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Home » The Famous Blog » 43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress

43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress

March 15, 2010 - Last Modified: February 14, 2013 by Andrew Rondeau 16,197

wordpress tips

After installing WordPress these are the best blogger tips I can share. I am assuming as you have installed WordPress you have already carried out your keyword research, so this blog post doesn’t cover the crucial stage of keyword research.

If you want more visitors, more natural traffic, a more ‘sticky’ (i.e. visitors stay longer) site and quickly indexed by Google, then check out this useful list.

(Please note there are many alternatives to the plugins mentioned – I just mention the ones I use).

Tidy up/Design

1. Adjust your time zone under ‘general’ settings.

2. Change “Other comment settings” and check the “Enable threaded (nested) comments 5 levels deep”, in ‘Discussion’ settings. This helps highlight any replies to any comments and is easier for the visitor to read.

3. Get yourself a Gravatar that will be displayed whenever you comment. Having a Gravatar helps promote you and your brand across the internet.

4. Get and install a personally designed header banner. Personally designed header banners make your blog stand out.

5. Change the “Display name publicly as” field to your name – under the “Users” menu tab. Doing this will display your name as the author of the blog posts you publish.

6. Delete the default “Blogroll links” and “Mr WordPress comment” – Under the “Blogroll” and “Comments” menu tabs.

7. Set up and install Google Analytics. The best free tool around to monitor your traffic stats.

8. Create an About Me page. You want to share a little about you and what you can do for your visitors.

9. Create a Contact page, so visitors can easily make contact with you.

10. Have a Favicon designed and installed – it’s all about your personal branding.

11. Delete the “hello world” default blog post.

12. Add a Privacy page. This is the page where you tell your visitor what you do with any data they give you.

13. Add a Disclaimer page. You also need to add a ‘Disclaimer’ page. This is the page that stipulates what you mention on your blog may not suit everyone and not everyone will get the same results.

14. Add an Affiliate Disclosure page. I believe in being totally open and honest with my visitors. If I am going to make some income from someone clicking on a link on my site, I like to tell them and so should you. This page should tell your visitors that you make an income using affiliate links on your blog.

15. Move to a premium theme. Those free WordPress themes are very ‘clunky’ – hard to change, difficult to maintain and restrictive in their design. For the best premium themes check out this post: Premium WordPress Themes

SEO

16. Add a blog title and tagline that includes your primary keyword phrase in the ‘General’ settings.

17. Change the ‘permalinks’ (‘permalinks’ under ‘settings’) structure to a custom structure: /%post_id%/%postname%/ This structure is deemed the best for SEO purposes.

18. Set up your categories using your keyword phrases. Again this helps with SEO.

19. By using the Google Webmaster tools, you can quickly get your blog indexed. Verifying ownership of your Blog via the Google Webmaster Tools.

Traffic

21. Change the ‘Update Service’ under the ‘Writing settings’ to include the following sites:

http://rpc.pingomatic.com/

http://blogsearch.google.com/ping/RPC2

http://api.moreover.com/RPC2

http://api.my.yahoo.com/RPC2

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

http://rpc.twingly.com/

http://rpc.weblogs.com/RPC2

http://www.blogdigger.com/RPC2

http://www.bloglines.com/ping

http://ping.feedburner.com/

http://rpc.icerocket.com:10080/

http://www.octora.com/add_rss.php

http://ping.syndic8.com/xmlrpc.php

http://www.wasalive.com/ping/

http://ping.weblogalot.com/rpc.php

http://www.blogpeople.net/servlet/weblogUpdates

http://ping.myblog.jp

http://ping.bloggers.jp/rpc/

http://bblog.com/ping.php

All the above sites will be updated when you publish a blog post.

22. Add a FeedBurner RSS Feed so visitors can be automatically informed when you add a blog post.

23. Also allow subscription to your blog via email.

24. RSS Directories. Performing this will make your blog index quicker in the search engines and can provide a steady stream of organic traffic. RSS Directories hold millions of links to websites and blogs and are some of the most visited websites on the internet.

By adding your blog’s RSS feed to the RSS Directories, every future blog post you add to your blog, will automatically be added to the RSS Directory. And that means it could potentially be seen by thousands of visitors and your blog will receive a powerful backlink from the RSS Directory.

You only have to add your blog’s RSS feed to the RSS directory once and everything is set up to work automatically.

One of the best RSS Directories for rankings is: http://feedagg.com

25. Start building your list by giving something of quality, away.

26. Start adding valuable comments on other blogs – get your name out there.

27. Add unique blog posts as least 3 times a week to your blog.

Security

28. If you have used FTP to upload WordPress – store/remember your ftp login details. You can waste hours looking for access details.

29. Change the password of your WordPress Admin login. Some hosting sites provide the password when you first install WordPress – change it – you just never know who has also seen it.

30. Change the WordPress admin username – most hackers know that ‘admin’ is the username and then they only have to guess the password. Make it twice as hard and change the admin username to something other than ‘admin’

31. Keep WordPress and your plugins up to date. Often WordPress and plugins are updated due to security reasons. Keep your site updated on the latest versions. Make sure you backup before you upgrade and test after your upgrade.

Must Have Plugins

32. Add the Akismet and WP-SpamFree Anti-Spam plugins to reduce the amount of spam comments you receive.

33. Install the ‘Subscribe to comments’ plugin so visitors return and can reply to other commenters.

34. Show some Google Link Luv by installing the CommentLuv, KeywordLuv and DoFollow plugins.

35. Install the All-In-One-SEO plugin and include your primary keyword phrase in the ‘Home Title, ‘Home Description’ and ‘Home Keywords’.

36. Install the Google XML Sitemap plugin and manually build your sitemap. It helps get your site indexed.

37. Add the WP-DBManager plugin and schedule backups to be created everyday.

38. Make Better Use of the 404 Page – automatically redirect the reader to a list of your best posts or you can present them your entire post archives. The  404 SEO plugin will help.

39. Improve the security of your blog by installing Login Lockdown.

40. Install a caching plugin like WP-Super-Cache to make your blog load faster.

41. Install SexyBookMarks plugin so visitors can easily socially bookmark your blog posts.

42. Install the “SEO Friendly Images” plugin. SEO Friendly Images is a WordPress optimization plugin which automatically updates all images with extra search engine optimization functionality.

43. By installing the “MaxBlogPress Ping Optimizer” plugin, when you create a new blog post, your blog will ping and notify all the ping services that it has been updated. This encourages search engines and different blog directories/services to index your updated blog properly.

So there you have 43 blogger tips which will help your blog receive more visitors, more natural traffic, be a more ‘sticky’ (i.e. visitors stay longer) site and quickly indexed by Google.

What are your views? What have I missed? Share your views in the comments below.

This post is part of our Guest Blogging contest, if you like it then why not sharing it with your friends by retweeting it? this will give credits to the author and a better chance to win one of our awesome prizes.  By the way.. you also can participate in our contest, it’s not late!

Image credit: Peregrino

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Filed Under: How To Blog

About Andrew Rondeau

Follow @andrewrondeau

Andrew is a full-time Internet Marketing Specialist and blogger from the UK. At his blog he shares all his knowledge and experience on how to make a blog .

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{ 340 Responses }

  1. Mohd Arif says:
    There are pieces of information in here that I would have to read a few times just to get an idea of what they really are and how I’ll be able to utilize them effectively. I’m not really that tech savvy. However, I’m quite familiar with the ‘All In One SEO Pack’ and ‘WordPress SEO by Yoast’. I’m glad that you took the time to compile this information for bloggers like me. I really appreciate it.
  2. Lorenzo says:
    You can also use the JetPack plugin to setup basic analytics for your site. I use Gaug.es, JetPack, and Google Analytics.
  3. Ansh says:
    Nice plugin collection Andrew. I guess they are truely must have plugin collection list for any kind of blog .
    • Andrew says:
      Ansh I believe they are and use the majority of them each time I build a new site for my clients. Andrew
  4. Carolm says:
    I first found famous bloggers website a couple of months ago - and I'm still using the information I am learning here. I've learned all sorts of tips from famousbloggers, and they are still working for me by bringing increased and quality traffic to my blog. I have also found out about some other really useful people to know from links I've found on this website. So thanks Famous Bloggers for publishing such high quality Content that we can all learn from.
    • Andrew says:
      That's great, Carolm. I see you have visited my site, commented and provided feedback on my free blogging guide - thank YOU. Andrew
  5. Marijn says:
    Hi Andrew. It has been said a few times already, but great post indeed. I\'m using a standard theme and it\'s working quite alright for me for now. Perhaps I should take some time and money to switch to a premium theme.I don\'t see the need to add those Privacy, Disclaimer and Affiliate Disclosure pages just yet, who knows in some time I will. Three posts a week also seems like a bit much to me. Time to start writing then I suppose :-)
    • Andrew says:
      Marijn You may be surprized how many people look to see those Privacy, Disclaimer type pages. Not only does Google like such pages, it helps improve your trust. Andrew
  6. Andrew says:
    Tony, I have 40+ plugins installed but there are things you can do to speed up the loading time of your site. Check out my 'site speed' blog series. This post has links to all posts in the series: http://www.webuildyourblog.com/speeding-up-your-blog-ultimate-guide/ Re: “KStats reloaded” or “NewStatPress” I prefer my own stats plugin :) Do a search for 'Pro Blog Stats' - I cannot add another link in the comments. I hope that helps. Andrew
  7. Tony Medina says:
    Andrew, I got so excited with the information you, and other bloggers provided that I have installed quite a few more plugins onto my WP. I am now concerned that it may slow my site a bit. Q 1.- Approximately how many plugins would you consider enough before it is counterproductive. Q 2.- Which plugin would you prefer "KStats reloaded" or "NewStatPress" Thanks Andrew, much appreciated.
  8. Tony Medina says:
    Thanks Andrew for the generous content of your posts, I cannot believe how many mistakes I have already made building my blog. I feel very fortunate to have finally found your site, and will start implementing your many tips. I am sure my followers will benefit too.
    • Andrew says:
      Tony You are welcome and I hope it does make a difference. Andrew
  9. Rashmi Sinha says:
    After installing Wordpress is where the fun starts. And the work of course. Many think that when you finish designing your blog they are all set. Not even close to truth. There are so many things to do! But the basics steps are presented here, so thank you for sharing them.
    • Andrew says:
      Rashmi What do you think are the advanced steps? Thanks, Andrew
  10. Robin Carlisle says:
    How funny? Just finished my own step-by-step list to expedite blog creation and I have about 30 of the same to-do's on my list. Nice to know I'm doing something right and heading in the right direction. Now about the back-linking debacle. Totally makes me skiddish to outsource any of it, but I'm overwhelmed thinking about the heavy workload it entails, especially for multiple blogs. What's your plan since Google's latest back-linking clean-sweep? Were you outsourcing; did you handle it yourself; and what are your plans now? I'm not looking for the easy way out. I'm just looking for the easiest way to stay in the game with the increased workload.
    • Andrew says:
      Robin You may want to read one of my latest blog posts: http://www.webuildyourblog.com/how-to-make-a-blog/how-make-blog-part-nine-how-get-hundreds-of-backlinks-every-day/ It details how I build backlinks. Andrew
  11. Koundeenya says:
    OMG! I never thought I'm supposed to take care of these many things after setting up my wordpress. I just did my on-page seo and left the site and being using it. Atleast i'll make them all happen by now. Thanks anyways
    • Andrew says:
      There is a lot to do...but it is worth doing! Good luck! Andrew
  12. Victor says:
    Great plugins set Andrew! I'd also add All in One SEO Pack - greatly helps to optimize your SEO with Wordpress.
    • Andrew says:
      Victor We did include that - point 35! Andrew
  13. Trung Nguyen says:
    Awesome tips, I think it's really helpful for new blogger who has started new WP blog. Thanks for share your great experience.
    • Andrew says:
      Trung It's helped a lot of experienced bloggers as well - we often forget the basics! Andrew
      • Trung Nguyen says:
        I total agree with you, Andrew. It's really helpful for me.
  14. Navin Kunwar says:
    Awesome list, it will really help new bies like me. thanks
    • Andrew says:
      Navin You're welcome - I'm glad it will help. Andrew
  15. zimbrul says:
    I've got a stupid question to ask: when you start a new blob what is the right time to let search engines index your content? Is it just after you've written your firs blog post or after you populate the blog with many articles?
    • Andrew says:
      zimbrul That's not a stupid question - it's a great one and depending upon who you ask - you may get different answers. My thoughts are let the search engines index your content after you have adding your first blog post. But make sure you have about 10 blog posts all ready to be published within the next few weeks. Get into a consistent approach to puiblishing posts - at least twice a week. Andrew
  16. sai krishna says:
    i'm sure that wp database manager is must have for every blog . its help us to save our blog from hacked situations .
    • Andrew says:
      sai krishna Remember wp-database manager ONLY backups your database not everything associated with your blog like images. So if your site is hacked you may not be able to get thwe whole site back. Andrew
  17. Jay Castillo says:
    Awesome list Andrew, thanks a lot for sharing! For those using WP Super Cache, I would like to add DB cache Reloaded Fix, and Better WordPress Minify. These plugins help make your wordpress blog load even faster. I used to use W3 Total Cache instead of these three plugins but somehow it stopped working properly a few days ago, and I settled for a combination of these 3, for now. I would also like to mention WP Smush.it (to optimize images automatically when you upload them to wordpress), and RSS Footer (helps turn scraper sites into a source of back-links).
    • Andrew says:
      Jay Thanks for sharing your thoughts on those extra plugins. I shall look at DB cache Reloaded Fix, and Better WordPress Minify. Andrew
  18. carol m says:
    The Ultimate TinyMCE plugin is brilliant - it adds lots of formatting options.
  19. Salman says:
    Pretty nice and detailed list of to do things after installing wordpress CMS.
  20. Mark says:
    I'd add growmap plugin to that list. And autoptimize.
  21. carol m says:
    I cannot believe how lucky I am to have found this website! It feels like Coming Home. And this article is one of the most useful I've seen anywhere on the internet. I'm 4 weeks into Blogging and amazingly I've already done some of these 'must do' things (happy!), but about half of these tips are completely new to me (also happy) because now I have a whole new set of things to learn about, and implement, and then blog about. My main blog is charting my journey to online mega-stardom - it's a work in progress....and I give tips to my readers along the way - very much like Famous Bloggers itself. Articles like this one on 43 Tips for Beginners are so useful for all us new bloggers. I’m slightly curious - did you write 43 tips because of SEO research, or is that the number you ended up with after you’d written the article? I personally think it makes sense to use a number that isn’t 3, or 5 or 10, or 50 because there must be hundreds of lists that use these numbers already on the net. On the other hand, maybe people looking for tips, are putting those common numbers into their searches, but I doubt that. I'm particularly grateful for everything you list under ‘Traffic’ - pure information gold! And also the “MaxBlogPress Ping Optimizer” plugin, and some other plugins I'd never heard of - syndication! You’ve got to love it! This article is incredibly time saving and useful. So thank you, thank you, Andrew - you're a gem! Carol
    • Andrew says:
      Carol, I am so pleased you found FB (and in particular my guest post!). Why 43? You are right when you say..."is that the number you ended up with after you’d written the article?". It was! Good luck on your journey to online mega-stardom - many of us will be watching closely! Andrew
      • carol m says:
        Thanks for replying Andrew, it's appreciated. One thing I can't quite get over yet, is how much fun this blogging business is. For example, when I posted an earlier comment here, I was puzzled by a line of text with a heart next to it about How to add a Photo to your Comments. To see what that was all about, I clicked on the link and found myself on my own website! I couldn't believe it - how did that happen? Isn't the internet a wonderful thing - It'll take me a while to get over that. I've just posted another article, I wonder if that will appear here by magic.....let's see
        • Andrew says:
          Carol The text link is because of the brilliant CommuntLuv plugin. And yes I agree, Blogging is fun when you have found the best niche for you. Andrew
    • Tony Medina says:
      I concur with you Carol, Andrew is giving me more useful information in one page than I had gathered in weeks. So he really is a jewel!!!
      • Carol says:
        And now, Tony Medina (above) has posted a comment on my own blog, so naturally, I checked out his site, and somewhere in my surfing I found your (Andrew's) other post on How to Make a Blog: how to get 100's of backlinks every day, and now I have a whole new website at http://www.webuildyourblog.com to help me to my mega stardom - still a work in progress. Isn't the internet a wonderful thing - a lot of work though. Carol
  22. Cathy says:
    This is a great list. Number 17 is the most important one that most Wordpress newbies miss, and changing your permalinks to include post names is CRUCIAL for getting your blog found via search engines, and is easy to do (look under settings) even if you are not geeky or confident with technology - you just change the default button to look like what they says above - it is one of 4 choices. The other CRUCIAL thing you need to do VERY FIRST THING - is not on your list above. You NEED to go into the privacy settings and change it to "hide this site from search engines." Do this first, then make all of your changes and updates and get the site looking good, and post a few blog posts, THEN go back in and de-select that button. This way search engines like Google don't check out your blog and put it up on searches before you are ready, or worse yet - decide it is a lousy site and bury it even further in search rankings. But If you want to show a friend and get their opinion, you can give them the link yoursitename.com and they can see it, they just have to type it in, not search for it. Just don't forget to change it back when you are ready to open your blog to the world!
    • Andrew says:
      Hi Cathy Thanks for sharing a great tip. It is one that I do follow myself and I'm pleased you shared it! Thanks, Andrew
    • carol m says:
      Really? Hide your site until you're ready to show it to the world? I asked this specific question at the Warrior Forum and they all said - get it visible as soon as possible, don't wait - it takes ages for Google to index your site so get in early. I followed their advice.....that must be why I don't have 10,000 visitors a day, yet. Yes, that must be it. :) Thanks for your advice Cathy - I'll pass it on Carol.
    • Tony Medina says:
      Cathy, thank you for a great tip, I never thought of hiding my site from search engines, more like the opposite. It makes so much sense...
      • Cathy says:
        I will admit, I could be over emphasizing this idea of hiding your site until it is ready, but I have seen client's new wordpress sites show up within a day on Google - especially if there are keywords in the site name or a good keyworded site headline/subhead. I've also seen other designers forget to do hide the site from Google, and clients be horrified that the site is showing up live, unfinished, while they work on it for weeks. If you are working with a designer, there are more sophisticated ways for a designer to work on a site and allow the client to see it before it goes live. But the way I suggest is simple and gets the job done, until you get the site done.
  23. TriNi says:
    Yikes, my apologies for the triple post! It kept telling me error, my comment didn't go through. Feel free to delete two of those! :) sorry again.
  24. TriNi says:
    I recently moved to Wordpress too from Blogger... Earlier this year actually, and even though I had done most of these things already, I learned a few new tricks to improve my blog. Thanks! Really appreciate it... Bookmarked too.. for future reference.. :)
  25. TriNi says:
    I recently moved to Wordpress too from Blogger, and even though I had done most of these things already, I learned a few new tricks to improve my blog. Thanks! Really appreciate it... Bookmarked too.. for future reference.. :)
    • Andrew says:
      TriNi I hope the points really help. Andrew
  26. Nathan says:
    Thank's for this. I am going to transfer a blog from the Blogspot platform to WP as an SEO 'experiment'. I have transferred from one blogging platform to another quite a few times but always skip and forget some of the steps you mentioned. The great thing about this post is that I can use it as a walk-through and tick/cross-off areas that I have done as a reminder. Thanks Andrew!
    • Andrew says:
      Nathan Good luck in the move and thanks for your kind words. Andrew
  27. Priya says:
    Nice article. I shifted to wp from blogspot last month. but I lost entire organic traffic. all redirections happening perfectly. still old blogspot site(source site) still showing 200OK when checked in php header tool. It should show 301. any solution to this pls?
    • Andrew says:
      Priya I think you are going to have to share some more info - I don't understand your issue. Andrew
  28. Saikrishna says:
    Planning to shift from blogger to Wp..Thanks for sharing some of this tips :)
    • Andrew says:
      Saikrishna Good luck with the move! Andrew
  29. samrat kafle says:
    Thank you Andrew for awesome post really very much helped a lot after installing wordpress.
    • Andrew says:
      Samrat You are welcome and I hope it makes a difference. Andrew
  30. Sam says:
    Thanks so much for the valuable info, Andrew. Tip #21---Do you recommend doing this for a Website as opposed to a Blog? I don't Blog (as of yet) on my website so I'm wondering if this will still encourage more traffic. I do add Posts frequently. Thanks, Andrew! Sam
    • Andrew says:
      Sam, You don't blog but you add posts? What's the difference? If you are using your own WordPress hosting site then, yes, point 21 is relevant. Andrew
      • Sam says:
        I meant that I don't have a blog in the traditional sense...I have a fairly static website (for the most part). Anyway, thanks again for the wonderful tips. Much appreciated! Sam
  31. Saket Jajodia says:
    Delete Uncategorized category.. Change your permalink.. For SEO I will suggest Yoast, using it from long time and it have many features.. I didn't knew about the point No.21, just now updated it.. really gr88 post, thanks.. :)
    • Andrew says:
      Saket I did mention about 'change your permalink'. Nice shout about "Delete Uncategorized category.." and Yoast's SEO plugin. I do intend to move over to using it soon. Andrew
      • Saket Jajodia says:
        Opss..!! My fault I seems have missed that point..
  32. Louise says:
    I found Woo themes brilliant. I'm working on the Canvas theme right now:)
    • Andrew says:
      Louise I've often used that theme for cllients - great theme. Andrew
  33. Louise says:
    Privacy, Disclaimer and Affiliate can you recommend templates you can get?
    • Andrew says:
      Louise You can use the ones I have on my onw blog, if you wish. Andrew
  34. mark says:
    This list of tips would be invaluable to a WordPress novice; in fact, after installing WordPress, going through this list should be the very next step. It would also serve as a useful check list for the more experienced. Just one suggestion, I use a plugin called StatPress which tracks and organises visitor stats and I've found it very useful.
    • Andrew says:
      Mark, Thanks for the share about StatPress. Andrew
  35. Louise says:
    Brilliant I shall work my way through this lot! Sometimes you need to be reminded what needs to be done and lots of tips I was unaware of! Thanks
    • Andrew says:
      Louise You are welcome and I hope they make a difference. Andrew
  36. Azubuike Ikedionu says:
    Please blogger and wordpress which one is much easier to manage, more attractive, generate more revenues etc?
    • Andrew says:
      Azubuike If you are serious about blogging...it has to be WordPress.org. Andrew
  37. Azubuike Ikedionu says:
    Thanks a lot for these tips. But i am just a blogger using blogspot by google but write now i'm planning to buy a domain from google for my blog. Now if i buy domain from google for blogger, can the blog be latter moved to wordpress? Or should i just buy a domain and hosting elsewhere for wordpress?
    • Andrew says:
      Azubuike I would recommedn you buy a domain name and hosting and install WordPress.org. Andrew
  38. John Searles says:
    great article - very useful. I am working my way slowly through your list. Thanks!
    • Andrew says:
      Great - I hope it helps. Andrew
  39. Smita says:
    Thanks for the share. These blogging tips are really useful for bloggers on a long run. These are useful for professional bloggers as well :)
    • Andrew says:
      I agree - sometimes bloggers forget the simple set-ups. Andrew
  40. ramaraobobby says:
    Very useful tips for bloggers who've just landed on WordPress arena. Along with the good ones you mentioned, 3 more must have plugins I recommend are: ► Google XML Sitemap - Generates a special XML sitemap thus helping search engines to index your blog better. ► WP Hashcash - for antispam and eradicating comment spam on Wordpress blogs. ► Broken Link Checker - monitors your blog finding any broken links and let you know if they are found so that you can edit them accordingly.
    • Andrew says:
      I do mention Google XML Sitemap - point 36. Thanks for sharing the others. Andrew
  41. Eddie Gear says:
    Good list of tasks to perform after your blog goes online. You should have a created a checklist ebook out of this post.
    • Andrew says:
      Ediie That is a good idea - I have often thought I should..will add it to the list. Thanks. Andrew
  42. Mark says:
    Excellent list Andrew. I have been running Wordpress for years now and I must say that you have shown any newcomers a solid foundation that covers all of the necessary bases. One plugin that I found that I absolutely love is the "Comment Approved Notifier" plugin that tells my visitor that their comment has been approved and tells that that they received a dofollow link. People absolutely love this. Thanks, Mark
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Mark. The “Comment Approved Notifier” plugin sounds a nice way to keep your commenters informed. Andrew
  43. Terrie Corio says:
    A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
    • Andrew says:
      Terrie Very true...have you taken the first...second...100th step yet? Andrew
  44. Selina says:
    Andrew, This is an awesome list that I am going to merge with the system I have been setting up for myself as I hope to start a second and a third blog soon. One thing I might suggest is that I recently moved from Akismet to the G.A.S.P. plugin and have less automated spam. Just a thought from a noobie (: Selina
    • Andrew says:
      Selina That's a good point made. I wrote this post before the G.A.S.P. plugin was around. Perhaps I need to update it! Andrew
  45. meka says:
    Wow, this is a very good write up. I've done most of these but some I haven't. I will be sure to do some of the things I haven't. Bookmarked.
    • Andrew says:
      meka I'm glad you like the post and I hope some things work for you. Andrew
  46. Lahesha says:
    AWESOME post Andrew! This is a great checklist, one that will definelty be used, bookmarked, and shared! Thanks for all the great tools!
    • Andrew says:
      Lahesha I'm glad you liked it! Andrew
  47. Navin says:
    Thanks for tips Andrew. Those are really helpful to any bloggers
    • Andrew says:
      Navin, You are welcome. I hope it helps. Andrew
  48. Mohammed Fouzan says:
    WOW!! Great post Andrew. You had done it awesome!! When i started blogging i got a big issue with permalink. So the most important thing is to change permalink setting before posting articles to your websites.
    • Andrew says:
      Mohammed Or if you change the permalink after you have posted some articles ensure you include a 301-redirect plugin. Andrew
      • Mohammed Fouzan says:
        That is the mistake that i make. I didnt install that plugin and done changing permalink and got shit!! :)
  49. Anne Sales says:
    Oh la la! I have just launched my own Wordpress blog and I thought I had enough knowledge how to start one but this post proved me wrong. I think it's going to take another couple of months before I can say that my blog is passed the beginning stage. Thanks for the head start. I will now have to make my privacy policy and disclaimer.
    • Andrew says:
      You are welcome Anne. If I can help in any way...please let me know. Andrew
    • Codrut says:
      I guess it'll take a while until we implement the loads of blogging tips Andrew gave away. Btw, how's you coupon site working for you? P.S. It took me 3 weeks to figure out WP basics, and I've dabbled 6+ hours a day learning what is the difference between a plugin and a widget, which are the most popular, or better, and how to edit each plugin setting carefully. As you've said, it'd take months for someone to go from basic to advanced...
  50. Fazal Mayar says:
    Andew, this is HANDS DOWN the best post on this blog. I have looked at a lot of posts on this blog but nothing comes close to yours. The tips you gave are legit and will help any Wordpress user.
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Fazal. I appreciate your feedback. Andrew
  51. Vijayraj Reddy says:
    i have added all the above said ping sites in Update Service settings, thanks...
    • Andrew says:
      You're welcome. Andrew
      • Darren Monroe says:
        OK I am all pinged up. Anyway to do this with articles or guest posts without being the actual site owner there?
        • Andrew says:
          Darren You can use a service like pingoat.com. Andrew
          • Darren Scott Monroe says:
            AH ok thanks gotcha :)
  52. Darren Scott Monroe says:
    WOW Andrew this was killer even for ME LOL. I think I have a few things to apply TONIGHT. Thanks man
    • Andrew says:
      Darren You are welcome. I hope it helps. Andrew
      • Darren Monroe says:
        I am pretty sure the pinging part will (always meant to follow up on that but now I know) .
  53. rob mccance says:
    Andrew, Great post as always. #21 is very interesting and something I was totally not taking advantage of. I think it may be time for you to write a BOOK!
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Rob. A book? Yeah - something on my list..perhaps 2011? Andrew
  54. Abhimanyu Singhal says:
    Now, while I think Ping-o-matic is a success, WP Super Cache is a very troublesome plugin. I have discussed the common problems (and their solutions) related to the plugin on my guest post at HellBoundBloggers. Here's the link (if you want to check that out) http://hellboundbloggers.com/2010/11/09/wp-super-cache-problem Best Regards, Abhimanyu
    • Andrew says:
      Abhimanyu Thanks for sharing your thoughts on super-cache? Have you used w3-total-cache? Andrew
  55. Omowali Isidore says:
    Thanks Andrew, I always enjoy your articles and the true value you bring to the field. It's helped me a great deal. I also found 2 more directories to ping that you add to the list above: topicexchange.com/RPC2 xping.pubsub.com/ping (add http:// before the URLS above) But thanks again my friend, keep up the good work and I look forward to the next post! Wally
    • Andrew says:
      Wally, Thanks for the thanks and also for the extra 2 to add to the list of pings. Andrew
  56. Murray says:
    These are really quite awesome - knew about quite a few of them but a lot have slipped by - going to work on a few security things :)
    • Andrew says:
      Murray Yeah, the security ones are important. Andrew
  57. Corinne Edwards says:
    This is the best and most understandable list I have ever seen. I am going to check with my webmaster to make sure I have everything covered. (No, I would not try it all myself!)
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Corinne. Andrew
      • Sourish says:
        nice article there andrew , but instead of all in one seo , i use platinum seo with much better results , and yes privacy page before placing adsense ads ... Sourish
  58. Namit Gupta says:
    A very exhaustive article. You covered almost every important point. It took me almost 1 year to know about all these stuff from various sources. Great Article. You should have also mentioned to change the file permission of wp-config.php file, to make it more secure.
    • Andrew says:
      Namit What do YOU change the file permissions to? Andrew
      • Namit Gupta says:
        As the wp-config.php contains database login informations its security is very essential. My blog was compromised because of this thing, so I have written a detailed article on it. I have covered the appropriate file permission for wp-config file. Please check it out http://www.theitechblog.com/768/theitechblog-got-hacked.
  59. Salman says:
    Very comprehensive post. I might as well make an Idiot's guide out of it :)
    • Andrew says:
      Salman You could do that - let us know when you have. Andrew
  60. Greg says:
    Andrew, Great post - I'm new to blogging and there is so much to learn it can feel, at times, overwhelming. Your article provided a great to-do list and I've already implemented a number of the suggestions and I will continue to add many more I'm sure. Thanks again! Greg
    • Andrew says:
      Greg, That's great to hear. Andrew
  61. Ron says:
    Hi Andrew, thanks for this neat tips. I will print this one out to serve as a good checklist for me and to other bloggers around me. I think they come in order right? Although it can be done from bottom to top, I think its good to start with the Tidy Up/Design section first?
    • Andrew says:
      Ron, I didn't make the tasks in a particular order. They were categorized. Just go through them and pick out the ones you want to implement. Andrew
  62. satrap says:
    Wow, this is a very detailed post. I never use RSS directories and I always thought you have to submit rss for each and every post you publish like social bookmarking. I mean, if you submit once and its a done deal, it would be stupid not to submit. thanks for the heads up and a great post Andrew.
    • Andrew says:
      satrap, The RSS Directories are worth submitting to - as you only have to submit your feed once. Andrew
  63. Isabel Rodrigues - Pro Blogger Journey says:
    I know my comment is coming very late for this particular post. I have been a regular to this blog. Not sure how I missed this one. After reading I could not help myself in thanking Andrew for listing down such valuable steps and tips. Thanks a lot and keep up the good work. Cheers
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Isabel. I'm pleased the article is helpful. Andrew
  64. John says:
    Thanks so much for this. There are a few things I need to go and change. I already changed the update list. Thanks again. This really has helped.
    • Andrew says:
      John, Great - I'm pleased the tips have helped and you have taken action. Andrew
  65. Trevor B. Reed says:
    Even if you are a seasoned blogger I see a few things on this list that you probably missed. I always get a kick out of blogs that still have their "hello world" post displayed. Thanks for such a complete list when starting with Wordpress!
    • Andrew says:
      Trevor, You are welcome. I'm glad you liked the list. Andrew
  66. Pankaj Gupta says:
    All these are very important for a beginner who have recently started with Wordpress. I have not seen these tips mentioned any where else. Good Work and thank you for sharing.
    • Andrew says:
      Pankaj, You are welcome. I hope you take action and use some of them. ANdrew
  67. Ana says:
    One of those posts I wish I wrote, Andrew. I get so many questions on my blog in regards to "so I set up my blog, now what?". Well, now I know where to send them for answers! Good to see you here. Ana Hoffman http://www.TrafficGenerationCafe.com
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks Ana - kind words! Andrew
  68. SandyMiller says:
    Great timing. I'm just looking into migrating my site to hosted wordpress and these tips will come in handy...thanks:)
    • Andrew says:
      Great, Sandy. They should help (and I hope they make it a little easier!). Andrew
  69. Chandrashekhar says:
    Hi Andrew very informative post. I used Wp-Security Plugin for securing my wordpress blog from hackers.
    • Andrew says:
      Chandrashekhar, I have also used that plugin. It's more of a 'snap-shot' plugin than one that needs to be active all the time. Is that right? Andrew
  70. Brian says:
    Hi Andrew, extremely informative post! One of my favorite plugins is intensedebate. It creates a very well formatted commenting area. It incorporates commentluv, facebook/twitter logins, subscriptions, and even embedded video responses. It is all styled in a very professional manner for the design conscience. One question I was wondering was about regards a blog feature I have seen here at Famousbloggers as well as a few other large sites. What is the plugin used that allows for pictures to hold off on loading until the visitor scrolls to its location? I feel this is a very beneficial feature for many image heavy blogs. Thanks!
    • Andrew says:
      Brian, I've never used intensedebate but it sounds a cool piece of software. Hesham should answer your question as I am not aware of such a plugin. Thanks. Andrew
    • mark says:
      First, thanks for this page, I just spent an hour on it going on all the points and plugins. Brian, for images try a cool plugin called auto-thickbox.
  71. Kate Toon says:
    A fantastic post, I'm going to double check my blog tomorrow using your checklist. A couple more plug ins I love include: - All in One SEO Pack - great for creating unique title and description tags for every post and page - Contextual Related Posts - Creates links at the bottom of each post providing a nice way for users so surf through your site. Exclude Pages from Navigation - lets you hide boring but important pages (like sitemap and privacy) from your primary nav and link to them from widgets in your footer instead. Thanks Andrew Kate
    • Andrew says:
      Kate, I'm glad you like the post. Thanks for sharing the extra plugins - I'm always interested to learn from others and what they suggest. Andrew
  72. Hieu Martin says:
    Thanks for the list website for ping blog. i alway use pingoat.com . Maybe it will help you more when you make ping
    • Andrew says:
      Hieu, I don't think you need to use PinGoat once you have set up the points 21 and 43. Andrew
  73. Wendell Wilkins says:
    Andrew, Thanks for all your helpful information. I have a problem and I need your help. My comment button will not allow one to comment. It directs to 404 error. I have checked all the appropiate comment boxes that you suggested. Help Wendell
    • Andrew says:
      Wendell It must have something to do with the Theme you are using. I suggest you go back to the theme creator and ask for some advice. Andrew
  74. Hung says:
    Wow! This list is very useful for us.That's like a check list although we don't follow all of these
  75. Tasman Hayes says:
    Andrew, Thanks for the great article! I was surprised by tip 17, which suggests the best link format was /%post_id%/%postname%/. The post_id is a number (e.g. 12), which doesn't have any SEO value. If categories are named well for SEO, then including the category at the beginning of the post, i.e. /%category%/%postname%/, would probably be best for SEO in general. For example, on my site I have the post Take a Screenshot of an Entire Tall Webpage filed under the category Screenshots. Using the category in the link structure emphasises to search engines that the post is on the subject of screenshots, which is good for SEO: http://smartwebdeveloper.com/screenshots/take-a-screenshot-of-an-entire-tall-webpage. I understand using the post_id does have value for performance, as WordPress can find the post in the database very quickly using the post id. Is there any other reason you chose post_id over category? Thanks, Tas
    • Andrew says:
      Tasman I understand exactly what you are saying but there are two reasons I pick post-id over category: 1. Using post-id will make the url unique. In theory if you use the category in the url, you could end up with the same url name. 2. In the future, you may wish to change your category names. You can't if you have used them in the url. Andrew
      • TJ McDowell says:
        For right now, I left mine as /%year%/%monthnum%/%postname%/ . When I'm reading other blogs, I know I like to see based on the url when the post was written. I guess that's why they have the custom options - each blog owner has their own preferences.
  76. Paul says:
    Great list! I could have used this when I was setting up my Wordpress blog. I have done most things on the list, but it did take some time. Ah well, if I setup any more I can use this list to ensure I don't forget anything.
    • Andrew says:
      Paul, I am pleased the list helped you (and will do in the future). Andrew
  77. Daisy says:
    Thank you for such a valuable post! It's a great checklist for setting up new blogs. Question: What's the plugin used on this blog for the comments? I like that it's possible to add the Twitter id.
    • Andrew says:
      Daisy, It could be this plugin: http://comluv.com/download/twitterlink-comments/ Andrew
      • Daisy says:
        That is what I'm looking for! Thank you Andrew!
  78. Julie-Inspired to Write says:
    Great resource!! This is a definite bookmark for reference!
  79. Wendell wilkins says:
    Andrew thanks so much for giving us these 43 aliuable blogging tips. i have spreaded the word to all my blogging audience.
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Wendell - I appreciate the promotion. Andrew
  80. Monique Hrebeniuk says:
    Hi Andrew, Thanks for the great tips. I have one questions for you? What is a favicon?
    • Andrew says:
      Monique A Favicon is the small design / pic in the corner of the "tab" of the site you are visiting. I don't know how to explain it better thn that! Andrew
  81. Mark Aylward says:
    Andrew Great post. Fortunately I am doing most of these (because I read your free guide!!), new stuff comes around every day. Now I have a checklist to build from. Thanks again! Mark BTW how does that famous bloggers thing work?
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Mark. I'm glad you found the free guide useful. Andrew
  82. AIDY says:
    If only I read this while constructing my site. Suffering a bit of downtime and researching how to improve my blog when the migration process is complete! I have come across some valuable info here @famousbloggers *sequels like a fan girl* :D
    • Andrew says:
      Aidy, Just takes as many as the points as possible and change your blog now. Then remember them if / when you build a new one. Andrew
  83. Jakes says:
    This is by far the most informative and useful post I ever read.. Did almost all the steps mentioned here. But couldn't afford for a premium theme ;)
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Jakes. Perhaps you could enter and win Famous Blogger's current competition...then buy a new premium theme. Andrew
      • Jakes says:
        Nice suggestion, Andrew. I did a revamp of a free theme. Now am doing to include some dynamic widgets into sidebar. Please do visit my blog & tell me your suggestions
        • Andrew says:
          Jakes, I wasn't too sure what your blog was about when I visited. When people visit a blog for the first time, you want people to know what it is about straight away. Plus I would add some links to other posts in your side bars - make the blog a bit more 'sticky' for your visitors. Andrew
  84. gouthami.b says:
    excellent tips for wordpress beginners.this post helped me a lot..
  85. Kok Siong says:
    Hi Andrew! Another good guest post from you. This is a great guideline for those who is new in Wordpress. We can use this as a checklist when installing a new Wordpress blog too. Thanks a lot Andrew!
    • Andrew says:
      Kok, You are welcome - I hope it comes in handy! Andrew
  86. Ray says:
    So very awesome! Thank you. I especially found the section 21 helpful.
    • Andrew says:
      Ray, Glad it is of help. Andrew
  87. James says:
    I especially like your information on SEO. I guess the step I have been missing is verifying my site with google. I added the URL for them to crawl and it still has not been indexed. I will try verifying it now. Thanks
    • Andrew says:
      James I hope the verifying works. You also might want to get a few people to Tweet your blog / blog post. That can help to get Google to notice it. Andrew
  88. Amy Yannello says:
    Andrew -- Great article (Re: 43 tips...)...now I just have to implement them all (but first find out what some of it even means.) This "old" reporter will learn some new tricks yet! Best, Amy Yannello Sacramento, CA .-= NEW from Amy Yannello´s last blog ..Ethics, horses & mood swings — some trouble with HRTs =-.
  89. Kharim says:
    wow lots of tips but they are really helpful :) .-= NEW from Kharim´s last blog ..Building Up Your Blog Like A Bodybuilder =-.
  90. Ileane says:
    Andrew, I call this an "action packed" post. Because you gave everyone reading it advice that they need to take action on. My favorites tips are about RSS feeds and ping settings. Thanks for the links too. .-= Ileane@Blogging´s last blog ..What’s More Important? Your SEO or Your Readers? =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Ileane That's nice feedback - thanks. I hope some of the ideas make a difference. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Feedback On Our Free Guide =-.
      • Haresh says:
        They really helped :-) The CommentLuv (http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/commentluv/ link) link appears to be broken now. .-= NEW from Haresh´s last blog ..Welcome to my blog! =-.
        • Hesham says:
          I have check the link, and it's working.. probably was down temporary, thanks!
  91. Haresh says:
    Fantastic post. Added ping-services and a few plugins you mentioned. Thanks :-)
    • Andrew says:
      Haresh I hope they help! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Feedback On Our Free Guide =-.
  92. Jeremy Johnson says:
    Whoa, now this was cool. There were 10 items I had not done and I've had a blog for a couple months! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this list. .-= Jeremy Johnson´s last blog ..Video – Garden Of Life Series Part 1 =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Jeremy You are welcome. I hope the 10 items make a difference. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Want A Blog Income But Have No Time To Write? Then Cheat! =-.
  93. Michelle Mangen says:
    Thanks for this post - you tipped me off to a few plugins I was not aware of. I used the backup manager that you mentioned for awhile but recently switched to a different one (though can't recall the name off the top of my head right now). In addition to SexyBookmarks the DiggDigg button makes it quite easy (and very visible) for people to Digg, Tweet and Facebook Share your posts. .-= Michelle Mangen´s last blog ..How to Move Data in One Row in Excel to One Column =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Michelle What news plugins have you installed? Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Want A Blog Income But Have No Time To Write? Then Cheat! =-.
      • Michelle Mangen says:
        Hi Andrew: After reading your post I added in the SEO Friendly Images and the 404 one (however, the 404 one is bringing back other posts from the internet instead of mine so I have to look into that some more). Thanks again for the great post! .-= Michelle Mangen´s last blog ..How to Move Data in One Row in Excel to One Column =-.
        • Andrew says:
          Michelle The images one is important. The 404 one - the plugin does say "If no related pages are found on the site, results from around the web will be served." Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Want A Blog Income But Have No Time To Write? Then Cheat! =-.
  94. Web Design Garland TX says:
    I know that you said change the admin user name but on my blog it says you can't change it. So I not really sure how to do this. It says "Your username cannot be changed" Any tips would be great! Samuel
    • Hesham says:
      Have you check this How to improve Security of your WordPress blog? It has the answer to your question!
  95. Dev says:
    Thanks for this great list ...mate >:)) .-= Dev | Technshare´s last blog ..A Video Marketing Blueprint That Will Knock Your Socks Off =-.
    • Andrew says:
      You're welcome! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..5 Ways to Make a Better and More Well Visited Blog (or just 5 Ways to Increase Traffic) =-.
  96. Tech Tips says:
    Very useful list. I have most of these items covered already but this will be a good list to refer back to each time I set up a new blog. I haven't use DBManager but want to give it a try. How useful is it for optimizing a database that has been in use for a while? Does optimizing a WordPress database make much difference in performance? .-= Tech Tips´s last blog ..PCs, Macs and Security, Oh My =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Tech Tips, You can use DBManager to automatically optimise your files every x number of days. You stipulate the number of days. I've never completed any tests but an optimized database must run faster than a non-optimized, no? Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Google analytics tutorial =-.
  97. ConnieFoggles says:
    This post is perfect for beginners and experts alike. Even for someone like me who's in between! I've tweeted this and bookmarked it to go over all of your suggestions. Thanks for the advice. I don't think I've seen anything more complete than this re: blogging information. .-= ConnieFoggles´s last blog ..Cheap Date Challenge With Blockbuster Express =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Connie - for all your support. I hope one or two of the tips help. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Google analytics tutorial =-.
  98. MrsMoody says:
    Thanks Andrew, I just done what is in your post that I haven't done:)
    • Andrew says:
      MrsMoody I hope it makes a difference. Which tips did you implement? Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Google analytics tutorial =-.
      • MrsMoody says:
        Going to feedagg :) .-= MrsMoody´s last blog ..Styling Active navigation button in navigation bar =-.
        • Andrew says:
          Good choice! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..5 Ways to Make a Better and More Well Visited Blog (or just 5 Ways to Increase Traffic) =-.
  99. mascali says:
    Good tips but MaxBlogpress.com have virus or mailware and Chrome send me this message: "The website at www.maxblogpress.com contains elements from the site orkut-com.ngoisao.net.slickdeals-net.yourblenderparts.ru, which appears to host malware – software that can hurt your computer or otherwise operate without your consent. "
    • Andrew says:
      Never seen that before on on MaxBlogPress. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Google analytics tutorial =-.
      • mascali says:
        Yes, IE 8 and Firefox don't show me this but have you try with Chrome? .-= mascali´s last blog ..IL SORPASSO: IN USA LA PUBBLICITà SU INTERNET SUPERA LA CARTA STAMPATA =-.
        • Andrew says:
          No - never used Chrome. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..5 Ways to Make a Better and More Well Visited Blog (or just 5 Ways to Increase Traffic) =-.
  100. Siau Hen says:
    A very complete list. Thanks for sharing. I've been a time didn't change the Privacy option and block the search engine bot to crawl my blog. LOL.
    • Andrew says:
      Siau I'm not too sure what you meant by your last sentence. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Google analytics tutorial =-.
      • Siau Hen says:
        Sorry about that. I mean, the Wordpress' Privacy Settings for Blog Visibility, it's default setting for my installation was "I would like to block search engines, but allow normal visitors"... which only been discovered few weeks later the blog goes live, causing my site was not indexed by Google/Bing at all...
        • Andrew says:
          Siau Understand now - thanks and am glad you made the change. I think it was Gerald who highlighted that. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..5 Ways to Make a Better and More Well Visited Blog (or just 5 Ways to Increase Traffic) =-.
  101. Asif Ahmed says:
    Hey Andrew, I have been following you from the time I signed up for your newsletter. I read your book and kept quiet until now. But this post made me say this. Amazing work. not every blogger tells all these things, but you really disclosed the confidential blogging mantra..lol
    • Andrew says:
      Asif, Thanks! Must admit I like to help people and you can find this stuff elsewhere - I just thought I would mention it all in one post. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Google analytics tutorial =-.
  102. Danni says:
    Aha! Nested comments. D'oh! I've been tweaking Wordpress for a while now & it's never occured to me that I could have nested comments. I guess I just imagined it was hard coded into particular themes. Thanks Andrew. There's a few more I'm looking to implement too. Great & comprehensive list - thanks again.
    • Andrew says:
      Danni, I'm so glad the post helped you - nested comments is a fairly new feature. Only a while ago, you did have to use plugins. WP release these little upgrades and some great little features get missed in the annoucment. Thanks for dropping by and commenting. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 5, 6 and 30 (video 2) =-.
  103. Are Morch says:
    Really some awesome and handy tips here Andrew. I for sure will add a couple of them. Thanks.. Cheers.. Are
    • Andrew says:
      Are, Which one will you start with? Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 5, 6 and 30 (video 2) =-.
      • Are Morch says:
        Hi Andrew. I think I actually will start out with #1. Through I am almost sure I have the right setting there. I still better check it. 2 and 3 I have done. 4 is in the 'works'. 5 was a great idea. Guess I am fairly sequential... tehe.. Cheers.. Are .-= Are Morch´s last blog ..10 Positive Social Media Experience Commandments =-.
        • Andrew says:
          Are That's a great way to approach them! Makes sense to me. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..5 Ways to Make a Better and More Well Visited Blog (or just 5 Ways to Increase Traffic) =-.
  104. Dennis Edell says:
    Now that's what you could call thorough, good job Andrew. :) .-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..UPDATED: Theme Customization Part 3 – Banner Advertising NOT for Sale! =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Dennis! Any ones new for you? Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 5, 6 and 30 (video 2) =-.
      • Dennis Edell says:
        New? No, but some I haven't done yet as I build, so it make a real good checklist. ;) .-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..UPDATED: Theme Customization Part 3 – Banner Advertising NOT for Sale! =-.
        • Andrew says:
          Dennis, Nothing new - you have been around a while! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..5 Ways to Make a Better and More Well Visited Blog (or just 5 Ways to Increase Traffic) =-.
          • Dennis Edell says:
            Not quite sure how to take that...lol .-= Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Would You Like a FREE Banner Ad Position? =-.
  105. Derek says:
    Hey Andrew, Great information, got most of the plugins but learned some new one's to implement right now, Many Thanks Derek .-= Derek´s last blog ..l_6c12ba4c3b874fa4b384ed84a4cf7d7f =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks Derek. Any particular one jump out? Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 5, 6 and 30 (video 2) =-.
  106. Brenda Cooper says:
    Thanks for the Gravatar reminder! This is something I've been meaning to do for months but I kept on putting it off till I spotted your really helpful post. You have many other good hints. Many thanks. Best wishes Brenda Cooper .-= Brenda Cooper´s last blog ..iNetPro Group – internet marketing training help =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Brenda Lovely smile! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 5, 6 and 30 (video 2) =-.
  107. Young says:
    It seems that we are using some same plugins, such as All-In-One-SEO, SexyBookMarks, All-In-One-SEO, and so on. Cheers!! .-= Young´s last blog ..Top 10 Websites for You to Download Free BlackBerry Games =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Good stuff, Young. What about the security ones? You using those? Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 5, 6 and 30 (video 2) =-.
      • Young says:
        I use Limit Login Attempts for the security concern. .-= Young´s last blog ..Top 10 Websites to Search Rapidshare Files =-.
        • Andrew says:
          Young, Might be worth checking out some of the others - you can never be too careful. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..5 Ways to Make a Better and More Well Visited Blog (or just 5 Ways to Increase Traffic) =-.
  108. Cindi says:
    Thanks for these tips. I did quite a few after I transferred to wp; - I did a comparison of your ping list to mine as I run Ultimate Plugins Smart Update Pinger, and updated it. .-= Cindi @ Moomette's Magnificents´s last blog ..How To Start A Wordpress Blog Now: Be A WAHM =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Cindi, Glad it helped! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 1 – 4 (video) =-.
  109. FreeMoneyMakingIdeas says:
    Great information. I will apply the lesson I learned from this post into my site especially in installing comment luv, keyword love and do follow plug-in to attract more visitors.
    • Andrew says:
      That's the way to go....take some action! I like it. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 1 – 4 (video) =-.
  110. Eric says:
    Great guide Andrew. This is definitely a source I will point my new blogger friends to. Thanks for putting this together! :-)
    • Andrew says:
      Eric I hope it helps! Thanks. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 1 – 4 (video) =-.
  111. KS Chen says:
    Hi Andrew! You have another great guest post here! You have provided an useful list of blogger tips when using Wordpress. I think it is needed by any newbies of blogging. I also learn something with this article. The security is what i seldom focus on. You reminded me to do that. Thanks for your sharing! :) .-= KS Chen @ Google Adsense Tips´s last blog ..Use Google Adwords Keyword Tool for Keyword Research =-.
    • Andrew says:
      KS, You are welcome - security is a must. I've come across so many people who have been hacked. We can't be 100% secure - but we can make it little harder for the hackers! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 1 – 4 (video) =-.
  112. Biodun says:
    Great useful post Andrew, #21 is quite new to me, i never use to ping all those sites...
    • Andrew says:
      Biodun Definitely worth doing - set-up takes 1 minute and that's it - done! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 1 – 4 (video) =-.
  113. Lucian Apostol says:
    Very complete list, you should make this as a checklist and distribute it to people who want to start wordpress. .-= Lucian Apostol´s last blog ..Use a caching plugin on wordpress to avoid server load when =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Lucian Possibly might do that! Thanks. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  114. JoseGregorio says:
    Great post....thank you very much for the info! I have been using blogspot and I am now just learning how to use wordpress! it is amazing how much you can do! .-= JoseGregorio´s last blog .. =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Jose, It's only your imagination stoppin you what you can;t do with WordPress! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  115. Joel says:
    Great tips, very comprehensive. I too have noticed that sometimes a new WP blog will have privacy but only when installed using Fantastico and not via a manual install. .-= Joel´s last blog ..WordPress Theme Confusion? How To Choose A Premium Theme For Your Blog =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Joel, Sounds like the best thing to do is check each time, no matter how WordPress is loaded...as it only takes a few seconds. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  116. Cindy O'Neil says:
    I have counted 16 tips that I want to utilize! Thank you so much for the great information! .-= Cindy O'Neil´s last blog ..When one door closes… =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Cindy You are welcome - I hope they make a difference. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  117. BigBucksLeads says:
    A great to do list i wish i had seen earlier. Thanks. That comment by Gerald was particularly useful because i hadn't realised that bit of no follow. I'm implemeting it right away.
    • Andrew says:
      Good stuff, Big Bucks. You are right, Gerald made an excellent point. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  118. Tina T says:
    This may sound like a dumb question, but does changing the permalink structure affect old posts? I would like to change mine from listing the date and title to just the title, but I don't want to do anything that would mess up the permalinks for all my existing posts. .-= Tina T @ Love relationship advice´s last blog ..Love and Money =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Tine, That's a great question. Changing the permalink structure will affect old posts unless you use a plugin like this one: http://www.microkid.net/wordpress/permalinks-moved-permanently/ Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  119. lawmacs says:
    I must say this is a comprehensive guide to setting up your blog the points cover here is complete and i must say i like the idea of you reminding to delete the default hello world post too often bloggers left this one overall a 10 out of 10 i am impress. .-= lawmacs´s last blog ..Optimize For Better Ranking =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, lawmacs. As you can see from some of the other comments - I did miss a few points as well! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  120. Home Business Marketing says:
    Andrew, this is indeed a great 'to do' list. I've just checked out some of the plugins you mentioned. I think I will soon be implementing them. .-= Home Business Marketing´s last blog ..Mexican Tops Millionaires’ List! =-.
    • Andrew says:
      HBM, Think! I hope you 'do'! LOL Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  121. Patrick Toerner says:
    Great Post! I have set up tons of wordpress blogs and some of these things are totally new to me. Thanks for the info. .-= Patrick Toerner @Young Entrepreneur´s last blog ..Make Your Ebook Stand Out! =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Patrick, Excellent! I'm glad some of the points help. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  122. John Paul Aguiar says:
    Great list..this will def set up a nerw blogger right, and be on their way to a better ranking blog. .-= John Paul Aguiar´s last blog ..SEO Tips For Your Twitter and Facebook Page To Rank You Higher On Google =-.
    • Andrew says:
      John, I hope so...but this is just the beginning...then it's content time! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  123. Frank Jovine says:
    Andrew, You have captured the most important steps after installing WordPress. I would also include the plug-in called Lock Down. This prevents anyone from trying brute force password attacks. If a person has 3 failed attempts, they are locked out.
    • Andrew says:
      Frank, Is that the same as Login LockDown - point 39? Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
      • Frank Jovine says:
        Andrew, Here's the source - http://www.bad-neighborhood.com/login-lockdown.html .-= Frank Jovine´s last blog ..Online Fraud Increasing at an Alarming Rate =-.
        • Andrew says:
          Frank, We are on the same page! That's the same one I mentioned. Thanks for reiterating the importance of the plugin. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Blogging Guide: Blogger tips 1 – 4 (video) =-.
  124. Pinoy Big Blogger says:
    Very useful content..There are tips here that I could apply to my sites today..thanks for the tips..:-) .-= Pinoy Big Blogger´s last blog ..How Could We Optimized Our Existing Links =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Pinoy You are welcome - I hope they make a difference. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  125. Jack says:
    Nice list here Andrew! A few goodies here that I will apply to my blog! Thanks! .-= Jack@Online Marketing Blog´s last blog ..Writing For Traffic or Visitors? – Have You Been Doing It All Wrong? =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Jack, Which ones are your going to apply? Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
      • Jack says:
        Looking at the login lockdown, super cache, and ping optimizer. :) .-= Jack | Online Marketing Blog´s last blog ..The Art of Smart Commenting…For Dummies. =-.
        • Andrew says:
          Jack, All 3 are in my 'must include' category! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  126. Alison Moore Smith says:
    Great resource! When I set up a new client blog, I already include a number of these. But I found some great suggestions to recommend to them. I'll probably be whipping up a few tutorials about those in the near future. Good work! .-= Alison Moore Smith@Easy Blog Setup´s last blog ..31DBBB: Day #4 Analyze a Top Blog in Your Niche =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Great ideas Alison - that's exactly what I intended to do as well. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  127. Onibalusi Bamidele says:
    This are great tips,but could you pls recommend a better program/software to design a better header logo. Thanks .-= Onibalusi Bamidele´s last blog ..How To Backup Your Wordpress Blog =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Onibalusi "This are great tips,but" BUT! Why do you use 'but'? I outsource all my log designs. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
      • Onibalusi Bamidele says:
        I was referring to number 4 which says "4. Get and install a personally designed header banner. Personally designed header banners make your blog stand out." So I was trying to ask how to get a software that I can use to design my own personalized header. Thanks. .-= Onibalusi Bamidele´s last blog ..How To Backup Your Wordpress Blog =-.
        • Andrew says:
          Onibalusi, I don't know if this answers your question but have you tried GIMP: http://www.gimp.org/ Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
          • Onibalusi Bamidele says:
            Yes! thanks a lot for the recommendation, it really is a great tool and I will soon come out with a better header logo. Also, I love your blog posts. Thanks
  128. DiTesco says:
    Now this is what I call a "real" check list of tips when installing wordpress. Nothing more to say. Thumbs up and echo bound (today). Bravo .-= DiTesco´s last blog ..Google's Blogger Template Designer =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, DiTesco! Nice words. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  129. Debbie says:
    Hi andrew, What can I say you have out done yourself again. Thank you Debbie .-= Debbie´s last blog ..Love Your Siblings Unconditional and Choose Happiness =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Debbie! Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  130. Gerald Weber says:
    Very good list. That ping list should come in handy. There is one important one not mentioned here that I in fact just became aware of recently. Apparently the newer installations of Wordpress have <META NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="NOINDEX, NOFOLLOW"> on by default. Obviously this is undesirable if you care about being found by the search engines. The way to change this is to go to setting and then privacy. You should then see these two options. I would like my blog to be visible to everyone, including search engines (like Google, Bing, Technorati) and archivers I would like to block search engines, but allow normal visitors Simply check the first one and click save and you're good to go. .-= Gerald Weber´s last blog ..How to Write Better Press Release Headlines =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Gerald, That's a great shout - thanks for sharing! I was unaware. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..How You Can Win $6921 In Prizes When Two Social Media Business Players Get Together =-.
      • Gerald Weber says:
        No problem! Always happy to share quality content! ;-) .-= Gerald Weber´s last blog ..How to Write Better Press Release Headlines =-.
  131. element321 says:
    Great list. When setting up a new site I try and do all of these steps. I never thought about adding more ping services before. I just updated my list with yours. Can't wait to see what the results will be. .-= element321´s last blog ..Weekly Link Love March 14 =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Element! The pings will make your blog posts be indexed quicker. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..How You Can Win $6921 In Prizes When Two Social Media Business Players Get Together =-.
  132. Pubudu Kodikara says:
    wow bro... this post almost covers every point!... For me, the list of Ping URLs are very important...! .-= Pubudu Kodikara´s last blog ..Contest Updated : Win a (BitDefender Internet Security 2010) + ($15 in Cash or A Copy of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog) =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Pubudu Thanks - I hope the pings make a difference. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..How You Can Win $6921 In Prizes When Two Social Media Business Players Get Together =-.
  133. Abhishek says:
    Great do add about stealth login Plugin for security purpose !! .-= Abhishek´s last blog ..Life is Moving Ahead =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Abhishek What does that plugin do? Thanks. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..43 Blogger Tips – What you should do after installing WordPress =-.
  134. Julius Kuhn-Regnier says:
    These are some great tips. Everyone who is just starting out and using Wordpress should definitely check out this post. You could also add the WP Optimize plugin from Yoast which helps to optimize your Wordpress database from time to time. .-= Julius Kuhn-Regnier´s last blog ..The 3 Unwritten Rules of Blogging =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Julius I also use that one - it's a great little plugin to activate - optimise - and de-activate. Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..How You Can Win $6921 In Prizes When Two Social Media Business Players Get Together =-.
  135. Tom says:
    Great tips Andrew! This has given me quite a few things to do for my blog. On a side know, Hesham, I am loving the redesign. It is so clean and fresh! .-= Tom@Free Squeeze Pages´s last blog ..Finding the Perfect Temperature For Your Mailing List =-.
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Tom. I hope some of them hlpe. Tell us which ones you use, won;t you? Andrew .-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..How You Can Win $6921 In Prizes When Two Social Media Business Players Get Together =-.

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