WordPress is without a doubt the best blogging platform available today. Though it has a bit of a learning curve compared to some hosted services like Blogger or TypePad, WordPress gives you a much greater amount of control, it allows you to truly own your content, and it has a library of off-the-shelf designs and add-ons that allow it to serve nearly any online publishing need.
Below you’ll find my presentation for BlogCon 2011 that outlines how to optimize a standard WordPress install along with a series of links to setup elements, plugins, services, theme stores, hosting software, and additional resources.
Basic Setup
- Change your Permalink Structure to include the date and title of posts.
- Add Updates Services under Settings, Writing.
- Make sure Privacy Settings are not set to block you from search engines.
- Check your Discussion Settings.
- Update your Blog Title, Tagline, and Time Zone under Settings, General.
Must-Have Plugins
- Get an API Key and Active Akismet under Plugins, Installed Plugins, Akismet.
- Install and take a long time to carefully configure Yoast’s WordPress SEO Plugin.
- WP-DBManager is Incredibly Important!
- Limit saved revisions with Revision Control.
- Shields up with WP Security Scan.
- Never forget to categorize again with Category Reminder.
- Backup with VaultPress, XCloner, BackupBuddy, or ManageWP.
Cool Plugins
- Turn your blog into an iPad magazine with OnSwipe.
- Cover all your mobile bases with WP Touch.
- Get images for every post with PhotoDropper.
- Control which widgets appear on which pages with Widget Context.
Even More Plugins (More to Come, Watch for Updates)
- Control automated publishing of posts using a calendar layout with WordPress Editorial Calendar.
- Automatically link your pages internally with SEO Smart Links.
- Take care of old or broken links with Redirection.
Free & Low-Cost Services (More to Come, Watch for Updates)
- WuFoo for great online forms.
- Manager your RSS feeds with Feedburner.
- Create awesome newsletters with MailChimp.
Refresh Your Theme
- Use a professionally designed theme from WPZoom, Themify, Pagelines, WooThemes, or other well-regarded marketplaces.
- Be Careful with ThemeForest and other theme bonanzas.
Enhanced Hosting
- Serve static content faster with NGINX.
- Serve dynamic content faster with APC.
- Serve database content faster with Memcached.
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