This document provides tips for getting good WordPress support. It discusses doing searches and reading documentation before asking for help. When seeking support, provide clear goals, problems, code, links, and be polite. Avoid being too brief, demanding, or acting entitled. The document also suggests troubleshooting techniques like using different browsers or updating plugins. It emphasizes that volunteers provide free support, so requests should make helping easy.
10. WORDPRESS.COM
FORUM
SUPPORT AVENUES
WORDPRESS.COM SUPPORT FORUM http://en.forums.wordpress.com
• Hosted platform, managed
updates & security
• Free URL
yourgroovysite.wordpress.com
• Paid upgrades – custom
domain, Custom
Design, bundles, etc.
• No FTP/database access
• No theme or plugin uploads
• Forum volunteers
• Forum staff
• Private support – email/forum
• Live chat
.COM VS .ORG
19. GIVE DETAILS
VERSION
self-hosted only
OS/DEVICE
Safari? Internet Explorer 7, 8, 9, 10?
Firefox? Chrome? Opera? Amazon Kindle?
AOL Explorer? Netscape Navigator (OMG
RLY?)
Blackberry? iPod? iPhone? Windows
Phone? Android? Laptop? Desktop? iPad?
iPad mini? Mac? PC? Snow Leopard?
Lion? Mountain Lion? Windows
7/8/Vista/XP?
WordPress X.X?
Plugin version?
Theme version?
BROWSER
http://supportdetails.com
20. LET US KNOW
2
3
4
5
THINGS YOU’VE ALREADY TRIED
IF YOU HAVE A THEORY
YOUR LEVEL OF TECH SKILL
A LINK TO THE SITE
1
6 ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT YOUR SETUP
7
EXACT STEPS TO REPLICATE PROBLEM
SCREENSHOTS OF THE ISSUE
21. KEEP IN MIND
2
3
VOLUNTEERS DONATE THEIR TIME
THEY ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU, BE COURTEOUS
MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO HELP
1
117 pages of
30 threads
4
WP, THEMES & PLUGINS ARE FREE
25. YOUR SETUP
2
3
4
5
DIFFERENT BROWSER
CLEAR BROWSER CACHE & COOKIES
BROWSER WITH EXTENSIONS OFF
ANOTHER MACHINE
DIFFERENT LOCATION/NETWORK/ISP
1
6 BYPASS ROUTER
7 TRACEROUTE/CONSOLE
http://en.support.wordpress.com/bro
wser-issues/advanced-browser-
troubleshooting/
26. DID YOU
2
3
4
5
UPDATE A PLUGIN?
UPDATE YOUR THEME?
UPDATE WORDPRESS?
EDIT A THEME FILE? (beware functions.php)
ADD A WIDGET?
1
6
HACK CORE? (cue ominous
music)
27. TRY
2
3
4
5
SWITCH TO DEFAULT THEME TEMPORARILY
TURN OFF PLUGINS, REACTIVATE 1 AT A TIME
REVERT TO PREVIOUS VERSION OF THEME
REVERT TO PREVIOUS VERSION OF PLUGIN
1
UPDATE THEME OR PLUGIN
Search is a powerful tool. Take advantage of it before even asking for help.
If you’re having a problem, chances are, someone else has had the same problem – your answer might be right at your fingertips
Know where you are – big difference between WordPress.com & WordPress.org – post in the right place
Don’t know how to do something? Read the docs
Don’t know how to do something? Read the docs
Don’t know how to do something? Read the docs
Don’t know how to do something? Read the docs
Don’t forget the plugin search field
4 – how long have you been using WP? Are you a blogger, designer, developer? Try to avoid vague expressions like tech-savvy that can mean different things to different people. You might say “I know basic CSS and intermediate HTML, but I’ve never used PHP.”6 – are you still running WP 2.5? running multisite? still using Kubrik? on a Windows server? have 500,000 posts?
6 – are you still running WP 2.5? running multisite? still using Kubrik? on a Windows server? have 500,000 posts?
If you ask for someone specific, you may be doing yourself a disservice. That person may not be around and you may discourage others who may be able to help from replying
Try to repeat under other conditions to narrow down culprit
1 & 2 – save older version of plugin or theme so you can revert3 – check master troubleshooting list in forum4 – functions.php can be particularly dangerousNever edit files live on the server
1 & 2 – save older version of plugin or theme so you can revert3 – check master troubleshooting list in forum4 – functions.php can be particularly dangerousNever edit files live on the server