WordPress powers more than half of the websites on the internet, which makes it the most popular content management system in the world right now. Here we discuss the common WordPress myths.
If you’ve so much as thought about setting up a website in the last few years, you’ve definitely heard of WP. But how much do you really know about it?
Unfortunately, the internet is full of misinformation about pretty much everything under the sun – including WP.
So, it is possible that you believe in some common WordPress myths as well. Today, we’ll dispel those once and for all.
The most common WordPress Myths and the Truth behind them
Because of its popularity and its widespread use, WordPress is a common talking point in business and marketing circles. But sometimes, the people who talk about it are not the same people who use it. And whether it’s out of best intentions or some serious competition, they occasionally share misinformation. From there, it’s not hard for that misinformation to become a widely believed myth.
Here are just seven of the most common WordPress Myths:
1. WordPress is just a Blogging Platform
It’s hard to say where exactly this myth came from. It could be inspired by the sheer popularity of blogs on WP, or it could be the confusion between WordPress.org (the CMS with self-hosting that we’re talking about here) and WordPress.com (a more limited platform that includes hosting). Either way, some people believe that WordPress is no more than a blogging platform. This could not be farther from the truth.
The truth: In reality, you can create almost any type of website using WordPress. While this does include blogs such as fashion blogs, for example, WP is also commonly used for business websites, eCommerce stores, online marketplaces, knowledge databases, portfolios, and online presences for career purposes, business directories, and even internet-based communities.
2. All WordPress Websites look the same
Some people think that all WP websites look alike because they were built on the same platform. Intuitively, this seems like a logical conclusion. After all, every WordPress website starts with the same basic layout as the default. But that’s pretty much where the similarities end.
The truth: WordPress offers a wide variety of both free and paid themes that you can use to make your website stand out. While some are certainly more popular than others, virtually all are customizable. There are also page-building plugins that you can use to create your own entirely unique aesthetic. Combining all these options gives you virtually endless possibilities for customization, which results in thousands of completely different and individual websites.
3. WordPress is not secure
It is not uncommon to read about WordPress websites getting hacked. This gives some people the impression that WP is not secure. But there are three things you should remember before buying this myth:
- most websites are run on WordPress, so it makes sense that they’ll be the most common target of attacks,
- WordPress is open-source software so hackers can study its code, which makes them feel more confident in attacking it, and
- attacks make the news because they’re the exception.
The truth: Many people do find that the built-in security features WordPress comes with are not enough. But ultimately, WordPress is what you make of it so you can make it more secure yourself. A combination of frequent updates, regular backups, security plugins, and good hosting will drastically increase the safety of your WP website. You should consider specifically designed managed WordPress hosting as that includes automated backups, SSL certificates, and many more security features. So, if the default settings are not up to your standards, protect your website how you see fit.
4. WordPress is slow and not suitable for high-traffic Websites
A myth often perpetuated by competitors is that WordPress is too slow and therefore won’t handle a lot of traffic well. Now, it is true that some WP websites are slow. But is that the fault of WordPress?
The truth: Many WordPress websites are very popular and see thousands of visitors every day. In fact, the platform is widely used in the moving industry, service industry, and eCommerce – all businesses that get incredibly high amounts of traffic for extended periods. Yet, their websites work just fine. This is because the speed of your website does not depend on WordPress. Because it’s a self-hosted platform, it is your responsibility to obtain quality hosting services that you can scale according to your needs.
5. There is no support for WordPress Maintenance
There is no denying that website maintenance is important – it’s how you keep your website running. But when you’re new to it, maintenance can be confusing, so many beginners fear they won’t get much support if they opt for WordPress.
The truth: There is no number that you can dial when you’re not sure what to do with WordPress; however, this does not mean you’ll get no help. WordPress itself offers tons of detailed tutorials on every aspect of the platform. They also host user forums where you can get answers from WP experts. Free online resources such as WordPress tutorials at SeekaHost University are further available on other websites dedicated to WordPress.
6. WordPress is for Beginners only
Because of its intuitive interface, WordPress is suitable even for people who know nothing about coding, web design, or programming. Some have interpreted this to mean that the platform is for beginners and beginners only.
The truth: While it’s true that a complete beginner can build an excellent website with just a bit of time, some effort, and the help of great plugins, this should not discourage experienced users from choosing WordPress as a platform. Many advanced users like WordPress because of its flexibility and potential.
7. WordPress is low quality – that’s why it’s free
There’s a saying that you get what you pay for. Since WordPress is free, it must not be worth anything – at least that’s the common misconception among its opponents.
The truth: WordPress is used by thousands of programmers and coders who choose to share their work for free as a way to make the internet a better and more accessible place. It has nothing to do with quality and everything to do with principle. So don’t worry – this time, you’ll get a great product without paying a dime.
Why is it important to debunk common WordPress Myths?
The more WordPress myths spread, the more difficult it becomes for people to find genuine, honest information about the platform. This can, in turn, lead them to make poor, uninformed decisions about their websites. Small businesses, which can cut costs by using free and accessible software like WordPress, would be disproportionately impacted by this. So, it’s in our best interest to help stop the spread of misinformation and dispel myths about WordPress.
Author Profile
- Online Media & PR Strategist
- Blogger and Educator by Passion | Contributor to many Business Blogs in the United Kingdom | Fascinated to Write Blogs in News & Education I have completed a journalism summer course at the London School of Journalism and manage various blogs.
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