LESSON #34: WordPress Recommended Settings

By | March 15, 2009

(Part 2 in a series of 4)

In the previous lesson I talked about some of the benefits of WordPress, and I walked you through the process of installing it on your website.

So today we’re going to talk about what to do after you’ve installed it…

(Watch this video…)

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Main points:

  • Start by adding some categories

  • Posts vs. Pages

    – structurally not much difference

    – posts are archived and categorized

    – examples: lesson #32 is a POST. My products page is a PAGE.

    – Use Posts for a series of blog posts, articles, or other content that you add regularly to your site; use Pages for the pages of your site that don’t necessarily fit into a blog category.

    – You can use parent pages and sub-pages.

    – Some marketers claim that Posts are better than Pages for SEO.

  • WordPress Settings that I Use:

    General: I usually do not use a tagline.

    Writing: I like to increase the post box to 20 lines.

    Reading: Choose a static page for your home page if your site is not a blog.

    Discussion: I moderate all comments.

    Permalinks: I use a custom structure, such as /%postname%/

  • Importance of “Nice” Permalinks:

    -better for your visitors
    -better for search engines

    You may or may not want to use the year and month within your Permalink structure. Consider whether it will be better or worse to date your content.

    You can tweak the Post Name part of the Permalink URL when you are adding or editing a Post:

    -Don’t make it too long (I prefer no more than two dashes)
    -Use a keyword in it, such as a product name if it’s a product review

  • Disabling the Visual Editor: I prefer to disable the visual editor under the Users >> Profile settings. I like the basic post box better because it’s simpler and does not interfere with video embed code.

    The best WordPress theme

    Action steps:

    1) Add at least one category and make at least one post, or create at least one page on your WordPress site.

    2) Adjust the WordPress settings to best meet the needs of your site.

    3) Choose and set up your WordPress permalink structure.

    In the next lesson we’ll move on to the FUN stuff!

    As always, you are welcome to post your questions and comments below 🙂

    Have a great day!

  • 183 thoughts on “LESSON #34: WordPress Recommended Settings

    1. Nan

      Eric,
      Your info is so great. I wish i had this before I had my site built. At least I can go ahead and add and change posts on my site now. Thnks oyu.
      Nan

      Reply
    2. Ian

      Eric,

      I have bee slowly working through your tips videos but I do not have your number 33.

      Reply
    3. Micah

      Hello Ian,

      The next lesson will be sent to you soon. You can also visit the following link to see the latest lesson updates and revisit earlier lessons:
      http://www.ericstips.com/tips/category/lessons/

      Here is the direct link to lesson 33:

      LESSON #33: Getting Started with WordPress

      You may also simply change the number at the end of the link, to go to a different lesson number (example: /lesson1, /lesson2, /lesson3, etc…).

      If your email happens to block some of the lessons, we recommend that you view this tip on whitelisting an email address:

      How To Add a Sender to Your Whitelist (Safelist)

      Reply
    4. choong li li

      DEAR Sir,
      Thanks for all the tips. I am very grateful. I would like to know whether I should have a webhost to support the word press? WordPress is free. what is the difference with the free blog and paid webhost?
      thanks
      Sincerely,
      Li LI

      Reply
    5. Micah

      Hello Choong,

      You will have a lot more freedom, when you host your blog on your own domain.

      Here is the link to Eric’s lesson called, Choosing a Web Host:

      LESSON #24: Choosing a Web Host

      That lesson will show you what you need to know about webhosting.

      Reply
    6. James Wu

      Dear Eric: 6-12-13
      Thank you very much for all those instructions you have been doing for us.

      I am new to the affiliate marketing business. I am wondering if you have written a book or ebook with all these teaching contents you have been doing. If you do I will like to purchase it from you. Please advise!

      May God bless you for what you are doing for us for free.

      James Wu

      Reply
    7. Micah

      Hello James,

      No, all of the Eric’s Tips lessons are not currently in an ebook form.

      But, you are welcome to revisit these lessons any time you need to.

      Reply
    8. Neil Clapp

      Eric,
      First thank you for the clear, easy-to-follow tutorials at such an affordable (zero) price! However, I missed your Tips #31 and would greatly appreciate your sending it to me ASAP.
      Thanks for all you do and may the Lord heap His blessings on you and yours, Neil Clapp

      Reply
    9. Jorge

      Eric thanks I am very excited with the lesson keep working hard bless all Jorge

      Reply
      1. Eric Post author

        It may be a problem with settings. First make sure you’ve created at least one PAGE (not post). Go to:

        Settings>> Reading

        Then select the static page.

        Reply
    10. Bernieo

      Hi Eric,
      Another great lesson. I am new to WP and can’t wait to get started. I have already learned a good deal from you. Two questions if I may, and I don’t want to get ahead here as you may be planning on covering these topics in the near future.
      The first on relates to your videos. I have read that you cannot post a video, as you have on a WP blog. The method used should only be a link to a YouTube vid or a vid posted elsewhere on a seperate web site.
      Yours however is seemless and clean and works perfectly on WP. Also, what format is it please?
      The second question involves additional software/themes/plugins, specifically, Headway vs.Ultimatum. I am thinking of choosing one of these to work with. Since my background is graphic design you can only imagine my “non- coding” skils. Really, I am leaning towards Ultimatum, but still looking for input. As I wrote, if I am ahead of the game here, I apologize. Any help you can give we would be appreciated.
      All the best –
      Bernieo

      Reply
    11. Ken

      I remember you said at the start to stop buying stuff, so why do you keep sending upsells along the way lol

      Reply
      1. Micah

        Hello Ken,

        You should never purchase anything if is just going to sit on your computer collecting virtual dust.
        However, at some point, you will need tools to help grow your business.
        We only recommend that you make purchases when you plan to actually use a tool for your business right away!

        Reply
    12. Joseph Carey

      Hi Eric,
      I am enjoying your Eric’s Tip’s series. This is first class training , well presented and easy to understand. I came upon your training shortly after i had signed up for another coaching program , but I am still following your tips. The information you give out makes it that much easier to grasp the whole concept of affiliate marketing.
      The website i own (above) has been in operation for a few months and has made no money. I can’t even access my cpanel . Any chance Eric you could have a look at my website and advise me on how to get this site making money.
      Keep up the good work.

      Joe

      Reply
      1. Micah

        Hello Joe,

        It appears that you are currently monetizing your site strictly as an Amazon affiliate. There’s a lot of competition in the camera niche, so you may want to focus your niche a bit more.

        You might also want to check out the following lesson, for some more ideas.

        How to Make Money with Your Blog:

        LESSON #37: How to Make Money with Your Blog

        Reply
    13. dave

      Hi Eric, your tips are great i;m enjoying them very much. can you tell me how to link
      my product files to my download page . this is the structer that i have right now but
      i can not get them to work :public.HTML/download/download page.html i can’t
      get access to the download files files.

      Reply
    14. Carole Poche

      I would like to go back to the beginning, tip #1 and go through them. I have time to do so and hadn’t before this.
      Is it possible to do so and if so how do I find all of the posts please?

      Thank you,
      Carole from Alberta

      Reply
      1. Micah

        Hello Carole,

        Eric will still be completing 100 lessons. The next lesson will be sent to you soon. You can also visit the following link to see the latest lesson updates and revisit earlier lessons:
        http://www.ericstips.com/tips/category/lessons/

        Here is the direct link to lesson 1:

        LESSON #1: Introduction to Eric’s Tips

        You may also simply change the number at the end of the link, to go to a different lesson number (example: /lesson1, /lesson2, /lesson3, etc…).

        If your email happens to block some of the lessons, we recommend that you view this tip on whitelisting an email address:

        How To Add a Sender to Your Whitelist (Safelist)

        Reply
    15. Juliette Johnson

      Hi Eric, I’m confuse about the wordPress update with my hosgator hosting. I’m working with my MacBookpro lap top. I’m using firefox instead Safari to built my website with wordpress. I’m afraid of download or update the wordpress.org. When I started to update the wordpress from codex. Is this Codex a safe for my mac. I did buy the socratesthemes.com yesterday and I need help how to upload to my answeriskey.com website and is this program good for my Macbook. Here is my order,”‘ Order Number: VH9NE7XQ
      Order Date: 07/04/2014 11:09 AM PDT
      Customer Name: Juliette L Johnson “”
      Seam to me it is an XP program, would confirm to me that this Socratestheme is ok.

      – Would you please let me know where andHow can I monetize my website by promoting ClickBank producrts or Amazon etc…
      Thanks much for understanding and your support!

      Juliette

      Reply
    16. Kevin

      Hi Eric/Micah,
      I originally set up a test page on my site: http://www.teamtravelgolf.com using the basic HTML language in lesson 29. Now I’m following your lessons on using WordPress for my site. When I published a page using WP, it doesn’t come up in my browser under my domain, but rather under a URL “teamgolftravel.com/wpkevin/…. What do I do to get the WP page as my home page without the wpkevin?
      Thank you

      Kevin

      Reply
    17. Kevin

      One more thing. How do I get the HostGator icon off of my URL? When I go to teamgolftravel.com, it is always on there.

      Thanks
      Kevin

      Reply
      1. Micah

        Hello Kevin,

        The favicon.ico is the small icon that shows up near the search bar, representing your site. You could either delete or replace that file.

        Reply
    18. Char Cook

      Eric & Micah,

      I really appreciate all the great and understandable tips! I am amazed that I can understand most of the processes and it is written not to demean anyone’s intelligence. I am a newbie to web creation & blog (WP creation). I have been a Technical Writer for over 30 years in the electronic/ electricial/ mechanical industries primarily and I know how difficult it is to write to a blended audience. But you do a terrific job! I only occasionally need to research a term for further understanding. You really should write a book (& if you ever need an editor; I would love to help you).
      Anyways, thank-you. I am in the process of creating a website & a WP blog. I’m learning a lot & enjoying the process. It’s nice that you both have my back! God bless you; I wouldn’t have the confidence without your detailed & friendly style of informing!!

      Reply

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