About Anders Johansson
WordPress is the top website creation software in the world. So, it isn’t a big surprise that people always try to bring WordPress down. Many common WordPress myths have appeared over the years. Hence, learn to see the difference between facts and myths.
In this post, let’s reveal 10 crazy common WordPress myths. They become buried at the end. I will do my best to explain what WordPress facts and myths are. I hope you like and share this article.
Though WordPress is not the only CMS, it dominates the market. Here are some facts about WordPress.
- WordPress powers 43% of the web and has around 63% market share. It’s the most used CMS by far. Shopify is the second largest, with 4% usage and 6% market share.
- You can download over 11,000 free WordPress themes from WordPress.org.
- More than 59,000 WordPress plugins are available for download. They enable you to add lots of new functions to your site.
- Over 20% of all WordPress sites use WooCommerce, the leading eCommerce platform.
What happens once you dig deeper into the WordPress statistics? WordPress could be the best CMS around. But once you are at your best, people like to lower you. And if they can’t get you down, they try to distort the truth or spread common WordPress myths.
What do you think a well-informed web developer or business owner must know? Be aware the web is full of common WordPress myths about WordPress.
Are you curious to see the common WordPress myths debunked? You learn which they are below.
1. WordPress is only for bloggers
In 2003, the first WordPress release came out. At the start, it was foremost a platform for bloggers. Its design and primary functions focused on bloggers as users. But even then, it became a tool for many kinds of sites.
The myth WordPress is only for blogging is not the truth. It is also a complete CMS (Content Management System). As a result, you can begin building any website with the system.
It depends partly on the flexibility of the core software. Also, since you can download lots of plugins, these plugins can give you almost any function.
Many bloggers still use WordPress to build their blogs. But also, business sites, forums, portfolios, web stores, and more use it.
2. WordPress is not scalable
Have you heard about one of the most common WordPress myths? The platform is not scalable. Some people believe it’s only suitable for small business websites. But, of course, that is wrong.
Do you want to learn more about WordPress? Then, you will see that WordPress is not only a CMS created for small websites.
Famous people like Usain Bolt, Katy Perry, and Rafael Nadal use WordPress. Large companies use it as well. Microsoft News, Sony Music, and Walt Disney run their sites with WordPress.
With this in mind, an instant thought may go through your head. What do you think is one of the main reasons big companies and brands use WordPress? Since it is very scalable.
You can create a scalable WordPress site. How? Build a development environment with effective horizontal scaling, caching, and high query performance. So, sites with high traffic always have enough power.
WordPress is very scalable with the proper infrastructure, services, and resources.
At once, the platform can help thousands of logged-in users. Give you many millions of monthly page views, too. It can manage instant page requests. And provide you with lightning-fast results for search queries.
Moreover, it is flexible and easy to upgrade. You can run all kinds of sites, from the tiniest website to the biggest and most visited website.
In short, anything is possible for you to achieve.
Below, you will find more common WordPress myths.
3. Common WordPress myths: hard to use
It might be the most insane claim of all the common WordPress myths you face. Some say WordPress is difficult to use. Words like content management systems and open source may feel scary.
The software from WordPress.org requires you to self-host it. You install WordPress on your web server. First, sign up and pay to rent a website space at a web hosting service, such as SiteGround or WP Engine. It’s an easy process. But despite this, you can think it’s much harder to use than it is.
Right from the start, they created WordPress to be user-friendly for newbies. In the first stage, the intention was to help you build simple blogs.
WordPress is more powerful today, but it is still easy enough to use for anyone. For this reason, you don’t have to be a web developer or designer. And you don’t need to have previous coding skills.
In the helpful dashboard, you can do almost anything with your site. There, you manage lots of tasks. Creating new content or installing plugins and themes on your site are some things you can do. Besides, you can tweak the settings and customize your site’s layout and design.
You can build an elegant, functional, and complex website in a short time.
Do you need help? You will find help in the extensive WordPress Codex. More help is available at the official support forums, online courses, or our blog. The WordPress community is large and welcoming. Usually, you can get help solving your issues, too.
The system is not secure: one of the most common WordPress myths we will discuss next. Are you ready?
4. Not secure
Do you read the latest news on security threats and hacking? It is not unusual to notice reports about WordPress.
You find articles on large attacks against WordPress sites, too. It has resulted in one of the most common WordPress myths: the system is not a secure way to create your site.
Why do you see WordPress appear in those types of reports? It depends that WordPress powers over 43% of all websites.
Despite this, most websites never encounter any problems. But what can occur because there are so many WordPress sites? Some will become targets for hacker and robot attacks.
No platform can be safe from attacks. WordPress is very secure, even for sites that handle sensitive data. It is due to many reasons. Here are some:
- A large team builds the core software to make it very secure.
- Regular updates address the newest threats.
- You can use good plugins for security, adding extra protection to your site.
Do you have a WordPress site or want to start one? I urge you to install a security plugin like Sucuri Security or Defender Security.
Ensure you update the core software, themes, and plugins to the latest version. You can force users to use strong passwords and two-factor authentication. Always follow best security practices as well. After that, your site gets higher security.
5. No support for eCommerce
What is another of the common WordPress myths? The platform does not support eCommerce. WordPress doesn’t enable you to create an online store from scratch. It’s true.
But you find many WordPress plugins that can insert eCommerce functionality into WordPress. WooCommerce is the most popular one. This plugin powers around 20% of all websites that use WordPress.
You can sell both physical and digital products using WooCommerce. Content, digital downloads, subscriptions, and meetings, too. There are other great plugins for eCommerce. Here are a few: Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) and Ecwid Ecommerce Shopping Cart.
EDD is an eCommerce platform to sell digital products. With Ecwid, you create your online store. Compared to WooCommerce, Ecwid can integrate with most CMS and website builders. Yet, WooCommerce is one of the world’s most used eCommerce platforms.
There are WooCommerce stores and developers from around the globe. Most eCommerce themes created for WordPress also have WooCommerce support. Thus, it is the king of WordPress eCommerce plugins.
6. Free and low-quality
One of the most common WordPress myths is that because WordPress is free, it must be a low-quality system. Some ask: Why are developers willing to do their best for a free platform?
It is not only one person or small team that develops WordPress. A large group of web developers works to develop the software on WordPress.org.
WordPress contributors worldwide have invested countless hours in building a brilliant platform. So, WordPress’ success is due to the passion of its contributors. Thus, achieving your goals is much easier.
The code is developer-friendly. And open-source for all to read, review, and examine for quality. It also follows the best programming practices.
The WordPress software is free and doesn’t belong to any specific company or person. For this reason, you never pay anything to use WordPress. Download the software from WordPress.org, install it wherever you want, and you’re ready.
You have the right to download a software copy for free. WordPress allows you to rip it down, change it, copy it, and build your unique version. And without ever needing any permission.
The WordPress.org software is free to use and hugely versatile. So, it’s perfect to use on both personal and commercial sites.
That finalizes the sixth myth about common WordPress myths on our list. Awesome!
7. Common WordPress myths: offers no support
A typical software company operates like this. It begins with you having a need. You start to search for a good company that sells software. Once you find the right software, you pay to use it. If you encounter issues once you use their software, you only contact their support. Then you get help.
Is it different for WordPress? Since you never pay anyone to use WordPress, you might think you do not get help. That is wrong. There is plenty of free and valuable WordPress support on the web.
WordPress has a large community. You will see there are bloggers, designers, developers, translators, support reps, and more. Together, they have created the WordPress Codex. You’ll find extensive modern WordPress documentation and further info there.
WordPress.org also has an active support forum. Ask your queries for free. Other WordPress users can help you as well.
This site, WP Web Guide, is a WordPress guide online. You get helpful articles, reviews, tips, tricks, and tutorials.
But are you willing to pay somebody for help? If so, many companies, agencies, and developers offer paid support for WordPress.
- 1. Codeable.io – Find the best freelance WordPress developers
- 2. Toptal.com – Find the top 3% of freelance WordPress developers
- 3. Upwork – Find freelance WordPress developers
- 4. Fiverr – Wordpress development services
- 5. WPhired.com – Post a WordPress job
- 6. Jobs.wordpress.net – WordPress-related job postings
8. All sites look the same
One of the common WordPress myths among newbies is that WordPress sites all look the same.
The myth is due to newbies using some standard WordPress themes. As a result, some look-alike websites will show up. Yet, your site doesn’t need to belong to that category.
WordPress uses themes that manage the visual look of all WordPress sites. You can pick from thousands of WordPress themes, and lots are free. Of course, you will notice many premium WordPress themes, too.
But how do you locate reliable WordPress theme creators? Here are some good ones: Astra, ElegantThemes, StudioPress, and Themify.
They sell well-designed and optimized WordPress themes for any site. Those themes have their options for customization. You can adjust colors and layout, use your business logo, and do all you wish with your chosen theme.
Besides, you may use visual page builder plugins for WordPress. They let you use an easy drag-and-drop interface to build your layouts. And without ever the need to add any code. Sounds good, right?
Elementor is the most popular visual page builder. Other good visual page builders are BeaverBuilder, Divi, and ThriveArchitect.
Your WordPress site can look unique and in the exact way you want. So, not like all other WordPress sites.
9. Common WordPress myths: not future-safe
WordPress is both free and open-source software. What do some people without knowledge of how open-source software works believe? That WordPress is not future-safe. Thus, they think it may vanish overnight.
That is far from the truth. There is a group of passionate and skilled developers who work on WordPress. It’s a protected trademark owned by a nonprofit organization – the WordPress Foundation. This group aims to protect the WordPress brand name and promote its software.
You will find many companies selling products and services related to WordPress. Lots of these companies play a vital role in the WordPress community.
The WordPress community engages people from the entire globe. As you know, the WordPress.org software is free to use. But still, this system generates millions of annual revenue for the companies involved.
So you don’t need to worry. WordPress is here to stay, and the future looks bright.
Great! We look at the last of the common WordPress myths below.
10. Sites are slow
Once upon a time, websites were only a series of HTML pages, images, and CSS. Due to the birth of new technology, sites are getting bigger in size and functionality.
Could installing the WordPress software on your sites slow down your web server? No, it is wrong and one of the most common WordPress myths.
WordPress follows best web practices and HTML semantics. Which assures it is super fast to set up and use. WordPress is also SEO-friendly by default. For more SEO, use plugins like Rank Math SEO or Yoast SEO.
Slow site speed usually depends on low-cost web hosting services or badly-coded plugins. Also, low-cost web hosting services often place your site and many other sites on the same web server. As a result, you get low performance and further issues.
Badly-coded plugins insert “garbage code” into crucial files like the header.php. That slows down your website speed. Why? Since not-needed objects will load before your content. A poorly-coded plugin can even be a security threat to your WordPress site.
You install the WordPress.org software on reliable web hosting services. For example, Bluehost, SiteGround, or WP Engine. Pick trusted plugins. Besides, a WordPress theme that loads fast, by default.
What can you do to increase your site speed further? Add the powerful WordPress Caching plugin WP Rocket.
OK, it’s time to bury the common WordPress myths, right?
WordPress has grown larger and become more popular. I guess you’ve seen it if you read WordPress news and statistics. As a result, it isn’t strange that the platform is the subject of many myths.
Below, we bury all the common WordPress myths discussed in this article.
- 1. Build all kinds of websites with the platform. Not only blogs.
- 2. WordPress is very scalable, which is why big brands and companies use it.
- 3. WordPress is easy to use. In the admin panel, you can do almost anything.
- 4. By default, WordPress is secure. For higher security, use Defender Security.
- 5. Plugins can add eCommerce features. WooCommerce is the most popular.
- 6. WordPress is a free and versatile choice for all types of sites.
- 7. There are lots of free and valuable WordPress support on the web.
- 8. All sites don’t have to look the same. It’s only a myth.
- 9. The system is future-safe, and the future looks bright.
- 10. WordPress sites are fast. For higher site speed, use WP Rocket.
I hope you have learned to see the difference between facts and common WordPress myths.
Feel free to leave your comments so we can all read and learn from them.
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