As you probably already know, WordPress is a very popular Content Management System which is open source and available to absolutely anyone, free of charge.
(The charge for owning a website comes with purchasing a domain name and a web hosting package.)
The amazing thing about WordPress is that even though it’s free, it’s incredibly powerful. So much so that I cursed myself 4 years ago when I was trying to learn all its features. At the time it seemed very complicated. Today, I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t learned it.
Beginners beware: there is a slight learning curve to WordPress but it’s well worth your time to learn it.
Customize Your Website with WordPress Plugins
Not everyone needs the same exact WordPress features and that’s where plugins come into play. A plugin is an additional program / piece of code that you can install on your site to add a new, special feature.
For example, WordPress does not come with any social media buttons. All those social media buttons you see on other people’s sites are plugins. Once WordPress was installed, they downloaded and installed a separate plugin / code to make those social media buttons appear.
Thousands of these plugins are free of charge while others with more intense features are paid plugins. If you’re just starting your business, you can certainly get by with the variety of free plugins. When you start earning money and want to invest in a paid plugin, please do your research and search out reviews before parting with your hard-earned money.
Updating WordPress & WordPress Plugins
Just like every other computer program you’ve ever owned, new versions of WordPress and its plugins are developed all the time. Not only do they try to improve the features but regular updates also prevent hackers from breaking into your prized website and wreaking havoc.
How do you know when to update? WordPress will tell you!
When you first login to WordPress you’re brought to your Dashboard. If you see this yellowish rectangle at the top of your dashboard page, it’s time to update your version of WordPress.
The same is true for updating your plugins, except look for that notification along the left sidebar of your dashboard, where it says “Plugins”.
That little number next to the Plugin title? That’s how many of your activated plugins need updating. Simply click on the Plugin link and you’ll see exactly which plugins need attention.
How to Upgrade to the Newest Version of WordPress or Your Plugins
Before you upgrade anything to a new version, create a backup of your site. Many times that can be done via your hosting service and I believe there’s even a plugin to do that for you.
There are 2 schools of thought on the actual next steps for upgrading to new versions of WordPress and its plugins. Some people will argue that updating both WordPress and your plugins manually is best and will pose the least security threat.
Personally, in the last 4 years I’ve been in business, I’ve had excellent luck with clicking on the “Update Automatically” links. In literally 1 minute or less the update is done, usually with no catastrophic results.
That said, occasionally there have been plugin updates that make my site look screwy; for whatever reason the newest version isn’t compatible with my other plugins or theme. So my advice is to upgrade just one plugin at a time and check your site before upgrading any others.
Have a Problem? Ask Your Hosting Provider for Help
Reliable web hosting companies are supposed to backup their servers on a regular basis. This could be weekly or daily, depending on the company and on what package you purchased.
If you upgrade WordPress or any plugins and your site gets messy in the process, contact your host and ask them to upload your site’s backup file. Again, depending on the hosting company there might be a nominal fee for this (it’s a good question to ask prior to purchasing your hosting package).
