The purpose of your WordPress menus—also known as the navigation or “nav” bars—is to help your website visitors around your website. By default, most WordPress themes put the pages you create into your navigation bar—in the order they are created (you can change the page order numerically by editing the page attributes). This default setting…

The theme is what controls the entire look and feel of your WordPress website. Many themes are based on frameworks (i.e. StudioPress themes are based on Genesis). Here’s a five minute guide to WordPress themes and frameworks, plus a checklist to consider as you’re looking for themes. 1. Frameworks are like a blank canvas. Theme…

Do you know how often your host backs up your files and your WordPress database? Do you know how much they charge to restore that backup? If they only back up your files once a month, what will happen to this month’s posts, comments, and images if your site is hacked or somehow deleted? If…

Google Analytics is usually considered the standard for site statistic and analytics. However, it’s just one option out of many. Here are five different ways to track your site’s stats—and details on just how easy it is to install Google Analytics in a self-hosted WordPress site. 1. From your host. Most web hosts have some…

Jetpack is a WordPress plugin that brings mixed reviews depending on who you’re talking to. It’s an ever-popular download, but it’s not popular in all crowds. So what’s the deal with Jetpack? Why would you want it? And why wouldn’t you? Here’s a run-down on Jetpack, with an explanation of a few of the pros…

WordPress.org allows you to add features to and completely customize your website through the use of plugins. A plugin is something you choose and install on your WordPress.org site that adds some sort of feature or enhancement to your site. You can activate or deactivate each plugin at will. There are thousands of free plugins…

Whether I’m setting up a brand new WordPress site, or optimizing an existing install, I always visit the settings first. If it’s a fresh site, I want the settings to be right from the get-go. If it’s a site that needs help, a glance at the settings often tells me what needs optimized first. So…

When you’re logged in to the administrative or “back end” area of WordPress, you’re in what’s called your Dashboard. It’s where you can control everything about your site; the dashboard is where the action takes place. Here are five things to know about your WordPress dashboard. 1. The Toolbar is your best friend. The dark…

If you’ve been blogging or using social media for any length of time, you’ve probably filled out dozens of profiles. And if you blog anywhere besides your own site, you probably have multiple WordPress profiles. And yes, you probably need them all. WordPress profiles all have the same look and feel, though plugins and platform…

Your WordPress username and password are what lets you inside your WordPress dashboard. Together they are two of the most important security features of your site—especially if you are using WordPress.org. While WordPress.com users won’t have the option of an admin username (#3), it is still important for you to have a secure password. Automated…

The first step to becoming savvy inside WordPress is to understand the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. They share the same logo, name, and many of the same features, but that’s where the similarities end. WordPress.com Anyone can sign up for a free WordPress.com account and get a free site at yourname.wordpress.com. Paid upgrade bundles…