cPanel (live hosting).

📌 Day 2 – WordPress Dashboard
1️⃣ Overview of the WordPress admin panel.
2️⃣ Exploring Settings, Appearance, Plugins, and Tools.
3️⃣ How to create and manage users.

📌 Day 3 – Themes & Plugins
1️⃣ What are themes? – Pre-designed templates for WordPress.
2️⃣ Installing and customizing themes.
3️⃣ What are plugins? – Add new features without coding.
4️⃣ Installing and configuring plugins (Yoast SEO, Elementor, etc.).

📌 Project Days:
✅ Project 1: Install and set up WordPress locally.
✅ Project 2: Create a simple blog website.

📢 Welcome to the WordPress Masterclass at Nobigdeal Training Centre!

📍 Instructor: Salau Raheem

📍 Objective: Train students to become WordPress experts, ready to design blogs, business websites, and e-commerce stores with strong SEO, security, and hosting knowledge.

On this first lecture we are going to be looking at the Introduction to basics of WordPress, covering its history, advantages, installation, and key components like the dashboard, themes, and plugins. By the end of this First training, students will have installed WordPress and created a simple blog website.

So let get started 

Introduction to WordPress

Meaning of WordPress 

History of WordPress

Uses of WordPress 

Advantage of using wordpress 

1. What is WordPress?

WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows users to create and manage websites easily without coding knowledge. It powers over 40% of websites on the internet.

2. History of WordPress

Created in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little as a blogging tool.

Grew into a full CMS, allowing users to create various websites.

Open-source software, meaning it is free to use and developed by a community.

3. Uses of WordPress

Blogs

Business websites

E-commerce stores

Portfolios

Membership sites

News websites

4. Advantages of Using WordPress

Ease of Use – No coding skills required.

Customization – Thousands of themes and plugins available.

SEO Friendly – Optimized for search engines.

Security – Regular updates and security plugins available.

Community Support – Large online community for help.

5. Installing WordPress

Local Installation (Using XAMPP or WAMP)

Download and install XAMPP/WAMP.

Download WordPress from wordpress.org.

Move the WordPress folder to htdocs (for XAMPP) or www (for WAMP).

Create a database in phpMyAdmin.

Run the WordPress installation by visiting localhost/wordpress.

Live Installation (On Web Hosting)

Purchase a domain and hosting.

Use cPanel to install WordPress automatically or manually upload files.

Configure the database and complete the setup.

Practical Task

Install WordPress locally using XAMPP or WAMP.

Day Two: WordPress Dashboard

Lesson Objectives

Understand the WordPress interface.

Learn how to navigate the dashboard.

Explore WordPress settings.

Lesson Content

1. WordPress Interface Overview

Admin Dashboard – The main control panel for managing your site.

Left-Side Menu – Provides access to pages, posts, media, plugins, settings, etc.

2. Navigating the Dashboard

Dashboard Home – Overview of site activity.

Posts – Manage blog posts.

Pages – Create and edit pages.

Media – Upload images, videos, and files.

Appearance – Customize themes and widgets.

Plugins – Add extra features to WordPress.

Users – Manage site users and roles.

Settings – Configure site settings.

3. Understanding WordPress Settings

General – Site title, tagline, time zone, and language.

Reading – Controls homepage display and number of posts per page.

Permalinks – Customize URL structure for SEO.

Discussion – Manage comments and notifications.

Practical Task

Explore the dashboard and customize basic settings.

Day Three: Themes & Plugins

Lesson Objectives

Understand WordPress themes and plugins.

Learn how to install and customize themes.

Learn how to install and configure plugins.

Lesson Content

1. What Are WordPress Themes?

Themes control the appearance of your website. They define layout, colors, and fonts.

2. Installing and Customizing Themes

Go to Appearance > Themes in the dashboard.

Click Add New and search for a theme.

Click Install and Activate the theme.

Customize the theme using Appearance > Customize.

3. What Are Plugins?

Plugins add extra functionality to a WordPress site. Examples:

Elementor – Drag-and-drop page builder.

Yoast SEO – Improves website SEO.

WooCommerce – Adds e-commerce features.

4. Installing and Configuring Plugins

Go to Plugins > Add New.

Search for a plugin and click Install Now.

Click Activate and configure settings if needed.

Practical Task

Install a theme and customize it.

Install a plugin (e.g., Elementor) and explore its features.

Free Day – Project 1

Task: Install and Set Up WordPress Locally

Set up XAMPP or WAMP.

Download and install WordPress.

Configure the database.

Explore the dashboard.

Free Day – Project 2

Task: Create a Simple Blog Website

Install a blog-friendly theme.

Create a homepage and blog page.

Write a sample blog post.

Add an image and configure the settings.

End of Week One Summary

By the end of the first week, students should:

Understand WordPress basics, history, and benefits.

Have WordPress installed locally.

Be familiar with the dashboard and settings.

Know how to install and customize themes and plugins.

Have created a simple blog website.

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Week 2: Website Structure & Pages

📌 Day 1 – Pages & Posts
1️⃣ Difference between pages (static) and posts (dynamic).
2️⃣ Creating and editing pages.
3️⃣ Managing posts, categories, and tags.

📌 Day 2 – Menus & Widgets
1️⃣ Creating and managing navigation menus.
2️⃣ Using widgets to add sidebars, footers, and social media links.

📌 Day 3 – Media Library
1️⃣ Uploading and managing images, videos, and PDFs.

### **Week 2: Website Structure & Pages**  

#### **Day 1 – Pages & Posts**  

Hello class! Today, we are going to learn about **pages and posts** on a website. Imagine you have a big book. Some pages in the book stay the same, like the cover or the table of contents. But some pages change every day, like a diary. That is how pages and posts work on a website.  

A **page** is something that stays the same for a long time. Examples of pages on a website are "About Us" or "Contact Us." These pages don’t change often.  

A **post** is like a daily newspaper. New posts appear on the website every day or week. People use posts to share news, stories, or updates.  

Now, let’s learn how to create and edit pages. When you make a page, you can write text, add pictures, and even put videos. But what if we have too many posts? We can **organize** them into groups using **categories** and **tags**. Categories are like bookshelves – they help us put similar things together. Tags are like stickers – they help people find related topics easily.  

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#### **Day 2 – Menus & Widgets**  

Today, we will talk about **menus and widgets**. Have you ever used a map to find your way? A **menu** is like a map for a website. It helps people move from one page to another without getting lost.  

A menu usually has links to important pages like "Home," "About," and "Contact." If a website didn’t have a menu, people would not know where to go! That’s why we must create a **clear and simple** menu.  

Now, let’s talk about **widgets**. A widget is a small tool that adds extra things to a website. Imagine a school notice board where you see class timetables or announcements. A widget does the same thing on a website!  

We can put widgets in different places. Some go on the **sidebar**, where they can show recent posts or a search bar. Others go in the **footer**, where we can add social media icons or contact details. Widgets make a website **more useful and fun**!  

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#### **Day 3 – Media Library**  

Class, today we are learning about the **media library**! Have you ever seen a photo album? A media library is like a big album where we keep all the pictures, videos, and documents for our website.  

When we want to add a picture or video to our website, we **upload** it to the media library. We can also rename the files so they are easy to find later. But we must be careful! If we upload too many files, the website may slow down. So, we should delete old or unused files to keep everything neat.  

It’s also a good idea to add **descriptions** to images. This helps search engines understand what the pictures are about. If someone is looking for a picture of a school, they can find it easily if we add the right description.  

That’s all for today! Now, who can tell me one thing they learned? Put it in comment

📌 Project Days:
✅ Project 1: Design a simple portfolio website.
✅ Project 2: Create a personal blog with images and videos.

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Week 3: Customization & Design

📌 Day 1 – Customizing WordPress
1️⃣ Using the WordPress Customizer for branding.
2️⃣ Changing site identity (logo, favicon, colors, typography).

📌 Day 2 – Using Page Builders
1️⃣ Introduction to Elementor and Divi.
2️⃣ Drag-and-drop web design.

📌 Day 3 – Advanced Theme Customization
1️⃣ Editing CSS for themes.
2️⃣ Adding custom fonts and colors.

📌 Project Days:
✅ Project 1: Create a landing page using Elementor.
✅ Project 2: Design a business website.

LESSON 1: Customizing WordPress Using Elementor Page Builder

Objective:

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

- Install and activate the Elementor plugin 

- Use Elementor to build a simple webpage 

- Add and customize elements like heading, text, and image

 

Step 1: What is a Page Builder?

A **Page Builder** is a tool that helps you design web pages by dragging and dropping elements—like text, images, and videos—without writing any code. The most popular one is **Elementor**. It works like Canva or PowerPoint—easy and visual.

You can use it to create beautiful layouts for home pages, about pages, contact pages, and more.

 

Step 2: How to Install Elementor (Watch Me Do It)

1. Log into your WordPress dashboard

2. On the left-hand side, click Plugins → then click Add New.

3. In the search bar at the top right, type: `Elementor`.

4. Click the **Install Now button on the Elementor plugin.

5. After installation, click the Activate button.

Once activated, Elementor is ready to use!

 

Let’s Build a Simple Page

 

Now, let’s use Elementor to build a basic page.

1. In your dashboard, click **Pages** → **Add New**.

2. Give your page a name like: **My First Page**.

3. Click the blue button **Edit with Elementor**.

4. When Elementor opens, click the big **“+” sign** to add a new section.

5. A layout grid will appear. Choose one column.

6. From the left panel, drag the **Heading** widget into your section.

7. Change the text to something like: “Welcome to My Website”.

8. Next, drag in the **Text Editor** widget and write a few lines about yourself.

9. Now, drag in an **Image** widget. Upload or choose an image from your media library.

 

That’s it! You’ve just created your first custom page with Elementor!

 

 

Task

After showing them, say:

> “Now I want you to create your own page. Use Elementor to add a heading, a paragraph of text, and an image.”

 

LESSON 2: Advanced Theme Customization

Objective:

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

- Change your WordPress theme settings using the Customizer 

- Add menus, widgets, and change site colors 

- Do basic Custom CSS

3 Steps Use For Them Customization

 

Step 1: Go to Theme Customizer

 

1. In your dashboard, click **Appearance** → **Customize**.

2. This opens the live preview with editing tools.

 

This is where you can change:

- **Site Identity** – Change your website title and tagline

- **Colors** – Change your background or link color

- **Menus** – Create and edit the navigation menu

- **Widgets** – Add footer or sidebar widgets like text, search bars, etc.

 

 

Step 2: Customize Your Site

 

1. Under “Site Identity,” change your site title to your name or brand.

2. Under “Colors,” pick a background or heading color.

3. Under “Menus,” click **Create New Menu**, name it **Main Menu**, and add items like “Home,” “About,” and “Contact.”

4. Under “Widgets,” add a **Text Widget** in the Footer area. Write something like “© 2025 Your Name.”

 

After you finish, click **Publish**.

 

Step 3: Basic Custom CSS (Optional but Powerful)

 

1. In the **Customizer**, go to **Additional CSS**.

2. Type this code:

   ```css

   body {

     background-color: #f0f8ff;

   }

 

   h1 {

     color: navy;

     font-family: Arial, sans-serif;

   }

 

3. See how the site preview changes. Try your own color or font too.

 

CSS lets you customize your theme further, without touching your main files.

 

 

Your Final Teaching Task:

 

At the end of your lesson with your students, ask each one to:

1. Build a custom page using Elementor 

2. Customize their theme with their own title, menu, and colors  

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Week 4: Domain, Hosting & Security

📌 Day 1 – Understanding Domains
1️⃣ What is a domain name?
2️⃣ How to register a domain (Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.).

📌 Day 2 – Web Hosting
1️⃣ What is web hosting?
2️⃣ Choosing the right hosting plan (Shared, VPS, Dedicated, Cloud).

📌 Day 3 – WordPress Security
1️⃣ Installing security plugins (Wordfence, Sucuri).
2️⃣ How to prevent hacking and back up a website.

📌 Project Days:
✅ Project 1: Register a free domain and set up hosting.
✅ Project 2: Secure a WordPress site with security plugins.

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Week 5: E-Commerce with WordPress

📌 Day 1 – Introduction to WooCommerce
1️⃣ What is WooCommerce?
2️⃣ Installing and activating WooCommerce.

📌 Day 2 – Setting Up an Online Store
1️⃣ Adding products and categories.
2️⃣ Managing product inventory.

📌 Day 3 – Payment & Checkout
1️⃣ Setting up payment gateways (Paystack, Flutterwave, PayPal).
2️⃣ Configuring shipping options.

📌 Project Days:
✅ Project 1: Create an online store with 5 products.
✅ Project 2: Design a checkout page.

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Week 6: SEO & Performance Optimization

📌 Day 1 – SEO Basics
1️⃣ What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?
2️⃣ Installing Yoast SEO or Rank Math plugins.

📌 Day 2 – Website Performance
1️⃣ Optimizing website speed using caching plugins.
2️⃣ Image compression and lazy loading.

📌 Day 3 – Google Analytics & Search Console
1️⃣ Integrating Google Analytics for tracking visitors.
2️⃣ Using Google Search Console for indexing.

📌 Project Days:
✅ Project 1: Optimize a blog for SEO.
✅ Project 2: Implement performance improvements.

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Week 7: Membership & Advanced Features

📌 Day 1 – Membership Websites
1️⃣ Installing membership plugins (Paid Memberships Pro).
2️⃣ Creating user roles and restricting content.

📌 Day 2 – Social Media Integration
1️⃣ Adding social media buttons.
2️⃣ Connecting WordPress with Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

📌 Day 3 – Backup & Migration
1️⃣ How to back up a WordPress site.
2️⃣ Moving a site from localhost to live hosting.

📌 Project Days:
✅ Project 1: Build a membership website.
✅ Project 2: Migrate a website to a live server.

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Week 8: Final Projects & Certification

📌 Final Projects:
✅ Day 1: Design a complete business website.
✅ Day 2: Build a blog with SEO best practices.
✅ Day 3: Create an E-Commerce store with WooCommerce.

📌 Day 4 – Certification Review
📌 Day 5 – Certification & Evaluation

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🎓 What You’ll Achieve After This Course:

✅ Build professional websites without coding.
✅ Register domains and set up web hosting.
✅ Customize WordPress themes and use plugins.
✅ Design blogs, portfolios, business sites, and e-commerce stores.
✅ Learn SEO, security, and performance optimization.
✅ Move websites from local servers to live hosting.
✅ Receive a Certificate of Completion.

💡 Ready to start? Let’s build amazing websites! 🚀