In WordPress 3.0 Essential Training, author Morten Rand-Hendriksen shows how to use WordPress 3.0 to create feature-rich blogs and web sites. The course covers both WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress.org web sites and includes a walkthrough of common tasks in WordPress, from setting up an account to launching self-hosted sites. Also included are tutorials on inserting media, installing plugins, creating custom themes, and incorporating search engine optimization. Exercise files accompany the course.
Topics include:

* Setting up a WordPress.com site
* Setting up a self-hosted WordPress site
* Building and modifying a profile
* Publishing posts and pages
* Utilizing page templates
* Inserting images, video, and other media
* Working with themes
* Understanding widgets
* Creating child themes
* Working with the Twenty Ten theme
* Launching a self-hosted site using BitNami
* Setting up a site for search engine optimization (SEO)
* Ensuring site security