Within it, you'll get comfortable navigating the WordPress Dashboard, setting up the essentials, and determining who can access your site. Onward we go!

Lesson 1: Exploring the Dashboard

1.1 What is the WordPress Dashboard?

Your Control Center

The Dashboard is your website's control center. Here you'll find everything: posts, pages, media, settings, and much more. It's like the cockpit of a spaceship if your site were a spaceship.

1.2 Dashboard Layout

Menu on the Left

To your left you will notice a main menu packed to the brim with links for accessing all parts of your site. These include "Posts, pages, media, and plugins."

Top Toolbar

At the very top of WordPress sits the Quick Access Toolbar. These are the shortcuts you are going to find to look at your site, create a new post, and look at your updates.

Welcome Screen

When you first log in, you might see a “Welcome” widget. It gives you quick-start options to help you set up your site faster.

1.3 Key Dashboard Sections

Posts and Pages

The sections where you’ll create and manage blog posts and website pages.

Media

All your images, videos, and files live here. You can upload new media or manage existing ones.

Appearance

This is where you customize your theme, menu, and widgets. Think of it as your site’s “look and feel” settings.

Settings

The place for basic settings like your site’s name, tagline, and more.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be a pro at navigating your Dashboard like a boss!

Lesson 2: General Settings

2.1 Site Title and Tagline

What are They?

Your site title is the main name of your website, and the tagline is a short description. For example, “My Travel Blog” might be the title, and “Adventures Around the World” the tagline.

How to Set It

In your Dashboard, go to Settings > General and you’ll see fields for your site title and tagline. Enter something catchy that describes your site and grabs attention!

2.2 Language and Timezone

Site Language

Set the main language for your site. It helps WordPress and plugins adapt to your language preferences.

Timezone

Choose your timezone so posts can be published at the correct local time. This is especially handy if you’re scheduling posts to go live at specific times.

2.3 Other General Settings

URL Settings (WordPress Address & Site Address)

These two URLs are usually the same and represent your site’s address. Changing them can break your site, so it’s best to leave them as-is unless you know what you’re doing.

Email Address

This is where WordPress sends notifications, like updates or user activity. It should be an address you check regularly.

Membership and New User Default Role

If you want to let people register on your site, tick the box to allow “Anyone can register.” You can also set their default role, which we’ll cover in the next lesson.

By mastering these settings, you’ll be able to set up your site’s core details quickly!

Lesson 3: Managing Users and Roles

3.1 What are Users and Roles?

Users

Users are the people who have access to your WordPress site. Each user has a specific role with different permissions.

Roles

Roles are like job titles, defining what each user can and can’t do on your site.

3.2 Types of User Roles

Administrator

Has full access to everything—managing content, users, plugins, and settings. Be careful with this role since it has complete control.

Editor

Can manage and publish all posts, including those written by others. Great for someone who oversees content.

Author

Can create, edit, and publish their own posts. Authors can’t change site settings or access other people’s posts.

Contributor

Can write and manage their posts but need an editor or admin to approve and publish them.

Subscriber

Has the least access. Typically, subscribers can only read content and manage their profiles. This role is often used for membership sites.

3.3 Adding and Managing Users

Adding a New User

Go to Users > Add New in your Dashboard. Fill in the username, email, and role, and click “Add New User. Easy as that!

Editing or Deleting Users

To change a user’s role or remove them, head to Users > All Users, select the user and choose an action. Only admins can do this, so use it wisely!

With these settings mastered, you’re all set to manage who can access and edit your site’s content.

By the end of this Course, you’ll be confident in navigating the Dashboard, setting up your site’s essential details, and controlling who has access.