WordPress MU 2.8 : beginner's guide : build your own blog network with unlimited users and blogs, forums, photo galleries, and more!

This book offers a good guide to creating an online WordPress community from scratch. Among the topics covered are descriptions of WordPress MU and BuddyPress, installing it, increasing traffic to it and what to do when things go wrong. I felt the step by step directions explained various topics well. Of course WordPress is very dynamic and changes versions often. Consequently, some screens shown in the book may appear differently when you first try to set up a multi-user blog. While this book is a book for novice users, the author assumes you already know something about WordPress. BuddyPress contains plugins that help set up your multi user blog and customize it to suit your needs. One point the author makes here that's good to remember, which is to plan your site before building it. Building a MY site requires setting up a database and server which is explained in some detail. Another chapter touches on letting your users manage their own blogs, with suggestions on avoiding issues and setting up different levels of priveleges for your users. Spam is always an issue for any blogger and the author offers some tips to make it harder for spammers to "invade" your site (making it invite-only or moderating site registration). There's also information about adding forums, social networking and optimizing your site. All in all, I felt this book contains some good information, some that may be similar to other blogs but important information nonetheless. It's well worth getting if you're thinking about building a multi-user blog.

In Detail

WordPress MU enables you to build a complete, professional blog network. Each user gets their own blog, and can choose their favorite templates and plug-ins, and develop their own content. WordPress MU powers some of the largest blog networks in the world, including the mighty WordPress.com - home to thousands of bloggers.

This book will take you through the setup of a WordPress MU-powered blogging network, using a real, working blog network as an example, so that you can follow the creation process step-by-step. Your blogging network will be complete with professional features such as friends lists, status feeds, groups, forums, photo galleries, and more, to build your own WordPress.com - a place where users can quickly come and create a blog for themselves.

The book starts with a clean install of WordPress MU, and as you work through the book, you will build the blog network, and add on more and more features, all seamlessly integrated to achieve a professional, custom-built look.

You will find new themes and plug-ins added to the site, as well as customization of the WordPress multi-user code. The book will also look at ways you can manage your community, and keep your site safe and secure, ensuring that it is a spam-free, enjoyable community for your users. In the later chapters, you will add a forum using the bbPress script, and add BuddyPress social networking components to your site.

Imagine how good you'll feel when your first WordPress multi-user blog network launches.

A comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide to creating, optimizing, and maintaining a blog network

Approach

Packed with easy-to-follow examples and screenshots, this book is designed to be followed from beginning to end, although those with existing WordPress MU sites will be able to jump in at the later chapters and pick out the things that are important to them. The author's expertise with creating a wide variety of WordPress sites enables her to share insights on using WordPress effectively, in a clear and friendly way. Those interested in digging further will be given the chance to customize their site further. Throughout the book, you will build up a blog network for Vampire Slayers - SlayerCafe.com, as an example.

Who this book is for

If you wish to manage multiple blogs and build a blog network, then this book is for you. You are not expected to be experienced with PHP coding. Some knowledge of HTML, and some experience with the blogging and social networking world will be helpful, but not essential.

Annotation WordPress MU enables you to build a complete, professional blog network. Each user gets their own blog, and can choose their favorite templates and plug-ins, and develop their own content. WordPress MU powers some of the largest blog networks in the world, including the mighty WordPress.com _ home to thousands of bloggers. This book will take you through the setup of a WordPress MU-powered blogging network, using a real, working blog network as an example, so that you can follow the creation process step-by-step. Your blogging network will be complete with professional features such as friends lists, status feeds, groups, forums, photo galleries, and more, to build your own WordPress.com _ a place where users can quickly come and create a blog for themselves. The book starts with a clean install of WordPress MU, and as you work through the book, you will build the blog network, and add on more and more features, all seamlessly integrated to achieve a professional, custom-built look. You will find new themes and plug-ins added to the site, as well as customization of the WordPress multi-user code. The book will also look at ways you can manage your community, and keep your site safe and secure, ensuring that it is a spam-free, enjoyable community for your users. In the later chapters, you will add a forum using the bbPress script, and add BuddyPress social networking components to your site. Imagine how good you'll feel when your first WordPress multi-user blog network launches Build your own blog network with unlimited users and blogs, forums, photo galleries, and more!Design, develop, secure, and optimize a blog network with a single installation of WordPress. Add unlimited users and blogs, and give different permissions on different blogs. Add social networking features to your blogs using BuddyPress. Create a bbPress forum for your users to communicate with each other. Part of Packt's Beginner's Guide Series, with step-by-step, detailed instructions for building a blog network from scratch.