WordPress is the top platform available to people trying to build either a personal website or an e-commerce site. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a perfect system and WordPress is no exception.
But before you get too frustrated with the platform and think that running your own website isn’t for you, here are the top five problems experienced by WordPress website owners and how to combat them:
Page Loading Speed
Probably one of the biggest complaints that we hear from people is that their page is not loading fast enough. There are several things that you can do to speed this process up. One of these is to install a caching plugin, which speeds page-loading times for previous visitors.
If you try a caching plugin and page load speed is still an issue, then you need to look at the other plugins you have installed. For various reasons, existing plugins can slow down a website’s performance. Simply turn each one off and then try reloading the page. If the loading speed improves then you will have found the culprit. Many of these plugins are not meant to work together and they can drag down your site’s performance.
Finally, if all else fails, it could be a problem with your hosting provider. Talk with your provider to see if there is a faster server option for your site that is still within your budget.
No Built-In Backups
Another pain point that people mention is that there is no way to do an automatic backup of a website straight out of the box. You can manually backup your website, but it can be a challenge to remember to schedule it and make the time for it.
Instead, try downloading a WP backup plugin. When seeking a WP backup plugin WordPress users often just use the one offered by the popular tool. There are other options as well and a bit of research about the best one can be illuminating. There are dozens of WordPress backup plugins on the market and they will let you schedule a backup in advance and repeat the process at regular intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) These also give you the opportunity to restore your website with just a click. We are particularly fond of the Boldgrid WP backup plugin WordPress users should love.
Security
A big concern is that WordPress is an open source platform. This means that the computer code that runs the service is open to programmers who can use and modify the codes to improve the program.
Unfortunately, this also means that hackers have access to this code so they can look for flaws to exploit. The good news is that so many people are pouring through the code, they often discover these flaws and correct them. The bottom line is that you need to install security plugins to help ensure that your website is safe and secure.
Error Messages
There are also reports of numerous error messages including what has been nicknamed the “white screen of death.” (No, it’s really not that serious—just scary the first time you see it.) The good news is that you can easily search the WordPress forums to get answers from people who have dealt with this issue before.
Overload
Finally, one of the complaints that we hear is that there are so many customization options that it can be a bit overwhelming. The first instinct is to throw everything onto your site, but this is going to get expensive with premium plugins and slow you down significantly.
The best thing to do is talk to others who have designed their own WordPress sites and see what worked best for them. Also, be wary of plugins that don’t have many downloads or good reviews. Look for highly rated plugins with lots of downloads; let someone else be the guinea pig for the new plugins.
If you are worried about becoming frustrated with your WordPress website, then don’t despair. It is possible to put together a top-notch site with all of the bugs worked out. You just need to take your time and learn as you go until you create the perfect site for your needs.
