BuddyPress For Dummies

Get your buddies together with BuddyPress and create your own social community

Got a cause, a hobby, or some other obsession you can't wait to share with a like-minded community? BuddyPress is the buddy you need to get that community started. Here's how to get BuddyPress up and running on your WordPress Web site and use its free tools and themes to host a social network devoted to your pet projects, right on your site.

• Full court press — start by obtaining a Web hosting provider and installing WordPress, then install and configure BuddyPress

• It's your domain — register your domain name and use FTP to transfer necessary files

• Member options — explore BuddyPress features for creating profiles, avatars, and community friendships

• Growing with the group — integrate members' blogs, set up member groups, and add discussion forums with BuddyPress

• Custom Buddy — expand BuddyPress themes, personalize them with CSS, and learn how to create your own

• It's on the wire — promote community interaction through wire postings for individuals or groups

• Gather the gang — integrate Twitter®, Facebook®, Flickr®, YouTube®, and other social media into your community

• Go farther — discover third-party plugins that add more options

Open the book and find:

• Cool things you can do with a BuddyPress site

• Requirements for a hosting environment

• Where to find and download free themes

• What you can do with widgets

• Ways for members to create and manage their own forums

• How member avatars are used

• Tips on using member group features

• Ten BuddyPress sites to check out