Starting your first WordPress website can be exciting — but also overwhelming. Most beginners unknowingly make critical mistakes that later hurt their website’s speed, SEO, and security.
Hi, I’m Fusis Mamun, a WordPress & Elementor Expert with over six years of experience and more than 1500+ completed projects worldwide. I’ve seen the same issues repeat across dozens of client websites — and the good news is: they’re all easy to avoid once you know them.
In this post, I’ll share the most common WordPress mistakes beginners make (and how to fix them like a pro).
⚙️ 1. Using Too Many Plugins
Many beginners install every plugin they find — SEO plugin, page builder, pop-ups, sliders, security tools, etc.
The result? A slow, bloated website that takes forever to load.
✅ Fix:
- Use only essential plugins (SEO, cache, security, backup, Elementor).
- Delete inactive or duplicate ones.
- Keep everything updated to avoid conflicts.
💡 Pro Tip: You can design everything cleanly with Elementor Pro without adding 10 extra design plugins.
🎨 2. Choosing a Heavy or Poorly Coded Theme
A flashy theme might look tempting, but heavy themes slow down your site. Many include unnecessary scripts, animations, and demo data.
✅ Fix:
Choose lightweight, SEO-friendly themes like:
- Astra
- Hello Elementor
- GeneratePress
- Blocksy
Then, customize it with Elementor for flexibility and speed.
🔒 3. Ignoring Security Settings
Skipping basic security setup is one of the biggest mistakes. WordPress is secure — but only if you protect it.
✅ Fix:
- Install Wordfence or iThemes Security.
- Use strong passwords and 2FA.
- Change the default “admin” username.
- Backup regularly with UpdraftPlus or your host’s backup feature.
A hacked website can take days to restore — prevention is much easier.
📱 4. Not Making the Site Mobile-Friendly
In 2025, over 70% of traffic comes from mobile.
If your layout breaks or loads slow on phones, visitors will leave instantly.
✅ Fix:
- Use Elementor’s Responsive Mode to check tablet and mobile views.
- Set proper font sizes and spacing.
- Test your site on different devices.
💡 Pro Tip: Always preview your pages on mobile before publishing.
⚡ 5. Forgetting Speed Optimization
A slow site means lost visitors — and lower Google rankings.
Common causes: big images, unused plugins, and slow hosting.
✅ Fix:
- Compress images (ShortPixel or TinyPNG).
- Use caching (LiteSpeed Cache or WP Rocket).
- Use a CDN like Cloudflare.
- Choose hosting optimized for WordPress (e.g., Hostinger, SiteGround).
Test with GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights regularly.
🧠 6. Not Setting Up SEO Properly
You can have a great website — but without SEO, no one will find it.
✅ Fix:
- Install Rank Math or Yoast SEO.
- Write keyword-rich titles and meta descriptions.
- Add image alt text and internal links.
- Submit your site to Google Search Console.
SEO is not optional. It’s what turns your website into a client magnet.
🗂️ 7. Ignoring Backups and Updates
Too many beginners skip regular updates and backups — until it’s too late.
Outdated plugins or themes can break your site or open security holes.
✅ Fix:
- Always backup before updating.
- Use UpdraftPlus or WPVivid Backup.
- Update WordPress core, themes, and plugins once per week.
🧱 8. No Clear Website Structure
Without a logical structure, users and search engines can’t find what they need.
✅ Fix:
Plan your site with this simple structure:
- Home
- About
- Services (each service = separate page)
- Portfolio
- Blog
- Contact
Then use Elementor’s Nav Menu to create a clean, easy navigation.
🧩 9. Not Optimizing Images and Media
Huge unoptimized images slow your site. A 4MB image can take seconds to load on mobile.
✅ Fix:
- Resize before upload (max width 1200px).
- Save as WebP format.
- Add descriptive filenames (e.g.,
wordpress-expert-fusis-mamun.webp).
💼 10. Not Hiring a Professional When It’s Time
DIY is great for learning — but when your business depends on performance, design, and SEO, hiring an expert saves you time and stress.
✅ Fix:
Get help from an experienced WordPress & Elementor expert. I’ll build your website right the first time — optimized for speed, SEO, and conversions.
👉 Order your website on Fiverr: https://www.fiverr.com/s/ljK0BpQ
👉 See my work: https://fusismamun.com
🧠 Bonus: Checklist to Keep Your WordPress Healthy
- Backup weekly
- Update plugins & themes
- Scan for malware
- Optimize database monthly
- Compress all new images
- Check speed scores quarterly
Keep this routine, and your website will stay fast, secure, and SEO-friendly.
🚀 Final Thoughts
Mistakes are part of learning — but with the right guidance, you can avoid the ones that cost time and money.
Whether you’re creating a portfolio, blog, or eCommerce site, building it correctly from day one is crucial.
I’ve helped hundreds of business owners fix and improve their WordPress sites. If you’d like me to help build or repair yours, just message me directly on Fiverr.
👉 Hire Fusis Mamun on Fiverr: https://www.fiverr.com/s/ljK0BpQ
Let’s make your WordPress website fast, secure, and stress-free! 💪
