If you are interested in starting a blog, you need to learn about the different blogging tools that are available. One of the best and most powerful tools out there is WordPress. This program has many powerful features, yet it is also easy to learn. Keep reading to see how you can start using it.
Be sure to stay on top of updates! Many updates to add-ons or WordPress itself are security-based, meaning your site could be compromised if you don’t update the software. If it’s telling you a new update is available, install it as soon as possible to protect your site from harm.
Keep your permalinks clean and understandable. That means you should look at the permalink box every time you put up a new post. Does the title in the URL make sense? Does it help from an SEO standpoint? If not, click on it and alter it until it is perfect.
Allow all of the users that visit your site the ability to comment using Facebook. This is a very important tool that will get your name across to hundreds of thousands of people. The Simple Facebook Connect plugin can be used if you want to install this feature on your site.
Become familiar with the tools available to use with WordPress. For instance, the button named kitchen sink gives you multiple formatting and importing options for your posts. There are some great options in the screen options as well. This can be used to control several formatting elements.
Alt and Title are two important things to know about. Use both title and alternate text when uploading your images to your site. This is good for SEO, and it allows people who have disabled images to know what the images are about.
Make sure you learn everything you can prior to installing WordPress. If you plan ahead, things will flow better once you get started. Learn about SEO, content creation, and how WordPress can best be used to your advantage.
You are unable to change the images sizes yourself if your site has its own gallery plugin. The gallery plugin automatically sets the sizes of the images, and you don’t actually have any control over this. If you really need the image sizes changed, ask your developer to help you change the settings.
Do not forget about Facebook. Visitors to your site should be able to leave comments or register with your site through their Facebook account. There are plugins that will help you getting things rolling on your page, and they are easy to download and use. Since so many people are on Facebook, it is important to ensure that your page incorporates the social media site in some way.
As you begin getting comments on your posts, consider allowing people to post with an avatar. It helps your site feel like more of a community, and it only takes a minute to do. Simply go to the settings area of your dashboard and then click on “discussion.” You should see the option there to enable avatars.
When you are choosing a WordPress template to use, pick something that gets frequent updates. You do not want to use a template whose creator has abandoned updates because sometimes you have to address security issues. A creator who is proactive in updating his template will give you a better product.
This article has shared many great tips and tricks about using WordPress to blog. However, there is a lot more information out there that will be of use to you. Use the advice that you have read here as a starting point, but keep looking for more tips about using WordPress.