Optimizing Your WordPress Experience: 
7 Handy Practices    

Navigating through WordPress can feel overwhelming at times. With countless themes, plugins, and settings to explore, it's easy to overlook the platform's potential. Here are seven insightful WordPress tweaks to elevate your website management journey.    

2. ​Introduce a Splash of Surprise with Random Posts

Inject a fresh perspective by showcasing random articles on your sidebar. This introduces users to content they might not have otherwise encountered. Use the following code:     

function wpb_rand_posts() {       
$args = array( 
        'post_type' => 'post',
        'orderby'   => 'rand',         
        'posts_per_page' => 5,
         );
        $the_query = new WP_Query( $args );
         if ( $the_query->have_posts() ) { 
         $string .= '<ul>';
          while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) {
              $the_query->the_post();
              $string .= '<li><a href="'. get_permalink() .'">'. get_the_title() .'</a></li>';
          }
          $string .= '</ul>';
             /* Restore original Post Data */
            wp_reset_postdata();
      } else {
          $string .= 'no posts found';
      }
         return $string; }     
add_shortcode('wpb-random-posts','wpb_rand_posts');
add_filter('widget_text', 'do_shortcode');

3. Enabling User Registration

Unlock WordPress's built-in user management prowess by permitting user registration. To activate, head to Settings » General and check the box adjacent to the Membership option. Unsure about the default role for new users? "Subscriber" is a safe bet.    

4. Personalizing the User Registration Form

The standard WordPress registration form might feel too generic. Customize it for a tailored user experience. Activate the WPForms plugin (Pro plan upwards) and then turn on the user registration addon. From WPForms » Add New, select the User Registration Form template. Once crafted, your form's embed code can be placed on any post or page. 

5. Tailoring Your RSS Feed by Excluding Categories

For a more curated RSS feed experience, specific categories can be hidden. Integrate the following code to enact this change:   

function wpcode_snippets_exclude_feed_category( $query ) {
      if ( $query->is_feed ) {
          // Replace 15 with the desired category id you want to exclude.
          $query->set( 'cat', '-15' );
      } } add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'wpcode_snippets_exclude_feed_category' );   

Ensure you replace the category ID (15 in this example) with your desired category's unique ID.

6. Personalizing Email Sender Name

Adjust the default excerpt length to better encapsulate your post's essence. Implement this adjustment with the following: 

// Changing excerpt length 
function new_excerpt_length($length) {
      return 100; } add_filter('excerpt_length', 'new_excerpt_length');
    // Changing excerpt more function new_excerpt_more($more) {
      return '...'; } 
add_filter('excerpt_more', 'new_excerpt_more');// 

7. Modifying Post Authorship

Avoid the annual manual update of your copyright year by setting it to update automatically. 
Add the following to your footer:   

© 2009 – <?php echo date('Y'); ?> YourSite.com

Review Notes:

  1- For the random posts function, it's essential to ensure that $string is initialized before concatenating to it. To fix this, simply add $string = ''; at the beginning of the wpb_rand_posts() function.

  2-The rest of the code seems fine from a syntax perspective. However, always ensure you backup your website before making any changes to the theme's functions.php file or using any plugins. Testing on a staging environment first is always a good practice.

In Closing:

WordPress's expansive nature means there's always something new to learn or tweak. These seven practices, though small, can significantly enhance both user experience and administrative convenience. Remember, the beauty of WordPress lies in its flexibility, allowing for endless customization. Keep exploring, keep optimizing, and watch your website evolve.