How to configure the CloudFlare CDN for your WordPress blog?

La speed Page load plays a crucial role in ranking a blog on search engine results. In addition to quality of the content, the fastest websites are usually better referenced on Google.

Some of our users often ask us what makes our blog so fast. The answer is simple: we use W3 Total Cache et CloudFlare. And it is precisely on this second tool that we will devote this tutorial.

But before, if you have never installed WordPress discover How to Install a WordPress Blog in 7 Steps et How to search, install and activate a WordPress theme on your blog 

Then let's come back to what we are here for ...

What's this CloudFlare ?

CloudFlare is a content delivery network (in English CDN) . It optimizes your website by acting as a proxy between visitors and the server, which helps protect your website from hacker attacks.

It offers a free basic plan suitable for small websites and blogs. It also offers premium plans starting from $ 20 per month for the first website and only $ 5 dollars for the following websites.

how to configure the CloudFlare CDN cloudflare-analytics

What are the advantages of CloudFlare ?

CloudFlare is more focused on security and spam control. He uses different technologies to serve content through his networks. CloudFlare serves content through its own DNS, and you are invited to modify the DNS of your blog so that they point to their servers.

CloudFlare acts as a proxy between you and your blog visitors, which means you give up some control. Il Optimizes the loading speed of your blog pages while protecting the latter from attacks by malicious robots and hackers.

Disadvantages of use CloudFlare

Some users believe that while it improves loading time, the difference is not too obvious.

There are also some users who complain that CloudFlare prevents some users from accessing the blog, which they read so often. It does this by displaying a confirmation page "Of humanity" (-- captcha) for visitors, so that they can prove that they are legitimate users. This can be very annoying for newcomers, who may leave your blog.

How Install Cloudflare on your website WordPress

Before integrating the service, make sure it's not your web host that's slow. If you think this could be your web host then maybe you should consider upgrading to a better one first. hosting provider WordPress. If you want to use CloudFlare, we recommend hosting FastComet

To configure Clou63dFlare, the first thing you need to do is create an account on CloudFlare.

cloudflare-signupform

Provide the necessary information on your blog, and click «Create account now ». In the next step, you will need to provide the URL to your blog.

cloudflare-addwebsite

CloudFlare Will analyze your blog. It may take about 60 seconds, and during this time you will see a video on the operating principle of The platform, and how to install it on your server.

Discover How to upgrade to HTTPS with CloudFlare

We recommend that you watch this video. Once the scan is complete, you need to click « keep on going » to proceed with the installation.

cloudflare scan

After scanCloudFlare will show you a list of all the DNS records found by their system. Your under-areas will also be included. DNS records that will be supported by CloudFlare will have an orange cloud icon.

cloudflare-configuredns

CloudFlare will also add FTP subdomains and SSH for you. If you use your domain name to connect to your FTP or SSH, from now on you will have to use ftp.votredomaine.com To connect in FTP mode and SSH, ssh.votredomaine.com. New subdomains will not be supported by CloudFlare.

See also our article on Dedicated servers, VPS, Shared or Cloud? What is the best WordPress hosting solution

Once you are Satisfied of all your records, click on the checkbox “I've added ALL missing records, continues (I added all the missing records, continue), to proceed with the installation.

cloudflare-chooseplan

On the next screen, you will be prompted to choose a tuning, performance, and security plan. If you use SSL On your blog, then it is important to remind you that SSL Does not work with the service free de CloudFlare. Leave the rest of the options at their default values ​​and click the Continue button.

See also our comparison on Sucuri VS CloudFlare: The Best CDN for WordPress

On the next and final step of your configuration, CloudFlare will ask you to update your nameservers (DNS). You will be prompted to change your name servers to point to those of CloudFlare.

How to change DNS to point to CloudFlare

Important : changing the server name may take some time to spread across the Internet. It is possible that during this time, your website becomes unavailable for some users.

Also improve the speed of your blog with our 7 premium WordPress plugins to optimize the caching of your website

To change your DNS to point to servers CloudFlare, you need to log into your web hosting account. Like most web hosts offer a cPanel to manage web hosting accounts, we will provide you with instructions on how to change the names of your servers using cPanel.

However, if your host does not have cPanelthen you can ask him how to proceed.

Once you are connected to your dashboard cPanel, scroll to the section DomainsThen click on the domain manager (Domain Manager or similar title).

domain-manager

On the next screen, you will be prompted to choose the domain name you want to change. Once you select the domain name you want to edit, you will see the edit options for that domain. You must click on the Name Servers tab (Name Servers).

nameservers

You must enter the DNS of CloudFlare in the above fields. After that, you must return to the configuration page CloudFlareTo click "I updated my nameservers, continue" to complete the installation.

5 VPN services for your WordPress blog : discover them by consulting this article.

That's it, your blog is now protected by Cloudflare.

Important : the screenshots above were taken with an account Bluehost. Your settings may be different if you are using a different web hosting provider.

Discover also some premium WordPress plugins  

You can use other WordPress plugins to give a modern appearance and to optimize the handling of your blog or website.

We offer you here some premium WordPress plugins that will help you do that.

1. Portfolio Designer 

Portfolio designer is a WordPress Plugin premium designed with the objective of providing you with an all in one solution to create a portfolio that adapts to your blog (regardless of the WordPress theme used).

portfolio designer wordpress plugin.jpg

On the product description, you will notice that the author is already highlighting the diversity of demos and the different layouts offered by this plugin.

See also How to create a Marketplace with WordPress

It’s a WordPress Plugin quite impressive which we tested and appreciated. 

Download | Demo | Web hosting

2. Mega Main Menu

Mega Main Menu is another WordPress Plugin premium which costs only $15. It's a WordPress plugin that has been featured several times on CodeCanyon and has already been sold thousands of times. Mega Main Menu WordPress Menu Plugin

In the functionalities section, this is one of the most versatile plugins on the market. It offers more than 10 styles of drop down menu to choose from. You will be able to use Google fonts, vector icons and even other types of content (image / text / video).

Learn by consulting this article How to Build a Successful Business on the Internet

The team behind this plugin is constantly improving it and offers quite satisfactory customer support. It's a must have plugin, especially if you are looking for a megamenu plugin on WordPress.

Download | Demo | Web hosting

3. Visual Composer Table Prices Add-On

The Visual Composer Table Price premium extension is a responsive WordPress plugin that was designed specifically for WordPress themes which are compatible with the Visual Composer plugin. The particularity of this plugin is that it allows you to fully customize the background, text colors and transparency of your price grid.

Visual Composer Ultimate Pricing Tables Add on

Price lists are generally designed in such a way that they are attractive for a call to action. With this plugin, you will also have impressive "font-icons" to add a unique look to your price lists.

Discover more How to add a widget to the header of your WordPress blog

Its main features are: call to action buttons, customizable layout, customizable borders, transparency effects, hover animations, and more.

Download Demo | Web hosting

Other recommended resources

We also invite you to consult the resources below to go further in the grip and control of your website and blog.

Conclusion

Here ! That's it for this tutorial. We hope this article has helped you to add the free service CloudFlare to your blog WordPress. If you liked this article then feel free to Share with your friends.

However, you will also be able to consult our resources, if you need more elements to carry out your projects of creation of Internet sites, by consulting our guide on the WordPress blog creation.

But, in the meantime, tell us about your Comments and suggestions in the dedicated section.

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