WordPress Tips

While WordPress is a phenomenal content management system, it’s possible to make mistakes, and some mistakes are quite common. If you are using WordPress, and NOYO Web Development hopes that you are, you may be taking some missteps with being aware of the error. Whether you are a content creator or a digital agency that works on WordPress projects, keep this list in mind to avoid making common WordPress blunders. You will be much happier with your publishing agility.

Avoid these common WordPress mistakes:

Installing too many plugins.

You don’t need them all. Currently, you have a choice of over 54,000 plugins for WordPress. You may feel like a kid in a candy store as you peruse the selections, but you must keep you installs to a minimum. If you install too many, it will slow your site down as well as not really adding any necessary functionalities. Choose your plugins based solely on your website architecture and desired functions. Uninstall any that receive no use.

Neglecting to backup your website.

Failing to regularly backup your site is similar to spending months writing a lengthy novel and forgetting to consistently save your work. Creating a backup of the work is a top priority so you don’t lose valuable work. The fix: Some hosting companies provide daily automatic WordPress backups so you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself. Also, you can use a backup plugin for WordPress.

Changing a post’s URL after publishing.

You may be tempted to change a URL after publication. However, doing so will break every existing link. Old links will lose traffic and result in bad UX by leading to the dreaded 404 error page. The fix: before publishing the article, make sure the post slug is exactly as you desire. Or, try installing Yoast SEO, which will offer you tips for URL optimization such as shortening the post slug or removing certain words.

Using poor or no visuals.

Appropriate images are a must to capture the reader’s attention in a text-heavy page. Studies consistently show that content with visuals attract 94% more views that content without images. You really must use visuals, or video, within your content designed to catch a visitor’s eye. If paying for a stock photography membership is out of the question, there are numerous amounts of free image options out there. Unsplash.com supplies high-quality, professional imagery, but other options include Flickr.com, and more. Just be sure to give attribution to the photographer when required.

Not resizing images for web upload.

Improperly sized images are notorious for slowing a site, and you should always ensure that your images are right sized for quick upload. This can be done either by using an editor like Photoshop or Paint.net, or a plugin to resize images so they’re not taking up too much space and causing your site to lag. If you’re working in Photoshop, go to Image -> Image Size. Make sure the resolution is set to 72. You’ll then want to reduce the width of the image if applicable. 2,500 pixels on the wide side is ideal for displaying images at large on the screen…you can decrease this size to around 600 to 1,000 pixels on the wide side for regular site display. This will reduce the file size drastically, resulting in less bandwidth required to upload images whenever someone visits your client’s site. Another fix is to use a WordPress plugin that optimizes images for you, like WP Smush. 9

Want more information on using the best content management system available in the global marketplace? Check back each week for more tips, or contact us today for a free consultation.