2. Getting to know the dashboard

Featured image for Pitchfork Tutorial No. 2: Getting to know the dashboard.

The WordPress dashboard is a centralized location for all website management tasks.

Dashboard overview

Once logged in, you’ll see the WordPress dashboard. It provides an overview of your website’s status, including recent activity and quick links to commonly used features.

A screenshot of WordPress dashboard.

Toolbar

At the top of the screen, you’ll find the toolbar, which provides quick access to various functions such as creating new posts, pages, or media, as well as accessing your profile and logging out.

A screenshot of WordPress dashboard showing various functions under the the New tab in the toolbar at the top of the screen.

The left-hand side of the dashboard contains the main navigation menu, which is organized into different sections such as Posts, Pages, Media, Comments, Appearance, Plugins, Users, Tools, and Settings.

Click on each section to access its features and settings.

A screenshot of the WordPress dashboard highlighting the various sections of navigation menu on the left side of the screen.

Pages: To create a new static page (e.g., About Us, Contact), go to Pages > Add New. To edit, …

Posts: To create a new blog post, navigate to Posts > Add New.

Media: Manage your media library by uploading, organizing, and editing images, videos, and other files. Go to Media > Library to view and manage your media files.

Menu: Create and update menus and menu items. Go to Appearance > Menus.