Content Submission for Dot Org: How to Get Help With WordPress

[bridgetwillard]

GDoc: ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iWxHbOhvij9VW0Du1YgEKINfL4LlRDXoUU7e9RlHE90/edit?usp=sharing

Text:

How to Get Help With WordPress

Part of the fun of WordPress is doing it yourself, but sometimes you may need help. We’ll take you through the ways to get help from the community.

Support Forums

As a WordPress user, you will undoubtedly have questions. This is where the WordPress community-based Support Forums really shine. You can visit the WordPress Support Page here: ​https://wordpress.org/support

This resource is loaded with documentation from your first steps installing WordPress all the way to plugin creation. In addition to the documentation, the forums allow you to post questions on issues you encounter, site problems, or just to gain additional understanding and have community members respond.

So how do I get support on the WordPress.org forums?

You can browse the full list of existing threads or use the “search forums” bar to find information on your needed topic. The forums only require that you create a WordPress.org account and log in to post a question (which is completely free and takes only moments).

It’s always recommended to do some initial research and search for your question prior to posting. WordPress has a huge user base; you’ll find many questions have already been answered.

What about support for themes and plugins?

Head to the theme or plugin's page and find the "View support forum" link to visit your theme or plugin's individual support forum. Also refer to their instructions which are generally called “documentation.”

WordPress Meetups

Want to meet others in the local WordPress community? Simply check the WordPress Events and News box in your WordPress dashboard to see upcoming events in your region. Meetups are a great way to connect with other users to learn, exchange ideas, challenges, and solutions. (As well as make friends.)

Meetups may focus on a particular topics, including but not limited to:
General and New Users
Web Development & Advanced Users
Web Design
Marketing and Business solutions
Women Who WP

Official WordPress Meetups are currently organized at meetup.com/pro/wordpress

WordCamps

Not familiar with WordCamp? It’s a place for WordPress enthusiasts to meet, greet, and speak about everything WordPress. From developers and designers to first-time bloggers, WordCamp is a place to meet, collaborate, and discuss everything WordPress. The focus of the event is on using and developing for WordPress and all are welcome.

Many in attendance usually play a much more active role in the WordPress community guiding and assisting WordPress users all around the world. This is done through several avenues including community-based Support Forums as well as extensive documentation.

Can I find hands-on support?

This brings us to the Happiness Bar. Before you ask, no, it's not an actual bar. But it's the community’s opportunity to shine! What does this really mean? The Happiness Bar is tech support that community members offer to hands-on support (help with their websites). Sometimes, volunteers at the Happiness Bar find themselves working in WordPress or even the server itself. This is one of the most rewarding volunteer roles at a WordCamp.

Commercial Support

Within the WordPress ecosystem there are a lot of companies that work with WordPress. Many of those, do not only build websites for you, but they can be a source of knowledge for your WordPress site as well. For instance, think about complex questions, specific functionalities or experience with certain themes or plugins. A lot of companies actively offer services to help you with these types of questions.

If you are new to WordPress, or simply do not have the resources to focus to in depth development, consider choosing a host or developer who specializes in WordPress. Using a service that offers premium support offers an additional layer of confidence that, in the event you encounter any unexpected issues, knowledgeable staff is just a contact away.

WordPress.org Glossary

In addition to the outstanding support articles provided on wordpress.org, a glossary of common terms and jargon related to hosting and developing in WordPress is available. This resource is available at the link below:
​https://codex.wordpress.org/Glossary

[bridgetwillard]

Featured Image 1200x628 for Article

[obenland]

I'm not entirely sure what to do with this :)
Where does the text need to appear?

[bridgetwillard]

Hi Konstantin,

It should be a new page on wordrpress.org.

Thank you.

Bridget

Replying to obenland:

I'm not entirely sure what to do with this :)
Where does the text need to appear?

[netweb]

@bridgetwillard Is there any further context as to why this content was requested? And if so who requested this content?

I see basic discussion in the Trello card ​https://trello.com/c/HSPTIU1j/147-how-to-get-help-for-wordpress but it is missing some context of who requested this content and why

At the moment the "home page" for WordPress Support" ​https://wordpress.org/support/ , is there a reason another "top level page" on w.org should be created for this content?

[bridgetwillard]

Hi Netweb.

The Marketing Team has been doing some work with the growth council.

This page for dot org was originally part of the “Create a Website” content set from the Growth Council, but it got pushed out and became a stand alone document.

It's good content that will allow dot org to rank organically for these types of topics.

Otto said this is the way to "turn in" the copy. So, I made a ticket.

It's good content, seems like an easy win for organic SEO.

Thanks.

Replying to netweb:

@bridgetwillard Is there any further context as to why this content was requested? And if so who requested this content?

I see basic discussion in the Trello card ​https://trello.com/c/HSPTIU1j/147-how-to-get-help-for-wordpress but it is missing some context of who requested this content and why

At the moment the "home page" for WordPress Support" ​https://wordpress.org/support/ , is there a reason another "top level page" on w.org should be created for this content?

[netweb]

Thanks @bridgetwillard, personally I'm still not sure what location the content should actually live 🤔

A sub-page of w.org/support maybe...

[bridgetwillard]

I was thinking it could be a landing page

wordpress.org/how-to-get-help-with-wordpress

WP/support is a link to the forums.

This is a link for search engines and so that people can send it to clients, etc.

It's purpose is to drive more organic traffic to wordpress.org.

Support for WordPress.com outranks the Support for dot org which is way below other sites.

It doesn't need to be in the navigation.

Thank you.

Replying to netweb:

Thanks @bridgetwillard, personally I'm still not sure what location the content should actually live 🤔

A sub-page of w.org/support maybe...

[bridgetwillard]

Screenshot "How to get help with WordPress" Google Search 1

[bridgetwillard]

Screenshot "How to get help with WordPress" Google Search 2

[obenland]

Creating pages to rank high on certain search term doesn't seem very scalable

[bridgetwillard]

Hi Konstantin.

I completely understand that this task isn't scaleable. That said, regardless of how proud I am of the Marketing Team, we don't produce enough content even for our own blog for scale to be an issue.

Do we need to agree on the strategy? I thought I just had to post a ticket to get a developer to implement our strategy.

This is my first meta ticket besides the badges.

Can we do this as a test case?

Kindly,

Bridget

Replying to obenland:

Creating pages to rank high on certain search term doesn't seem very scalable