Kryptonite for WordPress
Kryptonite was the one substance that could bring down and weaken Superman. Unlike Superman, WordPress’ Kryptonite can be many things.
Things we can avoid, things we don’t need to expose WordPress to and thereby weaken its functionality and security. All within our control to control with a little effort and knowledge.
Here are a handful of things that can become the Kryptonite for your WordPress site:
- Updates: It amazes me how many ignore this recommendation. When you see that pale yellow nag screen in the admin area — update. Do what it says! Otherwise you risk problems the least of which is getting hacked. Getting hacked — Kryptonite!
- Plugins: While most plugin developers are great guys and gals who offer a quality product (for free in most cases), there are those plugins that are not supported or kept up to date. They can break themes and cause WordPress to not work as it should. Broken WordPress — Kryptonite!
- Users: Users are the heart of any WordPress site but they can also be your Kryptonite. Not all comments should be approved. Comment spammers and over zealous marketers can muck up your site/Blog with useless dribble that discourages quality visitors to participate and return. That’s where having a comment policy and being very selective with the type of comments you allow on your site is very important. Valueless comments — Kryptonite!
- Themes: Not all themes are created equal. Period. Many free themes have shoddy code or undesirable encrypted links in the footer. For the small price of a premium WordPress theme, you can avoid bad theme syndrome — Kryptonite!
- Images: You want quality images for your site and posts. This is a visual medium after all! While some topics are more conducive to including images than others, when adding images you need to make sure they are crystal clear, appropriate, not over sized and that you have permission to use them. Receiving a DMCA Complaint that can get you shut down because the photographer or source where you got your photos did not give you permission to use them on your site — Kryptonite!
While above is not the end all be all, every serious site owner and Blogger needs to at the very least have these bases covered to give their endeavor the best chance for success.
Comment below and let me know the Kryptonite that weakened your WordPress site/Blog. Was it something you did, didn’t do, something you had to learn the hard way?
“You can’t relate to a superhero, to a superman, but you can identify with a real man who in times of crisis draws forth some extraordinary quality from within himself and triumphs but only after a struggle.” ~ Timothy Dalton
And sometimes, that’s how we humans learn, grow and thrive. Here’s to a strong and vital WordPress site!
At your service,
Judith
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