After installing WordPress, most people go straight into themes, plugins, or page design. The site looks live, the dashboard works, and it feels like everything is ready.
But in most sites I build or review, this is exactly where small configuration mistakes start. The default WordPress settings are not wrong, but they are not optimized for a real website either. Things like permalink structure, reading settings, and discussion options are often left untouched, and those decisions quietly affect SEO, usability, and even security.
If you skip this step, you can still build a working site. It just won’t be set up properly underneath.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer / Summary
Right after installing WordPress, you should configure:
- General settings (site title, timezone)
- Permalinks (SEO-friendly URLs)
- Reading settings (homepage + blog page)
- Discussion settings (comments and moderation)
- Media settings (image handling)
- Privacy settings (policy page)
These are quick to set up, but they affect how your site behaves long-term.
Why This Matters
These settings control how your site is structured and how it appears to both visitors and search engines.
For example:
- A wrong permalink structure can hurt SEO
- Incorrect reading settings can break your homepage setup
- Default comment settings can lead to spam
- Timezone issues can affect scheduled posts
In my experience, fixing these later is always more annoying than doing it correctly at the start.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. General Settings (Basic Site Setup)
Go to: Settings → General (see the official WordPress General Settings documentation)
Set the following:
- Site Title – Your website name
- Tagline – Optional, but useful for context
- WordPress Address / Site Address – Leave as is unless you know what you’re doing
- Email Address – Make sure this is correct
- Timezone – Set to your actual location
- Date Format / Time Format – Choose what fits your audience
Why this matters:
The timezone affects scheduling and timestamps. I often see sites publishing posts at the wrong time simply because this was never set.
2. Permalinks (Critical for SEO)
Go to: Settings → Permalinks
Select:
- Post name
This creates URLs like:
yourwebsite.com/sample-post/
Instead of:
yourwebsite.com/?p=123
Why this matters:
Search engines and users both rely on clean URLs. In most WordPress sites I set up, this is always the first thing I change.
Important:
Do this before publishing content. Changing permalinks later can break existing URLs.
3. Reading Settings (Homepage Setup)
Go to: Settings → Reading
Set:
- Your homepage displays
- “A static page” if you’re building a proper website
- Choose your homepage and blog page
If you haven’t created pages yet, you can leave this temporarily.
Also check:
- Search engine visibility
- Make sure “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” is NOT checked
Why this matters:
I regularly see new sites accidentally blocking search engines because this setting was left on.
4. Discussion Settings (Comments & Spam Control)
Go to: Settings → Discussion
Key settings to review:
- Disable comments if you don’t need them
- Or:
- Require manual approval for comments
- Enable comment moderation
- Limit links in comments
Why this matters:
If you leave everything open, you will get spam. Not “maybe”—you will.
In most cases, I either:
- Disable comments entirely (for business sites), or
- Set strict moderation rules
5. Media Settings (Image Handling)
Go to: Settings → Media
You’ll see default image sizes:
- Thumbnail
- Medium
- Large
You can leave these as default or adjust based on your theme.
Practical tip:
If you’re not sure, don’t change this yet. Themes often handle image sizes themselves.
Where this matters:
- Blog-heavy sites
- Image-focused layouts
- Performance optimization later
6. Privacy Settings (Required for Most Sites)
Go to: Settings → Privacy
- Select or create a Privacy Policy page
WordPress may generate a basic template for you.
Why this matters:
- Required for most regions (especially EU)
- Needed for analytics, cookies, and contact forms
You already have this page on your site, so just make sure it’s selected here.
Practical Tips and Observations
- I usually set permalinks immediately after installation before touching anything else
- Timezone is often overlooked but affects everything from scheduling to logs
- Many beginners skip reading settings and later wonder why their homepage looks wrong
- Comment settings should never be left on default for a live site
A good rule:
If a setting affects how your site behaves globally, set it early.
Common Mistakes
1. Leaving the default permalink structure
This is one of the most common SEO issues on new sites.
2. Forgetting to disable “Discourage search engines”
This can completely block your site from appearing in search results.
3. Not setting a homepage properly
Leads to a blog-style front page when that’s not the intention.
4. Allowing open comments without moderation
Results in spam within days.
5. Ignoring timezone settings
Creates confusion with publishing times and updates.
When to Use This vs Alternatives
These settings apply to standard WordPress installations, which is what your site is using.
However:
- If you’re using a managed WordPress platform, some settings may already be configured
- If you’re using a page builder or theme framework, certain layout-related behavior may override default settings
- Advanced users may adjust settings later for performance or SEO tools
But for most websites, this setup is the correct starting point.
Conclusion
Installing WordPress is only part of the setup. The default configuration works, but it’s not optimized for a real site.
If you take a few minutes to configure these settings properly, you avoid common issues with SEO, structure, and usability before they even appear.
Once this is done, everything else—your homepage, navigation, plugins, and SEO—will sit on a cleaner and more reliable foundation.
Etienne Basson works with website systems, SEO-driven site architecture, and technical implementation. He writes practical guides on building, structuring, and optimizing websites for long-term growth.