This is a Guest post by Vinayak who is 11-year-old blogger (Youngest Blogger) and he blogs at MaDbLoG. If you like to write for Shoutmeloud do read: Shoutmeloud revenue sharing program.
WordPress is an awesome blog platform and few days back one of guest author at Shoutmeloud has written about Why beginners should blog with WordPress. To help you get start with WordPress, we have already shared a post on 8 essential settings after installing WordPress. Here I’m sharing 5 more points which you should consider after Installing WordPress. These are generic steps which every wordpress blog should follow and if you are missing something in this, go ahead and make your blog complete.
1. Change your permalink structure
A permalink is an address of a blog post like
http://www.shoutmeloud.com/why-beginners-should-blog-with-wordpress.html. This is /%postname%.html permalink structure.
By default WordPress gives you permalink structure like http://yourblog.com/p=245. Changing it is very simple, just follow the steps below:-
a. Go to yourblog.com/wp-admin/options-permalink.php
b. Click on ‘Custom Structure’ and then write /%postname%/.
This is good for new blog but if you are already using default WordPress permalink structure, you should read this earlier post on changing permalink to make your permalink change 301.
2. Create an About Me page
You need to create an about me page. If a reader likes your blog and wants to know, that who in the earth has written it. The reader searches for a ‘about me’ page and when he doesn’t find it after trying a lot to find it, then he leaves your blog and your blog loses a reader just because you didn’t have a ‘about me’ page. It is essential for every blog to have a ‘about me’ page. Write every essential information, such as your name, what do you do, what’s your blog all about etc…It helps your blog’s reader to know about you. So this is a must. Check out my ‘About Me‘ page.
Read: Importance of About me page for any Blog
3. Change your 404 error page
When a reader opens a non-existing page, they see a page called 404 page. By default, the page says ’404-Page Not Found’. Lets make it a bit user-friendly. To do this, just follow the steps below:-
a. Firstly open your blog’s admin area and then click Appearance–>Editor.
b. Find(ctrl+f) <h2>404 Page Not Found
c. Just under the <h2>404 Page Not Found</h2 you will see something written between <p></p>. Just write your message which you want to show, in my case I have kept it like this :-
<h2>404 Page Not Found</h2>
<img src=”http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w331/Vinnutter/404.jpg” />Wrong page buddy,check the address bar for spelling mistakes.This page might have been removed or renamed.Go to the homepage to continue reading my blog.
It looks like:-
4. Create a favicon for your blog
A favicon is an icon which you see in the address bar or in the tab where the site is open. It is fun to make a favicon and it is easy too. You can see shout me loud’s favicon near the address bar. To get your own favicon, follow the steps below:-
a. First of all create a square image.
b. Upload it on http://www.html-kit.com/favicon/
c. After getting the favicon copy the code in the right which looks like -
<link rel=”shortcut icon” href=”favicon.ico” >
<link rel=”icon” href=”favicon.gif” type=”image/gif”
d. Now go to the wordpress administration area and then Appearance >>Editor
e. Click header.php in the right side
f. Find(ctrl+f) and paste your code just before it.
Do read:
5. Create an archives page
You need to have archives so that people can find your posts easily. It is important because if your readers want to read your older posts, they need it. If you want to add it, follow the steps below:-
a. First, install and activate a plugin called WP-Archives.
b. Now create a page called Archives(or whatever you want to name it)
c. Click the Html tab and paste this code - <!–wp_archives–> You have to paste it in the html tab, otherwise it wont work.
Doing all those things listed above will be very good for your blog. What do you think about the things listed above. Which is the best thing from above according to you? Do tell me what do you think about this post by commenting.
Related posts:
- How to Use Deans Permalink Migration Plugin for WordPress
- How to Create .htaccess File For WordPress blog
- How to Create a Google Toolbar Button For Your Blog
- How to change your wordpress permalink without losing traffic
- WordPress Theme Showcase Plugin: Create your WordPress Theme Demo
- Step by step guide to Install self hosted wordpress blog
- WordPress SEO : 5 basic practice you should implement
- Supercharge Your WordPress Blog in One Hour
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Well for favicons I just use Shockingly simple favicon plugin which makes my job so much easier
You can also check my post here: http://npxp.com/how-to-add-a-favicon-to-your-wordpress-blog
Don’t ignore your blog design and specially sidebar. Beginner are advised to change the Permalink, Add security related plugins and create a effective robots.txt file.
this is really useful one..
Thanks for the share !!
nice post bro! btw, put up a gravatar!
I am new for W.P and will try to add all these things on my theme,Thanks for a share…
Very good advice. These are the first things I do when I start a new blog, followed by number six which would be install a theme.
Thanks for the info. But the Plugin you mentioned to change the permalink is not working for Wordpress 3.0, i have tried to my change my permalink from /%postname%/ to /%postname%.html but it is not working.
The last 3 points which seems easily missing for any bloggers even me. Thanks for listing them out and surprised as you are only 11 years old. I really admire you!
really a nice info mate, found it interesting…..
Nice Post.
Btw. you forget some important things like changing the design, feedburner and installation of some important plugins.
Thanks for sharing this great Post.
~Dev
Wow….. You are just 11 year old…
Now who says India is far behind from other nations….?
Perfectly agree with you.
@Vinayak your writing skills are good enough for your age
great tutorial bro..i loved readin it..every point mentioned here is relevant
about the permalink…
which is the better?
http://site.com/post-url
or
http://site.com/post_url
The first one…. http://site.com/post-url
At this stage I have a 404 error page, but I want to take a photo of myself pointing in all directions and then use that for the page. I need to make it as unique as possible, but I’m always putting it off for later.
The about page is so important and many bloggers forget about it. Many users like to get to know the blogger and this is one way to get your views and objection through.
I just set up a new blog and used the custom permalink setting. Now the blog has tons of content, posts linked to each other, etc. all using that structure. Problem is … none of the posts appear in Categories! No matter which category you click on, it shows it as empty. I’m stumped. Any ideas?
Thanks for the article – great share. And you’re 11? Dude.
Well, I am not very much expert so I don’t know about the category problem.
And yeah, I am really 11 yr old.
really helpful things
Awesome stuff by an 11-year-old…..
I like to point out something here, which I myself found out a month ago…
/%postname%/ for permalink is not recommended; best #permalink is /%post_id%/%postname%/ as mentioned at http://bit.ly/5AEfR (Wordpress Codex)