5 Must-Do Steps After Installing WordPress

Introduction

Congratulations on your successful WordPress installation! You’ve taken the first step toward creating your online presence, but the journey has just begun. WordPress powers more than 40% of all websites on the internet, offering unparalleled flexibility and functionality. However, a fresh WordPress installation is like an empty canvas – it requires customization and configuration to truly meet your needs and provide security for your digital presence.

Many website owners make the critical mistake of rushing into content creation without properly setting up their WordPress site’s foundation. This oversight can lead to security vulnerabilities, poor performance, and a suboptimal user experience. By taking the time to implement these five essential post-installation steps, you’ll ensure your WordPress site starts on solid ground.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the five critical tasks you must complete after installing WordPress. These steps are designed to enhance your website’s security, optimize performance, improve user experience, and prepare your site for successful growth. Whether you’re creating a personal blog, business website, or e-commerce platform, these fundamental configurations will set you up for success.

1. Secure Your WordPress Installation

Why Security Should Be Your First Priority

WordPress security isn’t optional – it’s essential. As the most popular content management system globally, WordPress is unfortunately also a frequent target for hackers and malicious attacks. According to WordFence, a leading WordPress security company, WordPress sites experience an average of 90,000 attacks per minute. A compromised website can damage your reputation, expose sensitive data, and potentially impact your search engine rankings.

Security Foundation: Implementing robust security measures immediately after installation creates a protective barrier against common threats while your site is in its most vulnerable initial state.

Update Your Default Settings

The first security step involves changing default elements that hackers commonly target:

1. Change the default admin username: The standard WordPress installation creates an “admin” username, which is the first credential hackers attempt to compromise. Navigate to Users > Add New to create a new administrator account with a unique username, then delete the default admin account.
2. Create a strong password: Use a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters to create a password that’s difficult to crack. Password managers like LastPass or 1Password can help generate and store complex passwords.
3. Modify your login URL: The standard WordPress login page (/wp-admin or /wp-login.php) is widely known and targeted by bots. Consider using a plugin like WPS Hide Login to change your login URL to something unique.

Install Security Plugins

Security plugins provide an additional layer of protection:

• Wordfence Security: Offers a web application firewall, malware scanner, and login security features
• Sucuri Security: Provides website monitoring, malware detection, and security hardening
• iThemes Security: Includes over 30 security features to protect your site

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra verification step when logging in:

1. Install and activate a 2FA plugin like Google Authenticator or Two Factor Authentication
2. Configure the plugin according to your preferences
3. Test the authentication process to ensure it works correctly

Set Up Automated Backups

Regular backups ensure you can restore your site if something goes wrong:

1. Choose a reliable backup solution (UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, or VaultPress)
2. Configure daily or weekly automated backups
3. Store backups in multiple locations (cloud storage, local server, etc.)
4. Test the backup restoration process to verify it works correctly

2. Configure Essential WordPress Settings

Optimize Your General Settings

The General Settings page contains fundamental configurations for your WordPress site:

1. Site Title and Tagline: Set a clear, descriptive site title and tagline that reflect your brand and purpose. These elements appear in browser tabs and search results, impacting both user experience and SEO.
2. WordPress Address and Site Address: Verify these URLs are correct and consistent (with or without www). For most sites, these should be identical.
3. Email Address: Update to a domain-specific email address (e.g., admin@yoursite.com) rather than using a generic Gmail or other free provider address.
4. Time Zone: Set to your local time zone to ensure posts, comments, and scheduled content publish at the correct times.
5. Date and Time Format: Choose formats that are appropriate for your target audience.

Configure Discussion Settings

Discussion settings control how users interact with your content:

1. Comment moderation: Enable “Comment must be manually approved” to review comments before they appear on your site.
2. Comment notifications: Configure email notifications for new comments.
3. Avatar settings: Choose whether to display avatars and select the default avatar style.
4. Pingbacks and trackbacks: Consider disabling these to prevent potential spam.

Set Up Permalink Structure

Permalinks determine the URL structure for your posts and pages:

1. Navigate to Settings > Permalinks
2. Select the “Post name” option (/%postname%/) for the most SEO-friendly URL structure
3. Avoid changing permalink structures after publishing content, as it can break existing links

SEO Impact: According to SEO experts at CloudRank, user-friendly permalink structures that include relevant keywords can improve both user experience and search engine visibility.

Configure Reading Settings

Reading settings affect how your content is displayed:

1. Front page display: Choose whether to show your latest posts or a static page
2. Blog pages show at most: Set the number of posts to display per page
3. Search engine visibility: Ensure the “Discourage search engines” option is unchecked unless you’re still developing your site

Set Up Media Settings

Media settings control how images and other media files are handled:

1. Configure the default image sizes (thumbnail, medium, large)
2. Organize uploads into month- and year-based folders
3. Consider image optimization plugins like Smush or EWWW Image Optimizer to automatically compress uploads

3. Install and Configure Essential Plugins

Why Plugins Matter

Plugins extend WordPress’s functionality, allowing you to add features without coding knowledge. However, quality is more important than quantity – each plugin adds code that can impact performance.

Plugin Selection Strategy: Select plugins that serve specific purposes and come from reputable developers with regular updates and positive reviews.

Essential Plugins for Every WordPress Site

1. SEO Plugin

• Yoast SEO or Rank Math
• Configure basic settings, including site title format and meta descriptions
• Enable XML sitemap functionality
• Connect to Google Search Console

1. Caching Plugin

• WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or WP Super Cache
• Enable page caching
• Configure browser caching
• Enable GZIP compression
• Implement minification for CSS and JavaScript files

1. Security Plugin

• Choose from options mentioned in the security section
• Run an initial security scan
• Configure firewall settings
• Enable login protection features

1. Backup Plugin

• UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, or similar
• Schedule regular automated backups
• Configure offsite storage options (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
• Test the restoration process

1. Contact Form Plugin

• Contact Form 7, WPForms, or Gravity Forms
• Create a basic contact form
• Configure email notifications
• Add spam protection

1. Analytics Plugin

• MonsterInsights (for Google Analytics)
• Site Kit by Google
• Configure tracking settings
• Enable demographic data collection

Plugin Management Best Practices

1. Regular updates: Keep all plugins updated to maintain security and compatibility
2. Plugin audit: Periodically review installed plugins and remove any that are inactive or unnecessary
3. Performance monitoring: Track your site’s performance before and after installing new plugins
4. Compatibility testing: Test plugin compatibility with your theme and other plugins before fully implementing

4. Select and Customize Your Theme

Choosing the Right Theme

Your WordPress theme determines your site’s visual appearance and can influence functionality:

1. Determine your requirements:

• Purpose (blog, business, portfolio, e-commerce)
• Must-have features
• Design preferences (minimal, bold, traditional, modern)
• Budget (free or premium)

1. Sources for quality themes:

• WordPress.org Theme Directory (free, official themes)
• ThemeForest (premium themes with extensive support)
• StudioPress (Genesis Framework themes)
• Elegant Themes (including Divi)

1. Evaluation criteria:

• Responsive design (mobile-friendly)
• Loading speed and performance
• Regular updates and maintenance
• User reviews and ratings
• Documentation and support
• Compatibility with essential plugins

Theme Installation and Configuration

1. Installation process:

• Navigate to Appearance > Themes > Add New
• Search for your chosen theme or upload a purchased theme
• Click “Install” and then “Activate”

1. Initial configuration:

• Follow any setup wizards or onboarding processes
• Import demo content if needed (use with caution)
• Configure theme options through the Customizer or theme settings panel

Essential Theme Customizations

1. Logo and branding:

• Upload your logo through Appearance > Customize > Site Identity
• Set a site icon (favicon) that appears in browser tabs
• Configure brand colors through theme settings

1. Navigation menus:

• Create logical menu structures through Appearance > Menus
• Assign menus to appropriate locations (header, footer, sidebar)
• Consider user experience when organizing menu items

1. Widget areas:

• Configure sidebar widgets through Appearance > Widgets
• Add only essential widgets to improve loading speed
• Consider using custom HTML widgets for special content or calls-to-action

1. Homepage setup:

• Configure static homepage or blog display in Settings > Reading
• For static homepages, design the page using blocks or page builders
• Ensure key information is visible “above the fold”

1. Mobile responsiveness:

• Test your theme on multiple devices and screen sizes
• Make adjustments to ensure good mobile user experience
• Consider using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool

5. Create Essential Pages and Plan Your Content Strategy

Setting Up Foundational Pages

Every WordPress site needs several key pages to build credibility and meet user expectations:

1. Homepage:

• Create a compelling introduction to your site
• Include clear navigation options
• Highlight key products, services, or content
• Add strong calls-to-action

1. About Page:

• Tell your story or company history
• Explain your mission and values
• Introduce team members if applicable
• Build trust through transparency

1. Contact Page:

• Add a contact form using your installed form plugin
• Include alternative contact methods (email, phone)
• Provide location information if relevant
• Set expectations for response times

1. Privacy Policy:

• Use WordPress’s privacy policy generator as a starting point
• Customize to accurately reflect your data collection practices
• Include information about cookies, analytics, and third-party services
• Keep updated with changing regulations like GDPR and CCPA

1. Terms of Service/Conditions:

• Outline the rules for using your site
• Limit your liability
• Specify copyright and intellectual property policies
• Consider consulting with a legal professional

Develop a Content Strategy

A content strategy guides your ongoing content creation efforts:

1. Define your content pillars:

• Identify 3-5 main topics related to your site’s purpose
• Ensure these align with your expertise and audience interests
• Create a content category structure based on these pillars

1. Create a content calendar:

• Plan publishing frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly)
• Schedule content creation, editing, and publishing dates
• Balance different content types (blog posts, guides, videos)
• Consider seasonal or trending topics

1. Set up content templates:

• Create reusable formats for different content types
• Include standard sections (introduction, main points, conclusion)
• Define style guidelines (tone, formatting, image usage)

1. Implement SEO best practices:

• Research target keywords for each content piece
• Optimize headings, meta descriptions, and URLs
• Include internal and external links
• Use your installed SEO plugin to guide optimization

Configure Essential WordPress Features

1. Set up user roles and permissions:

• Create accounts for team members with appropriate roles
• Configure author bios if using multiple content creators
• Set clear guidelines for content submission and editing

1. Implement commenting strategy:

• Decide whether to allow comments on all content
• Configure moderation settings in Discussion Settings
• Create a comment policy for users

1. Configure categories and tags:

• Create a logical category structure based on your content pillars
• Use tags for more granular topic identification
• Avoid category/tag overlap or excessive use of either

1. Set up initial analytics tracking:

• Ensure your analytics plugin is properly configured
• Create custom dashboards for key metrics
• Set up conversion goals if applicable

Conclusion

The first few hours after installing WordPress are critical for establishing a solid foundation for your website. By following these five essential steps—securing your installation, configuring settings, installing key plugins, customizing your theme, and planning your content—you’ll avoid common pitfalls and position your site for success.

Remember that your WordPress website is not a “set it and forget it” project. Regular maintenance, including updates, security checks, performance optimization, and content refreshes, remains essential throughout your site’s lifetime. However, by implementing these initial steps correctly, you’ll create a stable, secure, and user-friendly platform that can grow with your needs.

Take the time to implement each step thoroughly rather than rushing through the process. A properly configured WordPress site will save you time, prevent security issues, and provide a better experience for your visitors in the long run.

FAQ

How long should it take to complete all five post-installation steps?

Depending on your familiarity with WordPress, completing all five steps typically takes between 2-4 hours. Security and settings configuration can be done relatively quickly (30-60 minutes), while theme selection and customization often take the longest (1-2 hours). It’s better to invest this time upfront rather than fixing issues later.

Is it necessary to install all the suggested plugins?

No, you should only install plugins that serve your specific needs. However, plugins for security, SEO, and backups are highly recommended for almost all WordPress sites. Each additional plugin can impact your site’s performance, so focus on quality rather than quantity.

Can I change my theme later without losing content?

Yes, WordPress stores your content (posts, pages, media) separately from your theme. You can change themes without losing content, though you may need to reconfigure certain layout elements, widgets, and menus. Always backup your site before changing themes and test the new theme on a staging environment if possible.

How often should I update WordPress core, themes, and plugins?

Security updates should be applied immediately. For feature updates, it’s generally best to update within 1-2 weeks of release. Consider using a staging environment to test major updates before applying them to your live site. Regular updates are essential for security and compatibility.

What’s the difference between pages and posts in WordPress?

Pages are static, timeless content (About, Contact, Services) that typically appear in your main navigation. Posts are chronological content entries (blog articles, news updates) that appear in your blog feed and archives. Pages are hierarchical and can have parent-child relationships, while posts are organized by categories and tags.

Do I need to hire a developer for a professional WordPress site?

Not necessarily. Many users create professional sites using pre-built themes and user-friendly page builders without coding knowledge. However, for custom functionality, unique designs, or complex e-commerce solutions, working with a developer may provide better results. Consider your specific needs and budget when making this decision.

How can I improve my WordPress site’s loading speed?

Optimize images before uploading, use a caching plugin, minimize plugin usage, choose a lightweight theme, and consider a content delivery network (CDN). Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify specific improvements for your site. Remember that loading speed affects both user experience and search engine rankings.

Should I use a page builder plugin for my WordPress site?

Page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, or the built-in Gutenberg editor make it easier to create complex layouts without coding. They’re particularly useful for non-technical users who need design flexibility. However, some builders can impact performance, so choose one with a good reputation for clean code and optimization.