How To Make WordPress Site Public

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When you’re developing a new website on WordPress, you may want to keep it private until you’re ready to launch. However, once you’ve completed your site and are ready to show it off to the world, you’ll need to make it public. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps to make your WordPress site public.

Step 1: Check Your Site’s Visibility Settings

First, you’ll want to ensure that your site’s visibility settings are set to allow search engines to index your site. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Go to Settings > Reading.
  3. Under the “Search Engine Visibility” section, make sure the checkbox next to “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” is unchecked.
  4. Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.

Now, your site will be visible to search engines, allowing them to crawl and index your content.

Step 2: Set Up Permalinks

Next, you’ll want to set up your site’s permalinks so that your URLs are user-friendly and easy to remember. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Select the permalink structure that best suits your needs. We recommend using the “Post name” option.
  3. Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.

Now, your site’s URLs will be more user-friendly and easier for search engines to understand.

Step 3: Install an SSL Certificate

Having an SSL certificate installed on your site helps to ensure that your users’ data is secure and improves your search engine rankings. If you don’t already have an SSL certificate installed, follow these steps:

  1. Contact your web hosting provider and inquire about obtaining an SSL certificate. Some providers offer free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt.
  2. Once your SSL certificate is installed, go to Settings > General in your WordPress dashboard.
  3. Update both the “WordPress Address (URL)” and “Site Address (URL)” fields to use “https://” instead of “http://”.
  4. Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.

Now, your site will be more secure and will rank higher in search engine results.

Step 4: Optimize Your Site for Search Engines

To help improve your site’s search engine rankings and attract more visitors, you’ll want to optimize your site for search engines. You can do this by:

  • Installing an SEO plugin, such as Yoast SEO, to help you optimize your content and metadata.
  • Creating high-quality, original content that provides value to your users.
  • Ensuring your site is mobile-friendly and responsive.
  • Using descriptive, keyword-rich titles and headings throughout your site.

By following these steps, you’ll improve your site’s search engine rankings and attract more visitors to your site.

Step 5: Share Your Site with the World

Now that your site is public, optimized, and secure, it’s time to share it with the world! Promote your site through social media, email marketing, and other online channels to start driving traffic to your site.

By following these steps, you’ll successfully make your WordPress site public and ready for the world to see. Happy website launching!