Web Analytics Education: Dimensions and Metrics

Massimo Paolini on July 16, 2010

Web Intelligence is all about using web analytics to measure your presence on the web.

We are creating a series to teach you about the best free tool (and in my opinion the best tool, period) for web analytics: Google Analytics.

The series will be presented in small bite sized episodes, available in a presentation and video format, that you should be able to enjoy without needing any anti-acid medication.

Today’s episode is about Dimensions and Metrics. We aren’t talking about the metric system or about the third dimension. In this one minute presentation (5 slides total) we are defining those for you. Read More about Web Analytics Education: Dimensions and Metrics

WordPress 3.0 Demystified – Part 5

Massimo Paolini on July 11, 2010

Part V: Give ’em what they asked for

Last, but certainly not least, is content. Today you’ll add pages, forms, and the actual MEAT (or beans, for vegetarians) to your site.

Be judicious!! Think of the things that make you leave a website and work to avoid them. For instance, I jump ship pretty quickly if there’s a ton of content on a single page that makes me scroll a lot. I’ve done my time in school—don’t make me read more novels! Get to the point and get on with it. Break up your information onto a few pages if you need. Read More about WordPress 3.0 Demystified – Part 5

WordPress 3.0 Demystified – Part 4

Massimo Paolini on July 9, 2010

Part IV: Plug it in, plug it in

So far in part one we installed configured the WordPress database on the server and uploaded the software. In part two we learned about WordPress Themes and installed Thesis and finally in part three we customized the Thesis theme and added a widget to the sidebar.

Today we will concentrate on some background information with plug-ins. These are additional coding treats that help you and your website perform better. You’ll install one that alerts you to broken links, one that creates forms, another to improve the editor, and the last that makes your site easy to read on mobile units. Below the presentation is my list of “must haves” and a few others. Read More about WordPress 3.0 Demystified – Part 4

WordPress 3.0 Demystified – Part 2

Massimo Paolini on July 6, 2010

Part II: Lookin’ Good

Yesterday in WordPress 3.0 Demystified – Part 1 we talked about the initial setup of the site, today you will review how to log in and then select a theme. One of the many benefits of using WordPress is that there are literally thousands of devotees out there who enjoy making templates. They range from the ordinary to the funky and you can spend HOURS cruising through the style choices available. Here’s one place to start: http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/

Before I continue, here’s a word about the free themes: FREE. See, I promise one word. Now remember that if something is FREE, there is usually a catch. In this case, free themes are not always updated, fully functional, or easy to use. You might happen upon one that is cool and free, but was created for a senior project in a graphic design class two years ago and still includes all of its goofy bugs.

At our workshop, I installed three for you, including “Thesis” which is actually not a free theme, but a worthwhile investment. It’s flexible, sleek, and professional.

Watch today’s slides and then spend a few minutes looking through some themes to see if you like anything out there.

[hana-code-insert name='WP-part-2' /]

The WordPress 3.0 Demystified series:

  1. Part 1: A Little Fairy Tale
  2. Part 2: Lookin’ Good
  3. Part 3: Whatta’ Widget!
  4. Part 4: Plug it in, Plug it in
  5. Part4A: Go (Con)figure
  6. Part 5: Give ’em what they asked for