WordPress can be a great medium for bloggers and entrepreneurs, making the websites built on this platform an easy way for aspiring journalists and bloggers to get online. For many business owners, especially small businesses, there is not much time to set up and maintain a website built from scratch using HTML and Javascript. Wordpress ‘democratizes’ website building in a way, by making it more accessible for everyone.
But challenges persist, even in this age of AI and cookie-cutter templates for Wordpress that are cheap and plentiful. These challenges exist whether the owner is designing the site themselves, or if its a designer with experience building websites. Here are some of the challenges we see:
1. Cybersecurity Issues
Wordpress websites, it’s well known, are frequently a target for hackers. This is because the underlying file structure is the same for any wordpress website. So a hacker often knows where the vulnerabilities are! This is why it’s crucial to keep your site up to date and install a security plugin.
If your website gets hacked, not only will you lose sales and traffic, but all the data you have stored on your customer data and orders will be lost. This will incur a big loss in terms of your revenue and financials.
WordPress gets updated regularly; and many of these updates are critical in addressing recently discovered security threats. So don’t delay in applying these upgrades! This applies equally to your wordpress core, themes, and any plugins you have installed. Also make sure you choose reputable themes and stay informed about security patches.
Did you know: during the first half of 2022, 52% of WordPress vulnerabilities stem from plugins that are not up-to-date.
Just 11% of vulnerabilities can be attributed to WordPress theme development service providers. Cross-site scripting is also causing 80% of all security challenges across the internet.
Weak passwords and lax user authentication practices can lead to unauthorized access. Educating clients about why a strong password is important and implementing two-factor authentication are essential first steps towards your security.
2. Competition for Web Designers in Toronto
Toronto’s tech scene attracts talent from all over the world. While this diversity and talent is great, it also means fierce competition among web designers. Here’s what they face:
With countless agencies, freelancers, and studios, standing out becomes increasingly difficult. Designers must differentiate themselves through unique value propositions (USP)’s, exceptional portfolios, and lots and lots of 5-star reviews on Google Maps. A really slick looking website also helps a lot. More than a few clients have told me they liked the design of my site, and it was modern and clean.
Clients in Toronto are price-conscious. Designers often find themselves balancing quality with affordability. They know that a prospective client can just go down the street and find another web designer at an even cheaper price. It can be a race to the bottom.
3. Slow Website Performance
Poor website performance i.e., slow loading times, is a real issue. With WordPress, customers might get tested to the limits if not managed well. Studies show that if website visitors wait more than 5 seconds for a page to load, they will bounce (leave and go to another site).
Addressing the speed issue means developers need to run their websites through website speed checkers repeatedly to remain at the top of the game. The speed checking tool can directly influence your customer retention and business growth.
Conclusion
Despite its challenges for website owners and developers, WordPress remains one of the top choices for beginners and skilled programmers to build a website to share their products or services with the world
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