Debunking common WordPress myths

WordPress, one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, powers more than 43% of all websites on the internet.

It has gained such popularity that today, well-known brands like Disney Books, Sony Music, Time Magazine, and more have created their websites on WordPress. But the bad news is that in spite of such popularity, it has garnered a fair share of myths and misconceptions. 

So, let’s debunk some of the most common myths. But first, let’s understand a bit more about WordPress.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) that allows you to create, customize, and manage websites and online stores. 

WordPress is known for its user-friendly interface, flexibility, and extensive ecosystem of themes and plugins. That’s the reason why it has quickly become the favorite of many, especially those without technical site-building experience, who want to build and manage websites on their own.  

With WordPress, you can easily customize your websites without needing to know how to code. Whether you’re a blogger, a small business owner, or a large corporation, WordPress offers a versatile and scalable platform for building and managing your online presence.

Now, let’s look at some of the most common myths and misconceptions about WordPress.

1. WordPress is just for blogs

When WordPress was created in 2003, it was intended to be just a blogging platform. Over the years, it has evolved into a versatile CMS which is now fully equipped with more powerful features that allow you to power a wide range of websites. This includes eCommerce stores, portfolios, forums, and business websites.

The primary benefit of WordPress is that it’s flexible and extensible. This makes it suitable for virtually any type of website, even if some users still believe that WordPress is just for blogs.

2. WordPress is not secure

Security is often a major concern with any website, especially in the current digital era, where many websites fall prey to cyberattacks every day. There has been a lot of hearsay about WordPress being less secure than other site-building platforms, but WordPress is not inherently insecure. Like any software, it requires regular updates and proper security measures to keep it secure. 

So, you need to ensure that you’re using reputable themes and plugins and keeping your WordPress core, themes, and plugins up to date. If you’re dedicated to implementing best security practices, you can significantly enhance the security of your WordPress site.

3. WordPress is difficult to use 

We won’t deny that WordPress has a learning curve, but that is true of almost all software. The good news is that WordPress as a CMS is generally considered to be very user-friendly. Its intuitive interface and extensive documentation make it accessible to users of all skill levels.

You can easily use it to design a website from scratch without coding a single line because it offers a range of themes and plugins (both free and premium) that allow you to customize your site with just a few clicks.  

The drag-and-drop interface allows you to drag and drop any element based on your needs. You can then continue editing it by adding your own customized colors, backgrounds, fonts, and so on. In a few clicks, you’ll have a website that’s as beautiful as if it were designed by a professional.

4. WordPress is not scalable

Another myth is that WordPress is not scalable for large websites with high traffic. However, the fact is that WordPress powers some of the largest websites on the internet, from Sony Music to Time Magazine and beyond. The best thing is that it is easily scalable too. 

By optimizing your site’s performance, using caching solutions, and employing scalable hosting options, you can easily scale your WordPress site to handle large amounts of traffic.

5. WordPress is not SEO-friendly

Building an SEO-friendly website has become a requirement for modern site development. If you want to boost your visibility and attract more organic traffic, you need to ensure that your website is SEO-friendly. 

Many people are of the notion that WordPress is not SEO-friendly. This, however, is just another myth. WordPress is actually quite SEO-friendly, thanks to its clean code structure and SEO-friendly URLs. 

What’s even better is that there are many SEO plugins available for WordPress, such as All in One SEO Pack, that can help you further optimize your site for discoverability on popular search engines.

6. WordPress is slow

Many people are skeptical of using WordPress as their CMS because they think it’s slow, but those unfamiliar with WordPress have to consider that the speed of a WordPress site depends on various factors. For example, you have to check which web host you’re using, which theme and plugins you’ve installed, etc. 

You can easily boost the performance of your website by choosing a reputable hosting provider. It’s also important to use a lightweight theme and powerful plugins to ensure your speed is optimized. By considering these few factors you can easily achieve fast load times for your WordPress site.

7. WordPress is not for professional sites

If you think that you can’t build a professional website with WordPress, you’re mistaken. There are many professional websites, including those of major brands, that are using WordPress. 

The reasons for this are fairly basic: WordPress is very flexible, highly scalable, and has an extensive ecosystem of well-documented themes and plugins. All of this makes it a popular choice for building professional websites. 

So you can definitely consider WordPress as a good solution for the online presence of your professional venture. Whether it’s a small business or a big one, WordPress can offer all the functionality that you’re looking for in your website.

Conclusion

There you have it. No matter what people think or say about WordPress, it is and will continue to be a powerful and versatile CMS for websites of all sizes. You can easily use it to create a wide variety of websites, even without any coding knowledge or skill 

By debunking these common myths, you can make an informed decision about whether WordPress is the right choice for your next web project.