New here? Follow these steps to create a new website or become a WashU Sites pro.
Before you get started
- Get to know theme standards; as a theme user, you agree to follow these guidelines.
- Read the brand guide to learn about the sharing the WashU story, including messaging, voice and visual brand standards.
- Refer to the Washington University style manual for guidance with usage and formatting of names, titles and more.
- Set aside plenty of time to get comfortable with using WordPress, and attend a training if you can. We recommend budgeting one full work day (or spreading those hours across multiple days) to learn the ropes.
Logging in and adding editors
To get started on your new site, log in and add more users as admins and editors.
Adding content to your site
WordPress sites have two core content types – pages and posts – and sites using the WashU Web theme offer additional post types as well. To explore all of your content options, visit the features section. Use the tutorials below to get started.
Adding New Pages
Use pages for relatively static content that makes up the architecture of your site.
Using Blocks: An Intro to the Page Editor
Laying out pages and editing content is a snap with your site’s block editor.
Looking for more options?
Your WashU Web Theme site isn’t limited to basic pages and posts. You can also add events, forms, people, places or items.
Setting up your site’s navigation menus
Your site’s primary navigation — that is, the menu with links to all of the main pages on your website — appears in the horizontal gray bar under the Washington University shield.
Building the site’s footer
The footer is the gray field at the bottom of every page on your website. At minimum, it should identify the Washington University unit that owns or is responsible for your website (often this may be the same as your site name) and include basic contact information.
Editing the Footer Contact Information
Visitors to your site will expect to find contact information in the footer, which appears at the bottom of every page.
Using Widgets to Add Footer Content
WordPress widgets are small modules that appear on every page of your site containing text, categories, HTML or other content.
Before your site goes live
From setting redirects to checking your menus, see the launch guide to make sure you’re crossing all of your t’s and dotting those i’s before your site goes public.
Publishing your site
Once your site is ready to be viewed by the public, set your privacy settings to “allow search engines to index the site.”
Making a Site Visible to Search Engines
To publicly “launch” a site, change the visibility settings so search engines can find it.
Taking your site to the next level
Need an extra push? Below are a few ways to turn your site up to eleven.
Adding Google Analytics to a WashU Site
Set up Google Analytics as soon as your site launches to start collecting data right away.
Basic HTML Code for WordPress
If something on a page doesn’t appear quite right and you understand the basics of HTML, the easiest solution can be to look for rogue tags in the code.
People, Places and Items
Use the tool for people, places or items to create directories, filterable lists and more.
Training sessions
Attend a training session to get tips and tricks straight from our experts.