All major hosting providers offer WordPress, it is easy simple to use and most famous CMS in the world. We already posted a article about installing WordPress in Windows in simple steps. After lot of testing in private environment it is time to launch site to public.
WordPress Is Installed Next:
All major hosting services like Godaddy, Hostgator, BlueHost and DreamHost supports WordPress. After successful WordPress installation you need to do some changes. I am writing these tips only for self-hosted WordPress.org sites.
Change the Permalink Structure:
After installation WordPress is starts with default permalink structure.
http://example.com/?p=123
The default permalink structure is not so SEO friendly. Change this structure into
http://example.com/%post_id%/%postname%
Password Protect wp-admin Directory:
It is good to add another layer of security to your WordPress installation by setting up password protection to wp-admin directory. Follow this guide provided by Amit Agarwal to add second layer of security to wp-admin.
Activate Akismet:
Akismet is a must have plugin for WordPress users. It is actually comes with WordPress, it blocks unnecessary comments and trackbacks. In order to use Akismet you need to wordpress.com API key.
Activate Jetpack:
Jetpack is a Worpress plugin, it simply adds list of best features to your blog. It offers services like Publicize, Share, Like, Subscriptions, Carousel, Spelling and Grammer, Gravatar, Mobile theme, Custom CSS, Shortcodes and Mobile push notifications. In order to use all these services you need to authenticate WordPress to Jetpack.
Install Google XML Sitemap Plugin:
Every site need a sitemap in order to submit Google Webmaster and other webmaster services. A sitemap is required to submit all your site content to search engines. It is must plugin if you want to visible your site in Google, Bing, Yahoo and Ask.
Download Google XML Sitemap Plugin
Submit your site to Google Webmasters Tool:
After installing Google XML Sitemap plugin, you’ll find your site sitemap address as http://example.com/sitemap.xml . Now submit your sitemap to Google Webmaster tool. It is a free service from Google to manage your site to search engine submission.
Submit your site to Feedburner:
FeedBurner is a free service acquired by Google. It combines all your feeds, now your subscribers can subscribe your site via Email. FeedBurner supports podcast, if you are a podcaster it is very easy to submit your site to iTunes and etc services.
Install WordPress SEO Plugin by Yoast:
WordPress SEO Plugin is a free plugin developed by Joost de Valk. This one plugin is enough for satisfy all your SEO related problems. Just install the plugin, it works when you add a new post you can see WordPress SEO by Yoast tab under the new post. Add your focus keyword, SEO title and Meta Description. It definitely boost your post to visible in first page results in Google and other search engines.
Download WordPress SEO Plugin by Yoast
Install New Theme:
WordPress offer only basic theme after installation, if you want more organized theme you need to pay some amount to premium WordPress theme sellers. There are number of premium WordpPress theme sellers are available when search. Some popular sellers are DIY Themes, Studiopress, Themeforest and Theme Junkie.