Content Architecture at WordCamp Ottawa 2016

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CONTENT ARCHITECTUREAKA. PAGES VS. POSTS & CATEGORIES VS. TAGSWORDCAMP OTTAWA 2016#WCOTT

Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa http://shanta.ca

Shanta R. Nathwani - @ShantaDotCa http://shanta.ca 2

MAIN IDEAPosts vs. Pages & Categories vs. Tags. There is so much confusion about what types of things should be put on a page and what should be in a post. Static vs. Dynamic content is the best way to tackle this. When creating a website, you can edit a menu to include not only pages, but also category archives that can create a more complete experience.


AGENDAIntroductionPages & PostsCategories & TagsLive DemoQ & A’s

Shanta R. Nathwani - http://shanta.ca - @ShantaDotCa 4

ABOUT (A BOOT) ME

• Instructor, Sheridan College• Joint program with University of Toronto at Mississauga: Institute of Culture,

Communication, Information and Technology• Web Design and Capstone Project

• Instructor, Mohawk College• Computer Foundations and WordPress• WIT program funded via the YWCA

• Independent Consultant• Clients include NPOs, Real Estate, Software Development, Financial and Political

Sectors• Bachelor of Commerce in Info Tech Mgmt., Ryerson University• Serial WordCamper. Went to 7 last year and the year before

that.• Co-organizer, WordCamp Hamilton


FIND ME!Tweet Me:

@ShantaDotCa

Email:[email protected]

My Web Site:http://shanta.ca

http://twitter.com/shantadotca


mailto:[email protected]?subject=From%20WordPress%20101

http://shanta.ca/


1. WRITE DOWN ON POST IT NOTES ALL THE MAIN TOPICS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON YOUR WEBSITE.

About Us Events

ServicesRecipes

Contact Products

PortfolioBlog


• Used to put down all the pieces of information that you want to put on your website• Later on, you may want to colour code them into categories and pages• During the presentation today, start filling in those post-its with your ideas of what you want on the site. You may not finish it today, but it will give you a start.

POST-IT NOTES


AN EXAMPLECATEGORIES AND PAGES MENU STRUCTURE


FOLLOW ALONG!We are going to put together our menu based on

content we’ve already got. Follow along at:

http://tantienhime.com

http://wcmpls.samuraiwp.com/

http://wcmpls.samuraiwp.com/


3-5-7 PRINCIPLE• 3 Clicks to

where you need to be.

• Few (very few) exceptions

No more than 5-7 items in a list.This includes menus and lists


PAGES VS POSTSPAGESStatic information for the most part“About Us” is a great exampleDoes not use CategoriesCan have sub-pages

POSTSDynamic informationTime sensitive Uses Categories & Tags“Upcoming Events” or “Events Attended” are good examples


2. FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES WILL BE CATEGORIES AND WHICH ONES WILL BE PAGESPages Categories

About Us Events

Services Recipes

Contact

Products Portfolio


Pages Categories

3. CHANGE THE COLOUR OF EITHER ONE OR THE OTHER SO THAT YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE

About Us Events

Services Recipes

Contact

Products Portfolio


CATEGORIES VS. TAGSCATEGORIES

Major classifications for information“Events” is a great example Can have sub-categories (much like pages)

TAGS

Describes the content using keywordsWordPress recommends 5-7 per post


WORDPRESS MENUSMenus can contain:Categories (sometimes called “Category Archives”)PagesExternal LinksThe number of menus that are supported depend on the theme you choose, so do that first!Since 3.6, you can now choose what menu goes where (main, sidebars). Again, dependant on the theme.


4. KEEPING THE 3-5-7 RULE, START TO STRUCTURE YOUR MENUS ACCORDING TO THE TOPIC, NOT WHETHER OR NOT YOUR CONTENT IS A POST OR A PAGE.

About Us

EventsServices Contact Products

Recipes

Portfolio


5. CREATE YOUR MENU IN WORDPRESS USING PAGES AND CATEGORIES!


GO LIVE!http://tantienhime.com/wp-admin (For Me)http://tantienhime.com (For You)

http://wcmpls.samuraiwp.com/wp-admin


http://tantienhime.com/

http://tantienhime.com/




RESOURCESHow to create your menu: https://learn.wordpress.com/get-published-30/#lecustommenu (Created for .com, but still applicable)Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web: http://www.amazon.com/Information-Architecture-Blueprints-Christina-Wodtke/dp/0735712506 (until last year, used by our course)Don’t Make Me Think: http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability/dp/0321965515 (one of the books that replaced IA)Evil By Design: http://evilbydesign.info/book/ (the other new book)WordPress.tv: http://shanta.ca/posts-vs-pages-and-categories-vs-tags-video-at-wordcamp-montreal-2015/ (my earlier talk, including creating the menu)

https://learn.wordpress.com/get-published-30/#lecustommenu

http://www.amazon.com/Information-Architecture-Blueprints-Christina-Wodtke/dp/0735712506

http://www.amazon.com/Information-Architecture-Blueprints-Christina-Wodtke/dp/0735712506

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability/dp/0321965515

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability/dp/0321965515

http://evilbydesign.info/book/

http://shanta.ca/posts-vs-pages-and-categories-vs-tags-video-at-wordcamp-montreal-2015/




Questions?

Tweet Me:@ShantaDotCa

Email:[email protected]

My Web Site:http://shanta.ca





http://shanta.ca/

Content Architecture at WordCamp Ottawa 2016

Technology

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