When I launched my first WordPress website, I was full of excitement… and totally clueless. I believed what I read online. That I’d just pick a theme, write a few posts, and boom, I’d have a thriving blog. As you might have guessed, it didn’t exactly go that way.
Looking back, I realize I had a few big misconceptions that made things harder than they needed to be.
So, in case you’re just getting started, here are five WordPress myths I believed, or what I wish someone had told me (waay) sooner.
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NOTE: All my WordPress tutorials focus on WordPress.org, not WordPress.com. If you’re curious about the differences, here’s everything you need to know ☺️
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Myth #1: WordPress is a “set-it and forget-it” platform
I really thought building a website using WordPress was a one-and-done kind of task. Build it, set it all up, launch it, and then just let it work its magic.
But websites need regular maintenance. You have to keep things updated, create regular backups, check for broken links, refresh your content, stay on top of SEO… the list goes on.
It doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and luckily, you can automate a lot of your tasks, but it’s definitely not a “set it and forget it” deal.
Myth #2: WordPress is beginner-friendly
Everyone kept saying, “Just use WordPress! It’s the best platform for blogging!” Closely followed by “Buy a domain, install WordPress, pick a theme, and you’re good to go.”
And they were right about choosing WordPress – It is the best platform if you want to monetize your blog or have full control over your website.
But for whatever reason, I expected it to be as simple as drag and drop.
It’s not.
WordPress is powerful, but it’s also full of settings, plugins, theme quirks, and random updates that can break things.
I wish I’d known it was okay to be confused and frustrated. To take it slow.
Once you learn your way around, it gets easier. But it’s not instant, and there is definitely a learning curve.
Jus don’t give up! If you need to move in baby steps, that’s fine… you need to learn to walk (and fall a few times) before you can run ☺️
Myth #3: I have to figure everything out before I start
This one kept me stuck for way too long. I thought I needed to choose the perfect theme, set up every plugin, and plan my content before I launched.
But honestly? The best thing you can do is start. You’ll never have everything figured out. And you don’t need to. Launch messy, learn as you go, and tweak things as you grow ☺️
My new motto is Done is better than perfect. But I have to admit, it’s still a work in progress 😂
Myth #4: Free tools are just as good as paid ones
I was determined to keep costs low, so I stuck to free everything – free themes, free plugins, free tools.
Some worked fine. But others slowed down my site or broke after updates. Or – more importantly – didn’t have any support. Which, for a newbie, is kind of a big thing.
I’ve learned that paying for a few well-chosen tools can actually save you money in the long run by saving time and avoiding issues.
Btw. one of the paid tools I love is WP Rocket, you can read here why ☺️
Myth #5: My site is too small to get hacked
Did you know that hackers love small websites? Well, I didn’t. I thought security was something I could worry about later, once I had more traffic or sales.
Boy was I wrong….
I had to learn the hard way that hackers and their bots don’t care how big or old a website is. They are looking for weak spots and free entry points.
So small sites actually get hacked more often, because they’re more likely to have weak spots.
Setting up basic security from the beginning is one of the smartest things you can do. It doesn’t have to be complicated, either. Grab my free WordPress Security Checklist to get started 😊
If you’re just getting started with your WordPress blog or website, I hope this helps you avoid some of the detours I took. There’s no shame in learning as you go, just don’t let these myths keep you from starting ☺️
And if you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why I created this website with beginner-friendly resources to make this whole process easier for you.
Happy blogging! ☺️
