How To Set Up A WordPress Blog [Checklist]

Anyone with zero skills can set up a WordPress blog.

One important aspect of creating a successful blog is setting up your blog the right way.

It may take an additional hour or two, but this effort will pay off in the long run.

how to set up a WordPress blog for the first time.

In this article, I will provide a checklist to help you get your WordPress blog “publish-ready”.

I don’t suggest that all of the actions below are necessary, but each one will help you.

At the very least, it will put you one step ahead of WordPress blogs that do not include these essential elements.

So let’s get started with the list!

How to set up a blog on the WordPress platform:

I assume you have:

Your WordPress blog has been installed.
I deleted the default “Hello world” post.
Deleted the default page.

If you haven’t already done these three things, do them right now.

Moving on to the checklist…

1. Submit the sitemap.

Let’s begin with an SEO tip.

Create and submit your sitemap to Google Webmaster Tools.

The procedure is simple and will aid search engine bots in deep indexing your content. To produce a sitemap, utilize the Google XML Sitemap plugin.

2. Write an About page.

Unless you are only keeping a personal diary and expect no readers other than your friends and family, you must include an “About page”.

For the record, your About page will be one of your blog’s most popular pages. Make sure you write in a way that converts one-time visitors into subscribers.

You can get some inspiration by looking at the BloggingInsight About page.

3. Set up the Contact page.

A blog is basically about communicating.

A “Contact” feature on your blog allows you to communicate privately with your readers.

It can also serve as a platform for advertisers to discuss a partnership or sponsorship.

The majority of Contact pages contain simply a contact form, but you might also include alternative forms of communication (for example, a Skype handle).

4. Customize permalink structure

WordPress’ default permalink structure is both difficult and ineffective for SEO.

Rather than:

http://example.com/?p=123

Customize it to something more important, such as:

http://example.com/post-title

Important: Make sure you complete this before you start posting. Otherwise, you will receive several 404 errors.

5. Set up categories.

Categorizing your articles as Uncategorized is as meaningless as it sounds.

Make a list of the categories you plan to write about ahead of time. It will make navigation easier while also giving your viewers an idea of what your blog is about.

6. Install an anti-spam plugin.

No reasonable WordPress blogger will post without an anti-spam plugin.

Every minute, a massive army of spammers attacks our unprotected blogs with spam.

The most popular anti-spam plugin, Akismet, is included with your WordPress installation.

Install it, and use it.

7. Install a cache plugin.

Your Blog might be new, but you have no idea how well your genius will perform.

If any of your content becomes viral, the server you spent relatively little for may be unable to resist the influx of visitors.

Caching your blog will minimize load and make it load faster.

W3 Total Cache is popular among both big and small blogs; you won’t go wrong with it.

8. Track statistics.

It’s important to monitor your blog’s statistics from the beginning.

Google Analytics is a free service that collects detailed statistics and information about your visitors.

You can also use the Jetpack plugin in conjunction with Google Analytics to examine your data directly from your WordPress dashboard.

9. Take a complete blog backup.

We’ve all heard horror stories of web hosts holding a customer’s files and database for ransom.

With a comprehensive blog backup solution, you can be confident that no matter what happens to your blog, you can restore its content on any other host.

I use WP Time Machine for this, which automates the backup process and sends my files to Dropbox.

10. Select a good theme.

I feel that a unique design is always beneficial to branding and user experience.

You should find a theme that is:

Well-designed.
Well-coded.
SEO optimized.
Fast.

When I see a site utilizing WordPress’s default theme with no customization, I will come to two conclusions:

The blogger is not serious.
It’s a Scraper Site,

I would suggest taking some time to pick a good theme.

Or better yet, get a custom WordPress design.

(Here at BloggingInsight, we are using GeneratePress.)

Learn: How To Start A Blog in 2024 [Blogging Guide For Beginners]

Optional WordPress Setup Tips

If you have checked off all of the following items on your checklist:

Your new blog is ready to go.

The elements listed below are recommended but not required.

Optional 1: Add social media buttons.

Make it easier for your audience to share your work by including social network sharing buttons.

Users are so utilized to actions like the Facebook “like” that they will not hesitate to “like” your work as a show of appreciation.

Aside from traffic, these social shares can boost morale, especially when you’re just getting started.

Optional 2. Add a blog account on social media.

Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
etc.

You may not need it right now but don’t be unhappy later when you realize that someone else has used your blog’s brand name as their login.

Optional 3: Get FeedBurner or AWeber.

The popularity of “subscribing to RSS” has decreased significantly in recent years.

Readers nowadays prefer to follow a blog on Twitter or Facebook.

Regardless matter how you feel about RSS, make sure you include an email subscription feature from the start, as email marketing is still incredibly effective.

Check it out:

So, there you go!

Here are all of the key WordPress setup suggestions I have for you. If you follow this checklist, you’ll have everything you need to start your WordPress site successfully from day one.

Do you have any more tips? Please share your ideas in the comments below!

Did you find this checklist useful? Share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.