WordPress Swimming Lessons start January 24!

January 21, 2011 By

I keep forgetting to mention, here on the blog, that I’m teaching a class for complete WordPress beginners, and it starts next Monday. Yes, it’s time again for WordPress Swimming Lessons!

This class is for people who already have WordPress installed on their own web hosting account (I can install it for you for $99).

You might have a blank-slate new installation, or you might have a site that a designer or friend set up for you and you’re just not sure how to use it. Either way, WordPress Swimming Lessons can help.

This class is not about sites hosted on WordPress.com — although it will definitely help anyone who is moving from a WordPress.com blog to a WordPress site on your own web hosting (because the features and flexibility of these two setups are quite a bit different).

Here’s how it works: There are two Monday webinars (teleclasses where I also show you stuff on my computer screen, like how to find things in your WordPress dashboard and how to accomplish specific tasks), and two Friday Extra Practice Sessions (teleclasses where you can ask all the questions that have arisen for you since the Monday session).

There’s a whole WordPress Swimming Lessons page that describes the agenda for each class.

All classes (both webinars and practice sessions) will be held at 10am Pacific time (what’s that in your time zone?).

Your $99 Swimming Lesson fee gets you:

  • Two one-hour live webinar sessions, where I’ll show you step-by-step how to do specific WordPress tasks
  • Two one-hour extra practice sessions, where I’ll troubleshoot with you, and answer participant questions.
  • Audio recordings of all four class sessions
  • Email support from me during the two weeks of class

Ready to take your first gentle step into the shallow end?

WordPress Swimming Lessons: $99

Add to CartView Cart

Don’t see the “Add to Cart” button? Head over to the WordPress Swimming Lessons page to learn more and sign up.

Refund and cancellation policy

Got WordPress?

I can also install and configure WordPress for you, so you’ll be ready to jump in when it’s time for your Swimming Lessons. Check out my WordPress Packages and choose the level of customization you need.

Filed Under: WordPress How-To's Tagged With: , , ,

Are you a complete website beginner?

October 8, 2010 By

Photo credit: grendelkhan

I’ve been getting more email recently from people who self-describe as chicken, or even totally chicken or completely chicken, when it comes to setting up a website.

Hey, that’s OK. We all started somewhere. Two years ago I was a complete WordPress beginner myself — the first theme I installed made me want to tear my hair out. And then there was the trauma of upgrading. It wasn’t exactly easy.

Ain’t nobody here but us chickens

I’m still totally chicken about a lot of things. Including some tech things! A sampling:

  • Spiders. Especially really big ones.
  • Runny eggs.
  • Dropping tables from my databases.
  • Earthquakes.
  • Cloud hosting.
  • The fact that in 7 billion years or so, our Sun will become a red giant and destroy all life on earth.
  • Running traceroutes to check my website’s load time.
  • Letting people down.
  • Analyzing my web stats to optimize for relevant keywords.

So, yeah. You’re not alone. We’re all chickens. And wow, I didn’t even realize until this moment that it’s Friday and I’m writing about chickens, even though this post totally different from my beloved Havi’s Friday Chicken. The subconscious mind is a weird and powerful thing. Respect it!

Here are some of my thoughts about the particular brand of being chicken that is related to starting your website.

  1. There are lots of parts and details and factors and ideas that all combine when you’re starting a business. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of it. That’s normal.
  2. A website is only one of those details…and yet it contains a multitude of details of its own. Like a fractal. Wait, this isn’t helping, is it?
  3. OK, how about this: Those website details are figure-out-able. Website technology is a tool that you can learn, the same way you learned to dial a phone and use a microwave oven and record your favorite shows on your DVR.
  4. Not only are they figure-out-able, they are learnable by regular people. You don’t have to have a degree in computer science or a certificate granted by…well, anybody.
  5. Your tech overwhelm is temporary. I promise. All you need are some training wheels, some non-shouty instructions, and maybe a gentle push. Soon you’ll be all look world, no hands!

From totally chicken to cock of the walk

Photo credit: travlinman43

You can see where this is going, right? Yep, you got it: I’m going to be your cheerleader and wave my pompoms as you sprout your glossy feathers and strut your stuff on your very own website.

And even though I am skeptical of cocky attitudes in general, I think the phrase “cock of the walk” is hilarous, so I’m totally using it even though I would probably never describe you that way. Or me, for that matter.

Here’s my point: You can learn this website stuff, and I can help you. Here are four ways you can get help (the first two are free):

  • Download some free stuff.
  • Call me during Open Office Hour.
  • Join my WordPress Swimming Lessons class starting on October 18. This is the last time this class will be offered in 2010 — the next session won’t be until January 2011.
  • Have me install WordPress for you so you can apply what you learn in the Swimming Lessons. You can have your website up and running in time for holiday sales!

What are you chicken of? Join the conversation by leaving a comment (unless you’re chicken, of course…)!

Filed Under: WordPress How-To's Tagged With: , , ,

WordPress Swimming Lessons are back!

May 6, 2010 By

Due to popular demand, I’m bringing back my two-week WordPress Swimming Lessons course.

Now my challenge is to get this course in front of the people who really need it. Because I know people really do need it! If you’re one of those people, I’d love to welcome you to the course.

(You can also join my affiliate program if you’d like thank-you monies in the form of 30% of all live class registrations and 50% of all product sales you refer.)

I did a free call last week and you can get the recording here. It wasn’t a sales call (although I did mention the course, and one person asked me to go into more detail at the very end of the call), it was a description of why I love WordPress and what makes WP so great and powerful.

Who the Swimming Lessons are for:

  • Complete WordPress beginners
  • People who had someone else set up a WordPress site and don’t know how to use it themselves
  • People who know they’ll be using WordPress real soon now and want to learn the basics
  • People who are switching from Blogger or iWeb and want to learn the WordPress landscape

This is about demystifying the technology of WordPress, and getting you comfortable using it by yourself to manage your own site (whether it’s a “blog” or a “website” because WordPress can do both). It’s about freeing you from the need to hire a webmaster to update or change your site. It’s about being resourceful and empowered when it comes to maintaining your online home — and making that home into a place where you’re comfortable and relaxed.

Here are a few things that I will not be doing (though I can refer you to excellent resources for all of these):

  • Explaining how to get traffic to your site/blog (otherwise known as SEO)
  • Telling you how to write compelling content
  • Giving you advice on blogging or marketing strategy
  • Doing anything remotely related to web design (although I will talk about the power of WordPress themes and how easy it is to create and manage your own look/feel/design)

WordPress Swimming Lessons begins next Monday (May 10) at 10am Pacific time (what’s that in your time zone?). There are two one-hour webinars and two one-hour “practice sessions” (Q&A with me), plus you get email support. It’s $99, but you can get a $20 discount if you sign up for the free call recording.

You can read complete WordPress Swimming Lesson details and sign up here.

Filed Under: Announcements Tagged With: , , ,

All aboard the SOBCon Express

April 28, 2010 By

Here’s a decidedly un-random selection of news tidbits that I’m publishing before I leave (less than 24 hours!) for SOBCon.

I’m going to SOBCon!

Chicago, here I come! Although I haven’t accomplished a fraction of my pre-conference to-do lists, I’ve got my boarding pass printed out, my hotel reservation confirmed, and my TSA-approved carry-on luggage almost-packed. This is a chance for me to step outside my small home-office world for a weekend, just like I tried out driving a truck last weekend (hey, it makes sense to me).

Last year I went to this conference thanks to serendipity and a last-minute giveaway from Naomi. This year I’m traveling under my own steam (is that the expression? That doesn’t sound quite right. Ah, whatever) and I have every hope that SOBCon 2010 will rock my socks as much as SOBCon 2009 did.

No Open Office Hour this week (April 29)

See the part where I’m going to SOBCon? That means that I’m actually going to be on a plane (or being x-rayed by airport security, which is equally bad when it comes to trying to use a cell phone) during my regular Thursday Open Office Hour timeslot.

So if you were planning on calling, try next week, or send me an email (although, what with all the conferencing this weekend, I may not answer before next week anyway).

WordPress teleclass recording is available!

I just emailed out the recording of Monday’s free teleclass, Why WordPress? You can get your free copy by signing up here, and hear why I recommend WordPress. It was pretty fun, and I got to answer some good WordPress questions.

Of course, you can always join me during my Open Office Hour (except tomorrow, remember the part where I’m leavin’ on a jet plane?) to ask your own question, or email me and I might post an answer here on the blog.

Webinar starts May 10!

I ran a class called WordPress Swimming Lessons back in February, and people seemed to like it. So I’m doing it again in May. There will be two one-hour webinars, two Q&A calls, email support, and lots of easing of your technology fears. And you can get a secret discount code to save $20 if you sign up for the free teleclass recording (plus listening to that recording will give you a good idea of what my Q&A sessions will be like).

Cool new stuff coming sometime soon!

I’ve got a handful of nifty joint ventures and non-joint ventures coming soon. Like a course on email marketing, a new service to help teleclass leaders, a free monthly call for graduates of my classes, and new WordPress installation packages that include actual graphic design by an actual graphic designer. If you want to find out when these things are going to happen, plus read more about my adventures in pickup-driving and cooking, you should subscribe to this blog. Seriously.

Filed Under: Announcements Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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