marti garaughty, The Art of Marketing YOU

 Hi guys, and welcome back to the WordPress in Plain English series. If you're new to WordPress or if you're just joining us, you should read the first few tutorials in this series to catch up before reading this section.

 In the previous tutorial we set up the under construction page for your new WordPress blog. In this tutorial we're going to get your API Key to activate the Akismet anti spam plugin that is included by default when you install WordPress.

 

marti garaughty, The Art of Marketing YOU

 The API Key is like an ID/password that you'll need to activate some plugins on your self hosted WordPress blog. To get your API key...

- sign up for a free account at  https://en.wordpress.com/signup/

- once you've done the sign up and have your login info, login to your new account at WordPress.com

- under My Account (top left of screen) click on Global Dashboard

- on the left, look for the Profile section and click on Personal Settings (image below)

marti garaughty, The Art of Marketing YOU

 

- you'll be taken to a page with your API Key (image below)

marti garaughty, The Art of Marketing YOU

- copy and save your API Key for the next step

 

marti garaughty, The Art of Marketing YOU

 Now we're going to use your API key to activate Akismet, the default anti spam plugin in your self hosted WordPress blog.

- login to your WordPress admin panel (the blog your installed on your web host, see previous tutorials)

- click on the Plugins option, you'll find this on the left side of your admin panel (image below)

marti garaughty, The Art of Marketing YOU

 

- once you're in the plugins section, click on Activate under the Akismet panel (image below)

marti garaughty, The Art of Marketing YOU

 

- then you'll see a link asking you to enter your Akismet API Key, click on that link

marti garaughty, The Art of Marketing YOU

 

- now enter the API Key you saved earlier

- then click update options (image below)

marti garaughty, The Art of Marketing YOU

 Congrats, you've activated and set up your first WordPress plugin. wasn't that easy!!! Save your API Key for future use. It also activates other plugins like WP Stats, another topic for another day.

 If you're confused about anything or if you have any questions about this tutorial, just ask me in the comments.

 

marti garaughty, The Art of Marketing YOU

If you have additional topics you'd like to see covered or would like more information about custom graphics, themes or to book a 1 on 1 consultation to create or customize your WordPress or ActiveRain blogs, you can reach me here Later...

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garaughty, abstract art, graphic design, WordPress consultant, branding, marketing

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58 Comments on WordPress in Plain English... your API Key, Akismet anti spam

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

OCT
10
2010
283,278 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jim... yes, themes will be covered in an upcoming tutorial. If the recommendation you were given was Thesis, my advice is to stay away from it unless you know how to do CSS styling. For the average user Thesis is a waste of $$$. I'll be giving 2 recommendations that are as good or better, easier to use and free.
1:56pm • #39
OCT
11
2010
584,138 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Thesis was the one.  I will stay tuned looking for that post. Thanks.
7:47am • #40
106,189 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp

Marti

What a wealth of knowledge.  I just stumbled upon all this great wordpress stuff.  Thanks.  I've got you bookmarked going forward.  Thanks for the time and effort you put into this.
10:31am • #41
283,278 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jim... I'm not surprised. Thesis is OK if you're a bit of a techie but not for people who are new to WordPress. That why 90% of Thesis installations look like the did right out of the box.You have to know CSS to really use it properly.

Susan... I'm glad you found this, it's nice to have you with us.
10:52am • #42
106,189 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp

I look forward to more from you Marti...thanks again.
10:55am • #43
421,110 Points 12 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I think there is a new version that is not working with your instructions. I tried to put in the akismet but nothing is similar.
9:19pm • #44
283,278 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Susan... my pleasure.

Peggy... a new version of Akismet? It's updated periodically but this is how it's installed, I just did one on the weekend and it's the same as this tutorial. What specifically wasn't working for you?
9:53pm • #45
OCT
12
2010
421,110 Points 12 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Marti - When I log into the admin page of my blog, I don't see plug-ins.  The list says appearance, themes, widgets, menues, extras, etc.  Am I on the wrong page?
9:14am • #46
283,278 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Peggy... hi, you missed a step at the beginning of this tutorial about "The API Key is like an ID/password that you'll need to activate some plugins on your self hosted WordPress blog."

 It sounds like you're trying to install the API key in the wrong blog. You  sign up for an API key at Wordpress.com but you install it on your self hosted blog(plugins section).
10:18am • #47
OCT
23
2010
556,363 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog

hi marti -- easy to follow...i am really enjoying your series! :)  Glad to know that a tool to cut down on spam should be priority #1.
11:27pm • #48
283,278 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Chris... unfortunately the high visibility of WP blogs make them BIG spam targets.
11:41pm • #49
OCT
24
2010
323,121 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Marti, I use Thesis on one of my WP blogs and I'm having trouble finding the API key. It doesn't look like your exmaple at all. I've hunted around but I can't find it anywhere. Do you know thesis and where I can find it?
12:23am • #50
283,278 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Rich... hi. Yes I know Thesis inside and out but I stopped using it on my design projects because I prefer 2 other theme frameworks (upcoming tutorials) but...

 The API key has nothing to do with your theme. You have to set up a free account on WordPress.com and grab the API Key like I showed in the example in this tutorial. Then you use your API Key to activate the Akismet plugin.
12:32am • #51
323,121 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Marti, I still couldn't find it on Thesis, so I went to http://akismet.com/get/ and got it. Thanks. I am looking forward to your post on the themes you like. So far thesis has been way better than anything else I've tried.
11:14pm • #52
OCT
25
2010
283,278 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Rich... the API Key has nothing to do with themes, it's a separate component from WordPress.com that activates several plugins on self hosted blogs. My theme tutorials will be starting very soon. Have a great week!
12:00am • #53
OCT
31
2010
148,265 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Not sure what I'm doing just following your step-by-step.  You're awesome!
9:48am • #54
283,278 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Linda... thx, I'm glad it's helping out.
12:23pm • #55
NOV
30
2010
2 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp

I wondered what that key was!  I find your comments about Thesis interesting..That was the one that was recommended to me as well...I'll read on..have not spent any $ yet..
10:24pm • #56
FEB
24
2011

Hi Marti,

It looks as though the API Key aquisition process has changed since you posted this tutorial. When your directions are followed exactly, there is no key displayed and you are directed to the Akismet site where you will learn that most RE WP users will need to pay a monthly fee for an API key.

If this correct?  Is there a better/free way to go about this?

Thanks for your time & talents!
Ryan Swanson
12:04pm • #57
283,278 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Ryan... WordPress was updated yesterday to version 3.1 so it looks like they changed this. I'm also seeing...

"You can get your API key direct from Akismet now."  but if you click thru and read the details, it looks like there is still a free option. There are also other anti spam plugins available on the WordPress.org site.
1:12pm • #58

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marti garaughty, a highly caffeinated creative type. The Art of Marketing YOU

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