WordPress Common Mistakes

1. Editing the Parent Theme Directly

• Why it’s a problem: Any update to the theme will erase your changes.
• Better approach: Create a child theme that inherits the parent’s functionality but keeps your customizations safe.

Visual Example:
Here’s a guide showing how child themes protect your edits:
Child Theme Setup

2. Ignoring Performance & Core Web Vitals

• Symptoms: Slow load times, poor mobile experience, low SEO scores.
• Fixes:

• Use tools like PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse
• Optimize images (WebP), reduce unused CSS/JS
• Use performance plugins like WP Rocket or LiteSpeed Cache

Visual Example:
This image shows a failed Core Web Vitals audit and what to fix:
Core Web Vitals Fixes

3. Weak Security Practices

• Common mistakes:
  • Using “admin” as username
  • Not updating plugins/themes
  • Leaving file editing enabled
• Fixes:

• Use strong passwords and 2FA
• Disable file editing in wp-config.php
• Install security plugins like Wordfence

Visual Example:
This breakdown highlights top security mistakes and how to fix them:
Security Mistakes

4. No Version Control or Staging Workflow

• Why it matters: Direct edits on live sites can crash your site.
• Fixes:

• Use Git for version control
• Set up a staging site with tools like WP Staging or LocalWP

Visual Example:
This guide shows how staging and Git workflows protect your site:
Version Control Workflow

5. Hardcoding Instead of Using Hooks & Filters

• Why it’s bad: Makes your code rigid and hard to maintain.
• Fixes:

• Use add_action() and add_filter() to extend functionality
• Avoid editing core files—use plugins or custom functions

Visual Example:
This tutorial explains how hooks and filters keep your code modular:
Hooks & Filters Guide