Post Installation - 5 Things You Ought To Know

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So you now have your brand new blog, huh? You are excited about it and it is quiet understandable. You are on your first gear to capitalize on your blog. It is pretty common that you will be on your writing mode to churn out content after content to make your blog looks, in my own word, less new.

But before you begin your blogging journey, here’s a checklist what you ought to know do once you have successfully setup your blog. It is not a MUST-DO list, only things you should not ignore.

1. Write ‘About Me’ Page

A simple one paragraph would be enough. Two would make it better. Let your visitors know who you are and what your blog is all about. How much you want to reveal about yourself is up to your own discretion. Think of it as your introductory handshake with your visitor. If you are in the mood to write a more professional ‘About Me’ page, here’s How to Write a Professional Bio or “About Me” Page for a handy guide.

2. Delete the Test Post

You may or may not notice that there is already a test post in your blog that reads something like this

Hello World!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Delete it immediately before you write your first post. You could edit it with your own post if you want. I recommend you to delete it rather than to edit the test post as there is a default comment from Mr. WordPress that usually comes with it. So deletion is a better option just in case you forget to delete the default comment. But I guess you wouldn’t if you follow step #3.

3. Delete the First Comment

Hi, this is a comment.
To delete a comment, just log in and view the post’s comments. There you will have the option to edit or delete them.

Need I say more. Just delete it and say thanks to Mr. WordPress.

4. Remove Meta Section

The META section on your sidebar includes some admin links like “Login” or “XHTML Valid” and some other links which offer no value at all to your reader.

The only thing of value to you is probably the “Login”. It is the link to access to your admin area which you can easily access with www.youdomain.com/wp-admin. Stick it on your footer if you wish but don’t leave the whole META section on your sidebar.

5. Switch the Default Theme

If there is one thing I learn early is never to use the default WordPress theme. With plenty of free WordPress themes available for you, you will never be short of design to choose from. Choose one that reflects your blog and your personality. Simplicity is the order of the day, simply because it will be easier for you to edit your theme later should you like to.

That’s about it!

Though this guide may not be the ultimate guide, I hope this simple checklist will offer you a starting point to better manage your first blog.

What is the first thing you do when you finish with your blog setup? What other things you have done that I do not mention it here?