The biggest problems with WordPress
Making all types of websites using WordPress is a worldwide phenomenon. Despite of the fact that WordPress as a platform is in its core just a blogging system with limited functionality. This means that WordPress itself doesn’t have any built-in functionalities for services, products, eshop and other things developers need for their website as well as the customers. It provides just Posts and Pages what is extremely limited.
1. Problem — WordPress is not suitable for creation of every kind of website
The only exception is a blog. Everything else needs some tweaks and addons.
In order to be able to create full-featured website with WordPress, it is necessary to code up lots of Custom Posts types and then to show them on the website in some way. That’s why there are thousands of pre-designed WordPress themes that are ready for immediate fine-tuning and use.
WordPress templates completely remake WordPress
WordPress themes are a superstructure over the WordPress. Thanks to this superstructure you can build a normal WordPress website. The basis consists of Theme Options, above mentioned Custom Post types and various after-programmed Widgets. There are also custom Page Builders available. Most developers have their own Page Builders — Elegant Themes has The Divi Builder, WPBakery provides Visual Composer that has been renamed to WPBakery Page Builder, Ait Themes use also their own Page Builder as well as SiteOrigin or Themify.
But there are also universal builders that can be used for any WP templates. One of the best-known free builders is e.g. Elementor, which also has a premium paid version, expanded with additional features. Another relatively well-known builder is Beaver Builder.
All of these builders serve to make a presentation website, business website, e-shop or complicated directory and listings portal — out of the standard blogging WordPress platform. And each of these builders tries to provide developer with comfortable website styling — that’s why most of them work on the drag & drop principle.
2. Problem — All or nothing
Having a WordPress website never means to have just a WordPress website :). You need bunch of extensions such as widgets and plugins; otherwise you won’t be able to use it fully. You may think it’s an advantage — to install some add-on module that adds certain functionality for you. But imagine that you will need several features and therefore you’ll need to install let’s say 10 different plugins (from WooCommerce through the commenting plugin etc.) and each of them from different developer…
This brings both the financial burden, but also the risk of infecting your website with an unwanted virus. And of course, plugin developers can stop providing support at any moment — especially if they are developed by the 3rd party developer.
3. Problem — Endless updating and risk of incompatibility
Developers and users of WordPress encounter with another annoyance — the never ending updating. Updates of the WordPress itself, updates of the WP templates (if your website is customized via a template), updates of built-in plugins, 3rd party plugins etc.
The threat is that if your website doesn’t run the latest version of all the components, it may break down. Or even it can be hacked by an attacker from the outside. In this case we’re already talking about a serious security risk.
As updating cannot be ignored, it’s practically a full-time job for users.
Developers usually pay attention to updates, but web admins often leave the website desolate. WordPress isn’t ideal from the user-friendliness point of view either. Web owner/ administrator wants to benefit most from the website with the minimum effort and care. And this is exactly what WordPress does not offer.
What’s the solution?
Personally, I only see 2 solutions that will help you to better deal with WordPress’s annoyances.
- You choose a WordPress theme made by an experienced developer who has long been on the market and has positive reviews from previous customers. This developer more likely provides different extensions and plugins in addition to the theme itself. At the same time, there is a greater chance that such developer cares for his/ her products, works on improvements and provides security updates on a regular basis.
- The second is a somewhat more radical solution. You avoid WordPress completely :) and you choose a different platform to create your website on. It might be some other CMS system, like Statamic, or you can follow the same path as me and try out some of the online builders. There are quite many online tools for website building, so it’s up to you which one you choose.
One of the most famous online builders is Squarespace, which is known for its minimalistic templates and simple website building. Another online builder is Wix — it even offers two variants of website creation, either through the Wix Editor (when you make your website yourself from the beginning), or through Wix ADI. If you choose Wix ADI, artificial intelligence helps you with the website building based on the parameters you provided and options you picked in the Wizard. More about my first experience with Wix ADI here. In case you need an eCommerce platform rather than a business website, then Shopify is best for your e-shop creation.
It’s hard to say why WordPress has become such a phenomenon and why 30% of the websites worldwide are built on this platform. Maybe it’s because it’s an open source system. Or because of the large community of developers and users who work with WordPress. And maybe it’s because WordPress itself is free, and although other add-ons, such as plugins or templates aren’t entirely free of charge, WordPress is still considered a free tool for website creation.
Perhaps that’s why people forgive WordPress for its cumbersomeness, complexity and all kinds of problems that I have mentioned in this article.
Do you agree with me?
