Migrating to WordPress

Why I Migrated My HTML page to WordPress

The page was slow.  It took 20 seconds to load.
The ads I used to draw people to my page defeated the purpose of advertising.
The landing pages needed improvement.
The graphics needed improvement

What I've learned about WordPress in less than 24 hours
WordPress is a fancy version of Google Sites and other prepacked webpage building software - content management system (CMS) - that allows you design a website without needing to write code like HTML and CSS. It is built on PHP and MySQL.

The first steps are to decide the name (domain name) of your webpage and find a place where the website files and data will live (hosting).  The name of my current website is www.chicagoibsibd.org  I bought the name on in on DNSexit.  Our website is hosted on a LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) server.  When WordPress is downloaded what you get is a bunch of PHP files.  But these files do not reside on the computer you are sitting at.  The PHP files live on the server computer. These PHP files allow the front page of the website to talk with the server in a dynamic interactive way.  You can think of front end and back end to refer to what is going one relative to the person sitting surfing on their computer.

Theme & Created Pages
The theme that we selected was Twenty Eleven.  It is a good theme to pick if you want your page to be found by people surfing the net and Googling a particular word on your page.  I first started by creating a graphical header in Adobe Fireworks with free images found on stock xchng of a skyline.  I'd like to shrink down the size of the header - work in progess.Then I created 9 webpages and did a cut and paste of the text in the central part of the page.

Multisites and Domain Mapping ( Day 3 Octboer 19) I am using http://www.0ehrl1.com/ to create the WordPress  prototype site.  There is only one installation of WordPress on our server. At first we had only this one site, 0ehrli.com but now we want to have new websites and need to create subdomains. In addition to creating multisites, we have to map the domain to actual DNS subdomains.  We also created a child theme.

WAMP vs. LAMP and transferring files
In order to change the parent theme that comes with the Twenty Eleven and Twenty ten themes you have to have access to the wp-content > themes.  The Lynda.com files explain how to transfer files when WordPress is hosted on a Windows WAMP server.  In our case we have an Linux LAMP server and have to find a way for the front end developer, me, to pass my files to the LAMP server on the back end.  One option in FTP.  Another option might be Dreamweaver.

Plugins & Widgets
I installed a jetpack plugin after listening to the Lynda.com videos.  One of them was called a You Tube channel gallery. When I installed the jetpack it seemed to direct me to WordPress.com to login, which confused me, but after doing this all of the plugins I selected were there.

What I am Working on Now

1. YouTube Video on each page
2. Area where I can put an image
3. Link to Ning
4. Signup for Mailchimp

Day 2 of WordPress
I am watching the videos for WordPress 3: Building Child Themes.  Chapter 2.3 has to do with changing the header size and Chapter 5.1 has to do with inserting fixed sidebars.  When I purchased the Lynda.com package I ordered the supplemental material.  This was a good thing because these files (The New Cool) have a lot of prepackaged code that will allow you to easily change things. 

Where are my files?
Where the files are located is an interesting question.  This page explains it well. This is another with the template hierarchy.  How to create a Wordpress Theme from scratch.

Well I am going to take a break.  I need to learn how to log in to the LAMP server before I can proceed to modify my themes.
How do I place images and video in the sidebar?

Child Themes

How do I make a folder in the WordPress PHP files on the server?  Can't seem to do it.

I have now listened to most of the beginner Lynda.com  I am looking for how to make the header smaller.  Understanding the child themes seems to be the next step. This blog was good:

WordPress 3: Building Child Themes notes

Functions.PHP (Lynda.com) Child WordPress Intermediate
To change the size of the header you have to go in to themes and twenty ten (or elevent) folder and the functions.PHP file.  A function creates the header image.


Twenty eleven - make header image smaller and move to top (7 posts)
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/twenty-eleven-make-header-image-smaller-and-move-to-top

Day 1 Oct 16

1. Open up my website
2. Open up WordPress.org
3. Download the latest copy.
4. Find a place to put my website as a test location.  Eventually I need to move the WordPress page to that it resides at my domain location.
5. I need to ask the web guy who runs the basement lab how he organized things.
6. http://[websitedomain]/wp-admin
7. Create a subdirectory?  I did not do this
8. Select a Theme 2011
9. lynda.com  These were helpful
10. Quick Edit allows you to change the hierarchy of the pages.
11. I tried to use the showcase template with the posts on the 2011 theme but it didn't work quite right.
12. What do I do about the widget and post area?  I want to put a You Tube in there and the call to action to Join Ning and sign up for Mail Chimp.

Day 2
Lynda Chapter 12 Jetpack & Widgets
I seem to have missed the part where they explain how to install these.  I went to the list of plugins and I am looking over the ones that have 5 stars for a rating. Activated the plugin.

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/jetpack/

I want to change the size of the header on 2011

http://en.support.wordpress.com/featured-images/

I looked at this blog for some help.

http://www.wealthydragon.com/2011/12/01/convert-html-website-to-wordpress-process/

Eding CSS

http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/editing-css/

Time spent:

Oct 16 4pm - 7:32 pm  going to library
Oct 17 6 am - 7 am
7:30 - 8:30 Getting Things Done pg 59

Starting the Job Search from the Ground Up

Today I wipe the slate clean and eliminate the obstacles.  This has been an interesting year but I've eliminated one job title from my list.  Time to start over.

I have to admit that I've been lazy, but perhaps I can call it processing.   

I've had numerous calls from recruiters this year.  The statistics and distributions of job type and industry has given me some information on the job market.  But what do I want?  It is time to get of my rear in gear and hit the pavement to figure that out.

I have had three interviews this year.  One of them was close to what I used to do as a scientist minus the beakers and lab equipment, but the other ones were pretty different.  The problem was that I was not ready for theses interviews.  They plopped into my lap like a gift from heaven, but I was not prepared.  "Chance favors the prepared mind,"  as someone once told me.  My mind was definitely not prepared.

Even if other people help you, if you are not ready yourself you will not be able to seize the opportunity.  So I finally woke up and walked out of my cocoon and went to a series of four seminars through the local job networking group.  It made me stop feeling sorry for myself and swept the cobwebs out of my brain.  I like to envision them that way.  They are the negative thoughts that linger and fester in there until we take some action to clean them out.

Life can be a positive chain reaction once we start moving in the right direction.  Thanks to my friends and family, I've been able to realize that I'm not a loser just because I don't have a job title.  There is the essence of me, my spirit and my personality that no one can take from me.

I am back in high gear looking for the yellow brick road and my ruby slippers.  I've already written my career marketing plan.  I am working on my handbill and my list of industries and companies.  I'm ready to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life!

Career Motivators: What Drives Me?

Part II: Career Motivators - What Drives Me

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Knowing what you want in a career is better than following where a path leads. I have uncovered a few personal motivators by going through the book "Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring."

In addition to motivation, one must find meaning in what they do. A meaningful job to me is one that helps people, has personal meaning and connection to your life, a job that comes naturally with not extreme efforts, is fun, brings lots of opportunity and challenge.

Here are a few of my motivators, many of which are tied to my career values.

• problem solving, finding an answer, research, solving hard problems, motivated to learn and solve difficult problems, finding the best solution
• teaching, helping, knowledge
• nice personality, smart
• communication skills
• saving money

Do my motivators align with my career direction? I am considering a career that involves business, analysis and builds upon my background in science.

Career Similarities and Differences
The differences between a scientific job and marketing research: you do not have to work with dangerous chemicals. Data sets for marketing can be larger and more complex than scientific data. Correlations tend to be weaker for measuring consumer behavior vs. scientific behavior.

Scientists are less concerned with the cost of doing research, where as market researchers are more concerned with the bottom line.

In general, I see marketing research as being a more people oriented job than a scientific researcher. Another career I am considering is product manager. Product manager involves more sales and is the most people oriented job of the ones I am considering. Finally the internet marketing job involves less people interaction, is more aligned with internet marketing, but involves the ability to respond to change quickly.

Product manager, marketing research and internet marking involve knowing the needs of the market. Knowing the market is not as readily translatable to the scientist's career. Both marketing research and internet marketing involve a lot of technology and writing skills. Product management and internet marketing are driven by sales and budgets.

Characteristics of a Scientist:
1. Inquisitive
2. Explorative
3. Persistent
4. Creative
5. Analytical

Characteristics of a Marketing Research:

1. scientific method — observation, hypothesis, prediction, and testing.
2. innovative ways to solve a problem
3. multiple methods to acquire data and shy away from over-reliance on any one method
4. base your research efforts on solid models
5. relationship between the value of information and its cost
6. clearly sees the market
7. win-win-win for company, the product and the customers

Characteristics of a Product Manager

1. passion to sell great products
2. empathy
3. humility
4. self-awareness
5. tenacity
6. decisiveness
7. innovativeness
8. confidence
9. focus
10. persuasiveness
    

Characteristics of an Internet Marketer

1. Adaptive/Pro active
2. Should have TAS (think Ahead Systematically) approach
3. Should know exactly the requirements of the business
4. Recognize the long term goals
5. has a personalized brand
6. knows the needs of the market
7. Should be able to write great content
8. Traffic increase
9. Maximize the budget
   

Career Potential: What Are My Values?

What Are My Core Career Values?

I am reading a book that I should have read years ago. But then years ago we were not in the recession that we are coming out of. The book is "Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring."

Instead of following the trail of hot job areas, the book walks you through a career soul search.

I am currently working on the values clarification section and this is what I've learned about myself. This is what I value in order of most to least important. Some of this I knew already but it is time to use this information to look to my career future.

Career Values: I feel strongly about

1. Logic/Analysis/ Challenge/Overcoming Obstacles: research, look at data, solve challenging problems, experiment, figure out how things work
2. Collaboration/Teamwork: social, collaborate, integrate in to a team, nice personality, like to help people
3. Adventure/Discovery/Creativity/Innovation: create, explore, go on an adventure
4. Management/ Leadership: leadership, take responsibility, dedicated
5. Education and Knowledge: learning, teaching
6. Communication: good at presenting
7. Technical Competency: worked in technical jobs
8. Money/Wealth/Power/Influence: sales
9. Control People/ Projects: develop a project

This tells me that my main motivator is analysis, discovery and learning in a collaborative environment. I should seek a job that allows me to use both my analytical and social skills. These are typically two skills might be viewed as opposites. If I remember correctly, my Myers Briggs is ENTJ (extraversion, intuition, thinking, judgment).

One of the inconsistencies with working as a scientist is that it can be a solitary job. Being that I am a social teamwork oriented person I would like to find a career that involves more interaction with people.

The Journey Towards a Better Career FIt

How Do You Define a Career Fit?
A good fit is when your goals, past industry experience and job function align with the company's short and long term strategic goals, organizational behavior and mission.

I am a Number-Cruncher
Whether it be chemistry or business, I am the type of person who loves to analyze and look at numbers and data to make meaning out of it.

My Career Path
When I was young my mother died of lung cancer. For me this was a moment that would shape my life and my career. I wanted to do something to help find cures for disease. I set a goal to get a Ph.D. and become a scientist. I achieved that goal and even ended up working at the National Cancer Institute. Reach for something you really want and chances are you may get there.

After the Ph.D.: The Jump to Biotechnology
When I graduated from Michigan State University I went in to biotechnology, as it sounded like an interesting new field with great opportunities.

I lived in Maryland and worked in R&D for 7 years before returning to Illinois to pursue a career in teaching. I taught undergraduate chemistry for 2-3 years at local colleges until I met my husband and got married. What I gained from teaching was feeling comfortable in front of a group of people and fine tuning the way I communicate information.

The Importance of Marketing
In 2007 I decided to go back to the life of a chemist in the lab. What I learned from my job in back then was the importance of marketing and how a company is run. Marketing was everything to that company, and I wanted to learn more about it so that I could make a contribution.

An MBA to Broaden Skills
In 2008 I decided to start an MBA program. I had started doing some consulting work. I wanted to learn more about business, entrepreneurship and how to write a business plan.

When I started at DePaul I was interested in Venture Capital. I chose DePaul because of the price, reputation of the school and the variety of campuses and coursework. For me the subjects that came easier were business statistics, internet marketing, writing business plans and organizational behavior skills.

What are the Transitional Careers?
There are several books available that discuss careers for transitioners. I tried science and medical writing prior to starting an MBA. I tried to get in to technical sales - right around when the recession hit. At that time I got interested in green and sustainability careers.

Part of transitioning involves considering your core skills - who you are - that transcend boundaries. When thinking about career, I think about my industry background, mostly biotech and biopharma, and also my functional role, number cruncher and analyst. After you consider your core transferable skills then you look for the language you need to convey the skills.

The Job Search Now
Now my main interest is internet marketing, market research, analyst position and still a technical sales role. I have learned a lot about human behavior and the 'probability of a click' from Google AdWords. These analytical skills will help me in my job search. As I heard in a recent presentation at DePaul, "You only have so much time and energy. You have to put it to good use."

Targeting and segmenting the job search and assigning numbers to the chance you'll get a job is a good skill to have. I am starting to develop a system to help me organize and prioritize how I spend my time. It helps when speaking to recruiters to get an idea of the per cent goodness of fit you have for a job. Tracking those job titles and goodness of fit will help you manage your time.

About to Graduate
I am on the edge of graduating. I have started looking for a job after having taken a job search vacation in 2010. After noticing that my writing skills have gone downhill from lack of use, I've decided to start this blog up and dedicate it to my career search and researching companies, job functions, job search strategies and skills and industries. I will be graduating in June. Let's wish all the job seekers out there good luck in 2011. May we all find the appropriate job!

AdSense and AdWords Synergy

I just received a postcard from Google AdSense. Actually made money! $31.37

Our internet marketing class participate in the GOMC and received $200. It seems that in May AdSense on that site (and maybe some blogs) made about $25 back.

So it seems that if you put AdSense on the websites you run AdWords accounts on actually will give you back about 10% or some fraction of the money you spend on AdWords.

Experimenting with Google AdWords

After receiving $150 in coupons from Google Adwords I decided to run a campaign today. It was easier than I thought to set up the initial campaign. My website is www.welldash.com, a website for wellness awareness and applications.

I chose the pages that I wanted to focus on as the landing pages.

1. wellness
2. depression
3. qigong
4. support groups
5. sleep

I wrote up my ads and selected the keywords. My campaign is called "Building Awareness." One mistake I made was to lump the Ads in one campaign and not divide them up in to groups. To fix this I went back to the home tab of Adwords and clicked on campaign. I divided the ads into 5 groups with appropriate AdWords for each.

I have started at $5 a day with <$0.60 CPC.

I set the landing page of each ad in the ad itself. Initially I had set everything to go to the index page but I went back and set the ads and keywords to go to the invidual 5 pages listed above.

Up to now the qigong page is the best performing page at 1% CTR.