This piece was previously published here on the Electronic Media blog, EC Reporter.
By now, you’ve all sent in your WordPress usernames and have been added to the EC Reporter blog.
If not, here’s the link to make a WordPress account.
Which brings me to my first point, adding in hyperlinks! This allows you to reference back to websites and posts you’ve found on the Internet that are relevant to whatever you’re writing about. Like Jennifer Lord-Paluzzi’s original welcome letter to the EC Reporter blog.
Adding in a hyperlink is super easy. You copy and paste the link and up at the top of the screen there is a button that looks like a chain link. After highlighting the text, click that button and paste in your hyperlink (be sure and check off “open in another window” so your audience doesn’t get derailed from your article)
Adding media into your article is about as easy as it gets. There’s a button at the top that says “Add Media.” Click on that, and you’re brought to the gallery of every photo ever uploaded to the site ever. Seriously. These are some of mine from two years ago.
If you want to upload your own photos, just drag and drop them into the “Upload Files” tab of the “Add Media” window.
It’s also super easy to make these photos into a photo gallery! All you have to do is, after you click “Add Media,” is click on the button on the side of that pop-up that says “Create Gallery,” select your photos, change the settings to slide show, and you’re all set!
There’s also a way to set the “Featured Image” for your article. This picture will show up in tweets and on the website. Like this.
Down on the right hand side is the “Set featured image” button. Click it and it brings you to the photo gallery. Select the image you want and bam! All done.
There are lots of other things you can add into your WordPress article and most of them just require a URL. You can add tweets, YouTube videos, a Google Map with plot points, and polls.
For tweets, simply copy and paste the tweet link into your article…
It’s going to show up as a hyperlink in your draft, but once you click Preview you will see the tweet: emojis, pictures, gifs, and all.
YouTube videos are the same deal. Copy and paste the hyperlink in and watch the magic ensue.
Google Maps are harder and take more time, especially when it comes to adding multiple points. If you need to use one, try the link or make an appointment with me.
The “Add Poll” button is right next to the “Add Media” button. You need to make a PollDaddy account that links up with your WordPress, so use the same email.
In drafts, the poll will show up like after you hit preview/publish…
And that’s it! Your basic tour of WordPress is over! You made it! So save your draft one last time (just to be sure) hit publish, and wait for the views to slowly trickle in.
And remember guys, if you have any questions, I’m here to help.
Abbi Matheson 