Essential WordPress Installation, Optimization & Security Resources
UPDATED: 10/1/2011
A fast-loading, secure, well-coded WordPress installation helps you rank better in the search engines and encourages visitors to not only stay on your site longer and explore more pages, but to return again and again.
Here are 90+ essential WordPress blog optimization tips to:
- Secure your WordPress blog or website from malicious attacks and spammers.
- Increase search engine rankings by speeding up and optimizing your site/blog.
- Increase the overall usability of your blog or website for your visitors.
- Thoroughly optimize your website for the search engines and increase rankings and traffic.
- Code and tweak your way to a well-built blog with advanced functionality.
Installation, Security and Optimization Resources
13 Steps To A Better WordPress Install - These 13 steps can increase the security of your WordPress installation and seal up significant security breaches.
Handling/Deleting Post Revisions- How can you delete post revisions in WordPress blogs? Post revision is a manner in which WordPress autosaves your posts while you type. This helps to recover posts should your browser or internet connection crash, and you can always restore an older version of the post. But Post revisions tend to pile up in your database. Clean house today!
HOW TO: Secure Your WordPress Blog - While WordPress is a relatively secure CMS for your website or blog, there are individuals out there who want to find a way to crack into your account to cause damage or insert nasty spam links. Make sure your WordPress isntallation is as secure as possible with these easy to implement tips.
How to Speed Up Your WordPress Blog - Get better rankings in the search engines and provide a better user experience by speeding up your WordPress blog or website's performance. Interesting tips, such as: Social widgets, plugins or javascript-based add-ons increase load time and clutter your pages. Things like Google Friend Connect are almost never worth it and should be removed.
How NOT To Monetize Your Blog! - I give this post by GrowMap.com a gigantic AMEN! There are popular horror blogs with great content that I have trouble visiting, and in some cases avoid visiting or sharing, because the blog owner has opted to position advertising in every square inch of the blog. Not only are they annoying to sift through, but ads also significantly increase load time of your site. Explore these tips on how to monitize your blog without making your visitors gag on ads and hit the 'Back' button.
10 Tips for Better Blog Monetization & Profit - Now that you know what NOT to do, explore these great ideas on working strategic basic and advanced monetization into your WordPress blog or website. (Be sure to read parts 1 and 2!)
Essential SEO & Site Optimization Plugins
W3 Total Cache - Easily optimize the speed and user experience of your WordPress site. W3 Total Cache improves the user experience of your site by improving your server performance, caching every aspect of your site, reducing the download times and providing transparent content delivery network (CDN) integration.
WordPress SEO - Yoast's WordPress SEO is the most complete WordPress SEO plugin that exists today for WordPress.org users. It incorporates everything from a snippet preview and page analysis functionality that helps you optimize your pages content, images titles, meta descriptions and more to XML sitemaps, and loads of optimization options in between. I currently use this plugin and LOVE it! If you're a beginner or want something quick and simple, see the All in One SEO Pack, below.
All In One SEO Pack - This plugin makes optimizing your site for Search Engines a snap! However, simply installing this plugin isn't enough. Check out this comprehensive post on All in One SEO Pack Configuration for a detailed walk-thru on using the All in One SEO Pack plugin most efficiently. RECOMMENDATION: Do not use the Meta Keywords tag. This tag is obsolete in all search engines and enables your competitors to grab your keywords at will.
Advanced Tips, Tricks and Hacks
10 WordPress Tips to Take You to the Next Level - 10 really handy advanced resources to help you get the most out of your WordPress site.
55+ Most Wanted WordPress Tips, Tricks, and Hacks - You might have noticed something handy or eye-catching in someone else's WordPress site. Here's an extensive list exploring how to hack, tweak and code your way to a better blog!
Offsite Optimization Opportunities
Link Building Tips for Personal Blogs - Explore opportunities to increase your reach and traffic and how to engage in activities that will draw in links from other sites and increase your potential to rank in the search engines.
If you would like additional consultation or assistance with blog optimization, contact Rough Ride Creations today!
