My WordPress Setup Routine
I have just a teeny bit of time...and it occurred to me that this might be helpful to a few people. Just a WordPress site setup walk-through. I'm getting better at this. (How's 100Blogs going, some of you have asked. Well, I'm well into the next 2 sites--one of them seasonal and one of them accessory-related) but it's been a wild couple of weeks. Since my time has been very broken-up lately (and my focus has been a bit scattered as well), I've done what I can to keep growing skills and market discernment.
I know that guilt is not productive. I don't let myself nurse any guilt feelings, because they lead to procrastination. I know myself well...when a project becomes associated with negative, anxious feelings, that project is pretty much doomed. Sigh. I do what I can do, and when it's important to put people first, I do that.
Did you know that you can watch a couple of tutorials while doing ab crunches? Did you know that you can watch more tutorials while chopping vegetables for dinner? Except that the yellow onions will make you cry, which means that it'll be harder to watch the tutorials with eyes clouding and running.
I'm not going to do a lot of 'splaining here. If you need to know more, just put a comment. I'll try to answer. Let's go:
Domain name choice: exact match domain keyword bought from Namecheap.com.
DNS pointers pointed to my host (and enabled from within HostMonster).
Domain added and folder created on the host CPanel
WordPress 3.0.1 installed. (I always install the latest stable version through SimpleScripts.)
From within CPanel file manager, all important files (plugins and themes) copied to the new folder. Big time saver. It's so important to have a host with a good file manager built in to the cPanel.
Email created. info@domainname.com.
Email forwarding set up to main email account.
First round of essential plugins enabled (some of these I have just decided are essential, after some trial and error--it's all a work in progress, you know):
WP Super Cache,Tweetmeme, AddThis, WordPress Database Backup, ContactPage Google XML SitemapsGoogle Sitemaps, Dagon Design Sitemap Generator, Exclude Pages, Akismet, All in One SEO Pack, Google Analytics.
Akismet activated.
Hello Dolly deleted.
Contact Page set up
Social bookmarking activated
All-in-One SEO activated. (I keep going forth between Platinum SEO and All in One SEO, but I do really like this setup checklist for All in One...
http://www.jackleblond.com/all-in-one-seo-pack-configuration/
Google Analytics set up
Feedburner account set up
Dagon Design Sitemap - Activated and Configured
Google XML Sitemap Plugin Activated..
Exclude Pages plugin activated..
I set these up together, since the configs are interdependent.. Dagon's plugin references the XML file so that it can embed
the link. I exclude the site map from the navigation and being included
with other pages in navigation.
I also uncheck comments/trackbacks.
Google Analytics acct created, plugin activated and linked..
Remote Database Backup activated..
WP Super Cache activated, configured..
XML Sitemap added to Google's Webmaster Tools.
Next: Setting up content
Recent Comments
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Of course, Stacy! Please do chronicle how you research a niche and set up for SEO. I'd love it!!! (rubbing hands together) Thanks for the tip. How much do those commercial plugins cost?
That's similar to how I do things, but I seem to do it in a much more scattered way LOL, it's taken me weeks to set up sites before... Do you think it would be helpful for any of you for me to chronicle how I research a niche? or how I set up a site for SEO? What do you think is the thing people get stuck on the most?
BTW, re: All in One SEO.... have you tried SEO Pressor or Scribe? They are both paid, but Scribe just added a bunch of killer features like keyword research and link building tools (BOTH internal and external links).
We work the same way! I do the same thing so it confirms that I do things right! ;) As for the onion problem, just keep some water in your mouth while cutting the onions and you won't cry. It works!!
Thanks, guys. Dry as chalk dust, but these are the things we've got to do, right? :-) One thing I should have been clearer about...when I said to use the file manager in your hosted account to copy files to the plugin folder, I was assuming the files were already in place for another domain/directory hosted on that same account. It really does become sort of self-replicating once you've got things the way you want them in just one WP site.
Oh, and Paula. There is no reason that I can see to fuss for hours over a header--glad Steven's XHeader worked well for you! I've been training my 13-year-old in Photoshop, and I just offered her a "contract" to do each of my headers for $5. I like the "cottage industry" feel of what I'm doing. :-)
Thanks! That's exactly how I have to do things - do this, then do this - but I haven't done enough websites to be able to set out the steps one by one. I will copy this out as a guide.
Oh that's GREAT Maureen I've just been agonising for days just over my header and you'll laugh when you see it because it's so simple! Thanks God for Steven's SuperSimpleBogging and XHeader! So you plug in guide is really helpful for my next step :) Thanks vey muchly!
Oh that's GREAT Maureen I've just been agonising for days just over my header and you'll laugh when you see it because it's so simple! Thanks God for Steven's SuperSimpleBogging and XHeader! So you plug in guide is really helpful for my next step :) Thanks vey muchly!
Oh wow Maureen. I know who to consult when setting up a Word Press site. Many thanks for sharing all that good stuff.
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This is a great list, Maureen! Thank you! I copied it for my notebook!