Our WordPress FAQ page answers the most common questions users ask about building, managing, and optimizing a WordPress website. Whether you’re launching your first site or improving an existing one, these quick, practical answers cover hosting, speed, SEO, plugins, and AI search optimization—all explained in clear, simple language for fast results.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a free content management system that lets you build and manage websites without coding. It powers blogs, business sites, and stores.
What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
WordPress.com is hosted for you with plans and limits. WordPress.org is self-hosted and gives you full control, plugins, themes, and custom code.
How much does a WordPress website cost?
Expect costs for domain, hosting, theme, plugins, and WordPress development. Simple sites may be a few hundred dollars. Custom sites can reach thousands.
Domain: $10–$20 per year
Hosting: $10–$50 per month (managed can be higher)
Premium theme/plugins: $50–$300+
Which hosting is best for WordPress?
Choose managed WordPress hosting for speed, security, and support. Look for PHP 8+, HTTP/2 or HTTP/3, SSD storage, backups, and staging.
How do I speed up my WordPress site?
Use caching, a CDN, image optimization, and a fast theme. Keep plugins lean and update PHP, core, and plugins.
Enable page/object caching
Serve next-gen images (WebP/AVIF)
Minify and defer CSS/JS
Use a CDN for static files
How do I pass Core Web Vitals on WordPress?
Reduce render-blocking scripts, optimize images, and stabilize layout. Use a performance plugin and test with PageSpeed Insights.
Which is better: Gutenberg or a page builder?
Gutenberg (Block Editor) is lighter and fast. Page builders add design control but can add bloat. Pick based on design needs and speed goals.
How many plugins are too many?
There is no fixed limit. Use the fewest, best-built plugins to meet your needs. Quality, not count, drives speed and stability.
How do I keep WordPress secure?
Update core, themes, and plugins, use strong logins and 2FA, and run a firewall. Take automatic backups and limit admin access.
How do I back up a WordPress site?
Schedule automatic backups of files and database to off-site storage. Test a restore on staging to confirm the backup works.
How do I restore a WordPress site from a backup?
Restore files and import the database, update wp-config.php if needed, and flush permalinks. Verify logins and links before going live.
How do I migrate WordPress to a new host or domain?
Copy files, export the database, update URLs, and point DNS to the new host. Use a migration plugin or a manual move with search-replace.
What is WooCommerce and is it good for eCommerce?
WooCommerce is a free WordPress store plugin. It scales well with the right host, caching, and careful plugin choices.
How do I make WordPress SEO friendly?
Use clean URLs, fast load times, useful headings, and helpful content. Add schema, internal links, and an SEO plugin for meta tags and sitemaps.
How do I optimize WordPress for AI Overviews and generative search?
Give direct, scannable answers with clear headings and bullets. Use FAQ schema, concise definitions, and unique, factual content.
Lead with a one-sentence answer
Add lists, steps, and data points
Use FAQ and HowTo schema where valid
What theme should I use for WordPress?
Pick a lightweight, well-supported theme that works with the Block Editor. Avoid multipurpose bloat if speed is your goal.
How do I choose essential WordPress plugins?
Cover security, backups, caching, SEO, and forms. Add only what you need and prefer well-maintained plugins with clear roadmaps.
How do I fix common WordPress errors?
Enable debugging, check error logs, and test plugins and themes one by one. Increase memory and refresh permalinks if links break.
White screen: disable plugins via SFTP
500 error: check .htaccess and PHP version
404s: re-save permalinks
What is a staging site and why use it?
A staging site is a private copy of your site for testing. Use it to preview updates, new plugins, and design changes safely.
Can WordPress handle high traffic?
Yes, with proper hosting, caching, a CDN, and lean code. Offload media, optimize queries, and use object caching.
What are custom post types and custom fields?
Custom post types store special content like portfolios or testimonials. Custom fields store extra data for templates and blocks.
Is WordPress good for multilingual sites?
Yes. Use a multilingual plugin or a headless setup. Plan URL structure, hreflang tags, and translation workflows from day one.
What is WordPress Multisite and when should I use it?
Multisite runs many sites from one WordPress install. Use it for networks with shared users and themes, not for unrelated sites.
How do I make WordPress accessible (ADA/WCAG)?
Use semantic headings, good contrast, alt text, labels, and keyboard support. Test with automated and manual audits and fix issues in templates.
How do I add schema markup in WordPress?
Use an SEO or schema plugin for core types and add JSON-LD for custom needs. Validate with a structured data tester.
How do I reduce spam on WordPress forms and comments?
Enable reCAPTCHA, use an anti-spam plugin, and add server-side checks. Consider honeypots and rate limits.
Which image format is best for WordPress?
Use WebP for most images and AVIF where supported. Compress at upload and serve scaled images with lazy loading.
Which PHP version should WordPress use?
Use the latest supported PHP 8.x for speed and security. Test on staging before upgrading on production.
How often should I update WordPress?
Update core, themes, and plugins weekly or as releases ship. Back up first and test major updates on staging.
Can I use WordPress as a headless CMS?
Yes. Use the REST API or GraphQL to deliver content to a front-end like Next.js. This can improve speed and developer control.
How do I prepare a WordPress site for a redesign?
Audit content, note URLs, back up, and build on staging. Map redirects, test templates, and launch during low-traffic hours.
When should I hire a WordPress developer or agency?
Hire help for custom features, complex speed issues, security cleanup, or a full redesign with SEO and conversions in mind.
