Step by Step Guide to Optimize a Wordpress Blog for Beginners

Step-by-Step-Guide-to-Optimize-a-Wordpress-Blog-for-Beginners

Hello visitors, Here in this post " Step by Step Guide to Optimize a Wordpress Blog for Beginners ", we will share with you some of the most important tips and tricks you should follow if you are just a starter on WordPress blogging as these tips will help you to optimize your blog and also it will enhance your websites functionality. Also if you are not a starter and If you have been blogging for quite some time, then you might also use these steps in your website and try to improve it by following these helpful tips if you don’t have used it yet.

1. Decide Whether you would like To Use “www” Or Not

Though you'll prefer to exclude ‘www’ on your http address, it's more formal and advisable to possess it instead of not. The choice is completely yours however, if you favor to not have it then so be it. With or without ‘www’ will still lead to your homepage anyway, it’s just a matter of formality. Simply go to your wp-admin’s general setting to change it according to your preference. But once you have decided which format, you must always use the selected format for link building over the time; rather than use both.

2. Display Your Feed And Install Feedburner Feedsmith

Feedburner enhances the functionality of your RSS subscription and more, thus it is very important to have it on your blog. So install feedburner once you start writing your first post on your WordPress website.

3. Create Favicon

A favicon helps you to brand your blog and also helps your followers to locate your site more easily in their bookmarks by simply looking at the icon next to your browser address bar. It gives identity to your website and aids your readers to spot your website just by watching the icon.

4. Create Blog Title And Tagline

Your blog title and your tagline is that the banner showing what your blog is all about. It is so important to optimize it with your keywords particularly the tagline, so that it appears more in the search engine whenever someone searches one of your keywords.

5. Change Permalink Structure

Permalink helps to optimize your SEO, as well as your links readability, therefore it is important to customized it by going through your wp-admin and click on Setting>Permalink>Custom Structure and change it to /%postname%/.

6. Create About Me, Privacy Policy And Contact Me Page

These 3 pages are primary requirements in setting up a blog. Besides introducing yourself and what your blog is all about, contact me page allows your reader to communicate with you and gives them the security that you are not a spam. Privacy Policy protects privacy on the web.

7. Create Archive Page

Archive page allows your readers to scan all your posts from the very first to the recently posted blogs. Select the simplest archive that suits your character and preference. Some examples are SRG Clean Archives and Snazzy Archives.

8. Find an appropriate Free Theme And Tweak It (Advance Users)

Select a free theme online and customize it consistent according to your preference. Have it done by an expert or roll in the hay yourself by changing the looks through wp-admin and make it more yourself instead of its original look.

9. Setup Ping List

One way to optimize SEO is to line up a ping because it works to notify sites and directories whenever you posted new articles supplying you with more exposure and publicity.

10. Use Google Analytics & Webmaster Tools

Keep track of your website visitors and your blog’s traffic by having plugins like Google Analytics that analyzes and study the traffic on your site. Webmaster tools on the other hand dramatically improve your SEO. Also use Google Search Console in order to analyse your website data.

11. Setup Schedule Auto-Backup

Backups are your best defense in case something happens to your website therefore it is a must to install WordPress Database Backup plugin where you can schedule blog backups and have them sent to your email automatically or stored in the server.

12. Use Unique Admin Username

For your own security, it is advisable to change the default ‘admin’ username and use your own personalized one to avoid hackers login to your website just easily.

13. Use Essential & SEO Optimise Plugins

Plugins enhance the features of your WordPress website, so choose the plugins that helps you customizes your blog and optimizes your SEO such as All-in-One-SEO-Pack or Yoast SEO

14. Create Custom 404 Page (Advance Users)

A 404 page is what is going to appear whenever a non-existing page is being search in your blog. Instead of the default “404 error-page not found” you'll customized it and make a link which will lead back to your homepage. From your wp-admin attend Appearance>Editor, click on 404.php and edit. For beginners, we recommend to use a Custom 404 wordpress plugin, and design it according to your preferences.

15. Decide Whether You Want To Use Comment Function Or Not

Comment function allows your readers to comment on your blog and you can easily reply to them. It creates a certain bond towards you and your visitors so it helps when you have it, though the choice of using comment function on your site is fully yours.

16. Remove Test Post & Comment

To start blogging, you need to remove or edit the default test post that says “Hello World! Welcome to WordPress…” and replace it with your own posts.

17. Re-format Sidebar Content

Personalize your sidebar content by changing it according to your needs and preferences. You can make widgets to appear your categories, latest posts, and everything you like, even advertisements.

18. Remove Blogroll Links

Remove your blogroll list or attempt to keep it as short as possible to offer thanks to other more important links on your post and pages inside your website.

19. Use Gravatar

Gravatar ( Globally Recognized Avatars) is that the image that creates a visible representation of you in replacement of your picture. It becomes your virtual card and appears beside your name whenever you create comments on other blogs.

20. Setup Anti-spam

Spammers are everywhere on the web. To protect yourself and your WordPress website, it's a requirement that you simply install an anti-spam protection. Most common and one among the simplest anti-spams is that the Akismet and it comes with the package. All you need to do is activate it with your WordPress API key.

21. Change Blog Display

A blog is not a blog without contents. Therefore it is necessary to write blogs now and then to keep your readers coming back to your website to learn something new. It also keeps your website fresh and updated. Don’t create a website and just let it lie. Posting new blogs will boost your SEO optimization.

22. Add Categories and Tags

Categorizing your posts allows your readers to easily find what they are looking by merely looking at the specific category. It helps you organize your website and avoid clatter that your visitor may find annoying and leaves your site faster than you think. Also use tags in order to provide proper clarification about a post or an article on your site.

23. Use Share Plugins

It's very essential to promote a blog in order to reach to a large audience. Embed a share plugin within each and every posts published on your website. If a visitor really likes your post, they will share it. Always encourage your visitors to share your posts.

Still in doubt, comment in the comment section below. We will try to resolve your queries as soon as possible.

!! Have a Great Day !!

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