WordPress Plugins: Why Less is More

Not only do we build websites from scratch, but we also help redesign or improve existing websites, primarily on WordPress. We always focus on setting up suitable plugins for each website.

WordPress can be great, both from a developer perspective and even a DIY perspective. But it has one ironic downfall: you can add a plugin to do nearly anything. The WordPress plugin library is nothing short of gigantic. Which means we regularly see DIY websites with a large amount of plugins installed.

There’s a balance to using plugins: choosing ones that work best with your needs, ones that are updated regularly, and not using too many. More plugins = longer loading time = slower website. Incorrectly set up plugins can also slow your website down, or be incompatible with other plugins.

The other trap we often see people fall into, is using additional plugins to “fix” things that just need some coding done, rather than a whole plugin. As a guide, we generally try to keep an average-sized website to use no more than 5-6 plugins at most (and less where possible).

Less plugins mean:

  • Less chance of your website breaking
  • Less areas of your website that need updating/monitoring
  • Less items to load on each page (faster website)

Less plugins also gives you more control, knowing what you have installed – rather than having a whole library of plugins and not understanding why they are all there.

 

 

We acknowledge the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people, the traditional custodians of the land on which we live, work and play. We pay respect to their elders, past and present.