Written by Webolicious on4 March 2025 | 4 mins Read

Common WordPress Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Common WordPress Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
5.0
Common Mistakes

WordPress powers millions of websites worldwide, but it's easy to make mistakes along the way. Whether you're a first-time website owner or a seasoned pro, avoiding these common pitfalls can save you time, money, and stress.

From security slip-ups to speed issues, here are the most common WordPress mistakes and how to fix them.

1. Choosing the wrong WordPress version

There are two versions of WordPress. Many beginners accidentally choose WordPress.com instead of WordPress.org, only to find they have limited control over their site.

How to fix it:

  • Choose WordPress.org for full control over your site.
  • Get reliable hosting that supports self-hosted WordPress.

2. Not selecting the correct language

Picking the wrong language during installation can cause translation issues, plugin conflicts, and formatting problems.

How to fix it:

  • Go to Settings > General and select English (UK) if targeting a UK audience.

3. Leaving default permalinks

By default, WordPress generates unclear URLs like yourwebsite.com/?p=123, which are bad for SEO.

How to fix it:

  • Go to Settings > Permalinks and select Post Name for clean URLs.

4. Ignoring comment settings

Leaving comments enabled without moderation invites spam and can make your site look unprofessional.

How to fix it:

  • Disable comments under Settings > Discussion if you don't need them.
  • Install Akismet to filter spam comments.

5. Installing too many plugins

Plugins add functionality, but too many can slow down your site and create security risks.

How to fix it:

  • Only install essential, well-coded plugins.
  • Regularly audit and remove unnecessary plugins.

6. Using weak passwords and default usernames

A weak password and the default "admin" username make your site an easy target for attackers.

How to fix it:

  • Use a strong password with a mix of characters.
  • Change the default admin username to something unique.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.

7. Forgetting to back up your website

Without backups, a hack or crash could mean losing everything.

How to fix it:

  • Use UpdraftPlus or VaultPress to schedule backups.
  • Store backups in Google Drive, Dropbox, or the cloud, not just on the server itself.

8. Skipping regular maintenance

WordPress needs regular updates and security checks to stay secure and fast.

How to fix it:

Final thoughts

WordPress is an incredible platform, but avoiding these mistakes will help keep your website secure, fast, and SEO-friendly.

Need expert WordPress maintenance? Let Webolicious take care of it for you.

FAQs

Questions, answered

Can't find what you're after? Get in touch and we'll answer it directly.

One of the most common mistakes is choosing WordPress.com instead of WordPress.org. WordPress.com has limited control and doesn’t allow custom plugins or full website customisation. For the best flexibility and control, always use WordPress.org with a reliable hosting provider.

There’s no magic number, but it’s best to keep plugins to a minimum. Too many plugins can slow down your site, cause conflicts, and create security risks. Only install essential, well-coded plugins that serve a real purpose.

A slow WordPress website is usually caused by unoptimised images, too many plugins, a bad hosting provider, or lack of caching. To speed it up, compress images, use a caching plugin like WP Rocket, and choose a fast hosting provider.

Spam comments are a huge problem if you leave comments enabled. You can stop spam by disabling comments in Settings > Discussion or installing an anti-spam plugin like Akismet.

You should always update WordPress, themes, and plugins as soon as new versions are available. Updates fix security vulnerabilities and improve performance, reducing the risk of hacks or site crashes.

Without a recent backup, a hack, failed update, or server crash could mean losing your entire website. Regular backups, stored off-server, let you restore your site quickly if something goes wrong.

Broken links hurt SEO and user experience. Use a plugin like Broken Link Checker or manually check and update links using Google Search Console.

Large images slow down your website. Use an image compression plugin like Smush or TinyPNG to reduce file size without losing quality.

Regular maintenance is key to keeping your site fast, secure, and functional. Perform updates, backups, security checks, and performance optimisations monthly. If you don’t have time, consider a professional WordPress maintenance service.

To secure your WordPress site, use strong passwords, change the default login URL, install a security plugin like Wordfence, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), and regularly update all software.