OpenSolv

With every install of wordpress, I like to perform the following configurations.

1.) Update Permalinks for user friendly urls which may improve search engine results.
Settings–>Permalinks
Under Common Settings:
-Select Common Structure and enter /%postname%/

2.) Update comment blacklist.
Settings–>Discussion
Set the following:
Default article settings:
uncheck ‘Attempt to notify any blogs linked to from the article (slows down posting.)’
check ‘Allow link notifications from other blogs (pingbacks and trackbacks.)’
check ‘Allow people to post comments on the article’

E-mail me whenever settings:
check both ‘Anyone posts a comment’ and ‘A comment is held for moderation’

Before a comment appears settings:
check only (at a minimum)’Comment author must fill out name and e-mail’

Comment Moderation settings:
leave default

Comment Blacklist settings:
Add the following list:

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST

Avatars settings:
varies, is up to you.

3.) Generate a Sitemap.xml, for search engines.
Get plugin ‘XML Sitemap Generator for WordPress’ see http://www.arnebrachhold.de/redir/sitemap-home/. install is pretty straight forward. Download the zip, upload to server in plugins directory. Unzip and activate.
Then go to settings XML-Sitemap.
Under Status, click on build the sitemap link.
Under Basic Options ‘Building mode’, check the ‘Rebuild sitemap if you change the content of your blog’
Under Update notifications, check the ‘Modify or create robots.txt file in blog root which contains the sitemap location.
File permissions: OK, robots.txt is writable.’
Then scroll to the bottom and click Update Options.

4.) Create a Site Map page (this is different than the sitemap.xml). This will help your users navigate your site. It may also help your search engine results.
Get plugin ‘Sitemap Generator’ see ‘http://www.dagondesign.com/articles/sitemap-generator-plugin-for-wordpress/’. Install this like any other plugin.
Then go to Settings–>DDSitemapGen
I usually leave the settings to the default except for the following changes:
Under Sitemap Generation select the following:
What to show: Pages and posts
If showing both, which first: Pages first
Then under Miscellaneous enter the path to your sitemap.xml (This was created with the ‘XML Sitemap Generator for WordPress’) into the ‘Full path to XML sitemap:’ text box.
Scroll to bottom and click the Update options button.
Now go to Write–>Page
In the title put Site Map. In the Post, select the Html tab and enter the following:
<!-- ddsitemapgen -->
Uncheck the Allow Comments and also adjust the Page Order. I usually just put a really high number.

That is all for now.

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