WP Basics: The 4 Ways to Revise the Appearance of Your WordPress Blog

WordPress message boards and forums are often dominated by 2 kinds of users: Know-nothings and know-it-alls. Some seek advice, some respond. But as WordPress has exploded in popularity, a sizable intermediate class has come about: the “know-a-little-bits.”

Consequently here’s a simple part of expertise for the semi-noobs, knowledge I would have valued initially when I first did start to tinker with WordPress: The four areas where you can modify the look of your blog.

The WordPress admin panel

Your theme’s built-in control panel (produced by your theme’s developer)

Your theme’s PHP and HTML source files

Your theme’s CSS files

The WordPress Admin Panel

There exists a wealth of facts available on the internet about how exactly to work with the WP admin panel. We’ll just trust you and also Google to discover this info with each other. Focus on the WordPress Codex, which is by far the very best database of information on the way to make use of WP.

Your Theme’s Built-in CP

If you’ve acquired a pre-made theme for your website, as many use WP, the designer has probably crafted his or her own control panel. This is different from theme to theme, as well as your designer ought to provide training on how to apply it. Almost certainly, you’ll get the interface under “Appearance” around the left hand side of your WP admin panel.

Your Theme’s HTML and PHP Source Files

If you’re planning to modify your theme’s source files, it will be worthwhile to spend some time understanding the dwelling of a WP theme. This amazing infographic will help, as will the Codex’s explanation. In brief, you’ll discover the source files by clicking “Editor” under the “Appearance” section of your admin panel.

Your Theme’s CSS

You can revise your theme’s CSS in through the exact same “Editor” page inside your admin panel (making sure, once again, that you simply edit your child page’s CSS instead of the original theme’s). Look for the document “style.css”.

This post is brought to you by TheTheFly WordPress Themes Club.