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Module 3.4

Overview of CMS & WordPress

PRC 112: Digital Marketing Practicum

Faculty of Management Studies • Pokhara University

Duration: 1 hour

Session Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • ✅ Understand what a CMS is and why it matters
  • ✅ Compare popular CMS platforms (WordPress, Wix, etc.)
  • ✅ Create a free account on WordPress.com
  • ✅ Publish your first blog post

What is a CMS?

Content Management System (CMS): Software that helps users create, manage, and modify content on a website without the need for specialized technical knowledge.

In short: It lets you build a website without writing code!

Why Use a CMS?

  • User-Friendly: Drag-and-drop interfaces
  • Collaboration: Multiple users can manage content
  • SEO Tools: Built-in features to help you rank
  • Templates: Professional designs ready to use
  • Extensions: Plugins to add functionality (forms, shops, etc.)

Popular CMS Platforms

WordPress

Powering 43% of the web. Flexible, powerful, and industry standard.

Wix / Squarespace

All-in-one builders. Great for beginners but less flexible.

Shopify

Dedicated to E-commerce. Best for online stores.

WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com

WordPress.org (Self-Hosted)

  • You download the software
  • You pay for hosting & domain
  • Full control & ownership
  • Access to all plugins/themes
  • Requires maintenance

WordPress.com (Hosted)

  • Hosted by Automattic
  • Free tier available
  • Easier setup (like signing up for FB)
  • Limited customization on free plan
  • Maintenance handled for you

Today, we will use WordPress.com for our practicum.

Activity: Create Your Account

Step-by-Step:

  1. Go to WordPress.com
  2. Click "Get Started"
  3. Create an account (email, username, password)
  4. Choose a domain (Select the Free option, e.g., yourname.wordpress.com)
  5. Select the Free Plan (look for "Start with a free site")
  6. Select "Write & Publish" as your goal

Exploring the Dashboard

  • My Home: Overview of your site stats and setup
  • Posts: Where you write articles (blog posts)
  • Pages: Static content (About, Contact, Home)
  • Media: Library for images and documents
  • Appearance: Themes and customization

Posts vs. Pages

Posts (Dynamic)

  • Timely content (Blog articles)
  • Displayed in reverse chronological order
  • Have Categories & Tags
  • Included in RSS feed

Pages (Static)

  • Timeless content (About Us, Contact)
  • Hierarchical (Parent/Child pages)
  • No Categories or Tags
  • Not in RSS feed

Activity: Write Your First Post

Let's Publish!

  1. Go to Posts > Add New
  2. Title: "Hello World! My Digital Marketing Journey"
  3. Content: Write 1 paragraph introducing yourself and what this blog will be about.
  4. Image: Add a Featured Image (sidebar)
  5. Publish: Click the "Publish" button top right!

Customizing Your Site

  • Themes: Go to Appearance > Themes to change the look.
  • Site Identity: Add a Logo and Site Title.
  • Menus: Set up your navigation menu.

Don't spend too much time here yet! Focus on content first.

Session Wrap-Up

Checklist:

  • ✅ Account created on WordPress.com
  • ✅ Free domain claimed
  • ✅ First blog post published

Assignment Reminder:

Use this blog for your Module 3 Assignment (Content Creation)!

Thank You!

Happy Blogging!

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