Common WordPress Mistakes Committed by Newbies

WordPress has been the leader among the various Content Management Systems. Needless to say, the second popular CMS only comes a distant second in terms of popularity. PHP is a platform of WordPress. This CMS, which is free, is based on MYSQL.

Like anybody else, even the WordPress users and developers, during the open source development of it, make some common mistakes. These silly blunders can easily be avoided.

8 Common Mistakes Committed and The Ways to Prevent them

1. Failing to Create Backup for Your Site

This common mistake will cost your dearly. All the information and data will be lost due to sheer negligence. However, it can be prevented by having a manual or automatic backup of the WordPress site. Even in the event of website getting crashed or corrupted, all your data is safeguarded. 

To back up, just go to Tools, after that, to Export. Use WP-DB-Backup automatic plugin. Also, phpMyAdmin tool or Vaultpress can be used for self-hosted wordpress.org.

2. Use of Default and Unfriendly Permalink

Permalink (permanent link), or URL of a web page is by default set. The URL structure, which looks gibberish and meaningless, can be changed to more understandable way. You should use right keywords in a permalink. Doing so helps your website rank better in the search engine results, apart from enhancing the user experience. To change the structure of permalinks, go to Settings and then to Permalinks.

3. Not Installing Google Analytics and Google Search Console

It is yet another avoidable mistake. Hope you know what is Google Analytics! Nevertheless, Google Analytics helps you in tracking and reporting your site's traffic. It offers you lots of insights. You get to know the keywords that are to be incorporated into your writings so that you drive more traffic to your site.

Ensure that you integrate Google search console ( previously Google Webmaster Tools). Submission of XML sitemap to console helps you to get all the pages of your website indexed.

4. Continuing the use of Default Favicon

Favicon, or favorite icons are small icons. They could be seen adjacent to page title in the browser window, or the browser's address bar. It is one major mistake done by WordPress newbies, i.e., to continue with the default favicon. Changing the default favicon to you own one would exhibit your professionalism. To replace, checkout for a free favicon generator on the web, visit the images section, replace the default one with your own.

5. Failing Your Mobile Users

Increasingly, people are switching over to smartphones. Failing to make your site mobile-friendly and tablet-friendly will result in you paying the price. What price? Your site will slowly lose traffic. So, to address this issue, use a plug-in like WPtouch for customizing the site for mobile devices. Using responsive Wordpress theme also helps in adapting your site to diverse devices.

6. Not Installing a Caching Plugin

Yet another major blunder. Installing a caching plug-in is of utmost importance. Apart from caching plug-in, Content Delivery Network also has to be used. The reason for this need is that your site wouldn't crash and can even sustain a massive traffic. That said, caching helps in improving efficiency, preventing downtime and also decreases the site's load time. 

W3 Total Cache is the best-known plug-in that could help in speeding up the WordPress blog. Also, WP Super Cache is another plug-in

7. Paying No Attention to WordPress Updates

Every time a bug is found or any susceptibility to it is found, WordPress gets updates. Neglecting any updates will only result in your site becoming prone to attacks from hackers. So take no chances when it comes to security.

8. Creating too Many Categories

While you should be thankful to WordPress for allowing to create as many categories, this may also result in cluttering your site. Properly categorize and structure all the topics accordingly. Offer a pleasant experience to the visitors of your site.

Conclusion

Ensuring that these mistakes aren't committed will help in the success of your WordPress site. Make a list of to-do's so that you do not miss on anything. After all, it is always advised that you "look before you leap."

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