WordPress optimization for search, users, and your sanity.

1. Building Better WordPress Sites
Optimization for search, users, and your sanity.
Brian LaFrance
Marketing Director – AuthorityLabs
brian.lafrance@authoritylabs.com
Twitter - @blafrance

2. Start Off Right
• Stock WordPress installs won’t cut it
• Self vs. Managed Hosting
• Apache vs. NGINX
• Use WP_DEBUG

3. Keep it Clean
• Delete any plugins you are not using
• Plugin for cleanup and preferred settings
• Avoid bloated themes

4. Speed it Up
• Caching Plugins
• Smaller images and sprites
• CDN & S3
• Redis

5. Managing Javascripts
• Plugin developers are lazy
• Use Google Hosted Libraries
• Use wp_enqueue_script()
• Monitor for errors
• Combine when possible (Segment.io)

6. Monitoring
• Chartbeat – load times & traffic trends
• Pingdom – load times & uptime
• New Relic – application monitoring
• Binary Canary – uptime & custom strings

7. Plugins
• More plugins = less security
• Choose wisely
• Plugins vs. Theme Functionality
• Not always one size fits all

8. Random Tips
• Keep everything up to date (can’t be said enough)
• Site searches = content ideas
• Don’t be afraid of custom post types
• Use multisite & domain mapping
• Frameworks can save time & headaches
• Learn to use hooks
• Never, ever edit core files. Ever. Don’t do it.

9. More information, links, and resources – bit.ly/pubconwp
Building Better WordPress Sites
Optimization for search, users, and your sanity.
Brian LaFrance
Marketing Director – AuthorityLabs
brian.lafrance@authoritylabs.com
Twitter - @blafrance