WordPress Basics: Dashboard Settings Include General, Writing, Reading, Discussion, Media, Privacy and Permalinks
New WordPress users might feel overwhelmed at first but a little familiarity will show you it is not as complex as it first can seem.
WordPress Video Tutorial Below – the Dashboard Settings
1. Settings, General
After you install WordPress go to your Dashboard and click on Settings, General. You can add the title of your website and the tagline there. Click Save.
2. Settings, Writing
Then go to Settings, Writing and choose how many lines you would like to see in your post and page boxes when you are writing. Save.
3. Settings, Reading – Static Front Page or Blog Posts
Then go to Settings, Reading and choose whether to show your blog posts or a static page on the front of your website. A static page means the front of the website will not change.
If you choose to show your blog then the front page will change every time you write a new blog post because the new post will show at the top. You can choose a specific page or blog post to show on the static page. Of course you’ll need to add those first under Pages and Posts.
4. Settings, Discussion – Comments
The next subject below Reading is Discussion and this deals with Comment settings. You can leave much of it on the default settings for now or click to choose to be emailed for approval when there is a comment.
As soon as you start adding content the comments will flood in, mostly spam. It’s important to add the Akismet spam blocker plugin right away because the spam comments can pour in by the dozens at a time.
5. Settings, Media
You can take a look at the Media Settings and leave them on the default unless you have a specific change you wish to make.
6. Settings, Privacy
Under Privacy Settings you can choose to allow search engines to index the site or not. You might want to keep the site private until you have it ready for the public.
7. Settings, Permalinks
Under Permalink Settings you can choose to have the links that will be created to your content formatted. Instead of having the links show numbers and symbols it’s better to show the name of the post in the permalink.
When the link shows up in an internet list of results people can see the name of the post in the link then instead of the numbers and symbols. Put a dot in the radio button of your choice.
These Settings will get your new site started for the internet. Later you can fine tune the settings to suit your goals.