Updated: 21/01/2023

Published: 13/11/2019

By Editorial Team

WordPress Checklist

This is the Holy Grail of WordPress Checklists!

Using Bricks Builder Theme

Starting off

It is better to install WordPress to the root directory, that way internal link URL’s can flow easily.

I  recommend non-www URL

There are absolutely no SEO benefits of choosing one over another. Even Google has said that it all depends on your preference.

It is important that you stay consistent with the one that you choose at the time of starting your website.

If Google has already indexed your website, then use the indexed version, or set a 301 redirect.

From the WordPress dashboard, just click Settings > General.

Update the robots.txt in your root directory with the following code User-agent: * Disallow: /
This will prevent your website to be indexed before it is ready.
  1. Log in to WordPress as the administrator.
  2. Under Dashboard, click Settings, and then click General.
  3. Scroll down to the Timezone list box, and then select the time zone you want WordPress to use to display the time. …
  4. In the Week Starts On list box, select the day that begins the week in your region.
  5. Click Save Changes

By default, the front page of your WordPress site will display latest posts from your blog. If you would like to create a more traditional website, you can set a static “home” page instead.

  1. Log in to WordPress as the administrator.
  2. Under Dashboard, click Settings, and then click Reading.
  3. Under Your home page displays chose a static page and select the page.
  4. Click Save Changes.

Remove default content in Post and Pages, also empty trash.

Keep URLs as short as possible

A good setup up is:

Post name – An example of the post name structure is http://www.sample.com/sample-post 

Permalinks are the permanent URLs to your individual pages and blog posts, as well as your category and tag archives. A permalink is the web address used to link to your content. The URL to each post should be permanent and never change — hence the name permalink.

The Settings > Permalinks Screen allows you to choose your default permalink structure. You can choose from common settings or create custom URL structures. You must click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the screen for new settings to take effect.

 

Check the admin email is correct so you will be receiving notifications

Install Plugins & Themes

Less plugins and themes = GOOD

Bricks Builder is an awesome theme, it is similar to Elementor but FASTER and without additional plugins.

For added security and without the bloat install Ninja Firewall. 

If your host allows, enable in Full WAF

If your host uses litespeed technology.
Enable CDN caching

When you install Woo-Commerce be mindful of additional plugins that come along with Woo-Commerce. Remember less is more

Actually there are no SEO plugins that I recommend, Bricks Builder has in built minimum SEO and thus without additional bloat the website can run even faster and leaner

Install Woo-Commerce

Try and keep Woo-Commerce as vanilla as possible

When you install Woo-Commerce be mindful of additional plugins that come along with Woo-Commerce. Remember less is more

Less payment gateways = Faster WordPress Website. I recommend WooCommerce Payments. It is powered by Stripe.

WooCommerce Subscriptions is my recommendation.

If you are selling products that can be displayed on Google Shopping. CTX Feed Pro is a must install plugin. Feature Rich and quick.
 

Google Tag Manager is highly recommended for ecommerce websites.

GTM4WP does an excellent job in providing alalytics infomation to Google Tag Manager

Bricks Builder Theme Settings

The foundation is key when designing a website

A favicon (short for “favorite icon”) is an icon associated with a website or webpage intended to be used when you bookmark the web page. Web browsers use them in the URL bar, on tabs, and elsewhere to help identify a website visually. Also, it is used as application icon of mobile device.

Follow the below steps to set favicon in your site.

  1. Prepare image file. It must be square, and at least 512 pixels wide and tall.
  2. Go to Administration Screen > Appearance > Customize
  3. Click Site Identify
  4. Click Select Image at Site Icon section, upload the image file you prepared in the above step from Upload Files tab screen, and click Select.
  1. Setup main style > Conditions > Entire Website
  2. Element Section > Padding & Margin set to 0
  3. Container Section > Set Left & Right padding to 20 (10 for mobile)
  4. Typography > Recommend 17px
    • Font Size: 17px
    • Font: Helvetica Neue
    • Font Weight 400
    • Font Color: #545454
  5. Typography > Headings
    • All Headings Weight 400
    • H1 Font Size: 1.6em
    • H2 Font Size: 1.4em
  6. Links
    • Choose a different color
    • Bottom border 1px solid with matching color
    • Padding bottom 3px
  7. Hover elements to get darker

It is highly recommended that you use global classes for all items in Bricks Builder.

That way if you need to change the colour or font size of all items it can easily be done easier without updating all the individual elements.

A couple examples for really good ideas

Need to setup Templates for:
  • Header
  • Footer
  • Single Posts 
    • Single Post template should have breadcrumbs
  • Category Posts
  • Single Product Posts (if using Woo Commerce)
    • Single Product Post should have breadcrumb
  • Product Category Post (if using Woo Commerce)
Need to setup policies for:
  • Privacy Policy (Mandatory)
  • Terms & Conditions / or Terms of Service (even if offering a free product)
  • Refund Policy (if selling online)
  • Cookie Policy (if applicable)
  • Google Disclosure Policy (if applicable)

Ideally should be only 1 contact form on the website, accessible from top menu and call to actions within other pages.

The main reason is to speed up the websites as recapture will add extra time.

At the bottom of the page it will be good to have jump to menu anchor to help with navigation. 

An icon with ^ near the top right of the footer should suffice.

It is important to test all links within your website

  • Check that they lead to the right page
  • Check for broken links
  • Check whether images should link or not.
    • ** Important ** > Link Logo to home page

It is important to put alt tags in all images to help Google understand what they are. This can also help with SERP results

  • Try to use keywords in your alt tags. Especially if you are starting to rank in those keywords in the search console for that page.

It is very good to check the Heading Structure of your website

  • H1 (Can only be once in each Page *Use your Keyword here*)
    • H2 (should always be under H1)
    • H2 (another example of H2)
      • H3 (should always be under h2
        • H4 (should be under H3
          • H5 (should be under H4)
            • (H6 Should be under H5)
      • H3 (Another example of H3)
        • H4 (Another example of H4)
    • H2 (Is under H1)

Every page has errors in style, word choice, tone, grammar, spelling.

There are some online tools that can help with the readability

Bricks Builder has 4 device breaking points. It is good to check the website looks good on all 4 devices.

It is also good to check it on your mobile or tablet to be sure.

Optimisation

Faster, Slicker, Better

Speed! Faster is better! 

If there is something you don’t need on your website, remove it.

Check your page speed with

You can spend hours optimising caching options, set up at least basic caching.

Best way to speed up your website is to optimise the images so they are just right for the device they are loading for.

More information to come here as it will be a whole new article in itself

When sharing a page on Social Media you want the page to display OK

Check each page here on how it appears.

Check for 

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • SMS mobile messaging
  • Other platform messaging

SEO settings

Ready to get Google to index your website?

Let Google know you have a new website

It doesn’t hurt to also submit to Bing Webmaster

Create a GA4 account and get the GA4 ID for our website.

If you are using a simple website, you can copy and paste the tag into bricks

If you are using Woo-Commerce I recommend you use Google Tag Manager

 

If you are selling tangible products that are permitted to appear in Google shopping, I highly recommend a Google Merchant account.

This way you can take advantage of the Free & Paid Google Shopping.

For local SEO exposure I recommend you setup a Google business profile you can then link to your website

Easier said than done.
Some options
  • Submit to reddit
  • Submit to forums
Get reviews and testimonials on your website! You can never have enough of positive feedback

Maintenance

Keep an eye on your website

This goes without saying. You should have at least 1 backup, and one backup of the backup!

  • Keep it offsite if

Before you update your WordPress Website, Make sure you have a backup of it!

There are many updates that break websites and it is always good to have a backup.

If you have less plugins installed the chances of your website breaking is greatly reduced.

Keep your content up to date! 

Add more information to improve the ranking of your webpage.