Learn How to Use WordPress Like a Pro in 8 Easy Steps

Learn How to Wordpress

So, you’ve done all the hard work. You’ve followed our master guide on how to install WordPress onto your blogging platform.

And, you’ve spent considerable time installing plugins and changing your permalink structures.

Congratulations, and well done on making it this far!

From here on in, things are about to get a whole lot more interesting.

Because now, the fun begins.

We’re going to teach you how to WordPress like a pro in just a few easy steps.

How to WordPress

There is a common problem that many people have after they’ve installed WordPress: Now that they have it, they don’t know how to get the best out of it.

But, what exactly do Pro bloggers know that the vast bulk of people don’t? What secrets and tricks do the pros use with WordPress to take their content to an entirely new level?

The good news is, not only do we know what those tricks and tips are, but we’re super eager to share them with you. Sharing is caring, after all.

So, if you’re interested in learning more about how to WordPress, buckle up.

In this article, we’re going to show you how to maximize your use of WordPress by using it the way the experts do.

Ready for your crash course?

Super! Let’s do this!

Use WordPress Like a Pro: 8 Easy Steps

Step 1 – Use Your SideBar Properly

What’s worse than having too little information?

Too much information.

Take a close look at how most people use their SideBars and one glaring realization will hit you instantly: Most people do not use their SideBars to maximum efficiency.

The average SideBar is an overused, noisy, cluttered mess.

Most are overstuffed with ads, social media icons and links to all sorts of different pages.

But, buried beneath all of that information, might just be a piece of content that you want your audience to click on. If that information is lost in the noise, it may as well not be there at all.

If you want to use your SideBar like a pro, pare it down to the bare essentials. Remove anything that isn’t actively working for you.

Here’s a good rule to follow. If anything on your SideBar is not…

  • Adding to your current list
  • Getting people to take action
  • Putting money in your bank

It has no reason to be there.

Step 2 – Engage Your Audience In the Footer

Many novice WordPress users forget about the importance of the footer. This is to their detriment.

The footer is down at the bottom of your WordPress site, and it has a power all of its own.

Why?

Because people go to the footer to see who is behind a site, and what they’re all about.

Pros use their footer and you should too.

Instead of including copyright information and things of that nature, use it to provide opt-in opportunities or share important links that you want your audience to click on instead.

Step 3 – Distraction Free Writing

Your blog will live or die by its content. So, you have got to get that content to look and feel professional.

One of the quickest ways to do that is to eliminate distractions while you’re writing. And, for your ease of use, WordPress offers you a Distraction Free Writing option.

If you want to blog like a pro, you should enable that option. It will hide any unnecessary features and it will keep you focused on the one most important thing – the writing.

Step 4 – Schedule Your Posts

Did you know that WordPress offers you the chance to schedule your posts?

With this awesome offering, WordPress will automatically publish your content on a set time and date of your choice.

Most pros use this to great effect and now, you can too.

If you want to make use of this feature, follow these steps:

  • Open the post you want to schedule
  • In the Publish Box, click on Edit button
  • Specify the date, time and day that you want to publish your post

And there you go, your post will be automatically published.

Step 5 – Look More Professional

In another effort to have your blog look more professional, you should opt to remove the admin toolbar from your blog.

When the admin toolbar appears on your blog, not only is it incredibly distracting, but it looks really out of place.

To remove it, follow these simple steps:

  1. Click on Users in your WordPress Account
  2. Click on Your Profile
  3. You’ll see an option that states: ‘Show Toolbar When Viewing Site’. Uncheck the box

Hey presto, your blog looks more professional at the click of a button.

Step 6 – Use Your Media Library Like an Expert

The WordPress Media Library is a directory of every single media file (images, audio, documents) that has been uploaded to your site.

The good news is you can organize it to use it its full potential.

One of the best things to do with your media library is to create one integrated folder where all your files go.

This will make it easy for you to search for previous content, etc.

To do this, go to Settings & Media, and simply uncheck the button next to ‘Organize my uploads into month-and-year based folders’.

Step 7 – Use Your Permalinks Effectively for Search Engine Optimization

Apart from the default permalink structure, all of the permalink structures that WordPress currently offers are search engine friendly. But, well-organized permalinks are the holy grail for SEO.

To keep your permalinks super SEO friendly, follow some of these suggestions:

  • Keep your URLs short – under 100 characters ideally
  • Use keywords in URLs but do not stuff too many keywords in
  • Use hyphens as separators and get rid of words such as and, or, but, of, the
  • Eliminate any and all unnecessary words

Your permalinks should look neat and pretty. Anything else and you’re losing your audience.

Step 8 – Use Images

Always try to incorporate images into your posts. Not only do they bring a huge visual enhancement to your post, but they can help you brand yourself subtly too.

Before you use any images, here are some pro tips:

  • Don’t just pick any image. Choose it carefully and be discerning
  • Make sure that the image is a suitable size (check the screen resolutions of those visiting your site)
  • Consider installing some plugins to help your images work properly. Some great plugins will even optimize your images for SEO.
  • Add a keyword to every image you upload.

A picture paints a thousand words. Use yours to compliment your content.

Ready to use WordPress Like a Pro

So, there you have it. 8 easy steps to help you use WordPress like a pro.

Are you ready to put some of these tricks and tips to good use?

If you do, one thing is guaranteed: Your content, and your audience, will thank you for it.