You just launched your new WordPress site, congratulations!! Here are 5 quick administrative tips for your new site to help you get started on the right foot.
Change your Administrative Email Address If someone set up your new WordPress site for you make sure you change your Administrative Email Address to the email account you want to receive notifications from WordPress.
In your Dashboard go to Settings >> General >> Administration Email Address >> Change or update the email address >> Save Changes (at the bottom of the screen).
You will receive an email from WordPress to confirm the change. If you do not receive the email check your spam and you may need to add WordPress emails to your safe list.
Do NOT use Admin for a Username If you used the default Admin for your initial username (or if your hosting provider installed WP for you and used Admin), change it immediately.
The Admin username is the first place hackers will use to try and gain access to your site. Change it to your name or anything other than Admin.
Setup Permalinks The default will be id numbers that don’t make sense to your reader, Google, or for SEO (search engine optimization). For example, the default of a post is usually something like yoururl.com/postid1234. There are several options to customize your Permalinks (also called a slug) structure.
In your Dashboard go to Settings >> Permalinks >> change the Common Settings or create a Custom Structure. My preference is the Post Name option. This keeps it simple with a URL of yoururl.com/name-of-your-post. Which makes it easy to copy for sharing on social and makes sense to anyone reading it…no numbers or dates to remember.
Set up a Gravatar Account Gravatar lets you create a unique user avatar that is connected to your email address. (You can add multiple email addresses.) Your avatar can be used on your WP site, it will show on your user account under Users, and it will follow you around the web. If you leave comments on another WP blog your avatar will show up.
Your readers’ Gravatars will be displayed on your blog when they leave comments as well as yours when you reply to them. Go to Gravatar.com to create your account and upload your profile photo.
Essential Plugins My best advice on plugins is to only use what is necessary and always keep them updated. Here are a few of my favorites to get started:
Yoast SEO – the free version is all you need to get started. Learn all you can about using it with their free emails.
JetPack – I love the stats in my Dashboard and they help me keep track of my daily traffic. JetPack also has several other useful tools but the stats are my favorite.
CleanTalk Antispam – this one is not free but it is pretty inexpensive and very handy. No one likes spam and getting all those spammy comments jamming up your inbox gets old fast.
BONUS: Google Analytics
Set up a free Google Analytics account. Find the step-by-step Google guide here. Google Analytics will give you all the details on the traffic to your website. It will tell you how many visits, how long they stay, what pages they view, what type of device they use, and loads of other useful information. It can be overwhelming but it’s also fascinating and helpful to see what needs your attention. Set it up right from the start so you have a history to compare to as you build your traffic.
If you are ready for a redesign or your first website and the thought of figuring it all out makes your heart race a bit and leaves you overwhelmed I got you covered! My specialty is taking your wish list and blending your personality with the functionality you need for an online presence that makes you proud. Let’s create a stunning first impression and a website where you can stand out online.
What makes readers click on a blog and stick around like it’s their favorite book? Tips and tricks for creating a user-friendly blog are found in merging your content strategy with a layout that creates a smooth user experience. Your blog layout should shimmer with clarity, load with the urgency of morning coffee, and navigate…
Making the Right Decision for Your WordPress Website: Hiring a Web Designer vs DIYing your Website Design Are you ready to launch a new website or revamp your current one? It can be hard to decide whether to hire a Web Designer or DIY your website design. While DIYing your website can save you money,…
A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Google Analytics and Tracking Your Website’s Succes Every website owner needs to know how their site is performing – not only in terms of rankings but also how visitors interact with the content. That’s where Google Analytics comes in. It is an integral part of understanding and optimizing your…
Easy to read, easy to love. Improving text legibility is crucial for keeping your audience engaged. If your text is hard to read, visitors will quickly lose interest. Clear, readable text ensures your message is effectively communicated and keeps your audience on your site longer. Let’s dive into some practical tips on how to make…
Unlock the Door to Fast-Tracked Success with VIP Day Services We’ve all had those moments, staring at a laundry list of tasks that never seem to get smaller. Whether it’s launching a new WordPress website, personalizing a theme, or tackling that ever-growing punch list, the to-dos can feel overwhelming. But what if I told you…
The Power of Pinterest for Bloggers As a blogger, you already understand the importance of platforms like Instagram and Facebook for increasing visibility and driving traffic to your site. But what about Pinterest? Ah, Pinterest – the virtual bulletin board where dreams are pinned, inspiration is found, and ideas come to life. It’s not just…
Join my list for
Access to the Free Tutorials & Resource Library
Dive into the Free Library, where you’ll find a collection of Kadence tutorials, helpful guides, fun printables, and easy-to-follow posts designed for both beginners and seasoned bloggers. It’s all here and more — I can’t wait to share it all with you!
