WordPress Core, Plugins & Theme Updates

Although there are plenty of other minor things about WordPress and/or special ways that you could use the system, I have at least explained all of the basic concepts needed to build a site so far.

The last thing that I need to talk to you about before I conclude this lesson involves maintaining your site by keeping your software up-to-date.

WordPress is obviously updated on a regular basis, as are many plugins and themes used with WordPress. To take advantage of these new versions that could have bug fixes or even new features, you simply have to perform the updates.

To start, click on the Updates link in the Dashboard menu:

On this page, you'll be able to perform updates (when available) for everything. Here is a look at my page at the moment:

There are actually not any updates available right now because this is a fresh installation using the latest version of WordPress. Any software I have installed (plugins/themes) was done directly through WordPress, so that also obtained the most recent versions for me.

However, this page can easily change at any time. When Updates are available, you'll actually see a black circle with a number in it next to Updates in the Dashboard menu. That number indicates how many updates are available for your site.

Here's what that black circle with a number will look like:

Whenever you see a number show up there, just visit this page to perform the update. Here is another site of mine that has updates available:

All you have to do to perform a WordPress update is simply click the Update Now button.

To update plugins/themes, just click on the checkbox next to what you want to update and click the Update Plugins or Update Themes button.

WordPress Backups

Note the message in the yellow box at the top that says you should back up your database and files before performing an update. This allows you a way to undo the changes if it causes problems with your live site. For most of you, it is probably a good idea to do this to ensure you don't run into any problems. Make sure you backup both the files in the public_html folder of your site and the entire WordPress database - both will be needed to restore the site.

I've covered backups previously in my cPanel training class for Techie Master Class. I thought I would just share that particular class with you here to be sure that you have that information. I could have simply added that information to this ebook, but there are other things in this cPanel class that you will likely find useful, if you haven't already seen this.

Get my cPanel training ebook and video here (nothing to buy - this is the thank you page after buying, lol):
https://ryanstevensonplugins.com/cpanel-training-thanks/

Next Azon Master Class

In the next Azon Master Class, we will actually begin to build our site. This will start with the framework - creating a home page and category pages. I'm going to give you a crash-course on content writing and SEO for content writing. I will also be showing you how to connect these new pages with the menu system, and even how I link these pages up to other parts of my site.

At this point, your WordPress site should be all setup and ready to go for site construction AND you should have a decent understanding of how WordPress actually works.