7 Must-Do’s After Launching Your WordPress Website

Congratulations! You’ve just launched your shiny new WordPress website. The hard work is done, right? Not so fast! While launching your site is a major milestone, there are still a few crucial steps you need to take to ensure it runs smoothly and reaches its full potential. Don’t worry; these steps are not rocket science, and I’ll guide you through them with a dash of fun and a sprinkle of humor. Ready? Let’s dive in!

7 Must-Do’s After Launching Your WordPress Website

1. Secure Your Site Like Fort Knox

First things first, let’s talk about security. You wouldn’t leave your front door wide open, would you? The same logic applies to your website. Install a reliable security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri to protect your site from the bad guys lurking in the shadows of the internet.

Quick Tips:

• Use strong passwords (no, “password123” doesn’t count).
• Keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugins up to date.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA).

Remember, a secure site is a happy site!

2. Set Up Google Analytics

Next up, let’s get you acquainted with Google Analytics. This powerful tool will help you track your visitors’ behavior, measure your website’s performance, and provide insights to improve your content strategy. Plus, watching those numbers grow is oddly satisfying.

Steps to Set Up:

1. Sign up for a Google Analytics account.
2. Add your website’s URL.
3. Install the Google Analytics plugin on your WordPress site.
4. Connect the plugin to your Google Analytics account.

Voilà! You’re now a data guru.

3. Optimize for Search Engines (SEO)

Ah, SEO – the magical key to getting your website noticed by the right people. Without it, your site might as well be a needle in a haystack. Start by installing an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math.

Must-Do SEO Tasks:

• Create and submit a sitemap to Google Search Console.
• Optimize your site’s meta titles and descriptions.
• Use keywords strategically in your content.
• Ensure your site is mobile-friendly.

By doing this, you’re telling search engines, “Hey, look at me!” and trust me, they’ll listen.

4. Backup Your Site Regularly

Imagine spending hours crafting the perfect blog post, only to lose it all in a server crash. Yikes! Avoid this nightmare by setting up regular backups of your website. Plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy can automate this process, so you don’t have to lift a finger.

Backup Tips:

• Schedule daily or weekly backups.
• Store backups in multiple locations (e.g., cloud storage, external hard drives).
• Test your backups periodically to ensure they’re working.

Better safe than sorry, right?

5. Speed Up Your Website

Nobody likes a slow website. In fact, a delay of just a few seconds can send visitors running for the hills. Speed up your site by optimizing images, using a caching plugin (like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache), and leveraging a Content Delivery Network (CDN).

Quick Wins for Speed:

• Compress images before uploading them.
• Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files.
• Use lazy loading for images.

Your visitors (and search engines) will thank you for it.

6. Engage with Your Audience

Launching your site is just the beginning. Now, it’s time to build a community around it. Start by engaging with your audience through comments, social media, and email newsletters. Responding to comments and messages makes your visitors feel valued and heard.

Ways to Engage:

• Enable comments on your blog posts.
• Share your content on social media platforms.
• Send out regular email newsletters with updates and exclusive content.

Remember, it’s called “social” media for a reason!

7. Monitor Your Site’s Performance

Last but certainly not least, keep an eye on your site’s performance. Tools like Google Search Console, GTmetrix, and Pingdom can provide valuable insights into how your site is doing and where it can improve.

What to Monitor:

• Page load times.
• Broken links.
• Traffic trends.
• Search engine rankings.

Regularly monitoring these metrics will help you stay ahead of potential issues and keep your site running smoothly.

Final Thoughts

Launching a WordPress website is an exciting achievement, but the real work starts now. By following these seven must-do’s, you’ll ensure your site is secure, optimized, and ready to engage with your audience. Remember, maintaining a website is an ongoing process, so keep learning, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to tweak things as you go along.

And hey, if you ever need a helping hand with your WordPress website, whether it’s for design, SEO, or anything in between, I’ve got your back. Check out my services at WordPress Website Services and let’s make your website shine!