When you first start using WordPress it can all seem a bit overwhelming. You basically just want to get your content 
out there with the minimum of fuss. Here are 10 time saving tips to help make using WordPress easier and faster.
#1: Use a spam filter
Checking through your junk comments can be time consuming and really annoying! Save yourself a LOT of time by installing the Akismet plugin and letting it filter all the junk out for you.
#2: Get to know the basic keyboard shortcuts
Knowing the basic keyboard shortcuts will save you some time, as well as some unnecessary clicking! Start by learning one or two, before building up your knowledge base and learning the others:
- Ctrl + C Copy
- Ctrl + V Paste
- Ctrl + A Select all
- Ctrl + B Bold
- Ctrl + I Italic
- Ctrl + U Underline
- Ctrl + Z Undo
- Ctrl + Y Redo
- Ctrl + 1 Heading 1
- Ctrl + 2 Heading 2
- Alt + Shift + T Insert ‘read more’ tag
- Alt + Shift + N Check spelling
- Alt + Shift + M Insert image
#3: Install Broken Link Checker
It can be really annoying for visitors on your site to be greeted with a link that doesn’t actually do anything! Install the ‘Broken Link Checker’ plugin to make it easier to solve this issue.
#4: Schedule your posts in advance
Life can easily get in the way of your intent to stick with a regular weekly blogging routine. There are other times when you just sit, staring at your screen with no idea what to write.
Make it easier on yourself by making the commitment to sit down just once a month and write 4 or 5 posts at a time. You can then schedule them all to be published throughout the month, by using the built-in WordPress scheduling tool:
- Just go to the ‘publisher’ section (to the right of your post)
- Click the ‘edit’ button next to ‘publish immediately’
- Select the date and time you want the post to go live.
#5: Use categories!
If you want to make it easier for your visitors to find relevant blog posts, make sure you’re using categories! It will also make it easier for you to check previous content to see if you’ve already covered a topic in your previous posts!
#6: Stop worrying about SEO – use the Yoast plugin!
Most business owners worry about the SEO on their site. Save yourself the time and stress, by installing the ‘Yoast SEO Plugin’.
#7: Use ‘screen options’ to get rid of unnecessary clutter
Sick of scrolling past unnecessary clutter on your post screen? Tidy it up by clicking on the pull-down ‘screen options’ tag at the upper right corner of your dashboard and unticking those things you’re not interested in seeing.
#8: Automatically share your new post details on Twitter
Save yourself a bit of time by automatically sharing your new post with your Twitter followers, by using the ‘WP to Twitter’ plugin.
#9: Get your images to load faster
If you want your images to load faster (for both you and your visitors) check out the ‘Smush.it’ plugin.
#10: Make opting in easy
Finally, one of the main reasons we all have blogs and websites is to build a list of people interested in what we do. Make creating those opt-in forms really easy on yourself, by using a plugin such as Thrive Leads. (Please note, this is the only ‘paid for’ plugin in this post and the link to it is our affiliate link. We will therefore be compensated a small amount, if you decide to buy through this link – however we ONLY recommend paid plugins that we use ourselves).
How many of these time saving tips do you already have in place? If any (or all) of them are new to you, which one will you get started with first? Why not share your thoughts and experiences on time saving tips in the comments box below!
Images courtesy Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net