Things I Wish I Knew Before Creating My Website

  • This post details various blogging and web development tips, such as ensuring Google can index your site, enhancing user experience through informative 404 pages, and using breadcrumbs for easy navigation. It emphasizes the importance of a mobile-friendly design, efficient internal links, and regular backups.
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I wish I had learned these skills earlier in creating and maintaining a website. If I had mastered these skills early, I could have saved time and effort and developed and updated my new website without needing external help.

Website 101 Tips

Allowing Google to index your domain is vital for users to discover your website quickly through Google. To do this, you can use the powerful Google Search Console. Add every new post to the search console’s URL inspection, which will help you understand any errors affecting your website’s performance. Identifying and fixing these issues early can improve your website’s visibility and user experience.

Here are My Tips for Beginners:

  • Adding a personal touch to your website can make a significant difference. In the About Me section, you can include a profile of yourself along with a photo. 
  • However, creating a successful website involves more than adding a personal touch. To ensure that users can easily navigate your site, it’s crucial to use appropriate heading tags. Heading tags range from <h1> to <h6> and indicate the order of the content on your page. 
  • The <h1> tag represents the title of your page and is considered the most important heading. If you have subtitles or questions in your article, you should use the <h2> tag to define them. On the other hand, the <h6> tag is used for minor headers, such as descriptions. By using appropriate heading tags, you can improve the readability of your website and enhance the user experience. 
  • To improve your website’s visibility on Google, it is essential to have articles with a minimum of 300 words. However, keeping your content concise and engaging for readers who prefer shorter reads is also crucial. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a word count between 400 and 1100 words per post. 
  • To track the performance of your posts, you can use Google Analytics and analyze metrics such as page views, behavior, site speed, and page timings. This data can provide valuable insights into which posts resonate with your audience and help you optimize your content strategy accordingly.
  • When a user attempts to access a page on your website that does not exist, they are directed to a 404 page. Instead of simply displaying an error message, you can take advantage of this opportunity by providing helpful suggestions to the user. Including a search widget on the 404 page can assist users in finding more information and encourage them to stay on your website longer. 
  • Additionally, a sitemap is a page that lists all the pages on your website, making it easier for search engine crawlers to navigate through your site. By having a sitemap, you can ensure that search engines index all your pages, making them more likely to be discovered by users.
  • It’s essential to remember that changing a post’s publication date can significantly impact its position on your website compared to other posts. 
  • Breadcrumbs refer to internal links at the top or bottom of a webpage that allows users to navigate the website more easily. Using a link-shortening service like Bitly; you can track the number of clicks on each link and better measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. 
  • If you plan to add code to your posts, it’s best to switch to text mode first, paste the code, and then switch back to ensure the code integrates correctly.
  • If you want to enhance the safety of your online accounts, it is recommended that you change your username to something other than the default “admin.” 
  • Also, avoid using underlines when styling your text, as it can be confused with a hyperlink. 
  • To ensure your website runs smoothly, use Google’s Webmaster Tools to identify any URLs that result in “not found” errors. 
  • Testing your website design on various devices, screen sizes, and browsers is vital to ensure it is accessible and user-friendly for all visitors.
  • It is essential to back up and update your website regularly to keep it running smoothly. You should back up your website at least once a week to ensure its safety. This will allow you to restore your website if any technical issues arise while updating plugins or the system. 
  • It is also vital to ensure your website is optimized for mobile devices, as most website traffic and page views come from these devices. 
  • Additionally, organizing internal links within your posts can help keep your readers engaged and improve your website’s bounce rate with Google. 
  • To change the author’s name on your posts, log in to your dashboard, go to the “Users” section, and click “Profile.” 
  • Using formatting techniques such as italics, boldface, and lists, you can make your posts more visually appealing and easier to read. 
  • If there are certain links on your website that you don’t want Google to follow, you can add a “no-follow” tag to them. 
  • Also, using Google Analytics can help you gather information and make informed decisions about the type of content you should create for your website and how to improve it for your visitors.
  • Remember to update the slug when you change your post’s title. 
  • To enhance your writing skills, develop a daily writing habit. 
  • It’s also crucial to conduct thorough research and select the best hosting company for your website, as it can significantly impact its overall performance. While a low-priced hosting provider might seem like a good deal, it’s worth considering how it could affect your site’s speed and functionality in the long run. Choosing a dependable, high-performance hosting service ensures your website runs smoothly and efficiently.
  • Making mistakes or encountering setbacks can be a scary experience. However, it is crucial to remember that these situations provide valuable opportunities for growth and learning. If, for example, your website is hacked, you can use this experience to acquire knowledge about coding and enhance its customization. By discovering solutions to problems on your website, whether by watching videos, taking online lessons, or reading articles, you will gradually gain greater confidence in taking care of your website.
  • To protect your website from plagiarism, you can use Copyrighted.com. This online platform offers a free badge to signify that your content is protected and can only be duplicated with your permission or proper credit. 
  • Additionally, you should use rich snippets on your website and provide as much information as possible. Rich snippets help search engines like Google recognize you as the original content creator. 
  • Although no foolproof solution prevents plagiarism, these measures can help minimize the risk. In my years of experience online, I learned that people love to simplify the process by stealing other people’s creativity or ideas. I take it personally when others try to come and mess with my website or steal my content and think there won’t be consequences.
  • If you plan to have an online space, you need to learn defense in terms of security and plagiarism from others. See it this way: would you live in a home with doors and windows open for anyone to come in and take what they wish? No right. Learn how to protect your website, follow the movement inside your website, and block IPs. 

Following these practices ensures your website is secure, engaging, and user-friendly. I wish I had learned these tips from the beginning.

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Wendy Reyes


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See Also
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Introduction 101 to UX Design

How Important is Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for your Website?

How To Create An XML Sitemap And Submit It To Google

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Things I Wish I Knew Before Creating My Website

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