How to Make Changes to Your WordPress Website
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) used for creating websites and blogs. Launched in 2005, the platform has been downloaded over 70 million times and is frequently ranked in the top 3 most popular software platforms according to Gartner, Inc.
If you’re considering making changes to your WordPress website, here are some tips to make the process easier and more efficient.
Decide Whether To Use The Classic Or The Minimalist Version
You have two main options when it comes to WordPress. The first one is the classic version, which is essentially the same as the original software. However, there is a big difference between the two. While the classic version is a great choice for beginner website owners, those who are looking for a more minimalistic approach should consider the minimalist version.
The main reason behind the existence of the classic version is that it provides a lot of additional features that are not included in the minimalist version. For example, the classic version comes with an extra library of fonts, offers better support for languages such as Arabic and Hebrew, and includes extra icons and logos that you can use on your site.
Start With A Plan
When making changes to your WordPress website, it is essential to have a clear plan in mind. This way, you can successfully execute the changes and ensure the blog continues to function as expected. You should also set some time aside to plan and sketch out each step so you can follow a clear roadmap that will help you avoid any complications. Finally, keep in mind that any change to the WordPress source code is irreversible, so make sure you have a backup of your site before starting any work.
Use A Content Management System
A content management system (CMS) is software that allows you to edit the content of your website without needing to directly edit the HTML code. The vast majority of CMSs are built on top of a typical WordPress foundation, so all you need is a WordPress account to use them. Some examples of popular CMSs are Joomla!, Drupal, and Magento.
CMSs make editing content much easier and more convenient, especially for people who are not web programmers. Furthermore, they offer additional functionalities that can make the entire website building and publishing process more streamlined. For example, you can use a CMS to create a custom home page with news, weather, and social media feeds populated with content from around the web.
Create Different Layouts For Different Sections Of Your Site
If you’re a web designer or developer, you can use your existing talents to create different layouts for different sections of your site. This way, you can ensure that the various content you have on your site is presented in the most aesthetic manner possible. A great way to practice is by creating different mock-ups of your site’s homepage so you can see how the content will look in different layouts.
Dont Forget About SEO!
If you want your website to be found on search engines, you must set up SEO-friendly URLs and content. The former will help your website appear higher on search results for related queries, while the latter will help users find what they’re looking for more easily. Building a brand new website from scratch with SEO in mind is very tricky, so it’s best to use existing templates or plugins to get started with. Some of the most popular SEO tools are WordPress SEO by Yoast, All In One SEO Pack, and Yoast SEO for WordPress.
Allowing users to directly contact you via email or phone can also help improve your site’s SEO. However, you should only do this if you have a business reason for allowing customers to contact you – otherwise, having an online form is sufficient for most cases.
Make Sure Your Website Functions On All Browsers
Even though your average user may have the latest version of the most popular browsers, this does not necessarily mean that their experience on your site will be great. To ensure they get an optimal user experience regardless of the browser they are using, you must design and build your website with mobile friendliness and cross-browser compatibility in mind. This entails following all the latest web standards and using the appropriate code base for the specific platform.
Regular Updates
Keeping your website up-to-date is essential if you want to maintain a successful blog. As WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems, chances are your website will be targeted by cybercriminals who try to exploit vulnerabilities in the software. To ensure you’re always running the latest version of WordPress with all the necessary security updates, it’s a good idea to install an automatic updater.
This way, you’ll be sure to receive timely notifications whenever WordPress releases a new version. From there, it’s a matter of hitting the update button to have your site updated instantly.
If you want to be able to track the performance of your site over time and see how it changes with updates and new versions, you should use a website monitoring tool that will automatically notify you of any issues that arise.
Monitor Key Performance Indicators
Every business owner or manager understands the importance of key performance indicators (KPIs) when it comes to gauging the success of a particular project or initiative. Unfortunately, many businesses get so absorbed in the minutiae of daily operations that they fail to keep an eye on the bigger picture – specifically, the performance of their website. This is where monitoring key performance indicators becomes essential. You can use free online services such as Google Analytics to easily track the performance of your site and determine whether or not you should make any changes.
For example, if you notice that your website is getting a large number of visits but lacks in engagement – that is, visitors are just scrolling through the content without consuming it – then you may want to reconsider the type of content you’re putting out. If, on the other hand, the opposite is true (i.e., your website is performing well based on the metrics you’re tracking), then you can be sure that your efforts in terms of content and design are paying off.
Keep Good Software And Up-to-date
One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is getting stuck in software hell – meaning, they upgrade to the latest version of a product without really considering why they need the update in the first place. To avoid this, always think about why you need a new version of a product before you upgrade.
With the prevalence of ransomware attacks and the threat of constant malware infections, it’s essential to have good software defenses in place. One way to do this is to keep your operating system and all the software you use up-to-date. Regularly scanning with a reputable anti-virus program is also important, as it helps keep your computer protected from viruses and malware.
If you discover your software is outdated, you should consider whether or not you should spend the money to upgrade. If you decide it’s not worth it, then you can simply perform a clean install and be on your way. The majority of the time, this is cheaper and a safer alternative than trying to fix the software after it’s been updated.
Make Sure Your Website Looks Good
If you’re looking to create a successful website, you want to ensure it looks good when viewed on all platforms – from small mobile phones to large desktop computers. The key to this is ensuring that the layout of your site is easy to scan, so users can find what they need without having to scroll endlessly. Creating different mock-ups of your site’s homepage so you can see how it will look on different platforms is a great way to ensure everything looks good when visitors reach your site.
Track Analytics Data
Most businesses get so absorbed in the minutiae of daily operations that they forget to look at the big picture. To avoid this, it’s best to track analytics data so you can easily see how your website is performing. The majority of the time, this entails simply going to your Analytics dashboard to view the data or download it in a spreadsheet for further analysis.
An analytics dashboard will provide you with key performance indicators, such as the number of visitors to your site, their locations, the devices they use to access your site, and more.