Howto: Install and Configure standard plugins

Always install

  1. Akismet – already installed, just activate
  2. BackupBuddy
  3. Gravity Forms
  4. iThemes FeedBurner Widget
  5. LoopBuddy (but don’t activate until needed)
  6. Redirection
  7. Widget Logic
  8. Hello Dolly – delete

Usually install

  • DisplayBuddy plugins
  • Accordion
  • Billboard (? obsolete?)
  • Carousel
  • Copious Comments
  • Featured Posts
  • Rotating Images
  • Rotating Text
  • Slideshow
  • Video Showcase
  • PluginBuddy Mobile
  • Tabber Widget
  • VidEmbed
  • EsAudioPlayer
  • WP Super Cache (or Total Cache) choose the right one… (cf Semiologic Cache)
  • Yet Another Related Posts Plugin (YARPP)

Consider these

  • AddThis Social Bookmarking Widget – For social bookmarking, liking, sharing
  • Disqus Comment System – Community based, big-time commenting
  • Wishlist Member – Big-time membership plugin
  • ??? – recommended eCommerce, shopping cart plugin
  • EmailBuddy –
  • PB-Tweet –
  • Relevant Posts Widget (cf YARPP)
  • ServerBuddy – Figure out what this does.

On the list but probably not (yet?)

  • Builder Style Manager – BETA (probably not)
  • Facebook, Twitter, Google plus one Share Buttons (use AddThis instead?)
  • Twitter Facebook Social Share
  • MP3-jplayer – EsAudioPlayer competitor; not tried out yet
  • WPaudio

Semiologic to consider keeping

  • Events Widget
  • No Self Pings
  • PC Robots.txt
  • Poll Widget / Democracy
  • Mediacaster – Keep long enough to change to alternatives.
  • WordPress Hashcash – Free or pro?
  • XML Sitemaps – Free or pro?

Semologic to remove

  • Add From Server – Not sure what it does. Explore using it to recognize media uploaded via FTP.
  • Ad Manager
  • Admin Menu – Builder has its own.
  • Article Uploader – not sure how it works
  • Author image – See if this is paid for free, might be useful
  • Autolink URI
  • AutoTag
  • Auto Thickbox
  • Bookmark Me – Replaced by AddThis
  • Contact Form – Replaced by Gravity Forms
  • Core Control – Semio specific
  • Custom Query String
  • Dealdotcom Widgets
  • Do Follow
  • External links
  • Fancy Excerpt
  • Favicon Head – Instead see Builder Settings (fill in details)
  • FeedBurner FeedSmith – Use iThemes FeedBurner widget
  • Feed Widgets
  • Frame Buster
  • Fuzzy Widgets
  • Google Analytics – Instead, see Builder Settings (fill in details)
  • HitsLink
  • Inline Widgets
  • Nav Menus – Use Menu system in Builder. Note: Nav Menus includes the Search function in the nav bar. Removing it loses that functionality. Need replacement.
  • Newsletter Manager
  • Opt-in Front Page
  • Random widgets
  • Redirect Manager – Use Redirection instead
  • Related Widgets – cf YARPP, Relevant Posts Widget. See if this is free or premium. It’s pretty good.
  • Script Manager
  • Search Reloaded
  • Semiologic Affiliate
  • Semiologic Cache – cf WP Super Cache?
  • Semiologic Cloner
  • Semiologic Fixes
  • Semiologic SEO – cf All in one SEO pack
  • Silo Widgets – Check out whether free or pro?
  • Smart links
  • Star Ratings for REviews
  • Subscribe me – RSS for sidebar
  • Subscribe to comments – Not needed if using Disqus. Free or pro?
  • Unfancy Quote
  • Uploads folder
  • Version checker
  • Widget Contexts – use Widget Logic instead
  • WordPress Database Backup – Use BackupBuddy instead.

Howto: Install and configure a Builder site

First real draft. I think this works for techies who know how to do the individual steps.

Assumptions

At HostGator, when we create a new hosting account a bunch of files are automatically copied to public_html for the new domain. These include an index.html file and plugins and themes you might need. If these are not already there, you must upload them by hand. The index.html file is a very simple page saying “Welcome to your new site hosted by ExpertWebSupport.

These instructions vary depending on whether you have a “New Site” or a “Legacy Site.” (See How to Install & Go.) For a Legacy Site, you must use a temporary URL. (e.g., http://74.53.25.146/~username/) For a New Site, you may use the normal URL. (e.g., http://domain.com/)

This also assumes that if you have a New Site, you have already set the nameservers at your registrar to point to your hosting account.

Do this – For new sites

  1. Open XWS Development Resources (at xsfor.us).
  2. In another tab, open Customer links and more. (Under Miscellaneous resources.)
  3. Update this page to add links for the new customer. (Update this resource button.) You’ll use the links later.
  4. Scroll down to a recent customer addition.
  5. Copy and paste links from a similar customer. If “New Site,” copy a standard customer (one line). If “Legacy Site,” copy a legacy site customer (2 lines).
  6. Edit the links. When you’re done you should have links to the site, to the site’s cpanel, and to the site’s wp-admin page. One line for “normal” URLs; one line for “temporary” URLs if it’s a Legacy Site.
  7. Save and display this page. (Use the Save and Display button at the bottom.)
    1. Log in to cpanel for the domain. Use the correct link that you just created in 3.3. Open this in a new window, keeping “Customer links and more” available for later.
    2. Go to Software / Services > Fantastico.
    3. Select WordPress (Blog section). [Note: Only newest version of WP is listed. How do you select older versions?] => You don’t. To use this method, you must install the most recent version.
    4. Create a new installation.
      Conventions:
      Domain: the domain you’re creating
      Directory/folder: {Leave this empty to install in the top level of the domain, which is the standard config. Or put in the name of the folder into which you want to install WordPress if this is a non-standard install.}
      User: admin0
      Pwd: Use current convention for admin pwd.
      Nickname: Administrator
      Admin email: [email protected] (for new sites) or [email protected] (for legacy sites).
      Site name: Leave the default which is the domain name.
      Description: “Tag line for the site.”
      Hit the create site button.
      On the next screen, email the installation details to [email protected] for new sites, or [email protected] for legacy sites.
    5. If this is a Legacy Site, change URLs for the site to the temporary ones.
  8. In cpanel’s home page, select Databases > phpMyAdmin.
    This will take you to a phpMyAdmin screen.
  9. Select the database for WordPress. It is named xxxadmin_wrdp1 probably.
  10. Click the Browse icon (column 1) for the wp_options table.
  11. Find the “siteurl” option. Normally, page 1, id# 2. Use the Edit button (pencil icon) to change this option.
  12. Remove the “normal” URL and put in the Temporary URL for the site. Copy this URL for use later.
    WARNING: You must NOT have a slash “/” at the end of the URL in this field.
  13. Click Go to save.
  14. Find the “home” option. Normally, page 2, #38. Edit it.
  15. Paste the temporary URL here too. Same Warning as above.
  16. Click Go to save.

That’s it. You are done with the “change URLs” task. There isn’t even a logout from phpMyAdmin.

  1. In the cPanel File Manager, go to public_html. Rename index.html to be index_orig.html.
  2. Log in to the WordPress admin screen using the admin0 credentials you created above.
    If New Site, use the normal URL. (e.g., http://domain.com/wp-admin/)
    If Legacy Site, use the temporary URL. (e.g., http://expertwebsupport.com/~username/wp-admin/)
    These should be available on the XWS Dev > “Customer links and more” page, which should be in an existing tab or window.

Do this – For new sites and for conversions from Semio

  1. Install themes
    1. Builder
    2. Builder Child-Foundation Blank
    3. Builder Child-Iconic Sky
    4. Some other Builder child themes if known
  2. Install plugins (* = optional)
    1. BackupBuddy
    2. Gravity Forms
    3. *DisplayBuddy suite
    4. Widget Logic
    5. Redirect
    6. *Special Recent Posts
  3. Activate some Builder child theme. Don’t activate Builder itself.
  4. Visit the site. It should look like a new Builder-based site. Debug if there’s a problem.
  5. Go to Users. Create the standard set of WP users.
  6. Pages > Add New. Create a Home page. Title = Home. Content = Put Home page content here.
  7. Pages > Add New. Create a Blog page. Title = Blog. Content = Placeholder for Blog page.
  8. Settings > Reading. Static home page = Home. Blog page = Blog.
  9. Posts > Add New. Title = Sample Post. Content = Sample post to show where posts show up. Delete when you have a real post.
  10. Visit the site. It should look like a “ready to go” site.
  11. Tools > Backup. Set up automatic backup, at least weekly. Daily if that seems right.
  12. Log out of the admin0 user account.
  13. Log in with one of the other administrator accounts that you created above, to make sure that’s working.

The installation is now done.

Next step is to send email to the customer explaining next steps.

Howto: Upgrade Semio site from 2.9.2 to 3.3 plus prep for ithemes

Instructions re upgrading from Semio 2.9.2 site to iThemes 3.3 site

Rough Draft

  • Install BackupBuddy Classic
  • Install BackupBuddy
  • Tools > Backup; note old backup schedule. Weekly, daily? Email destination?
  • Deactivate WP Backup
  • Activate Bub Classic
  • Set up settings for Classic
  • Be sure to set exclusions for folders you don’t want backed up in a full backup
  • no need for targets or schedules
  • Do a full backup
  • Do a DB backup
  • Deactivate Bub Classic
  • Upgrade WordPress
  • Test the site; navigate around and see if the front end is working; navigate around the back end and see if it is working.
  • Delete BUB Classic
  • Activate BUB
  • Generate license for BUB
  • Set up settings for BUB
  • Make sure the folder exclusions are still active
  • including email targets
  • Do a full backup
  • Do a DB backup
  • Set up scheduled backups

Next, install and configure the Builder platform.

Howto: Create a FeedBurner feed

  1. http://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/step-by-step-guide-to-setup-feedburner-for-wordpress/
  2. While still logged in to the FeedBurner pages, go to the Publicize tab.
  3. Click Email Subscriptions and activate that service.
  4. You might want to create a web page or widget with the FeedBurner signup form in it. {Add why and why not do this someday.}
  5. Wrap a link around an RSS icon. Put it in a custom header or sidebar or wherever.

List of WordPress sites managed by XWS

Read More…

List of example WordPress sites

Darren Hardy’s blog on Success.com

WordPress with custom theme.

WP Wishlist

WordPress with custom theme.

Instant Business Answers

WordPress, custom theme, Wisthlist Member plugin

Michael Stelzner (Writing White Papers)

WordPress, custom theme (based on Kubrik?). Very pretty.

Social Media Explorer

WordPress, custom theme from elegantwpthemes.com, Lots of info on social media.

Elegant WP Themes.com

WordPress, kind of garish, over-the-top, theme. But with lots of neat examples of their work.

Insight Meditation Center

Nice clean theme. This is a reference from Andrea Fella.

Howto: Create the standard set of WP users

When you create a WP site, there is always the first admin user that is created at installation time. By convention, we create this as Admin0. We then create a standard set of users to make it easy to support the customer. We don’t use Admin0, leaving that pristine in case something goes wrong and we have to get in through a back door.

Always create these two:

Note both of these should be Role = Administrator. Yes, send email.

  1. xws using the xws password convention; email = [email protected].
  2. Primary customer user. Customer password convention. email = [email protected].

Optionally create additional users as needed.

  1. dbrown?
  2. additional customer users?

Howto: Install and configure a Semiologic site

First real draft. I think this works for techies who know how to do the individual steps.

Assumptions:

At HostGator, when we create a new hosting account a bunch of files are automatically copied to public_html for the new domain. These include an index.html file, versionchecker.zip, and possibly more. If these are not already there, you must upload them by hand. The index.html file is a very simple page saying “Welcome to your new site hosted by ExpertWebSupport.”

Version Checker is a key plugin that helps you install Semiologic Pro. You can get versionchecker.zip from the semiologic site. (But you need a semiologic account to do that.) That link also tells you about Version Checker and how it works.

These instructions vary depending on whether you have a “New Site” or a “Legacy Site.” (See How to Install and Go.) For a Legacy Site, you must use a temporary URL. (e.g., http://74.53.25.146/~username/) For a New Site, you may use the normal URL. (e.g., http://domain.com/)

This also assumes that if you have a New Site, you have already set the nameservers at your registrar to point to your hosting account.

Do this

  1. Open XWS Development Resources (in courses.expertwebsupport.com).
  2. In another tab, open Customer links and more. (Under HostGator resources.)
  3. Update this page to add links for the new customer. (Update this resource button.) You’ll use the links later.
  4. Scroll down to a recent customer addition.
  5. Copy and paste links from a similar customer. If “New Site,” copy a standard customer (one line). If “Legacy Site,” copy a legacy site customer (2 lines).
  6. Edit the links. When you’re done you should have links to the site, to the site’s cpanel, and to the site’s wp-admin page. One line for “normal” URLs; one line for “temporary” URLs if it’s a Legacy Site.
  7. Save and display this page. (Use the Save and Display button at the bottom.)
    • Log in to cpanel for the domain. Use the correct link that you just created in 3.3. Open this in a new window, keeping “Customer links and more” available for later.
    • Go to Software / Services > Fantastico.
    • Select WordPress (Blog section). [Note: Only newest version of WP is listed. How do you select older vesions?]
    • Create a new installation.
      Conventions:
      Domain: the domain you’re creating
      Directory/folder: {Leave this empty to install in the top level of the domain, which is the standard config. Or put in the name of the folder into which you want to install WordPress if this is a non-standard install.}
      User: admin0
      Pwd: Use current convention for admin pwd.
      Nickname: Administrator
      Admin email: [email protected] (for new sites) or [email protected] (for legacy sites).
      Site name: Leave the default which is the domain name.
      Description: “Tag line for the site.”
      Click the create site button.
      On the next screen, email the installation details to [email protected] for new sites, or [email protected] for legacy sites.
    • If this is a Legacy Site, change URLs for the site to the temporary ones.
  8. In cpanel’s home page, select Databases > phpMyAdmin.
    This takes you to a phpMyAdmin screen.
  9. Select the database for WordPress. It is probably named xxxadmin_wrdp1.
  10. Click the Browse icon (column 1) for the wp_options table.
  11. Find the “siteurl” option. Normally, page 1, id# 2. Use the Edit button (pencil icon) to change this option.
  12. Remove the “normal” URL and put in the Temporary URL for the site. Copy this URL for use later.
    WARNING: You must NOT have a slash “/” at the end of the URL in this field.
  13. Click Go to save.
  14. Find the “home” option. Normally, page 2, #38. Edit it.
  15. Paste the temporary URL here too. Same Warning as above.
  16. Click Go to save.

That’s it. You are done with the “change URLs” task. There isn’t even a logout from phpMyAdmin.

Next tasks:

  1. In the cPanel File Manager, go to public_html, find versionchecker.zip.
  2. Move that to the /wp-content/plugins/ folder.
  3. Extract the versionchecker.zip file. Then delete the zip file to clean up.
  4. Still in the File Manager, go to public_html. Rename index.html to be index_orig.html.
  5. Log in to the WordPress admin screen using the admin0 credentials you created above.
    If New Site, use the normal URL. (e.g., http://domain.com/wp-admin/)
    If Legacy Site, use the temporary URL. (e.g., http://74.53.25.146/~username/wp-admin/)
    These should be available on the XWS Dev > “Customer links and more” page, which should be in an existing tab or window.
  6. Go to Plugins, and activate Version Checker.
  7. Go to Settings > Semiologic API key and enter a license key.
    Temporarily, you may use the XWS key; but you should get the customer legal by purchasing a Semio license very soon. See the List of API keys. See also How to purchase a Semiologic license.
  8. Go to Tools > Semiologic. You should see a “Mass upgrade” or “Mass install” button. Use that to install the Semio Pro plugins.
  9. When the plugins are done being installed, there’s a button at the bottom of the page to “Install the Semiologic Theme.” Click that button.
  10. Go to Appearance > Themes. Activate the semiologic theme.
  11. Delete the Default and Classic themes.
  12. Visit the site. It should look like a new Semio-based site. Debug if there’s a problem.
  13. Go to Users. Create the standard set of WP users.
  14. We have a “clone site” that has a bunch of WP settings already set. We can pull in those settings. Here’s how.
    1. Go to Plugins. Activate “Semiologic Cloner.”
    2. This makes Tools > Cloner available. Go there.
      That screen asks for which site you want to pull from. Copy and paste these values.
    3. Site URL: http://sandbox.expertwebsupport.com/wptoclone/
    4. Site Key: 15878781174ae2321727c53
      • Pages > Add New. Create a Home page. Title = Home. Content = Put Home page content here.
      • Pages > Add New. Create a News page. Title = News. Content = Placeholder for News page.
      • Settings > Reading. Static home page = Home. Blog page = News.
      • Posts > Add New. Title = Sample Post. Content = Sample post to show where posts show up. Delete when you have a real post.
      • Visit the site. It should look like a “ready to go” site.
      • Tools > Backup. Set up automatic backup, at least weekly. Daily if that seems right.
      • Log out of the admin0 user account.
      • Log in with one of the other administrator accounts that you created above, to make sure that’s working.

The installation is now done.

Next step is to send email to the customer explaining next steps.

Boilerplate email: Install & go

Boilerplate Email

Here is boilerplate email to send to the customer. Two versions: one for New sites, one for Legacy sites.

For Legacy sites

Hi,

Your "Install & Go" installation is done.

You can view the site at the following temporary link. http://74.53.25.146/~xxxadmin/

To modify the site, use the tiny ‘Login’ link in the light gray bar at the top of the browser window. That will take you to a login screen.

Your username for the site is yyy. I will send your password in a separate message for security reasons.

You can begin creating content for your site right away. When you’re ready for training, email [email protected] to schedule a Skype date. See this link for information about Skype.

The appearance of your site looks uses a default, "out of the box", look and feel. As part of your training, we’ll show you how to modify the appearance.

Welcome!

Denny Brown
Expert Web Support
[email protected]
Skype: dennispbrown

For New sites

Hi,

Your "Install & Go" installation is done.

You can view the site at http://yourdomain.com/

To modify the site, use the tiny ‘Login’ link in the light gray bar at the top of the browser window. That will take you to a login screen.

Your username for the site is yyy. I will send your password in a separate message for security reasons.

You can begin creating content for your site right away. When you’re ready for training, email [email protected] to schedule a Skype date. See this link for information about Skype.

The appearance of your site looks uses a default, "out of the box", look and feel. As part of your training, we’ll show you how to modify the appearance.

Welcome!

Denny Brown
Expert Web Support
[email protected]
Skype: dennispbrown

Howto: Install & Go

Create the hosting account

Prerequisite info:

  1. Domain name
  2. Domain is registered at: (e.g., GoDaddy, Network Solutions, Enom)
  3. Registrar credentials
    • Username
    • Password
  4. Name of person or company owning the domain.
  5. Primary contact for this account. (Must be a person.)
  6. Email address for primary contact.
  7. Username: <6-8 characters; get from customer>
  8. Catch-phrase: 6 to 12 word phrase.
  9. Catch-phrase question: Question to which the catch phrase is the answer.
    Example catch phrase: “Santa Clause is coming to town”
    Example catch phrase question: “What is my favorite Christmas song?”
  10. 4 digit number
  11. 4 digit number question: Question to which the 4-digit number is the answer.
    Example 4 digit number: 1103
    Example 4 digit number question: “What’s my birthday in mmdd format?”

Do this:

  1. Use the password convention to create a password for this account.
  2. Open the XWS reseller account (WHM).
    You need the XWS reseller account credentials to do this.
  3. Select Account Functions > Create a New Account.
  4. Enter the domain info (see above prereq info):
    • Domain name
    • Username
    • Password
    • Email: [email protected]
    • Choose a package for this account. The default for a paying customer is dbrown_xws_200. The default for a freebie account is dbrown_xws_50.
    • Select “Create account.”
  5. Log out

Configure Standard Email Accounts

Prerequisite info:

Do this:

  1. Go to cpanel for XWS.
    Log in using the username and password for the XWS reseller account.
  2. Select the new domain from the dropdown menu.
  3. Create POP or forwarder accounts for each of the addresses collected above.

Configure customer-chosen email accounts

Prerequisite info:

  • Have customer fill out a “my email accounts” questionnaire.
  • Result of this should be a list of:
    • POP accounts: user/mail client, user/mail client, …
    • IMAP accounts: user/mail client, user/mail client, …
    • Forwarders: user/address-to-forward-to, user/address-to-forward-to, …

Change name servers at registrar

There are two scenarios here, both pretty common.

  1. This is a new domain. There is no legacy website.
  2. This domain has an existing website. The legacy website should stay live until the new site is ready to go live.

We’ll label case 1 as “New Site.” We’ll label case 2 as “Legacy Site.”

If “New Site,” you should set the name servers at the registrar right away. This makes future steps easier.

If “Legacy Site,” do not change the name servers now. Leave the old site running until the new one is ready to go live.

Prerequisite info:

  • Where is the domain registered? If GoDaddy or NetSol, things should be easy.
  • Registrar credentials for the customer -or- Account exec setup (add link to how to do account exec w. various registrars.)
  • Our name servers: ns369.websitewelcome.com and ns370.websitewelcome.com

Do this:

  1. Log in to the registrar’s site. Use your credentials if you are an account exec. Use customer credentials if not.
  2. Navigate to the domain manager > domain you’re creating > nameserver functionality. (Registrar-dependent instructions.)
  3. Change the nameservers to the two above.

Install and configure Semiologic Pro

See Install & configure Semiologic Pro.