MY FIRST PODCAST MIC2368744
PODCASTS
Hello! Welcome to a safe space for moms to discuss all things and food.
During this episode we’ll talk about the best tips to help busy parents make healthy food choices. Although this space is mainly for meals we’ll also discuss the difficulties of parenthood, the happiness, how we can support each other, and all things parenthood. This will be the safest place for all parents, thoughts, and feelings. My goal is to make parents feel less stressed and have more fun while cooking.
SELECTED PLUGIN
I chose PowerPress Podcasting Plugin by Blubrry, because its a well known, supported, and user friendly plugin. It also works directly with WordPress and makes for a seamless upload. Recording my episode through OBS Studio allowed me to export my file as an MP3 and upload it through PowerPress. Figuring out how to adjust the microphone levels was the hardest part. It took me a few takes before I was able to finally figure out the perfect volume. Podcasts are a great way to connect multiple parents and discuss our wins and loses, while connecting on how to feed our family with purpose.
LETS GET SOCIAL!
Creating a media friendly blog post helps parents discover healthy meal options and a safe space for families. I used Simple Social Media Share Buttons because it allows visitors to easily share recipes to Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIN. Jetpack Auto Share will automatically share new posts to connected social media pages. Smash Balloon Instagram Feed will add live instagram posts. These different social media outlets will boost reach and visibilities without having to do extra work. It does require more plugin maintenance and will slow down your website.
BUILDING CUSTOM THEMES
THE 3 PATHS TO DEVELOP A WORDPRESS THEME
STARTING FROM SCRATCH
- Create all theme files yourself: PHP templates, CSS, and functions
- Allows you to have full creative control, but you do need to have strong coding skills (HTML, CSS, PHP, and WordPress functions)
- If you are an advanced developer that wants complete customizations this is the best option for you
USING A STARTER THEME
- Start with a basic pre-built framework that already has the structure ready
- You’re able to customize the layout, colors and styling without having to build it from nothing yourself
- It’s a time saver
- This is the path I chose because it’s easy for beginners to use and allows for creativity while also providing structure.
USING A CHILD THEME
- You’re able to add on top of an existing parent theme by creating a child theme
- This is a great way to modify an existing theme without editing your original files
- Easy way to maintain because the updates to the parent theme don’t break your changes
6 COMMON THEME FILES AND THEIR PURPOSE
- Index.php – main template file that displays content when none of the templates match
- style.css – this will control visual design and includes theme metadata like name, author, description
- header.php – has the site header, navigation, and branding elements
- footer.php – shows footer content like copyright, and closing HTML tags
- functions.php – adds features, or custome functionality like menus or widgets
- single.php – defines how the individual blog post will appear when viewed
Customizing My Website Theme
WIDGETS USED AND WHY I CHOSE THEM
To really make my WordPress site my own I selected five widgets that would help improve not only my site but user experience. Below are the five widgets I used and why I chose them:
Image Widget
I wanted to make my website more aesthetically pleasing and really draw the user in. To do this I decided to add two images at the top that had bright colors and were pleasing to the eye. By adding these images it immediately gives the user a sense of what the website is about.
Social Icon
By adding a social icon it allows for users to experience the blog through other social media pages. This is a great way to improve engagement and bring in new users to the blog. It also makes it easier to have users share different content and help expand the popularity of the website.
Search Bar
I added a search bar to make it easier for users to quickly find content. By adding a search bar it makes it easier for users to find what specifically they are looking for and where to find it. Once the blog and posts grow a search bar will help users find exactly what they need without having to browse through all the posts.
Category
Adding a category widget allows for users to be able to find posts based on topics. This is another way to make the site more user friendly and allows for users to explore categories they may have not seen before.
Recent Posts
To keep the content new and exciting I added a recent posts widget. This widget provides users with quick access to the latest posts, and will keep them coming back for more content.
My Website Theme
This section provides a structured comparison of features and pricing to help customers choose the best option for their needs.
Theme Sources
- WordPress.org Repository – there are free theme options that have been vetted by WordPress
- Premium Marketplaces – ThemeForest, Elegant Themes are a few premium options. They offer more advanced features but do require a payment
- Custom Themes – Can find a developer to create a custom them, this will cost more, and require more time to setup
Required Theme Files
- style.css – theme metadata and styles
- index.php – the main template file
- functions.php – adds theme features and functions
- screenshots – displays a preview in the dashboard
Optional
- header.php
- footer.php
- sidebar.php
- single.php
Decision Matrix Criteria
- Responsiveness: How compatible it is with phones and tablets
- Customization: Different layouts, fonts, colors
- Speed: How fast it can load and how well it can perform
- Ease of use: User friendly interface
- Visual Appeal: How aesthetically pleasing it is
My Chosen Theme: Kale
- The install was made through WordPress Admin
- Other steps needed were to hit activate after installation
- I went with this theme because it was created for food bloggers. The layout is nice and clean with recipe friendly design, after reading the reviews it stated this theme had strong mobile responsiveness
Installation Steps
- Appearance > Themes
- In the search bar type “Kale”
- Click Install and Activate
There was no manual installation needed
My Website Security and Users
Setting Up and Validating SSL
For your website to be successful you must invest in website security. This will ensure long-term success of your website, provide user trust, and protect your data. Here are a few ways to secure your website through WordPress.
Having proper website security should be a requirement for everyone. By securing your website you are protecting yourself and your users from cyber threats like hackers, malware, and unauthorized access. If you site isn’t secured it becomes vulnerable to compromise which can lead to things like data loss, and legal consequences. Luckily there are ways we can avoid this like installing an SSL Certificate, security plugins, and managing user access through roles. By installing a SSL certificate it will encrypt communication between the browser and the server. Any sensitive information like passwords, or payment details will be kept safe because this SSL will detect and prevent attackers from intercepting this information. Another route you can take is installing security plugins like really simple SSL, Wordfence, WP Activity Log, or Login LockDown. Getting these plugins will allow for them to work together and provide security to any critical aspect of website security.
The five users I decided to create to keep my website organized and secure are.
- Administrator (Myself): My capabilities will be full control of the site like content, settings, plugins, and managing user settings. Because this is my website I’ll need full control to be able to manage and maintain the site.
- Editor – Jennifer: She will be able to edit, add, approve, publish, and delete any posts. She will ensure that all posts are proper and will be beneficially to our users.
- Author – Becca: She will only be able to write, edit, and publish her own posts. She won’t have access to any other posts. Adding to the website with another point of view.
- Contributor – Brock: Will have access to write and edit their own posts but will not have the ability to post them. New blogger that needs practice and exposure.
- Subscriber – Janet: Can create and manage a profile and leave comments on posts. This is meant for any readers that want to interact with the content of the website without editing abilities.
Why Web Accessibility is Important
To be an all inclusive website your design and development must have web accessibility so that even people with disabilities are able to navigate throughout your website. Providing a space where everyone feels like they have equal access to information and opportunity is so important.
For your website to be accessible people who are blind, deaf, have cognitive challenges, or mobility impairments should be able to easily navigate, interact, and benefit from the content you are sharing. A few features that allow for accessibility are:
SCREEN READER SUPPORT WITH ALT TEXT
KEYBOARD NAVIGATION FOR USERS WHO CAN’T USE A MOUSE
AJUSTABLE CONTRAST AND FONT SIZE
Tomas, J. (2021, March 29). Brown hand with white background [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/89bQBucvJdw
BLAST OFF WITH JETPACK!
Jetpack is an extremely powerful plugin that every website owner should have because it enhances your WordPress site’s performance, provides a layer of security, and allows for potential growth. Having to manually upload Jetpack allowed for me to explore the different types of modules it has to offer, that can be very beneficial, including:
Site Stats
This comes up right on your dashboard and provides you with simple yet readable analytics, without having to search for them. It shows your Google Analytics without having to directly log onto the website.
Downtime Monitoring
If your site goes offline Jetpack will automatically send you an alert via email. Knowing when your site is offline will allow you to act quickly and fix the problem, without interrupting the users experience.
Brute Force Attack Protection
If there are any malicious login attempts Jetpack will automatically block them to secure your site from hackers.
External Storage and File Sharing
If you want to have a successful website external storage and file sharing services are two of the most important tools to have. Being able to protect your data is key in the case of a server failure, having a reliable place to store your data, and adds an easy way to share your files with other collaborators. Here are three popular services compatible with WordPress:
1
Dropbox
Pros: Well known, easy setup, you’re able to connect it with UpdraftPlus within WordPress
Cons: The free storage option only allows for 2 GB
2
Google Drive
Pros: Free storage options allows for 15GB, widely used, integrates easily with WordPress tools
Cons: Backup configuration can be a tad confusing
3
Amazon S3
Pros: Highly secure
Cons: The setup is extremely complex and it’s not longer free beyond the usage limits
What I’ve Learned About Plugins
Plugins are probably the most important part of your website. It’s an easy way to add different functionalities, and features without having to actual write code. With that being said you still have to be careful deciding which plugins to add. Adding the wrong ones could slow down or crash your site.
The best way to insure your plugins are safe, install directly from the official WordPress Plugin Directory. Here are a few things to lookout for before installing:
- Great reviews
- Maintain regular updates
- Compatible with WordPress
Other ways to source new plugins:
- Visit trustworthy plugin sites
- Search within WordPress admin
- CodeCanyon which is a large site, that offers a wide range of WordPress plugin selections.
As far as my additional plugin I decided to choose Smush, which is an image optimization tool. There were many image optimization tools including ShortPixel, and EWWW Image Optimizer. Those versions were a bit more complex as far as setup. Smush was easy to install and the free version had great reviews. This plugin will save me time because it will automatically compress images when I upload them and save me storage space without compromising on the image quality. This will also speed up my website and improve the user experience.
Blog
4 Quick & Nutritious School Snacks
No matter how busy you are nutrition matters! These four kid approved snacks will fill your kid up with energy, smiles, and all the nutritious goodness without the sugar high/crash.
Broccoli Pin Wheel
Ingredients
1 1/2 Cups chopped broccoli 1 Can crescent roll dough 1/2 Cups cream cheese 1 Cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Chop broccoli to desired chunk size, open and unroll crescent rolls, spread the cream cheese across dough, add broccoli and cheese on top of the cream cheese, roll the dough, cut the dough into half inch circles and place on baking pan, place the pan in the oven, and cook for 10 mins.
Avocado Banana Oat Pancakes
Ingredients
2 Ripe bananas 1/2 Avocado 1 Cup of oats 1 Egg 1 Cup of water
Instructions
Place all ingredients into a blender, blend until all the ingredients are mixed smoothly together, place pan on stove, add a teaspoon of butter and turn heat to medium, use a spoon and place desired pancake size on pan, wait till the sides are bubbling, and flip.
Chicken Broccoli Fritter
Ingredients
3 Eggs, Bunch of spinach, 1 Chicken breast (chopped), 1 Cup of chopped broccoli, 1 Cup of parmesan cheese
Instructions
Place pan on stove and turn heat to medium, add one tablespoon of olive oil, let heat, in a mixing bowl crack the eggs, add chopped broccoli and spinach, chicken, and cheese, mix together, and use a 1/2 cup to scoop and add to pan, cook on each side for 8 mins.
Banana Frozen Yogurt Bites
Ingredients
1 Large ripe banana 1 150g Greek honey vanilla yogurt 1 diced banana
Instructions
Place muffin cases into muffin tin slots, place banana in bowl and mash up with a fork until its smooth, place a table spoon of yogurt into muffin case, and top with a slice of banana, place muffin tin in freezer, leave in freezer for 2 hours, once frozen take them out and enjoy.
Photographer’s Last Name, First Initial. (2021, July 23). [Woman and child cooking] [Photograph]. Cilandak, South Jakarta City, Jakarta, Indonesia. Camera: SONY ILCE-7M2. Unsplash. License: Free to use under the Unsplash License. https://unsplash.com/photos/wrBo18RU9Ks
(n.d.). [Yellow bananas] [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/fczCr7MdE7U
(n.d.). [Sliced green avocado fruit] [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/9aOswReDKPo
(n.d.). [A head of broccoli on a pink background] [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/R1pG4nLXNCw