I installed WordPress on my web hosting plan, and now what should I do? What are the next steps to have a website that’s truly visible online?
These are the most common questions from those who have just installed this popular CMS and don’t know where to start configuring it.
If you also have questions about how to configure WordPress after installation, below is a list of the 5 essential steps to help you set it up quickly and easily, without overlooking any details. These tips will make all the difference in the process of publishing your website or blog.
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1. Define the appearance (WordPress Theme)
Content is surely among your top priorities when thinking about a website, and of course, it’s very important! However, you can’t overlook how you want to present this content; therefore, a template, also known as a WordPress theme , is the essential first step.
To define the look of your website, it’s natural to want to experiment with different themes before choosing the one that best suits your project. There’s a wide variety, and you can find a variety of themes. So take advantage of the process; think of your website’s theme as the one that will present your ideas or your business to your internet visitors.
The default WordPress installation whatsapp number list includes several themes, which you can find in the admin panel under Appearance > Themes . You can switch between available themes; search for new ones in the WordPress theme collection ; or upload a theme you’ve purchased or customized.
However, it’s important to be careful if you purchase a theme online from a dubious source. Using unsecured free themes can often lead to problems, ranging from lack of support or updates to losing your information or your entire website .
You may also be interested in: Danger! The risks of using a pirated theme on your website
- Tip: If you have some knowledge of HTML and CSS, you can modify an existing theme or create one from scratch.
2. Change the title and description
You don’t necessarily have to leave the same standard phrase ” Just another site built with WordPress ” visible to your website visitors. After all, it’s a great place to describe your website’s purpose.
Making this change is very easy: in the WordPress admin panel, go to Settings > General and change information like Site Title how and where to register a domain and Short Description . The famous phrase will disappear, and in its place will appear the description that speaks to your audience.
Want to see the difference? You can see it in the image below. Where we put: “HostGator Mexico Blog”; and in the short description: “All about Web Hosting”
3. Define a permanent link structure
If you’ve searched for information on SEO, you’ve probably heard of Friendly URLs . The name may sound confusing, but setting up a permanent link structure that’s friendly to readers (and also to search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo, for example) is simple.
Just click on the Settings option and select Permalinks . Under Common Settings , select from the options provided by the CMS.
4. Configure reading options
What should appear on your website’s home page?
You have two website options to choose from. If you’re building a contact website, for example, it’s understandable that you’d enable japan data the option to display a static page . If, on the other hand, you’re creating a blog, you might prefer that users view your most recent posts .
You can define how many posts to display on each page, and whether you prefer to show a summary or the full text of your articles.