User Skill #4: Post Basics

In the Surf Skill you started to gain some pointers toward better posts; in this Post Basics Skill you’ll learn basic technical elements of a good post. Note that you will be composing a post as part of this Skill; this post will not be viewable by the public (i.e., non-logged in users), but it will be viewable by other logged in DS multisite users at Lewis & Clark.

• Have you earned the Surf Skill badge yet? If not, go back and do that first!
• Remember, you need to be logged in to complete any Skills submission.

To earn this Skill, follow the below steps, then follow the submission requirements at bottom.

1. Keep this Post Basics Skill window open, then open a new tab and add a new post to this same DS Training site (e.g., New > Post in admin bar). With two tabs, you can read the Post Basics instructions, then complete them in your new post at the same time.
2. As you look at the post edit window, you may find the interface to be overwhelming! Too many boxes. Here is a neat trick: expand Screen Options at top, where you can turn metaboxes on or off.
3. In your post, start by focusing on three things:
   • The title. A concise, compelling title is super important. Enter one now. Be creative! We recommend Headline Style Capitalization for your title.
   • The category. WordPress users generally organize posts by entering one or more categories or tags; here’s our help page summary. For this exercise, check the “Post Basics” category.
   • The content. Oh yes, the content of your post matters too! For now, feel free to write a paragraph about anything you want (remember other logged in users will be able to read it). Note the two tabs to the upper right of the post body window: “Visual” provides a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor, with a variety of formatting buttons, whereas “Text” provides an HTML view if you need to tweak the code. One handy proofreading tool in the Visual Editor is the spelling/grammar button!
4. Click “Save Draft” at right to save your post so far. Now let’s add an image: read this help page. You’ll see important information concerning image copyright/attribution, making images web-ready, and displaying images on your posts.
5. Now add two different images to your post, making sure to observe the important information mentioned above:
   • First, the all-important featured image, which displays at the top above your post; you should try to add a featured image to each and every post you do in order to summarize your post and attract visitors. Scroll to the bottom right of your posting window to the Featured Image metabox, and click “Set featured image,” then choose or upload an image. Note: a good featured image is at least 1200 pixels wide, so that it can display across the full width of the screen.
   • Now, an image in the body of your post. Go somewhere in your post text and click “Add Media” in the upper left above the posting box. Here you will choose or upload an image as you did for the featured image. Then, finalize the Attachment Display Settings at bottom right, including Alignment, Link To (or not!), and Size.
6.  You did it! Click Publish, then view your post to make sure all the above is correct. If need be, simply edit your post again.

Submission requirements: In the submission box, paste a link to the image post you composed above. Then in one or two sentences, summarize anything new or useful you learned here. This Skill will be approved by a student helper checking your submission, so make sure it’s fully complete.