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idfive WordPress Accelerator CMS Training Overview

This document provides a comprehensive training outline for the idfive WordPress Accelerator website. This training is designed to help content managers and administrators effectively use the CMS for day-to-day content management tasks.

idfive WordPress Accelerator​

Website CMS Training - [TRAINING DATE]
Screen Share: [MEETING URL]

IDFIVE ATTENDEES:

  • [LIST IDFIVE TEAM MEMBERS]

CLIENT ATTENDEES: (ensure logins created for all attendees)

  • [LIST CLIENT TEAM MEMBERS]

Getting Started​

URLs & Access​

Initial Questions for Tailored Training​

  1. Who are we training? (Roles: Content managers, administrators, editors, etc.)
  2. What is their current skillset in WordPress or other CMS platforms?
  3. What are their day-to-day roles in the site? (What content will they manage most frequently?)

Overview of Site and Content Types​

User Roles & Responsibilities​

  • Administrator: Full site access, configuration, user management, plugin management
  • Editor: Create and edit all content, manage media, moderate comments
  • Author: Create and edit own content, upload media
  • Contributor: Create and edit own content (requires approval for publishing)
  • Subscriber: Profile management and commenting (if enabled)

The site uses several menus for navigation and functionality:

  • Main Menu (main-menu) - Primary site navigation
  • Utility Menu (utility-menu) - Secondary utility links
  • Audience Menu (audience-menu) - Audience-specific navigation
  • CTA Menu (cta-menu) - Call-to-action menu items
  • Footer Menu (footer-menu) - Primary footer navigation
  • Footer Utility Menu (resources-menu) - Footer utility/resource links
  • Legal Menu (footer-bottom-menu) - Legal and compliance links

Content Type Overview​

1. Pages (page)​

  • Purpose: Static informational content (About, Services, Contact, etc.)
  • Key Features: Hierarchical structure, rich text content, media integration, custom templates
  • Special Templates: Homepage, Landing Page templates available
  • Typical Use: Static informational content, policy pages, landing pages

2. Posts (post)​

  • Purpose: Blog posts, news articles, timely content
  • Key Features: Categories, tags, author attribution, publication date, comments
  • Typical Use: Regular content updates, news, insights, thought leadership

3. People (idfive_person)​

  • Purpose: Staff profiles, team member pages, leadership bios
  • Key Features: Biography, contact information, photo, role, person type taxonomy
  • Template: Custom single-person template with contact card layout
  • Typical Use: Team directories, staff spotlights, leadership pages

4. Alerts (alert)​

  • Purpose: Site-wide notifications and important messages
  • Key Features: Alert text, links, REST API endpoint for dynamic display
  • Special Integration: Custom REST endpoint at /wp-json/idfive_base/v2/alerts
  • Typical Use: Emergency notifications, maintenance notices, announcements

Special Integrations​

  • idfive Component Library (ICL): Powers the visual components and design system
  • Timber/Twig Templates: Modern templating system for flexible layouts
  • Advanced Custom Fields (ACF): Custom field management and block creation
  • Custom REST Endpoints: For alerts and dynamic content integration

Content Type Detailed Training​

Page Management​

Frontend Review:

  • Navigate to various pages to see different layouts and templates
  • Identify homepage vs. standard page vs. landing page layouts

Backend Management:

  • Access: Pages > Add New or Pages > All Pages
  • Review page attributes: templates, parent pages, page order
  • Practice with Gutenberg blocks and custom ACF blocks
  • Understand hierarchy and URL structure

Available Page Templates:

  • Default Page Template
  • Homepage Template (page_homepage.php)
  • Landing Page Template (page_landing.php)
  • All Stories Template (page_allstories.php)

Post Management​

Frontend Review:

  • Browse existing posts to understand structure
  • Note categorization and tagging systems
  • Review archive and single post layouts

Backend Management:

  • Access: Posts > Add New or Posts > All Posts
  • Practice creating posts with proper metadata
  • Understand publication workflows and scheduling
  • Review categories, tags, and featured images
  • Work with Gutenberg editor and custom blocks

People Profile Management​

Frontend Review:

  • Browse team directory or staff pages
  • Understand single person page layout with contact information
  • Note person type taxonomy organization

Backend Management:

  • Access: People > Add New Person
  • Practice adding staff profiles with photos and information
  • Understand person type taxonomy for organization
  • Review contact information fields and social media integration
  • Work with custom fields for roles, organizations, and contact details

Alert Management​

Frontend Review:

  • See how alerts display site-wide (if currently active)
  • Understand alert integration via REST API

Backend Management:

  • Access: Alerts > Add New Alert
  • Practice creating alerts with text and optional links
  • Understand how alerts are excluded from search results
  • Review REST API integration for dynamic display

Block Editor (Gutenberg) & Custom Blocks​

Standard WordPress Blocks​

  • Paragraph, Heading, Image: Basic content blocks
  • Gallery, Video, Audio: Media blocks
  • Columns, Group, Cover: Layout blocks
  • Button, List, Quote: Content enhancement blocks

Custom ACF Blocks​

The theme includes custom blocks powered by Advanced Custom Fields:

  • Component Library Blocks: Integrated with idfive Component Library
  • Schema.org Blocks: For enhanced SEO and structured data
  • Custom Content Blocks: Tailored to site-specific needs

Block Patterns and Reusable Blocks​

  • Create reusable block patterns for consistent layouts
  • Save frequently used block combinations
  • Manage reusable blocks across the site

Media Management​

File Naming Conventions​

  • No spaces: Use hyphens or underscores (my-file-name.jpg)
  • Lowercase: All file names should be lowercase
  • Descriptive names: Use meaningful, descriptive file names
  • Avoid special characters: Stick to letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores

Image Optimization​

  • Compression: Use tools like TinyPNG before uploading
  • File formats:
    • JPG for photographs
    • PNG for graphics with transparency
    • WebP for modern browsers (automatic conversion may be available)
    • SVG for icons and simple graphics
  • File sizes: Keep under 1MB when possible for web performance

Alt Text Requirements​

  • Required for accessibility: Every image must have alt text
  • Descriptive: Describe what the image shows, not just what it is
  • Context-appropriate: Consider how the image relates to surrounding content
  • Screen reader friendly: Write for users who cannot see the image

Media Library​

  • Access: Media > Library
  • Organize media using folders when plugins are available
  • Reuse existing media when appropriate
  • Delete unused media to keep library clean
  • Use featured images for posts and pages

Accessing Menus​

  • Navigate to Appearance > Menus
  • Multiple menu locations are available for different areas of the site
  1. Main Menu: Primary site navigation
  2. Utility Menu: Secondary utility links in header
  3. Audience Menu: Audience-specific navigation
  4. CTA Menu: Call-to-action buttons
  5. Footer Menu: Primary footer navigation
  6. Footer Utility Menu: Secondary footer links
  7. Legal Menu: Legal and disclaimer links
  • Keep main navigation concise (5-7 top-level items)
  • Use descriptive menu item labels
  • Organize with logical hierarchy
  • Test navigation on mobile devices
  • Consider user experience and accessibility

Accessibility Guidelines​

Descriptive Link Text​

  • Avoid: "Click here," "Read more," "Learn more"
  • Use: Descriptive text that explains the destination
  • Example: "Download the 2024 Annual Report (PDF)" instead of "Click here"

HTML Heading Structure​

  • Use headings in logical order (H1 → H2 → H3)
  • Don't skip heading levels
  • Each page should have only one H1 (usually the page title)
  • Use headings to structure content, not for styling

Alternative Text for Images​

  • Required for all images
  • Describe the content and function of the image
  • Empty alt text (alt="") for decorative images only
  • Keep descriptions concise but informative

Color and Contrast​

  • Ensure sufficient color contrast for text readability
  • Don't rely solely on color to convey information
  • Test with colorblind users in mind

Accessible PDFs​

  • Use proper heading structure in source documents
  • Include alt text for images in PDFs
  • Ensure sufficient color contrast
  • Test with screen readers when possible

SEO & Performance​

SEO Best Practices​

  • Page Titles: Unique, descriptive titles for each page
  • Meta Descriptions: Compelling descriptions that encourage clicks
  • URL Structure: Clean, descriptive URLs
  • Header Tags: Proper H1-H6 hierarchy
  • Internal Linking: Link to related content within your site

Performance Optimization​

  • Image Optimization: Compress images before uploading
  • Caching: Utilize caching plugins when available
  • Content Delivery: Minimize large file uploads
  • Mobile Performance: Test site speed on mobile devices

Schema.org Integration​

The theme includes built-in schema.org markup for:

  • Person: For people/staff profiles
  • Organization: For company information
  • Article: For blog posts and news
  • VideoObject: For video content
  • ImageGallery: For image collections

Customization & Advanced Features​

Timber/Twig Templates​

  • The theme uses Timber for modern PHP templating
  • Twig templates provide separation between logic and presentation
  • Custom templates available for different content types and layouts

Component Library Integration​

  • Built-in integration with idfive Component Library
  • Consistent design system across all components
  • Custom blocks that leverage component library elements

Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)​

  • Custom field groups for enhanced content management
  • Flexible content layouts
  • Repeater fields for dynamic content sections
  • Field groups automatically sync via JSON files

REST API Extensions​

  • Custom endpoints for dynamic content (alerts system)
  • Integration capabilities for external applications
  • Extensible architecture for additional API endpoints

Workflow & Publishing​

Content Workflow​

  1. Draft: Create content in draft status
  2. Preview: Use preview function to review content
  3. Review: Have content reviewed by appropriate team members (if needed)
  4. Publish: Publish content when ready for public viewing
  5. Update: Regular review and updates as needed

Scheduling Content​

  • Use the scheduling feature to publish content at specific times
  • Plan content calendars in advance
  • Coordinate time-sensitive announcements

Revision Management​

  • WordPress automatically saves revisions
  • Compare revisions to see changes
  • Restore previous versions when needed

User Management & Permissions​

Adding New Users​

  • Access: Users > Add New
  • Assign appropriate user roles based on responsibilities
  • Provide strong password guidelines
  • Send login credentials securely

Managing User Roles​

  • Administrator: Full access (limit to 1-2 trusted users)
  • Editor: Most content managers should be editors
  • Author: For users who only manage their own content
  • Contributor: For guest writers or external contributors

User Security​

  • Encourage strong passwords
  • Regular review of user accounts
  • Remove inactive or former employee accounts promptly
  • Enable two-factor authentication when available

Maintenance & Support​

Regular Maintenance Tasks​

  • Review and update outdated content
  • Check for broken links regularly
  • Archive expired or time-sensitive content
  • Monitor site performance and loading times
  • Update WordPress core, themes, and plugins

Content Quality Checks​

  • Review content for accuracy and relevance
  • Ensure all images have proper alt text
  • Verify links are working correctly
  • Check mobile responsiveness of new content

Backup and Security​

  • Regular automated backups (typically handled by hosting provider)
  • Keep WordPress and plugins updated
  • Monitor for security issues
  • Report any suspicious activity immediately

Support Channels​

  • Technical Support: Contact idfive for technical issues
  • Content Support: [LIST INTERNAL PROCESSES FOR CONTENT QUESTIONS]
  • Training Resources: WordPress.org documentation and guides
  • Emergency Contact: [EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION]

Common Admin Paths​

  • Dashboard: /wp-admin/
  • All Posts: /wp-admin/edit.php
  • All Pages: /wp-admin/edit.php?post_type=page
  • People: /wp-admin/edit.php?post_type=idfive_person
  • Alerts: /wp-admin/edit.php?post_type=alert
  • Media Library: /wp-admin/upload.php
  • Menus: /wp-admin/nav-menus.php
  • Users: /wp-admin/users.php

Theme-Specific Features​

  • Timber Templates: Located in /templates/ directory
  • Component Library: Integrated idfive Component Library (ICL)
  • Custom Post Types: People and Alerts with custom templates
  • REST API: Custom alerts endpoint at /wp-json/idfive_base/v2/alerts
  • ACF Integration: Custom blocks and field groups

Helpful WordPress Features​

  • Bulk Actions: Select multiple items for bulk editing/deletion
  • Quick Edit: Fast editing of post/page titles and basic fields
  • Screen Options: Customize admin interface layout
  • WordPress Customizer: Live preview theme customizations
  • Site Health: Monitor WordPress installation health

Training Completion Checklist​

By the end of this training, users should be able to:

  • Log in to the WordPress admin interface successfully
  • Navigate the WordPress dashboard and menu system
  • Create and edit pages, posts, and people profiles
  • Upload and manage media files with proper alt text
  • Use the Gutenberg block editor effectively
  • Understand and work with custom ACF blocks
  • Manage menus and navigation structure
  • Apply accessibility best practices to content
  • Understand user roles and permissions
  • Use scheduling and revision features
  • Know how to get help and support

Additional Resources​

This training overview should be customized based on specific client needs, user roles, and site functionality. Update sections as needed to reflect the actual site configuration and client requirements.