Navigating the WordPress General Settings can seem alarming for those unfamiliar with the platform. However, understanding these settings is crucial for managing your website effectively. This guide will go through these settings, making them accessible to the users and new to the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) world.
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Contents
Accessing the WordPress General Settings
To begin, you need to access the WordPress General Settings.
After logging into your WordPress dashboard, locate the “Settings” option on the left-side menu. Clicking “Settings” will reveal a dropdown menu where you should select “General.” This action will lead you to the General Settings page.
Understanding the WordPress General Settings
Site Title and Tagline
The Site Title is your website’s name, appearing in most themes’ header and web browser’s title bar. It is significant in SEO and user experience. The Tagline, a brief description or slogan for your site, typically appears beneath the Site Title.
WordPress and Site Address (URL)
The WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) are critical components of your WordPress General Settings. The former refers to the location of your WordPress core files, while the latter is the directory your visitors access. Unless you give WordPress its directory, these URLs will typically be identical.
Email Address and Membership
The Email Address is the default for administrative purposes, such as new user notifications. The Membership setting allows you to control user registration on your site. To permit anyone to register, check the box next to “Anyone can register.”
New User Default Role and Site Language
The New User Default Role determines the role assigned to new users by default, typically set as ‘Subscriber.’ The Site Language setting allows you to select the language for your WordPress dashboard.
Timezone, Date Format, and Time Format
The Timezone setting in your WordPress General Settings lets you set your website’s timezone according to your location. The Date Format and Time Format settings allow you to customize how dates and times appear on your site.
Week Starts On
The “Week Starts On” setting lets you select the starting day of the week for your calendar.
Saving Your Changes in WordPress General Settings
After adjusting your WordPress General Settings, click “Save Changes” at the bottom. If you navigate away without saving, your changes will not be preserved.
Recommended WordPress General Settings for Only One Administrator and Content Writer on the Site
These are the recommended settings if you’re the only user to post content.
Login to your WordPress Dashboard.
On the left side menu bar, click on [Settings]. It will navigate to the [General] settings page.
Site Title: <Write your site title>
It should be between 10 and 60 characters.
Tagline: <Write your slogan>
In most themes, this will appear under the title of the blog. You can add there your main keywords. Tagline example: All that iPhones – News, Applications, Guides, Comparisons
WordPress Address (URL): https://www.yourdomain.com
Site Address (URL): https://www.yourdomain.com
These two settings for most users should be the same. If you use HTTPS rewrites, your default URL always contains HTTPS, so should your URL in both settings. If you choose to use the “www” prefix in your domain, you should use it in both settings.
If you use the “www” prefix in WordPress General Settings, WordPress will automatically create 301 permanent redirect from “yourdomain.com” to “https://www.domain.com”.
Membership: [ ] Anyone can register
You should turn off these settings if you’re the only user that will post content.
Check that the rest of the settings suit your needs.
Click [Save Changes] at the bottom.
Read More
You can read more about the WordPress General Settings screen in WordPress Docs.
Conclusion
Understanding the WordPress General Settings is vital in managing your WordPress site, especially for those new to the SEO world. By mastering these settings, you can significantly enhance your site’s functionality and user experience.
The current article is "5.4. WP General Settings" of our Complete SEO Guide Box.
Previous Article: 5.3. Create/Remove Users. Next Article: 5.5. WP Writing Settings
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