Tips & Tricks For A Successful WordPress Site
Getting a great WordPress site up and running can be slow going. Here are the top beginner mistakes and how you can avoid making them.
So you’ve chosen a domain name and an amazing web host (like Midphase for example): all that’s left is to get your site up and running. You are on your way to a fully functional and beautiful site. Sounds simple enough right? It can be with a little bit of help and research!
WordPress is a great choice for building a simple yet functional website, but we often see clients make the same mistakes in their early stages of web building. Here are some small mistakes (and a few big ones) that can cause major headaches and how to avoid them:
- You chose a poor password.
This is the number one all-time mistake you can make when setting up your site. You want to create a long (at least 20 characters) and unique password. We recommend using a password generator just to be safe. Websites with weak passwords are easily compromised through brute force attacks and can be corrupted by hackers looking to send spam or viruses through your site. The first and most important step to protect your site is choosing a strong password for your control panel account as well as for your WordPress account; you can avoid the penalties and blacklisting that are often a result.
- You forgot the basics.
It’s easy to get carried away with all the cool features you can play around with on your WordPress account, but for basic functionality and easy use and navigation you need to keep it simple. Remember the basics like ‘about us’ and ‘contact’ pages. Make these features easy to find and use for your site visitors.
- You didn’t link your site to social media accounts.
The easiest way to get the word out about your awesome new site is to link it with your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest accounts. This simple step can save you time and money within your marketing efforts. Many a great website has mastered the art of collaborating social media and website interaction as one.
- You forgot a spam blocker.
It’s easy to be so excited about your first post that you forget that a really great spam filter is a must. Your site isn’t going viral if you have 7,000 spammed messages (although it’s really exciting when you first see your hit number).
- You chose a poorly coded theme.
There are thousands of different themes to choose from so how do you know which one is the right one for you? Check with the WordPress list of approved developers if you are choosing a free theme, but we would recommend using a premium and commercially supported theme as the free ones are at risk of being compromised or coming fully loaded with malware. You can find the list of premium themes here.
Don’t feel bad if you are guilty of any of the above mistakes; they are all simple fixes. If you are just getting started here are a few important things to remember to ensure that your site is a success:
- Do your homework.
Check out podcasts and blogs that are dedicated to successful WordPress sites. There are even dedicated WordPress conventions where you can meet great new people while learning tips of the trade.
- Think visual.
Images, videos and infographics have shown to be amazingly effective when it comes to attracting new readers and keeping eyes focused for longer periods of time. Whenever possible choose the visual route.
- Become an SEO wizard.
If you are trying to get the word out about your site or looking to increase traffic, knowing the basics of SEO is crucial. There are dozens of blogs, videos and podcasts full of SEO tips but another great way is to keep up with the Midphase blog as we cover all things web hosting, website development and small business related.
To get started on the website of your dreams visit Midphase.com