WordPress is popular and common platform among bloggers. Installation of WordPress is also quick and simple (thanks to Fantastico which is generally included by all hosting providers) Finishing installation doesn’t completes your work but that’s te beginning, there’s much work still to be done. So, Here I am leaving you with 10 things you should do after installing wordpress blog.
- Registration : Register yourself at wordpress.com to get your API key which is required to activate famous Anti-spam comment’s plugin called Akismet.
- Change structure of permalinks : By default, wordpress permalink setting is ../?p=123 but it is recommended to have search engine friendly URL structure. I would suggest to have custom ../% category% /% postname%.
Both options are available under settings tab of your WordPress admin panel. - Implement a system cache : In order to improve performance of your blog (more speed for less resources), you should install cache plugin. Itcaches your pages in order to increase the response speed and minimize the server load. You can choose from three popular ones namely 1blogcacher, Super Cache and Wp-cache. I am using Super Cache for this blog.
- Create Sitemap : This is one of the most essential step since Sitemap is something which helps Search engines to crawl your site content more easily. It can be created easily with Google XML site map plugin.
- Change Feed direction to feedburner : This has to be done in all links of feed present on your blog design (especially in single.php, sidebar.php and footer.php) I would recommend using FeedSmith plugin to reduce manual effort.
- Add tracking code : It is necessary to to track performance of your site. For this you can add google analytics, Statcounter or any other. Statcounter is reliable and loads fast as per my knowledge and experience.
- Add your site on Webmasters’ tools : I too was unaware about it. But, Google Webmasters’ tools have all functions that lets you sign your sitemap (point 4) for fast indexing and gives you search statistics and errors related to your site. It’s worth calling it webmaster tools.
- Create robots.txt : Through Webmasters tool, I came to knew it’s importance. You can analyze (if you already have) or you can generate right from there by selecting options.
- Design : First impression on any visitor of your blog is design. Just take care that the design contains important elements such as a search engine, an icon of subscription (Feed), a navigation menu and it is easy to read. You can have look to some selected WP theme here.
- Start Content posting : Start posting by telling the world what you are going to write about on blog and you an write about your self too. To start conversation with visitors add contact page with Wp-contact form plugin.
Also, don’t forget to create about page because visitor will need to know more about you.
Surely the time will need other tools, plugins or themes, but I think these are the 10 most essential tasks. Happy Blogging!
the link to Wp-contact form plugin. doen’t work
To start conversation with visitors add contact page with Wp-contact form plugin.
More over when I tried installing cache I had this issue:
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/178128?replies=10
thanks!
Nice rundown, I’m always wary of the sitemap system – it might break something in google… (maybe I’m being too cautious?)
As for the tracker, I would totally recommend gostats – it’s the best one out there. – and faster than statcounter from my experience
@ Dan
I have changed and checked the link of wp-contact form; Now it’s fine.
I read your issue “Cannot delete cache folder after uninstall”. I too faced a problem with it saying- cannot create/open advanced-cache.php
Its not the problem of plugin but my server only didn’t allowed it so changing permissions to 777 helped me and I had to create those files manually.
My question is “why are you removing system cache?”
@ Crabie C
yep, you are being too cautious about sitmap.
Moreover, I will try gostats also since statcounter only allows 500 entries and to avail more than that I will have to pay.
BTW, thanks for commenting and keep visiting.
nice list ,,
there is also wordpress.com stats , or firestats ,
adsense optimizing plugins
or skip all that and remove wordpress and install b2evolution
@ ameo,
To write there are many but I have only written some important initial tasks. (refer last line of post)
Yes, I will write about most essential plugins which are must haves on a blog.
BTW thanks for commenting and keep visiting.
Nice list. I would absolutely work with the design first – everything else is an afterthought. I must say, since Feedburner doesn’t actually work with a lot of fee readers, I stay away from it.
@ Cole,
Design is important but in order to receive traffic, you must consider and accomplish other tasks too.
That’s nice, stumbled….
Thank You Pavan.
Thanks for the post
Thanks for this link Rohit. This was very helpfull!
I recommend to subscribe to RSS place in a conspicuous place! Readers will be more! Especially at a blog, how are you! Tested – a 30% increased the number of subscribers!
OMG. I scored a pathetic 5 out of 10
Missed out on cache, robots.txt, feedburner, webmasters tool and design.
@Stanley, It’s still not too late buddy. You may follow the remaining 5 now. Happy Blogging! Thanks for visiting.
I follow your posts for quite a long time and should tell that your posts are always valuable to readers.
p.s. Year One is already on the Internet and you can watch it for free.
Hm that sounds good but I would like to know more details.
Your news is a cool stuff man, keep it going.
That’s good man, keep it going.
Good story for me but please more details.
Good information to me.
hey i moved to wordpress 2 days ago, i want to know that how to put feedburner email subscription box to my blog, which plugin i have to use?
@mostlyBlog, no plugin.. use the HTML code from Email subscription in publicize tab and paste in text sidebar widget. That will help you.
Stunning blog and good article. High 5 for u man !
This is a very good stuff man. But you can be more specific next time. See ya !
Interesting posts.. gracias for sharing so much in your blog
ahaa .. didn’t knew this post .. just moved my blogspot blog to wp few weeks back .. anyway I didnt all these steps .. now bookmarking for referring to others
Very useful post, i am going to bookmark it.
kind post, good work.
i always use feedburner to syndicate my blog posts to other subscribers.;”"
i always use feedburner to syndicate my blog posts to other subscribers.”`~