The default Wordpress install is a good start, but not only lacks some serious functionality, but has some that you don’t want. Included on your sidebar in a default install are Meta links, which include links to verify that your blog uses valid XHTML 1.0, CSS, etc, as well as a link to your Admin area.
It’s very important that everything on your blog provides some sort of actual value to your readers. While it’s very convenient to just be able to click your Admin link on your sidebar, you’re probably the only person to ever use that link. That’s a link that provides no value what-so-ever to your readers. The validation is the same idea. How many people do you think really care if your site validates XHTML 1.0 Strict?
Taking out the Meta links and replacing that valuable space with something worthwhile is one of the first things I do in a new Wordpress install. Different themes may do it differently, but most themes I’ve seen come an option to turn off the Meta links. Do it! Other themes you may have to go into your links section of your admin panel and delete them, or go into your sidebar.php file and remove that section (Presentation -> Theme Editor.)
Now you can just add your admin panel to you Firefox bookmark toolbar and click it to open up your admin panel!
I usually leave the login button as I have a couple of guest contributors from time to time and it makes it easier for them to login and write their posts. I always get rid of the others though. Also, don’t forget the footer links. I almost always delete the link to wordpress and depending on if I’ve edited the theme or if they require it, I will sometimes delete the link to the theme designer.
I add some PHP code around it, so it visible only for me as the admin, because I validate the xhtml code from time to time, and it’s a good advice
Great advice Funds Zine, that’s what I do too, but that’s for a different article
Good piece of advice actually, most of the stuff is rather useless, except maybe RSS subscribe, if that’s included anyway.
I always edit the Meta links, delete a few, etc. But now I’ll try and make better use of the space.
@Eli: Exactly, and with RSS Subscribe, you should probably move that to a more prominent place anyway, along with the RSS logo if you want anyone to subscribe.
Thanks for your entry, the carnival is up now! Great article!
http://homebizblogger.com/2007.....success-2/
I will buy you a sixpack (honest) if you can tell me how to fix this &#*%^@*@(#*^ code . . . I eliminated the meta stuff from the top page, but now all a person gets when they click any link is my top page. Nice, but I would like them to be able to leave comments/questions. Mine is a 10 year old site w/80,000 accesses a month from around the world and tons of accolades. It would be nice to get a blog working properly so I can continue moving forward. Thanks for ANYTHING you can do.
How the hell do you remove the meta crap?!
Tom, depends on the theme. If your theme supports widgets, just go into your theme editor and delete that widget. If not, you’ll need to go into the theme editor and edit the “footer.php” and delete (or comment-out) that piece of code.
Great post! I always thought it would be awesome if someone made a post about putting together an optimized Wordpress install- so that you can replicate it, if you are launching many sites. It’s such a pain to go through and “clean up” wordpress on every install. It’s not my niche, otherwise I would do a post…I could certainly use it for myself, I’m sure many others would benefit.