Did you just set up & install WordPress on a domain name? Have a question what to do after the installation? Here is a complete guide that will show you essential wp setting to do after WordPress installation.
So without any further ado, let’s take a look at the list below and proceed accordingly.
Contents
1. Delete By Default Posts, Pages, Plugins & Themes
When the installation process is finished and you’re logged into your WP dashboard, you’ll see a bunch of by default demo data which is useless. The first thing you need to clean up your blog from such demo data. This data includes the following:
- Posts
- Pages
- Plugins
- Themes
- Comments
So go ahead and delete all of the data from your fresh WP installation. It just takes a minute to do so. Once this done, let’s move on to the next one.
2. Change Site Title & Tagline
While you were installing WP on a domain name, you were asked to enter your site/blog Title & Tagline but if you hadn’t done this before then you can change and assign a title & tagline after the installation too. In order to change the title & tagline, follow the below steps.
- Go to General Page under the Setting Menu and change the Title, Tagline, and other settings.
3. Configure Permalink/URL Type
One of the core things to do in order to optimize your WP blog is to configure your blog permalink. Permalink is basically an option in your WP dashboard that lets you change your blog posts URL i.e your blog posts’ by default URL will look like this ‘ https://www.bloggingscout.net/?p=328 ‘ which is neither SEO-Friendly nor User-Friendly. So in order to make it SEO & User-Friendly, follow the below steps.
- Go to Permalink page under the Setting and choose a type of Permalink you want to assign to your blog posts.
4. Install Important WordPress Plugins
Plugins are an integral part of your WordPress blog because it takes your blog’s power, features, look, and options to a whole new level. Plugins help you add extra functionality, features, and options to your blog so the number four option that comes in this list is installing some basic WP Plugins.
Related: Best HelloBar Alternatives With Useful Marketing Tools
For your ease, let me list some of the best WP plugins that everyone should install quickly after WordPress Installation.
1. iTheme Security
iTheme Security is the all in one solution for your blog’s security that helps you secure your entire blog from hackers and automatic bots from hacking into your site. Installing and configuring of this plugin is really important.
Even though, if you don’t like iTheme Security then there are as well more alternatives available which you can use instead of this one such as WordPress Security, All In One WP Security & Firewall etc.
2. Askimet (Anti-Spam)
Askimet helps you save time and publishing malicious content on your blog by preventing spammers from commenting and submitting spammy contact forms. If you’re using the by default WP commenting system then you must install and activate this plugin.
3. UpdraftPlus (Backup/Restore)
UpdraftPlus helps you take backup of your entire blog and its data and transfer the data to third-party cloud servers such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and others. And in any case, you lose your blog’s data or someone hacked into your blog, then Updraftplus also lets you restore your blog quickly and instantly.
4. W3 Total Cache
When a fresh installation is made, blog loads faster but when new contents and data is published, the blog speed tends to slow down by the time so to make sure your blog loads faster, try installing W3 Total Cache. It’s free and a must have plugin to speed up your blog loading.
5. Yoast SEO
Another very important plugin to have installed is Yoast SEO by Team Yoast. It’s the very basic and one of the important plugins that let you SEO-Optimize your blog for Search Engine. This plugin comes with bundles of features such as:
- Sitemap
- Google Search Console
- Robots.txt Editor
- .htaccess Editor
- Social Media Integration
- Breadcrumbs Feature
5. Setup Your Profile
Another important task to do is set up your profile page by entering the following:
- Email Address
- First And Last Name
- Nick Name
- Social Media Profiles
- Your Biography
- Your Avatar
- Generate A New Log in Password
To set up your Profile page, please follow the following.
- Go to ‘ Your Profile ‘ under Users and fill in all important info.
6. Configure Comments Setting
Another important task to do after Installing WordPress is that to configure your comments setting. In this configuration, you can do the following:
- Enable Comment Form on your blog posts
- Add requirements for a commenter such as An Email and Name etc
- Close comment form automatically after some specific days
- Enable Comment Moderation
To configure Comments, follow the below steps.
- Go Discussion under Setting and make changes according to your need.
7. Create Important Pages
Important pages are the pages that your users, visitors, customers and even search engines much like. Such static pages can be created using the Pages features instead of Posts.
These Pages may include the following:
- About Us
- Contact Us
- Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Services
- ETC
8. Upload & Install A New Theme
There are thousands of beautiful, SEO & mobile-friendly WP themes available even for free which you can apply on your blog to make your blog look more awesome, beautiful and responsive both on PC and Smartphone devices.
There are a few ways you can install a new fresh theme on your WP blog. The first one way is installing directly from the WP Dashboard.
- You can install a theme directly from your WP Dashboard. All you have to do is go to Themes under the Appearance menu in your WP Dashboard Sidebar.
- Click on the Add New button at the top of the page.
- And there you’ll find lots of available free themes.
- Choose any of the themes from the giant list and apply and then visit your blog.
We’ll be sharing with you another blog post in which you will learn about two more ways you can use to install a theme on your WP blog.
Now, moving on to the next step.
9. Configure Your Blog Widgets
Widgets help you add recent posts, subscription box, recent comments and add Advertisement on the sidebar and on the footer of your blog. Here I’ll show you how to configure widgets and add useful widgets on the sidebar and the footer of your blog.
- Go to Widgets under the Appearance menu.
- Drag and Drop your favorite Widgets and Add-ons to sidebar and footer of your blog and visit your blog again.
10. Upload Favicon For Your Blog
Uploading your own favicon for your blog is really helpful for your users to find out and recognize your blog easily both on Android & Smartphone devices.
You can find changing FAVICON option in your blog’s WP theme. So go ahead and create one FAVICON for your blog if you don’t have already.
Tip:- You can use this site to generate a beautiful FavIcon for your blog.
Wrapping It UP!
If you have just done a WordPress Installation then follow the above steps to make your WP blog optimized and do some essential WordPress setting both for users & search engines. I have tried my best to fulfill this article with all the necessary tips but still, it’s not really enough without your contribution. Please comment below if you have any question or want to suggest any further tip & task to do after installing WordPress on a domain name.
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