Love it or loathe it, WordPress has been one of the pillars of the digital business revolution. The website platform has always provided users with enormous scope and flexibility, going way beyond the standard template options you often see online.
Of course, businesses using WordPress’s services don’t always get everything right. While the platform might be flexible, it is also devilishly complicated for beginners. There’s a steep learning curve.
So, what do WordPress-based businesses get wrong, and what can be done about it?
Using Too Many Plugins
One issue you see is the tendency for businesses to use too many plugins. Given that there are thousands on the platform, you can see where this temptation comes from. But generally, it is unwise. Too many add-ons can slow down your site and lead to cross-compatibility issues (which can be a nightmare to figure out).
The solution is to use only the plugins you need. If there are some that don’t provide a direct purpose, get rid of them.
If you’ve had a website for a long time, you could also audit your plugins. Looking at what you have and asking whether you still need it is a sensible idea.
Neglecting Security
Another mistake is neglecting security on WordPress. Many businesses think the platform is inherently secure when it isn’t.
Fortunately, getting around this issue is quite straightforward: simply install a security plugin, like iThemes Security or Wordfence.
Also don’t forget to secure the backend. (Hackers could try to get into your WordPress account). Use two-factor authentication so that even if they get your password, they still can’t make changes to your site or steal data.
Choosing The Wrong Theme
Businesses can also choose the wrong theme for their website. Many often pick options based on aesthetics, not functionality, leading to slow loading times and difficulty scaling.
The trick is to choose a lightweight and fast-loading theme that can handle the traffic you expect to arrive on your pages. Don’t use plugins with extra bloated features that aren’t worth it and don’t improve the overall experience.
Neglecting Navigation
Another problem you sometimes see on WordPress sites is the neglect of user navigation. Home pages are overly complicated and there aren’t quick ways for consumers to find what they want.
For this reason, many firms are now implementing advanced, time-saving options, like faceted search to help their visitors. These break down the website into various categories, allowing users to find the things they need faster, whether they’re in a hurry or not.
Navigation is also being helped by chatbots. Users who can ask AI in the corner of their screens where to go next may convert more often.
Ignoring SEO
Finally, a lot of WordPress-based businesses fall into the trap of ignoring SEO. Many expect users to simply find them in search results.
Of course, that almost never happens, so investing in search engine optimisation is a good idea. It increases visibility while driving more traffic to your site, reducing the need for PPC spending.
