Resources to Effectively Learn WordPress for Marketing

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Whether you’re just getting started with WordPress or looking to refine your existing skills, you’re in the right place.

In this roundup, we’ve gathered insights from the 19 marketing managers who share their go-to courses, must-read blogs, and articles for mastering WordPress.

Here is what these 19 thought leaders had to say.

Enroll in Coursera’s WordPress Courses

Most of our marketing and advertising clients are WordPress, and my experience with it has been both challenging and rewarding. Mastering this platform to enhance online presence and marketing efforts has always been on my priority list. 

Initially, I enrolled in Coursera’s WordPress courses, particularly one focused on increasing SEO traffic. This course provided a solid foundation in optimising content for search engines, which was essential for driving organic traffic to our site. The structured format made complex concepts accessible, allowing me to apply what I learned directly to our marketing strategy.

To deepen my understanding, I explored Digistackedu’s comprehensive guide. This resource effectively combined technical aspects of WordPress with practical marketing strategies. It offered insights into utilising themes, plugins, and widgets, which proved invaluable as we worked to enhance our website’s functionality and user experience.

As I gained confidence in using WordPress, I recognised the need for tools that could streamline our processes. We integrated HubSpot, an all-in-one marketing platform that works seamlessly with WordPress. HubSpot allowed us to manage leads and run campaigns efficiently, automating email marketing and providing valuable analytics on customer interactions.

I also discovered the Yoast SEO plugin, which became essential for our daily operations. This tool provided real-time feedback on content optimisation, helping us improve our search engine visibility and ensuring that our content was aligned with best practices.

Community engagement played a significant role in my learning process as well. 

Platforms like LinkedIn and Reddit offered opportunities to connect with other marketers, share insights, and troubleshoot common issues. These interactions enriched my understanding of WordPress and provided practical solutions to the challenges we faced.

Finally, we implemented Google Analytics to gain insights into user behaviour on our site. The data collected helped us track performance metrics and adjust our strategies accordingly, ensuring that we were meeting our goals effectively.

Kate Dzhevaga, CMO, Head of Growth, SYMVOLT

Use WP Engine’s Content Hub

WP Engine offers an incredible list of articles, case studies, and tutorials tailored to both beginner and experienced users. Their content focuses on optimising WordPress performance and offers cutting-edge insights on web design trends. I love their detailed guides on managing scalable WordPress environments, which I consider a must-read for marketing managers handling high-traffic campaigns or e-commerce stores. Their eBook series on “Optimising WordPress for Lead Generation” has been a game-changer for us. The book outlines how to configure plugins, create conversion-focused landing pages, and monitor campaign analytics. Everything is tailored to WordPress functionality. WP Engine’s Content Hub has helped us double our average lead conversion rate within a relatively short period. We mainly used their insights to refine our CTA placement and improve page load times. The resources serve as a learning platform and an operational guide for marketers striving to stay ahead of the curve in user experience and website performance.

Dan Ben-Nun, Founder & CEO, Adspace

Follow WP Beginner Blog

The WP Beginner blog transformed my approach to WordPress website management. Unlike lengthy courses, their step-by-step tutorials helped me solve real problems fast. When a client’s website needs troubleshooting, this resource saves hours of guesswork.

My daily toolkit is simple but powerful. Yoast SEO guides our content optimisation, while WP Rocket handles speed improvements. Think of these tools like a master chef’s essential knives – you don’t need many, but the ones you have must be reliable.

The most valuable learning came from the Advanced WordPress Facebook group. Their community helped me discover solutions I wouldn’t have found elsewhere. For instance, a member’s suggestion about using the GeneratePress theme improved our site load times by 40%.

Here’s my go-to resource list:

• WP Beginner for tutorials
• GeneratePress documentation
• Yoast SEO blog
• WP Rocket knowledge base

One tip: focus on learning the fundamentals deeply rather than chasing every new plugin or trend. This approach has helped us maintain over 200 client websites efficiently.

Harmanjit Singh, Founder and CEO, Origin Web Studios

Watch Udemy and YouTube Tutorials

Having used WordPress for more than 15 years now – back in the day, it was more difficult to find information/ tutorials associated with WordPress. There are lots of resources available now, also with videos. For example, Udemy has a course called “WordPress for Beginners” and also “The Complete WordPress Website Business Course,” both with price drops every other day or so. As for online video tutorials for visual learners – YouTube features free tutorials on everything from the basics to advanced topics through channels such as “WPCrafter” and “Tyler Moore.” The official WordPress site is also a great resource of information, with complete documentation and a great ‘Getting Started with WordPress‘ guide. 

There are also plenty of low-cost or even free resources to make learning WordPress as inexpensive as possible. Bear in mind that if you delve into actually building sites, web hosting and premium themes/ plugins can be an expense. 

For day-to-day tools, WordPress users love plugins like Yoast SEO for site optimisation and Elementor for page building. In my experience, these tools are essential as they simplify the process of managing a website, allowing marketers to concentrate more on content than technical areas. Take Yoast SEO for example – it makes on-site content easier to optimise so that the site starts showing up on search engines and suggests ideas to write better or use keywords more effectively, all in real-time. On the contrary, Elementor offers a simple drag-and-drop page builder for users to design attractive and functional websites without lots of coding knowledge. These tools will definitely both boost productivity and allow users to keep their sites at a high-grade level that draws an audience and keeps them coming back.

Aaron Whittaker, VP of Demand Generation & Marketing, Thrive Digital Marketing Agency

Use Yoast SEO Academy

Managing a WordPress site effectively at LogicLeap has been a journey of continuous learning, and several resources have been pivotal along the way. Courses like Yoast SEO Academy have been crucial for understanding how to optimise our site for search engines, providing insights into both foundational SEO principles and advanced strategies specific to WordPress.

In terms of online platforms, LinkedIn Learning and Udemy have offered a wealth of courses that cater to different skill levels, from beginner to advanced users. These platforms have helped expand my technical understanding, particularly around customisation and the use of WordPress hooks.

When it comes to articles and blogs, WPBeginner stands out as a go-to resource. It offers practical tutorials and tips that cover a wide range of topics, making it invaluable for troubleshooting and discovering new functionalities. Additionally, the Moz Blog has been instrumental in keeping up with SEO trends and best practices, which are essential for enhancing our site’s visibility.

For more in-depth guidance, “WordPress: The Missing Manual” by Matthew MacDonald serves as a comprehensive reference, bridging the gap between basic setup and advanced features.

On a daily basis, tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console are indispensable for monitoring site performance and making informed decisions about content and design. The Yoast SEO Plugin is another critical tool, offering real-time suggestions to optimise on-page SEO effectively. Meanwhile, the WordPress Dashboard and Jetpack provide essential insights into site health, security, and performance, helping us manage daily operations seamlessly.

These resources collectively empower us to maintain a robust and optimised WordPress site. They provide not only the knowledge needed to tackle challenges but also the tools to enhance user experience and boost our digital marketing efforts. Staying engaged with these resources ensures we remain agile and effective in managing our online presence.

Josh Matthews, Director, LogicLeap

Leverage SEO Plugins and Analytics

Over my 15 years in digital marketing and running Sherwood Media Services, I’ve learned that leveraging the right tools and strategies is crucial for effective website management. For WordPress sites, using SEO plugins like Yoast has been instrumental in optimising content for search engines. This tool helps ensure content is both readable for humans and optimised for Google, improving organic traffic significantly.

Daily, I rely on analytics tools like Google Analytics to monitor site performance metrics. This allows us to track user behaviour and make data-driven decisions, which has resulted in better-targeted marketing campaigns and higher conversion rates. At Sherwood Media Services, having a strong data foundation has been key in developing personalised marketing strategies for our clients, leading to notable business growth.

Another indispensable resource is our team’s collaborative use of project management tools like Trello for organising web design and development tasks. This setup ensures we’re always on track with client timelines and project deliverables, resulting in a seamless workflow and increased client satisfaction. These tools have been essential in managing the diverse needs of our clients, which span various industries across the U.S.

Greg Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Sherwood Media Services

Integrate HubSpot’s Marketing Hub

HubSpot’s WordPress Marketing Hub integrates seamlessly with WordPress. It combines marketing automation, analytics, and CRM functionalities directly into your WordPress site. The tool tracks visitor behaviour and gathers Insightful data to help you create email campaigns based on user actions without leaving the native WordPress dashboard. For instance, I have used HubSpot’s pop-up forms and CTAs to capture leads and funnel them into our integrated workflows. The built-in analytics provides excellent insights into which blog posts or pages convert visitors into leads. This feature helps us to adjust our content strategy accordingly. This single integration eliminates the need to juggle multiple tools, saving you a lot of time. HubSpot also offers a wide range of courses, such as the Inbound Marketing Certification, which provides actionable tips on how to align your website’s design and content with a customer-centric strategy.

Patrick McDermott, CMO, Max Cash

Take HubSpot Academy Courses

For marketing managers using WordPress, leveraging the right courses, articles, and resources is essential to effectively run a website. Many professionals find courses like HubSpot Academy’s “Building a CMS-Powered Website” and Coursera’s “WordPress for Beginners” to be valuable for foundational learning. These resources provide step-by-step guidance on website setup, SEO optimisation, and analytics integration. Additionally, blogs like WPBeginner, Kinsta, and Yoast offer practical tutorials, troubleshooting tips, and updates on WordPress trends that keep users informed and adaptable.

Daily reliance on specific tools enhances efficiency and website performance. For SEO, plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math are indispensable for optimising content, generating XML sitemaps, and improving meta descriptions. For analytics, Google Analytics and MonsterInsights provide actionable insights into website traffic, user behaviour, and conversion tracking. Security plugins such as Wordfence or Sucuri are essential for safeguarding against cyber threats, while Elementor and Beaver Builder streamline page design and customisation without requiring coding expertise.

Marketing managers also benefit from resources like online forums and communities, such as WordPress Support Forums and Facebook groups for WordPress users. These platforms offer collaborative problem-solving and peer advice on real-world challenges. By combining structured learning from courses, ongoing education through reputable blogs, and the daily use of powerful tools, marketing managers can effectively maintain and optimise their WordPress websites for performance, user experience, and business growth.

Omer Lewinsohn, General Manager, Marketing Expert, Management.org

Use Google Tag Manager

As someone who has deeply immersed myself in digital marketing, I’ve found certain tools and strategies to be invaluable for managing WordPress sites. One tool I can’t live without is Google Tag Manager; it allows me to efficiently manage and deploy tracking codes without bogging down site performance, a key aspect for any marketing manager aiming for smooth operations and high rankings.

Daily, I analyse metrics through Google Analytics, keeping tabs on metrics like bounce rates and visitor flow, which informs my A/B testing strategies. For instance, by integrating HotJar, I’ve been able to visualize user behaviour, leading to a 17% lift in conversion rates for a recent campaign by identifying and tweaking underperforming elements on landing pages.

Moreover, the integration of personalised landing pages has been a game-changer. From techniques such as using real numbers to showcase expertise, akin to the success with “Scale Your Product,” I’ve crafted landing pages that resonate on a personal level, ultimately driving higher engagement and conversion rates. These strategies are vital for anyone aiming to optimize their WordPress presence.

Luke Heinecke, CEO, Linear

Read Kinsta Blog and WPBeginner

One of the best resources for mastering WordPress has been the Kinsta blog. They cover everything from security basics to advanced optimisation techniques. WPBeginner is another go-to guide for easy-to-follow instructions, especially for troubleshooting. I rely on the combination of Google Search Console and SEMrush for daily use. Search Console gives a direct view of how Google sees our site, while SEMrush provides competitive insights and keyword performance. Together, they keep us on top of both technical and content-focused SEO.

Shane McEvoy, MD, Flycast Media

Explore WPBeginner for Advanced Tips

For marketing managers working with WordPress, diving into more focused resources can truly elevate your game. One lesser-known gem is WPBeginner, a site packed with guides and tutorials tailored for all skill levels. It’s a great place to learn not just the basics but also strategies to optimise performance and security. Don’t skip over their article on “Essential WordPress Plugins” which reveals tools that aren’t always in the limelight but can dramatically enhance your site’s functionality and user experience.

Daily reliance often falls on tools like Google Analytics for tracking user engagement and MonsterInsights for connecting analytics straight into WordPress. OptinMonster is excellent for creating high-converting popups to grow your email list. Regular use of WPForms is helpful for building custom forms without coding. Mixing these tools with a bit of coding like understanding CSS or basic HTML can offer more control over appearance. A lesser-known technique is using child themes to make changes to your site’s design without affecting the main theme, ensuring your tweaks stay intact after updates.

Casey Meraz, CEO, Juris Digital

Start with Coursera or Udemy Courses

Mastering WordPress as a marketing manager requires structured learning and hands-on practice. I recommend starting with Coursera or Udemy courses for a solid foundation in WordPress basics like website setup and customisation. It’s crucial to also cover advanced topics like SEO, web analytics, and digital marketing to maximise your website’s potential.

After a month or two of learning, focus on real-world practice. Building and managing your own WordPress site is an excellent way to hone skills and gain experience. Influential marketing blogs like HubSpot or Neil Patel provide valuable insights and tips for running a website effectively.

Daily tools that streamline my workflow include Yoast SEO for content optimisation, Google Analytics for user behaviour insights, and Elementor for creating visually appealing pages without extensive coding. Regular participation in forums and WordCamps enhances both learning and networking.

Lastly, staying curious and open to emerging technologies is crucial, as WordPress continually evolves, challenging us to adapt and grow.

Iryna Melnyk, Marketing Consultant, Jose Angelo Studios

Experiment with WordPress Hands-On

Most WordPress resources you find online are either outdated or trying to sell you something. I’ve found it’s faster and more effective to just set up a test site and figure things out through hands-on experimentation. When I get stuck, I go straight to the official WordPress docs or plugin documentation rather than wading through tutorial sites.

Keep your own notes on what actually works – a simple text file with commands and workflow steps you’ve figured out becomes more valuable than any course. The only exception worth following is the changelog/release notes for WordPress core and your key plugins since these surface new features you might actually use.

The reality is practical experience beats theory every time with WordPress. You’ll learn more by spending an hour testing things yourself than by watching video courses or reading generic guides.

Vincent Schmalbach, Web Developer, AI Engineer & SEO Expert, Vincent Schmalbach

Balance Personalisation and Performance

Balancing personalisation and performance is one of my main daily problems when operating a WordPress website. Every time I install a new plugin or change the design, I have to make sure it doesn’t slow down the site or cause issues. I once installed a promising analytics plugin to track user behaviour, only to discover that it drastically increased page load times, which frustrated users and harmed SEO.

To handle this issue, I’ve learned to be picky. Now, before installing a new tool, I test it in a staging environment using performance tools to see how it affects speed. For example, when I required a contact form, I looked for lightweight choices instead of relying on popular, feature-rich plugins.

This everyday balance has taught me to value simplicity and efficiency. It is not necessary to include every available function, but rather to ensure that the site runs effectively for both visitors and my team. Staying proactive with performance allows me to provide a better user experience while avoiding technical issues down the road.

Kal Dimitrov, Content & Marketing Expert, Enhancv

Experiment with WordPress Settings and Plugins

Having run a digital marketing company for over 15 years, WordPress has been crucial not just for my company’s website, but also as the solution my developers offer clients. The list of reasons why we prefer WordPress over other content management systems (CMS) is extensive, but for the most part, it’s easy for anyone in any role to use- whether you’re a developer, copywriter, or graphic designer. It’s easily customisable, has a range of plug-ins and functionalities, and the best part is that it’s an open source, so it’ll most likely never cease to exist. 

However, navigating WordPress for the first time might seem challenging, especially if you’ve had no prior experience using a CMS. My best advice to effectively learn how to run your website on WordPress is to get a hosting plan (they cost as low as $3 a month), install WordPress for free, utilise a free theme, a page builder if necessary, and just experiment with the different settings and plug-ins. 

Likewise, YouTube tutorials (consider watching creators like WPCrafter & Tyler Moore), Udemy courses (WordPress for beginners & The Complete WordPress Business Guide), and even the official WordPress manual are highly recommended. Learning WordPress doesn’t need to be costly, and because it’s one of the most popular CMSs, resources are abundant. Most of the time, if I ever run into a problem, I can easily just look something up on YouTube, and nine times out of ten, someone has uploaded a step-by-step tutorial on how to easily solve it.

Ajay Chavda, CTO, Mojo Dojo

Use WPBeginner and WP Codex

WPBeginner has been very helpful when it comes to getting a solid foundation in WordPress. It covers everything needed for those starting out, with clear explanations and practical tips that simplify things. For more advanced details, I’ve relied on WP Codex, which digs into the core functions of WordPress and helps answer specific questions that come up along the way.

Local by Flywheel has been an essential tool for experimenting with new features and troubleshooting without risking the live site. Running tests and making changes locally has saved me from a lot of potential issues. For more complex testing across different setups, Sandbox CMS is great. It’s quick, and it makes trying different approaches easy and hassle-free.

Working on a side project has been one of the best ways to learn real-world skills like debugging and troubleshooting. Many call themselves pros, but understanding essentials like enabling debug logs has been a true game changer for me.

Simon Brisk, Founder & SEO Strategist, Click Intelligence

Utilise Yoast SEO and Google Analytics

Two tools that power my daily WordPress workflow are Yoast SEO and Google Analytics – they’re game-changers for us. Yoast became my trusty companion for content optimisation. Their tutorials clicked with me when I started out, explaining SEO in digestible pieces. These days, it guides me through the essentials – titles, meta descriptions, and readability. The clear interface takes the stress out of publishing new pages. 

If we talk about Google Analytics, it reveals the complete story. Each day, it shows which moves work and which fall flat. Watching real-time data – visitor paths, exit points – brings everything into focus. I’ll never forget spotting high bounce rates on one of our landing pages. That data pushed me to revamp the whole page, and the results improved right away. These tools transform WordPress from guesswork into a space I can shape deliberately. And, what drives me most is, that they free me to build a site that truly connects with our visitors.

Tasha Tadi, Marketing Manager, eBallot

Follow WP Tavern for Updates

The WP Tavern helped me understand WordPress significantly. It offers in-depth articles on both new WordPress features and technical best practices, often covering updates before they become widely known. It’s great for staying ahead of the curve, especially when it comes to new releases or tools that could improve site performance.

For tools, I rely heavily on the Elementor page builder. It simplifies design work without requiring coding knowledge, which saves a lot of time and ensures flexibility. For managing multiple sites, I use MainWP. It’s a management tool that helps me keep track of updates, backups, and security patches for all our WordPress installations from one central location. This tool is key for streamlining workflow and reducing the time spent manually maintaining sites. These resources and tools help me stay efficient and focused on the bigger marketing picture.

James Hacking, Founder & Chief Playmaker, Socially Powerful

Read Smashing Magazine’s Articles

Smashing Magazine’s WordPress-specific articles are like a masterclass in blending design aesthetics with functionality. They focus on creating user-centric sites that also align with technical best practices. This balance of art and science has shaped how we approach every WordPress project.

Elementor is the page builder we use daily to create visually stunning and high-performing landing pages without touching a single line of code. Its drag-and-drop simplicity allows us to experiment and iterate quickly while staying aligned with brand aesthetics. Its creativity and efficiency rolled into one essential tool.

Jason Hennessey, CEO, Hennessey Digital

Conclusion

There’s no shortage of excellent resources to help you master WordPress, from official documentation and online courses to Facebook communities and YouTube.

However, mastering WordPress and creating a professional, high-performing website can sometimes require expert assistance. That’s where WP Creative comes in.

As the highly recommended WordPress development agency in Australia, WP Creative specialises in custom WordPress design and development. With a team of experienced developers and designers, we help elevate your online presence and ensure your website performs at its best.

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