Here are the steps I use when I set up a new site in WordPress.

  1. Get a domain name
  2. Get hosting
  3. Get a wordpress.com API (for spam and stats, see below)
  4. Get a Google Account
  5. Set up Google Apps for the domain
  6. Change the logo in Google Apps to the client’s logo
  7. Create a Google Analytics account (with Google Account)
  8. Create a Google Webmaster Tools account: (in Google Account, upload sitemap at domainroot/sitemap.xml)
  9. Create a FeedBurner account (with same Google account as analytics)
  10. Create a MailChimp account
  11. Create a Pingdom account
  12. Install WordPress
  13. WordPress wp-config.php file: add “secret key code
  14. WordPress wp-config.php file, add these two lines: define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ’96M’);
    define (‘WP_POST_REVISIONS’, 2);
  15. WordPress settings: Settings > General: name of site, tagline, email, time zone
  16. WordPress settings: Settings > Writing: Size of the post box to 22
  17. WordPress settings: Permalinks >/%postname%/
  18. WordPress settings: Media > uncheck “Organize my uploads into month- and year-based folders”
  19. WordPress settings: Users > Add new: add client name, email, URL, password
  20. WordPress plugins: Akismet (add wordpress.com API)
  21. WordPress plugins: wordpress.com stats (add wordpress.com API)
  22. WordPress plugins: WordPress Database Backup (database only)
  23. WordPress plugins: Google Analyticator (config while logged into GA)
  24. WordPress plugins: Analytics 360 (config with your Google and MailChimp accounts)
  25. WordPress plugins: iPhone Webclip Panager (Create an iPhone bookmark icon—bookmark thewatermarkgroup.org for example)
  26. WordPress plugins: WPtouch (unless the theme uses HTML5 for image slideshows)
  27. WordPress plugins: All in One SEO Pack
  28. WordPress plugins: Google XML Sitemaps (build first sitemap at root/sitemap.xml)
  29. WordPress plugins: Tangofy
  30. WordPress plugins: WP PostViews
  31. Create a favicon from client’s logo. Upload via FTP, make changes in header file or theme settings.
  32. Change the wp-admin/images/logo-login.gif file to create a custom logo on the login screen (example).
  33. Follow the Top 5 WordPress Security Tips to prevent hacking