Why Do So Many WordPress Sites Have Major Problems?

If you’ve ever visited your WordPress website only to find a white blank screen, a "critical error," or even foreign characters across the page, you’re not alone. As a creative branding and website development agency, we get calls and emails weekly—from clients and non-clients—desperate for help with broken WordPress websites. And often, the most frustrating part for them is: no one touched anything. So what gives?

Common WordPress Problems We See

• The dreaded white screen of death (WSOD)
• Internal server errors
• Broken formatting and layout issues
• Hacked sites displaying foreign or malicious content
• “There has been a critical error on this website”
• Database connection errors

Each one can bring a business website to a grinding halt—especially painful if you rely on your site for leads, bookings, or sales.

Is WordPress Really That Bad?

No, not at all.

In fact, WordPress is an amazing tool when used appropriately. It's easy to use, has a massive ecosystem of themes and plugins, and is especially valuable for startups and small businesses trying to get online quickly without a massive upfront investment. Even major corporations use WordPress—but with extensive customizations and very robust internal teams.

The challenge is this: WordPress is not set-it-and-forget-it. Without proper care, it becomes vulnerable. And it’s not just about what you do—it’s about what you don’t do.

Why Do WordPress Sites Break So Often?

Outdated Plugins and Themes

WordPress relies heavily on third-party plugins and themes. When these aren't updated regularly—or worse, are abandoned by their developers—they can conflict with each other or with the core WordPress updates.

Weak or No Security Measures

WordPress powers a massive chunk of the internet. That makes it a big target. In fact, WordPress is responsible for 83% of hacked CMS-based websites, according to Sucuri. Many sites lack the most basic protection: firewalls, backups, SSL certificates, or even strong passwords.

Shared Hosting Vulnerabilities

Budget hosting solutions often cram dozens of websites onto a single server. If one gets compromised, yours might too.

No Ongoing Maintenance

Just like a car, a WordPress site needs regular care. Neglect it long enough, and it will break down—even if you haven't done anything to it.

One-Click Installs with Zero Oversight

The "quick and easy" route to launching a WordPress site often leads to long-term problems. Without thoughtful planning, best practices, or a professional hand, it's only a matter of time before something goes sideways.

What Happens to Your Brand?

A bad website isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a brand killer.

Whether it’s a potential customer landing on your home page or a long-time client trying to access information, a broken, slow, or hacked website creates an immediate negative impression. And in today’s world, where nearly every first impression happens online, your website is your brand.

It doesn’t matter how great your product is, how kind your team is, or how trustworthy your services are—if your site looks like it’s falling apart, your brand takes the hit. The truth is: a brand is never better than its worst employee… or a website that doesn’t work.

And when things go wrong (and they can), what matters most is how you respond. Fixing the issue quickly, correctly, and transparently can help minimize damage. Waiting too long or fixing it poorly only deepens the impression that you’re not on top of things.

What We Do Differently

At Wollner Studios, we still use WordPress—when it makes sense for our clients. We make it a point to build smart, streamlined, secure WordPress sites that rarely have issues. Why?

Because we do the work most people skip:

• We develop with minimal plugins to avoid unnecessary vulnerabilities.
• We install professional-grade security and firewall systems.
• We perform monthly maintenance, updates, and testing.
• We set up offsite backups and 24/7 uptime monitoring.
• We use quality hosting environments designed for performance and protection.

Can something go wrong? Of course. No platform is 100% secure. But with proper precautions, the chance of a catastrophic failure is dramatically lower.

Our monthly maintenance plans for the site we develop start at $250/mo and can go up to $3,500/mo. All depending on the complexity and size of your website. It’s an investment that saves countless hours and dollars down the line—and helps you sleep better at night.