51 Most Common WordPress Questions Answered

Last updated on June 6th, 2020 at 06:00 am

I realize that working with WordPress can be confusing.

When I first started using this powerful platform, it made my head spin.

I had tons of questions and very little answers.

​In this post, I am going to answer 51 of the most common WordPress questions my clients ask me when they get started with WordPress.

Not only that, but I also scoured some Facebook groups to find some WordPress questions people were having issues with.

Most of these new questions will be geared towards beginners.Who knows, maybe you’ll learn something new about WordPress?If you do, let me know.

I have over 8 years of experience working with WordPress.

If you haven’t started blogging yet, here is my tutorial on how to start a blog on SiteGround. As a “thank you” for purchasing through my link, I’ll send you a copy of my book – The Jumpstart WordPress Guide – for free.

Today, I am very comfortable using this platform to build my blog business.If you need help getting started with WordPress, be sure to check out my limited WordPress services page.

I can now find my way around WordPress pretty quickly now.

However, it wasn’t always that way.

My first blog took me over 8 hours to setup.My first experience with WordPress was a nightmare.

I don’t think I even looked inside the WordPress files for at least the first 3 years of working with it.

Today, I feel comfortable enough to offer my WordPress services on this blog.

I am NOT saying that I know everything, I am continuously learning and lover working with it.

​In this blog post, I would answer 51 of the most common WordPress questions.

I can’t promise that I found all the questions being asked.

However, I am sure that I cover a lot of the popular questions asked about WordPress.

Who knows, this post may just answer a question you’ve been having issues with.

Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and let’s power through these questions that beginners like you may be struggling with.

51 Most Common WordPress Questions Answered

#1 Should I Get Started On A Self-Hosted Blog?

Answer:

If you’re serious about building a business, you absolutely should get started on a self-hosted blog.I would never recommend starting with a free platform unless you had absolutely no choice.

You don’t have to pay a fortune for hosting.In fact, I use and recommend SiteGround for beginners.

They have affordable plans that you can use while building your blog.

Starting with a self-hosted blog will save you from having to migrate your WordPress site from a free platform.​

#2 What’s The Best Hosting Account to Start With?

Answer:

As a new blogger, you don’t have a lot of money.The last thing you want to do is spend a fortune on hosting your WordPress blog.

There are tons of hosting services available for bloggers.Personally, I host my blog with SiteGround.

I have worked withWP Enginefor my clients’ sites and I can say that they are extremely good.The downside is that they are a little on the expensive side.

#3 What’s The Difference Between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org?

Answer:

WordPress.com is the free WordPress platform and is foundhere. You can set up a site in a matter of minutes, without having to install WordPress.

Just register your domain and you’ll be ready to start.

The downside is that you won’t have total control of your site.(Plus many people say that you can’t use affiliate links to make money with this platform.)

WordPress.org will require more techie knowledge, however, there are tons of tutorials online that will help you get started.You will find several tutorials right on this blog.

This method gives you more control over your design and code.It easy for you to customize and setup your unique look and feel for your blog.

#4 Which Hosting Account Should I Use For My Blog?

Answer:

Just because everyone is recommending hosting accounts such as Blue Host, Hostgator and other EIG companies, I don’t recommend using them.

In fact, here’s a fulllistof EIG hosting companies you should avoid.

Perform your due diligence and host your blog with a company that is reliable has a ton of great reviews. I use and recommend SiteGround for my blog. While I can’t say it will be the right hosting platform for you. I’ve been extremely happy with their service.

I use and recommend SiteGround for my blog.

While I can’t say it will be the right hosting platform for you. I’ve been extremely happy with their service.

#5 Which Theme Should I Use For My Blog?

Answer:

There are so many different themes beginners can choose from, such as Divi, Beaver Builder and the Genesis Framework and these are a just a few.

There are literally thousands of free WordPress themes in the WordPress repository.

Making the right decision can make your head spin.

I’ve written a great article that will walk you through step-by-step on how to choose a WordPress theme.

In the end, the decision will be yours. Find a theme that is closest to what you want your blog to look like.

#6 How Do I Install A WordPress Theme?

Answer:

Log into your WordPress dashboard and go to. Appearance >> Themes >> Add New >> Upload Theme Browse your computer files and upload your theme.

If you’re searching for a free theme, you just go to Appearance >> Themes >> Add New

This will bring up all the free available themes in the theme repository.

I’ve written a complete step-by-step tutorial that walks you through on 3 different ways to install a WordPress theme.

#7 What Are WordPress Plugins?

Answer:

Plugins allow you to extend the functionality of your WordPress blog. Here’s a quick explanation of what they are.

#8 Which Plugins Should I Use For My Blog?

Answer:

Don’t overload your new blog with tons and tons of plugins. I recommend installing the very basic plugins when you get started.

As your blog starts to grow and you need more functionality, you can add more.​

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#9 How Do I Install Plugins?

Answer:

Once you’ve performed your due diligence and decided which plugins you want to use on your blog, it’s time to install them. Go to Plugins >> Add New >> Upload Plugins

Read this complete guide to using WordPress plugins that will answer all your questions.

You’ll be able to follow along and get your plugins installed in a matter of minutes.

#10 How Do I Install WordPress?

Answer:

Most hosting companies will install your first WordPress installation free of charge.

I suggest doing it yourself. This will help you become more familiar working with WordPress.

Don’t be intimated by installing WordPress.

Remember, it took me over 8 hours to setup my first blog when I first got started.​

Today, there are several tutorials on YouTube and online that will help you get WordPress setup. You can watch my video below.

#11 How Can I Install Google Analytics in WordPress?

Answer:

WordPress makes it easy to install Google Analytics, especially, if you’re using the Genesis Framework.

I’ve written a step-by-step tutorial that walks you through onhow to setup Google Analytics. This method will walk you through on setting it up using the Genesis Framework.

You’ll also learn about a free plugin that makes it extremely easy.

You won’t have to worry about adding code in the head section of your WordPress blog.

#12 Which Theme Do You Use And Recommend?

Answer:

I use and recommend the Genesis Framework, because of it’s stability and built in SEO.

It does require some technical knowledge, but the forums are filled with people who are ready to help.

Not to mention, I’ve written some fantasticbeginner friendly Genesis tutorialsthat will help you get started with the basics.

The Genesis Framework is a premium theme, however, I truly believe you’ll love it.

If you’re looking for a drag and drop builder, I recommend Divi or Beaver Builder.I’ve used both on client sites and they love them.

If I was going to choose a page builder, I’d go with Beaver.Only because it’s a shorter learning curve.

#13 Which Contact Form Plugin Should I Use?

Answer:

There are literally tons of plugins you can use from the plugin repository.

I use theGravity Formsplugin on my blog.This plugin allows me to create sophisticated forms such as the one I use for my WordPress Services page.

If you’re wanting to create a simple contact form, I highly recommend the Contact 7 plugin.At the time of this writing, it has over 100,000 downloads.

#14 What’s The Best Way To Promote My Old Blog Posts?

Answer:

If you spend hours writing your blog posts like I do, then the last thing you want is your blog posts to fade away in your archives.I usethis pluginto help me promote my old blog posts.

Once you set up the plugin, your old posts will continue to be promoted on social media without you lifting a finger.

This makes it easy for you to focus on other necessary blogging tasks to help you grow your blog.

#15 What’s The Best Way To Backup My WordPress Blog?

Answer:

Automatic blog backups are extremely important for anyone who is running WordPress blog.

I use both the Updraft Plus and the Backup Buddy on clients sites.

In fact, I’ve written a step-by-step tutorial on how to setup an automatic backup, or you can watch the video below.

You never want to rely on your hosting provider to create your backups. Take matters into your own hands, this will help you sleep better at night.

#16 What’s The Difference Between A Framework and A WordPress Theme?

Answer:

WordPress Frameworks, Parent Themes, Child themes, and themes. It can be extremely confusing to a new WordPress user.

There are several different Frameworks available on the market today.

The only one that I have experience with is the Genesis Framework, so I can’t comment on any of the others.

A Framework is nothing more but a basic albeit well-coded parent theme. The only difference between a framework and a normal theme is that the Framework will require a child theme to add custom styling.

All the changes you make to your child theme won’t be lost when you upgrade the Framework.

The Genesis Framework is coded extremely well and follows all the coding standards.

If you’re the type of person who needs to know the all the technical jargon of what a framework is, watch this.

​If you purchase a regular theme from Themeforest or somewhere else online. You’ll most likely have to create a child theme.

Otherwise, all the changes you make will be lost when the developer updates the theme.

#17 How To Migrate WordPress To Another Hosting Account?

Answer:

One of the biggest reasons so many bloggers stay with a hosting account even if they’re not happy is they are scared to move their blog.

Migrating a WordPress site to a new hosting account is not as complicated as you may think.

If you’re unhappy with your current hosting account, you might want to consider moving your blog to a more reliable company.

I’ve written a step-by-step tutorial on moving WordPress from one host to another.

You don’t have to say with your current hosting account if you’re NOT happy.

#18 How Do I Learn My Way Around The WordPress Dashboard?

Answer:

The WordPress dashboard is where you’re taken to whenever you log into your blog. It can be extremely confusing if you’ve never used WordPress before.

I’ve written as a tutorial that will teach you the basics of learning how to navigate the WordPress dashboard.

#19 How Many Blog Posts Should I Write Before I Go Live With My Blog?

Answer:

This is one of the most common WordPress questions I see in Facebook Groups. Whether you’re just learning how to write your first blog post or have already written one.

The truth is that as soon as you get your first blog post written go ahead and hit publish.

No one except your close family and friends will see your blog. Unless of course you already have a huge following.

It takes a lot of work to start driving traffic to your blog. You’re going to need a lot of unique content to start building a loyal readership on your blog.

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#20 How Do I Make My WordPress Blog Pinterest Friendly?

Answer:

Pinterest is where it’s at for new bloggers. If you haven’t started using it, there are a couple things you need to do to get your blog ready.

I’ll have to create a tutorial soon, but for now…

Here’s apostthat will walk you through on getting your WordPress blog ready for Pinterest.

#21 What Social Sharing Plugin Do You Recommend?

Answer:

I use and recommend the Social Warfare plugin. I’ve written a complete step-by-step setup on the Social Warfare plugin.

The tutorial will show you how to setup and customize the social icons, so they match your blog colors. Here’s another Social Warfare tutorial.

I currently use the paid version. However, you can download the free version and test it out to see if you like it. I’ve created a video below that will show you how to set up the free version of the plugin.

If you’re looking for something free, you may want to consider the SumoMe plugin. Many people use it and love it.

#22 How Do I Update The WordPress Core?

Answer:

If you’re a new blogger then chances are you may have to update to the latest WordPress update sooner or later.

While some hosting companies will take care of your updates, I personally think it’s important for you to know how to do it.

I’ve written a complete step-by-step tutorial that walks you through on how to update the WordPress core.

#23 How Do I Shedule a post in wordpress?

Answer:

If you’re like me, you love writing your content 3-4 months in advance. This means that you’ll have to learn how to schedule your blog posts.

It’s extremely easy to do and the great thing is that you can schedule your content months in advance.

I haven’t written a tutorial on this, but Tiffany over at Beautiful Dawn Designs has written one that you’ll love and you read it here.

#24 What Do I Do If I Experience Issues Updating WordPress?

Answer:

If you’re doing your own updates, at one point you may experience some issues. Nothing is scarier than hitting the update WordPress button and not knowing what you’re doing.

The great thing is that you can always downgrade to your previous version if something bad does happen, watch this video to see how.

Keeping your blog updated is necessary, that’s why I always recommend testing out the update on localhost before you hit update on your live blog.

#25 How Do I Log Into WordPress

Answer:

Once you’ve got your blog setup and you’re ready to start writing your content.

You first need to log in.

I’ve written a tutorial that will show you how to login to WordPress.

#26 How Do i reset my password if i can’t access my email?

Answer:

You might not know that it’s possible to log into your WordPress blog, and change your password if you can’t get into the dashboard.

Here’s a great tutorial that will show you how to reset your WordPress password using PHPmyAdmin.

#27 What Plugin Should I Use To Collect Emails?

Answer:

You don’t necessarily have to use a plugin to collect emails.

Most auto-responder services like Mailchimp, GetResponse and ConvertKit and etc… will provide you with HTML forms you can easily paste into WordPress.

You will have to know a little bit about how to use HTML.

I use this plugin to help me grow my email list. It allows you to create opt-in forms pretty much anywhere you want on your blog.

The best part is you don’t have to mess with code.

#28 Should I Add A Slider To My WordPress Blog?

Answer:

I am NOT a huge fan of using sliders on my WordPress blog. Many of my clients use them and love them.

I thought I would do a little research to find out what some other experts say. Read this post and decide whether or not if adding a slider to your blog is actually worth it.

Of course, in the end, it’s your blog.

You’ll have to decide whether or not you want to add a slider or not. If you decide to then, here’s a great plugin I use for my client’s websites.

#29 How Do I Speed Up My WordPress Blog?

Answer:

There are a few things that you can do to speed up your WordPress blog.

The first thing is to install a cache plugin likeW3 Total Cache. I’ve used this plugin on some of my client’s sites and it seems to work well.

If you’ve been blogging for a while, you may want to consider optimizing your database.

Over time a WordPress database becomes bloated and needs to be cleaned out.

​This alone could improve your blog speed.If you’re still having issues with a slow loading site, you may want to consider usingCloudFlare.

Last but not least, make sure that you’re using a reliable hosting account.

I use and recommend SiteGround for new bloggers.

Plus I was able to get free CloudFlare service on their GrowBig plan.

Before you sign up, ask them if the plan you’re considering offers free CloudFlare service.

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#30 How Do I Create My WordPress Navigational Menu?

Answer:

Your navigational bar is what people will use to find your epic content. Here’s the ultimate guide to WordPress menus.

Don’t stress too bad about making it perfect when you first start.

As you continue writing more content and your blog continues growing, you’ll make changes to your navigation bar.

I’ve already changed the layout of my menu 3 times on my blog. You won’t get it perfect the first time, but then you don’t really have too.

#31 How Do I Migrate From Blogger To WordPress?

Answer:

I’ve personally never had a blog on the Blogger platform. So I did the due diligence and went out and found a tutorial that I believe is easy for you to follow.

This tutorial is very