Boo! It’s that spooky time of year again, where ghosts, goblins, and all things terrifying come to life. But if you’re a WordPress website manager, there’s something much scarier lurking around the corner: the common mistakes that can haunt your site and cause chaos for you and your visitors!
Let’s dive into the scariest WordPress mistakes you’ll want to avoid—before they come back to bite you.
1. Ignoring Updates: The Digital Zombie Apocalypse
One of the most frightening mistakes you can make is ignoring WordPress core, theme, or plugin updates. While updates might seem like harmless notifications, leaving them unattended can turn your site into a breeding ground for vulnerabilities. Hackers prey on outdated sites, and without the latest security patches, your website could fall victim to a digital zombie apocalypse!
How to avoid it: Keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated regularly. If automatic updates scare you, set a reminder to check for updates manually every week.
2. Using Weak Passwords: The Open Gateway to Ghouls
Passwords are your first line of defense. But many WordPress users still rely on passwords like “admin123” or, even worse, “password.” Using weak or easily guessable passwords is like leaving your door wide open for ghouls and ghosts—also known as hackers.
How to avoid it: Use strong, unique passwords that include a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Better yet, use a password manager to generate and store your passwords securely.
3. Skipping Backups: The Vanishing Act
Picture this: your site crashes, and you have no backups. It’s like your website has vanished into thin air, leaving nothing behind but a sense of dread. Failing to back up your WordPress site is one of the most terrifying mistakes you can make. Whether due to a server issue, a hacking incident, or even a plugin malfunction, not having backups can cause irreversible damage.
How to avoid it: Use a reliable backup plugin and schedule regular backups. Store backups in multiple locations (like cloud storage) to ensure you can always restore your site when things go wrong. Our preferred hosting company cloudabove will take daily backups of your site and emails!
4. Installing Too Many Plugins: Frankenstein’s Monster
Plugins are great—they help extend WordPress’s functionality and make your site more powerful. But when you install too many, you run the risk of creating a Frankenstein’s monster that’s slow, buggy, and difficult to control. Plus, some plugins might conflict with each other, leading to a site that feels like it’s alive but barely functional.
How to avoid it: Only install the plugins you really need. Regularly audit your site and deactivate or delete any plugins that aren’t essential. Be sure to check plugin reviews and ensure they’re well-maintained before adding them to your site.
5. Forgetting About SEO: Lost in the Search Engine Abyss
Even the most beautiful, functional websites can disappear into the digital abyss if SEO is ignored. Without proper optimisation, search engines won’t know how to find or rank your site, leaving you lost in the shadows while your competitors take the spotlight.
How to avoid it: Make sure your site is optimised for SEO by using an SEO plugin like Yoast or Rank Math. Pay attention to meta tags, headings, keyword usage, and image alt text. Don’t forget about local SEO if you’re targeting a specific region.
6. Ignoring Security: The Phantom Threat
One of the scariest mistakes website owners make is not taking security seriously. Without proper protection, your site could be haunted by malicious attacks, data breaches, or spam comments, wreaking havoc on your hard work.
How to avoid it: Install a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri. Ensure your website has an SSL certificate, and consider enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for an extra layer of security.
7. Not Optimising for Mobile: The Mobile Nightmare
In today’s mobile-first world, failing to optimise your website for mobile users is like wandering into a haunted house with no escape. A non-responsive website can drive users away and cause search engines to rank you lower, leaving your site languishing in the cobweb-covered corners of the internet.
How to avoid it: Choose a responsive theme and test your site on different devices and screen sizes. Use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to ensure your site provides a seamless experience for mobile users.
8. Leaving the Default Admin Username: The Ghastly Invitation
Using “admin” as your WordPress username is one of the most common and scariest mistakes you can make. Hackers often target websites with this default username, knowing it’s one less thing to guess during a brute force attack.
How to avoid it: Create a unique username when setting up your WordPress account. If you’re already using “admin,” create a new user with administrator privileges and delete the old “admin” account.
9. Poor Hosting Choices: The Haunted Server
Not all web hosting providers are created equal. Choosing cheap or unreliable hosting can result in slow loading times, frequent downtimes, and minimal security, turning your website into a haunted house that no one wants to visit.
How to avoid it: Invest in a reputable hosting provider that offers good performance, security, and customer support. Look for hosts that specialise in WordPress hosting to ensure optimal performance. Our preferred hosting company is UK-based cloudabove – use code webworkshops for £5 off!
Conclusion: Avoid the Nightmares!
These WordPress mistakes may seem like things that go bump in the night, but with a little vigilance, you can avoid the horrors and keep your site running smoothly. Take the time to follow best practices, and you’ll be safe from the ghosts of downtime, hacks, and lost traffic.
Have you made any of these terrifying mistakes on your WordPress site? Don’t be afraid—Web Workshops is here to help! Whether you need guidance with plugins, SEO, or overall WordPress management, we’ll help you keep your website spook-free all year round.
So who you gonna call?! Well, us hopefully…
