| Now that you have your WordPress blog up and | | | | website host, or internet service provider. You may |
| running it is time to do some search engine | | | | have used your web-mail if you check your email |
| optimization. To do this I want to start with some | | | | from a browser. If you are still unsure how to check |
| settings located in your WordPress admin area. After | | | | your web-mail account, call your internet service |
| changing a few settings I will introduce you to a | | | | provider or website host for assistance. |
| plugin and how to activate the plugin. After that I will | | | | Earlier I mentioned where to enter your code, but |
| talk about downloading a new plugin that will require | | | | here is a little more explanation for anyone still |
| uploading to your blog. The downloading and | | | | looking. Once you get the welcome email and API |
| uploading discussion will touch on using two methods: | | | | Code, in your WordPress Blog's admin you will see a |
| an FTP client, or a website host. Finally, the article will | | | | red bar on top with a reminder that you still have to |
| also address getting an API CODE which is necessary | | | | enter an API Code. Click the red reminder or go to |
| for activating the spam plugin and stats plugin. | | | | the Plugin tab, your Akismet will be waiting for you |
| The first step is to modify what are called, | | | | to enter your code. |
| Permalinks. A permanent link is a direct link to your | | | | Next, if you want to get traffic information or stats |
| post, that allows visitors to read the post after it | | | | on your blog's visitors, in the Plugin area of your blog |
| falls off the home page. So to optimize your | | | | there is a link to get a plugin. This plugin is not loaded |
| permalink: | | | | so click the link and you will be directed to the plugin |
| | | | download page. The link to the download can be |
| 1. Login to your admin area. | | | | found in the description of Akisment, it is called "WP |
| 2. In the WordPress admin click Options. In the dark | | | | Stats plugin". Specifically, look in the description of |
| blue bar just below Options is a text link called, | | | | Akismet and at the end of the description you will |
| Permalinks. Click Permalinks and activate the option, | | | | see ... see also: WP Stats plugin. Click the link and you |
| "Custom specify below". Now activated, the field | | | | will be taken to some more information about the |
| below will become active and you can type the | | | | plugin. On the right side of the page is a Download |
| following-- %postname%/% day%-%year%/ (make | | | | Plugin button. Click the button and a file will be |
| sure to remove the space between the third percent | | | | downloaded onto your computer; if you get a |
| symbol and the word day). | | | | download warning click "ok" to download. |
| The next optimization setting will be to make your | | | | Where your plugin is downloaded will depend on your |
| blog public. To do this you will need to: | | | | computer's setting. So take note of the directory |
| | | | where you download your internet folders. When the |
| 1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard. | | | | plugin is downloaded it will show up as a "zipped" |
| 2. In the WordPress admin dashboard, click Options, | | | | folder. Double click the "zipped" folder and a new |
| which will bring up a text menu located in the dark | | | | folder will be added to your download destination, the |
| blue bar; you should see a link called, Privacy. Click the | | | | folder will be called "stats". Open the folder and read |
| link and you will see a few options. Click the box next | | | | the "read me" file for installation instructions. |
| to "I would like my blog to be visible to everyone, | | | | To get the plugin to work you will have to upload |
| including search engine (like Google, Sphere, | | | | the folder to the server where your blog is located. |
| Technorati) and archivers. | | | | To upload to a blog hosted by your website host, |
| Now that the blog is public you will want to control | | | | you have two options: |
| any spam. For spam control you will activate | | | | |
| something called a plugin; a plugin adds functionality to | | | | 1. Use your website hosting control panel. To use |
| your blog. The spam plugin is already loaded but not | | | | your hosing panel, there should be a link that reads, |
| yet activated. It can be found in the text menu you | | | | manage files (or something similar). |
| used in the previous step. Look for a tab called, | | | | 2. Once you click that link you will see a list of files |
| Plugins. The Plugins tab is near the Options tab. When | | | | and folders for your website. You will need to select |
| you find the plugins tab, click it. | | | | the destination folder to where your plugin will be |
| - When you click the plugin tab you will see a small | | | | uploaded. Using the installation instructions, the read |
| list of plugins already installed. Locate the plugin called | | | | me file in the Stats folder on your computer, go to |
| Akismet. On the far right of the Akismet Plugin there | | | | the folder specified. Select the folder you want to |
| will be a text link that reads, Activate. Just click the | | | | upload to. Usually, you have to check a box or click |
| activate link and the plugin will activate, but it is not | | | | the folder you want to upload your plugin to |
| yet set to operate. | | | | otherwise it will just upload to your root directory |
| Once the Akismet plugin is activated you will be | | | | and the plugin will not work. So select the folder and |
| asked for an API CODE. This is not hard so don't be | | | | then find the "browse" button or "upload" button. |
| scared by the technical sounding name. How and | | | | When you click the button you will be able to |
| where you installed your blog is the criteria for | | | | navigate on your computer. Find the directory where |
| receiving your API Code. Basically, what we are | | | | you downloaded your plugin. |
| looking for is a Welcome email from WordPress. | | | | 3. Upload the plugin and return to your WordPress |
| Depending on your situation you may, or may not, | | | | Admin. Go to your Plugin tab and activate the |
| have received this welcome email. If you have | | | | WordPress Stats plugin. The API Code is the same |
| received a welcome email retrieve your API CODE | | | | code you used before. There will be a new link in |
| and return to the plugin page for your WordPress | | | | your admin for checking your stats. |
| blog. After you enter the API code, the plugin should | | | | 4. The other option for uploading and downloading |
| now be active. | | | | files is to use a ftp client like Fetch (mac) or winFtp |
| The other situation is you have a website and you | | | | (windows). There are also programs you can use to |
| installed WordPress from your hosting control panel. | | | | help build websites and these have ftp capabilities |
| In this case you will have to sign up with WordPress | | | | too. For example, Dreamweaver or Frontpage both |
| to get the API Code and welcome email: | | | | have built in ftp clients. If you have an ftp client, or |
| - Go to and sign up for an account. When you do, | | | | you use Dreamweaver or Frontpage, I want to point |
| you will have two options: sign up for only an | | | | out that you have to set up the connection for the |
| account, or sign up for an account with a blog. You | | | | ftp program to work. While this is outside the scope |
| will only sign up for an account. | | | | of this article, the information you will need to get |
| After you get your WordPress account (which is a | | | | can be obtained by asking your website host the |
| different account than your blog) follow the account | | | | following question, "what are my ftp connection |
| setup and you will be given an API CODE in a | | | | settings." |
| welcome email that will immediately be sent. With | | | | I know uploading files can be scary, especially if it is |
| your code go back to your blog admin. If you do not | | | | your first time. Just go slow and you will be fine. |
| receive a welcome email, check your spam box in | | | | Learning to upload is very important because there |
| your email. If it is not there, sometimes emails are | | | | are dozens of useful plugins to help with optimization. |
| blocked before they get passed to your email client | | | | This article just touched on blog optimization and |
| on your computer, so you may have to check your | | | | learning to upload a plugin. In future articles I will be |
| web-mail spam box. If you don't know what a | | | | going further into optimization and what plugins I like |
| web-mail account is, let me give you a brief definition: | | | | to use. |
| A web-mail account is usually offered by your | | | | |