This document provides 20 tips for improving a WordPress site for beginners. It recommends using good hosting from providers like GoDaddy, Bluehost, or DreamHost. It stresses the importance of strong passwords, backing up the site files and database, and keeping the site secure. It also recommends staying up-to-date with plugins, themes, and WordPress core, using image optimization plugins, adding alt text to images, and setting the timezone. Additional tips include using the Quick Edit feature, optimizing for SEO, using Google Analytics and Search Console, making sharing easy with social media plugins, and asking questions.
4. Good Hosting (examples only, there are many,
many more)
Good & Cheap: shared hosting
• GoDaddy, Bluehost, DreamHost
Fast & Cheap shared hosting: A2Hosting, SiteGround
Fast & Good (managed WordPress):
• Pantheon, WP Engine, Pressable
5. Good Passwords
Have strong passwords at all entry points:
• Hosting control panel
• FTP
• WordPress admin (never use “admin”)
Use password manager
• LastPass or 1Password
https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407168,00.asp
http://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/the-5-best-ways-to-store-passwords-safely-1782047318
7. Backup your site
Article on different (free) ways to back up your site:
http://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/free-wordpress-backup-plugins/
Use a plugin or service (automatic) Backup
Buddy or VaultPress or UpdraftPlus
(to name a few)
-or-
Your Hosting service - just make sure its
not backing up to the same server.
8. Backup your site
REMEMBER - A WordPress site lives
in two separate places
simultaneously (visit your CPanel)
- files and folders (file manager)
- data in tables in a database
(phpMyAdmin)
You need to back up both
Secure your backups
12. Stay Up-to-date
Keep plugins, themes and core
WordPress updated
Be careful of what files you change
(ideally, don’t change any “core” files in
themes, plugins or WordPress itself)
17. Always have an
imageWhere to find images:
• Creative Commons Search
• Flickr
• Google or Bing images – make sure you define the
search for “labeled for commercial reuse with
modifications”
• Stock Image sites – Shutterstock, Adobe,
Depositphotos, iStock (many, many more)
18. Title & AltText your
Image
http://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/image-alt-text-vs-image-title-in-wordpress-whats-the-
difference/
Image Alt Text – fill it in, it
helps with Accessibility and
SEO [use your key words]
19. Title & AltText your
Image
Image Title Attribute:
Under Advanced Options
32. 80%
20%
SEO – Search Engine
Optimization
https://www.creativewebdesignsolutions.co.za/choosing-wordpress-solves-80-mechanics-seo/
WordPress is built
for SEO – it’s 80%
there already.
33. SEO – Search Engine
OptimizationPopular Plugins: Yoast SEO & All in One SEO
https://wpvkp.com/best-wordpress-seo-plugins/
http://www.wpbeginner.com/opinion/yoast-seo-vs-all-in-one-seo-pack-which-is-the-best-wordpress-seo-plugin/
36. TextWidget & html
Widget*NEW*
In WordPress 4.8:
The WordPress Text
widget is the easiest way
to add custom info to your
sidebar/footer.
37. TextWidget & html
WidgetText widgets containing
HTML and are known to be
problematic in WordPress
4.8. After upgrading, check
to see if the widgets open
in legacy mode.
38. Resourses
• WpBeginner (Lots of other sites, WPShout, WPTavern)
• Udemy, Lynda, Treehouse, Skillshare
• Facebook, Linkedin groups & pages
• Local WP Meetups – WordCamps
• WordPressTV & YouTube
http://www.codeinwp.com/blog/wordpress-courses-for-beginners-udemy-vs-lynda-vs-treehouse-vs-skillshare/
http://themeisle.com/blog/blogs-about-wordpress-to-read/