Whether you are WordPress novice or a seasoned vet, there are some traps that are easy to fall into. These are the top five mistakes that anyone can make when using WordPress.

1) Too Many Plugins

There many different types of plugins and each can impact your website performance differently. Front-end plugins impact the site by requiring custom styling or scripts to work properly. Loading these files demands additional HTTP requests which slows down the page load time. Too many front-end plugins will slow down your site and is a headache for your viewers. Always check the quality of the plugin and if the developer has made recent updates. It’s a good sign if the developer is still active. Decide which plugins your site needs and with the perfect combination customers will experience a better-functioning site.

2) Not Updating Plugins and Themes

It can be hard keeping track of all of the updates your site needs, especially when everything is working smoothly. Updates are very important to keep track of, particularly for security. When WordPress sites are compromised, it is almost always through outdated plugins and themes.

3) Using the Default Settings

It is easy to get caught up in the design and layout of your site, but make sure you go back and take a look at the settings. Optimize your settings to work best for you and your business. For example, the automatic tagline for all WordPress sites is “Just another WordPress site”. Change it to a one-line sentence or phrase that will entice viewers to click on your site. Changing your username from the default “admin” is also highly encouraged. So many admin users have that username which makes hacking much easier.

4) Weak Security

WordPress is the most popular website manager, which also means it is a popular target for attacks. To protect your site and your information, you need a strong username and a very strong password. Use long passwords with numbers and symbols. Using a secure password manager helps to remember them.

5) Not Backing Up Your Site

The final mistake many WordPress users make is not backing up their site. Sites can be compromised in many ways, whether it is through hacking or just updating a plugin. Whenever you make changes to your site, make a full backup. If you aren’t editing your site very often, make a backup about every 3 months. Better safe than sorry! Some web hosts include regular backups of your site so you don’t have to worry about this.

Everyone can make these mistakes. Check out our other blog posts to learn more about WordPress and other website tips. If you have any questions or want to make sure you aren’t making these mistakes, drop us a line! We are here to help make sure your site is running smoothly.

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