Now that you have either setup a https://yourname.wordpress.com site OR have your http://www.yourname.com site set up with WordPress platform installed through Bluehost, you are ready to add content and/or a shop. But wait! There are a few more small, well, adjustments that you are going to want to make. This is the point where things can get out of hand, but we won’t let it.
So lets get ready to install some plug ins.
Oh wait, did I tell you that there’s some good news? The good news is that you don’t have to worry about this if you are using a wordpress.com site. Yes, you heard me correctly. Beginners get a free pass on this one. So, even if you are trying self hosting, If you have any hesitations at this point and feel like this plugin thing might be a bit too much, head back to wordpress.com, register a name and start there. Otherwise, forge on!
There are hundreds of plugins for wordpress and generally they are pretty easy to install. You can find a lot of conflicting information about which ones to put on your site and much does depend on how you are going to use it. Bluehost makes some pithy recommendations on their optimization page, and wordpress.org has TONS of information generally in forums. But here’s a tip. Dive in and see what you find. Go to google and type in something like “wordpress essential plugins” and a whole new world will open up right in front of your very eyes.
Or not. If you don’t want to take the time and just want to get up and rolling, here is a list of the most basic necessary plugins as far as I can tell as of February, 2015.
Go to plugins – add new, and either use search or go to “popular” and you will find the plugins listed below. Of course at this time I have to add a disclaimer about these not being the only plugins, please add according to what you find as necessary, etc etc. This is just a place to start.
Absolutely necessary Plugins
- Akismet – everyone seems to agree that this is an essential plugin. It will keep spam comments from mucking up your site.
- WP DB Manager
- Either WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache
- Either All in one SEO or WP SEO Yoast
- Jetpack
- Google XML sitemap
- Woo Commerce (if you are going to have a shop)
Setting a static page as your front page
If you want a website with a front page that looks like a website, doesn’t show your blogroll and stays the same you will need to create some pages (including what will be your new front/welcome page). These pages will include your content and/or the items of your shop*.
You will see that the titles of your pages will be displayed on top of all of the pages of your site so that people can find them. This is a good thing, but don’t depend on folks to actually use these buttons to navigate your site.
Put internal links in your site to go from page to page. Put widgets in your widget area (generally along the side) so that people have other navigation options. Use SEO keywords in your posts and titles and people will find the individual pages directly from google.
To actually set the front page go to “settings” then “reading” in your dashboard. You can set the page that people will see when they visit your site, www.yourname.com or www.yourname.wordpress.com.
Make sure that you watch the Bluehost video series to learn more about next steps.