Avoiding Information Overload: Filtering Reliable WordPress Advice
With over 40% of websites using WordPress as their CMS, there is plenty of information out there when you need advice. But with such high volumes, there are bound to be a few bad eggs. The internet is saturated with so-called “WordPress experts” offering contradicting advice. So, how do you know who to trust? As a business owner, you don’t have time to sift through mounds of content of varying quality, let alone check the credibility of each and every source. You need focused, tailored guidance to set your website up for success.
In this blog post, you'll learn to filter reliable WordPress advice so you can confidently make the best decisions for your business, save time researching, and avoid costly pitfalls.
Look to Trusted Sources
When searching for WordPress advice, the best place to start is straight at the source. The official WordPress sites and documentation are invaluable resources created by the experts behind the platform. Well-known WordPress influencers like Chris Lema, Jonathan Wofford, and Syed Balkhi also offer a wealth of reliable information. Their decades of experience bring unique insights, making them a great next stop. If you still can't find the answers you're looking for, you can check out active WordPress forums like the support forums, Reddit, and Stack Exchange. These spaces enable you to connect with the WordPress community and get answers to your specific questions. Keep in mind that open forums are exactly that: open. So be wary of who's dishing out the tips!
Validate Credentials
Of course, you don't want to just blindly follow any old advice. It’s important to research who is providing the information. Consider their background and track record. For example, Morten Rand-Hendriksen has published WordPress tutorials on sites like LinkedIn Learning and WordPress.tv. He’s also the Head Instructor for WordPress educational Learn WordPress program and speaks at WordCamp conferences globally. Rand-Hendriksen is a great example of an expert with extensive credentials who can be a trusted source for advice.
Look for proven WordPress expertise, high-quality work samples, and endorsements from respected companies in the field. Avoid self-proclaimed “gurus” without evidence to back it up.
Assess Motivations
Some WordPress advice aims to sell you products or services. Quality, unbiased advice exists to help, not make a quick buck from clicks. Be wary of undisclosed affiliate relationships or unclear business models. For example, hosts may push certain plugins that aren’t ideal but earn them affiliate revenue. Also, vet “Top 10” lists and product reviews for evidence of hands-on experience. The most trustworthy recommendations are backed by evidence and transparency. (Editors Note: We only recommend stuff we use or have tested fully.)
Corroborate Recommendations
Rather than staking your business on a single piece of advice, get a second opinion. Cross-check recommendations against advice from other reputable sources. Before making major changes to your site, test suggestions on a staging copy first. Ask other WordPress site owners in your network what has worked well for them. If a claim doesn’t hold up across multiple trusted sources, it may not be reliable.
Watch for Red Flags
Learn to recognize signs of questionable advice. Content filled with clickbait headlines that over-promise is often promotional and biased. Old, outdated posts may recommend plugins no longer supported. For example, you may notice a common tip is to use Google XML Sitemaps to improve SEO. However, this plugin is now built into WordPress core. Broken links or sloppy errors indicate poor editing. Claims without supporting evidence or “results not typical” disclaimers should raise eyebrows. The unfortunate bottom line is: advice that seems too good to be true probably is.
Stay Up to Date
The wondrous world of WordPress evolves rapidly. Subscribe to official WordPress blogs and newsletters to stay current and experiment judiciously with the new trends they teach you. However, don’t just blindly jump on every bandwagon. Vet new plugins and solutions before you implement them, and make sure all plugins are beneficial to your site's functionality. What works today may become outdated tomorrow, so be sure to balance innovation with time-tested best practices.
Why Reliable WordPress Advice Matters to Business Owners
Filtering WordPress advice efficiently is critical for small business owners with limited time and resources. With website quality directly impacting revenue, faulty recommendations can sabotage SEO, resulting in less traffic. Outdated advice may suggest insecure plugins opening up vulnerabilities. There are real costs to implementing poor guidance.
But with the right strategies, business owners can identify trustworthy guidance to steer their website to in the right direction. Bid adieu to spending late nights endlessly searching forums. No more paying the price for outdated or biased advice. Business owners deserve the peace of mind that comes with finding WordPress experts they can rely on.
Final Thoughts
The stakes are high when it comes to choosing the right WordPress solutions for your business. Rather than wading through an ocean of conflicting opinions, let Your WP Guy be your life raft. Our WordPress experts will listen to your unique needs and provide tailored solutions to set your site up for security, performance, and profitability.
During a discovery call, we can assess your current website strengths and weaknesses, outline a roadmap customized for you, and answer any questions so you can make informed WordPress decisions. Don't get stuck in uncertainty. Schedule a discovery call with us today and reclaim control of your website.
Avoiding Information Overload: Summary
- Consult official WordPress sites and experts for reliable advice.
- Vet sources thoroughly; don't take claims at face value.
- Watch for promotional content disguised as advice.
- Cross-check recommendations with multiple trusted sources.
- Stay up to date, but balance new trends with proven practices.
