Review: WordPress Web Design for Dummies 2nd Edition

WordPress Web Design for Dummies by Lisa Sabin-Wilson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Note: This page contains affiliate links. Please see Affiliate Disclosure.

An updated version of the worthwhile 1st edition on designing and building WordPress-based sites. It covers installation, administration, basic theme development, and plugin use. It features colorful code snippets and screenshots. Most examples use the Twenty Thirteen theme.

I liked Chapter 11: Dissecting Themes and Templates, and Chapter 12: Displaying Content with Widgets and Template Tags. There are several good plugin recommendations throughout the book, but I would've chosen different ones for Chapter 17: 10 Powerful Plugins for WordPress; I routinely use only 2 of the 10 listed, and can think of others more valuable and more commonly used than those listed.

There's bonus content on the Dummies site, including Firefox add-ons, recommended premium themes, SEO tips, and recommended free themes.

I won a copy signed by author Lisa Sabin-Wilson. I had had the privilege of meeting Lisa at WordCamp Grand Rapids in 2012 and 2013. We both spoke at each conference.

Chad Warner with WordPress Web Design for Dummies

Notes

  • Use IETester to test different versions of IE (Windows only).
  • Use Responsinator to test your site at various mobile sizes.
  • Used named template files to offer a fallback. For example, if you call header-main.php but it doesn't exist, WordPress will use header.php.
  • When you duplicate sections of code in numerous template files, place the code in a separate file and load it using get_template_part.
  • Use template_directory in standalone and parent themes, and stylesheet_directory in child themes.
  • The Advanced Text Widget plugin allows you to execute raw PHP code and specify on which pages it should be displayed.
  • The Custom Post Type UI plugin provides an easy to use interface to create and administer custom post types and taxonomies.

WordPress hosts

Free font resources

Premium font resources

Image Libraries

Filed Under: 

Want tips to rocket-boost your website?

Simply sign up.

4 comments on “Review: WordPress Web Design for Dummies 2nd Edition”

Ready to Blast Off?

Let's talk.

Contact OptimWise
crossmenuarrow-right