Media Library Management: Uploads, Organization, and Cleanup

The purpose of this SOP is to provide a comprehensive guide for managing your media library in WordPress. This includes uploading and deleting files, organizing media folders, adjusting media settings, using Meow Media Cleaner for library cleanup, and managing media on a staging server.

Scope

This SOP covers the following areas:

Uploading and deleting media files in WordPress
Organizing media folders for efficient management
Adjusting media settings for optimal performance
Using Meow Media Cleaner plugin to clean up the library
Managing media on a staging server

Roles

Main Role(s):

Website Administrator: Responsible for managing the website’s content and ensuring that the media library is well-maintained.

Supporting role(s):

Content Creator/Editor: Assists in uploading and organizing media files as needed.

Prerequisites

Required Resources:

Access to WordPress Admin Dashboard
Meow Media Cleaner plugin (Pro version recommended)

Skills/Knowledge:

Basic understanding of WordPress dashboard navigation
Familiarity with file formats and sizes

Procedure

Step 1: Uploading & Deleting Media Files

Log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard.
Navigate to
```
Media > Add New
```
Click
```
Select Files
```
or drag-and-drop files into the designated area.
Wait for the upload process to complete.
To delete a file, go to
```
Media > Library
```
, hover over the desired file thumbnail, click
```
Delete Permanently
```
, and confirm deletion.

Note: Be cautious when deleting files, as it may break links or cause issues on your website.

Time: 10 minutes

Step 2: Organizing Media Folders

Install and activate the
```
WP Media Folder
```
plugin.
Navigate to
```
Settings > WP Media Folder
```
Configure folder settings according to your preferences.
Go to
```
Media > Library
```
, create new folders, and drag-and-drop files into appropriate folders.

Note: Proper organization helps in locating files easily and maintaining a clean media library.

Time: 15 minutes

Step 3: Adjusting Media Settings

Navigate to
```
Settings > Media
```
Adjust image sizes for thumbnails, medium, and large images.
Save changes.

Note: Optimizing image sizes can improve website performance and loading times.

Time: 5 minutes

Step 4: Using Meow Media Cleaner for Library Cleanup

Install and activate the
```
Meow Media Cleaner
```
plugin (Pro version recommended).
Navigate to
```
Meow Apps > Media Cleaner
```
Configure settings according to your preferences.
Run a scan by clicking
```
Scan
```
button.
Review detected issues and delete unused files or fix broken links as needed.

Troubleshooting: If the scan doesn’t detect any issues, double-check your settings or try running the scan again with different configurations.

Time: 20 minutes

Step 5: Managing Media on Staging Server

Set up a staging server if you haven’t already.
Sync media library between live and staging servers using a plugin like
```
WP Staging
```
Make changes to media files on the staging server first before pushing them live.

Note: Always test changes on the staging server before applying them to the live site to avoid potential issues.

Time: 10 minutes

Key Points

Best practices:

Regularly review and clean up your media library to maintain optimal performance.
Organize files in folders for easy navigation and management.

Efficiency tips:

Use bulk actions to delete multiple files at once.
Optimize image sizes for faster loading times.

Common mistakes:

Deleting files without checking if they’re still in use, causing broken links or missing images.

Safety & Considerations

Risks:

Accidentally deleting important files
Creating broken links or missing images on the website

Mitigation:

Double-check before deleting any file
Test changes on a staging server before applying them to the live site

tl;dr

This SOP provides a step-by-step guide for managing your WordPress media library, including uploading and deleting files, organizing folders, adjusting settings, using Meow Media Cleaner for cleanup, and managing media on a staging server. Follow best practices and efficiency tips to maintain an organized and high-performing media library. Always test changes on a staging server before applying them to the live site to minimize risks.