12. Basic WordPress Site Configuration
After installing WordPress, it is essential to carry out a series of basic configurations to ensure that your website works correctly and is optimized for visitors and search engines. Below, we will discuss the fundamental steps to setting up your WordPress website from basic to advanced.
Initial Settings
As soon as you access the WordPress admin panel, also known as the Dashboard, it is recommended that you start by adjusting the basic settings.
General Settings
In the side menu, go to 'Settings' > 'General'. Here you can define:
- Site Title: The name of your website that will appear in the browser title bar and in search results.
- Description: A brief description or tagline of the site, which may also appear in search results.
- WordPress Address (URL): The full address of your WordPress installation.
- Website Address (URL): The address that visitors will use to access your website.
- Administrator Email: The main email address for administering the site.
- Time Zone: Set to the time zone corresponding to your location.
- Date and Time Format: Select the date and time display format you prefer to use on your website.
Reading Settings
In 'Settings' > 'Reading', you can define what will be shown on the home page of your website:
- Your home page displays: Choose between showing your latest posts or a selected static page.
- Search engine visibility: If you want to discourage search engines from indexing this site, check this option. However, it is not advisable to do this if you want your website to be found by Google and other search engines.
Discussion Settings
In 'Settings' > 'Discussion', you can adjust options related to comments and interactions with readers, such as comment approval, email notifications, and avatar settings.
p>Media Settings
In 'Settings' > 'Media', you can set the size of the images that WordPress will automatically create when you upload an image. This is useful for ensuring images fit well with your theme and design.
Permalink Settings
In 'Settings' > 'Permalinks', you can define the structure of your site's URLs. For SEO (Search Engine Optimization), it is highly recommended to choose a structure that includes the name of the post or category for better indexing.
Themes and Customization
With the basic settings adjusted, the next step is to choose a theme that defines the appearance of your website. Go to 'Appearance' > 'Themes' to select an existing theme or add a new one. After activating the theme, you can customize it in 'Appearance' > 'Customize', where you will have options to change colors, header, menu, widgets and other theme-specific settings.
Plugins
Plugins add extra functionality to your WordPress website. To add plugins, go to 'Plugins' > 'Add New' and search for plugins that meet your needs, such as SEO, security, speed optimization, contact forms, among others. Remember that it is important to keep plugins updated and delete those that are not used to keep the site functioning properly.
Security
The security of your WordPress site is crucial. Be sure to use strong passwords, keep WordPress and plugins updated, and consider installing a security plugin to protect against common attacks like brute force and malware.
Backups
Implementing a regular backup solution is critical. There are plugins available that can automate this process, ensuring you have a backup copy of your site in case something goes wrong.
SEO
To improve your website's visibility in search engines, consider installing an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack. These plugins help you optimize your content and site structure for better indexing and ranking.
Performance
The performance of your website is important to both users and search engines. Cache plugins like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache pcan significantly improve the speed of your website.
Conclusion
Setting up your WordPress site properly from the start is essential to ensuring a good experience for users and the long-term success of your site. The settings covered here are just the beginning, but they lay a solid foundation on which you can build and grow your WordPress site.
