Why I Keep My WordPress Websites Simple

I like a simple website. I want someone to visit, understand what I offer, and know what to do next.

I’ve been using WordPress since 2007, and I haven’t always approached websites this way. Over the years, I’ve built sites with plenty of features, moving elements, and bells and whistles. At the time, I thought those additions made the website better.

Today, I’m more interested in whether each part of the website serves a purpose. For my own business, simple WordPress website design means a clear message, useful information, and an easy way to get help.

In the video below, I walk through my WPEdge Solutions website and explain why I’ve chosen to keep it straightforward.

What building websites since 2007 has taught me

One of the websites I built years ago was for an ice skating rink. It included scheduling features so people could book ice time or sign up for an event.

That functionality had a reason to be there. It also took work to set up.

I added a scrolling ticker near the top of the website, too. It displayed information about the rink and upcoming events. At the time, I thought that kind of feature was a good addition.

Looking back, I started questioning how much those extras contributed. Were they helping visitors find what they needed? Were they adding distractions? What was involved in keeping everything working?

Over time, I became more selective. I wanted the message and the purpose of the website to come through clearly.

Your website may need scheduling, online payments, or other features. Mine needs booking functionality. The question I ask is whether a feature helps someone accomplish what they came to do.

The three questions I want my website to answer

When someone lands on my website, I want three things to be clear:

1. What do I do? I help people with WordPress.
2. How can I help you? I help users work through problems, improve their websites, and become more confident managing them.
3. What should you do next? If you want personal help, you can book a call.

Those questions give me a way to evaluate what belongs on the homepage.

Your next step might be different. You might want visitors to request a quote, buy a product, make an appointment, or visit your location. Whatever that action is, I’d give it a clear place on the page.

How I put that into practice on WPEdge Solutions

The version of my website shown in the video puts most of the main business information on one homepage. I also have a separate blog for articles.

At the top, I use a short menu and a prominent “Book a Call” button. The opening section—often called the hero section—introduces me and explains the kind of WordPress help I offer.

Some links jump to sections farther down the homepage. That lets someone move directly to the information they want.

Give each section a job

My homepage includes places to learn, get to know me, and find help:

• Learning resources: Links to my YouTube videos and blog articles.
• A free website self-audit: A checklist visitors can use to review their own site.
• About Rob: My experience with WordPress and what I’m sharing through WPEdge.
• Consulting options: Ways to schedule time to talk about a WordPress question or problem.
• Contact and social links: Other ways to connect with me.

These sections support different visitors. Some people want to learn on their own. Others want someone to help them work through an issue.

The main business goal is still clear: help visitors understand what I do and give them a straightforward way to book a conversation.

Leave room around the information

As I scroll through the site in the video, you’ll notice space around the text and cards. I like giving each section some breathing room.

I don’t feel the need to fill every available area. I want someone to be able to look at a section and understand what it’s there for.

Make the next step easy to recognize

I use booking buttons in more than one relevant place. Someone who has read about my services can take the next step there without returning to the top.

I also show other contact options, including a WhatsApp messaging button. These give visitors choices while keeping the main purpose of the site in view.

Where website speed fits in

In the video, I show a GTmetrix report for my website. That test returned an A grade, a 100% performance score, and a 99% structure score.

I was pleased with those results. I want visitors to get to the information without waiting around for the page to respond.

Those numbers describe the particular test I showed. They don’t mean every visitor will have the same experience, or that a high score means there is nothing left to improve. A performance report also doesn’t tell me whether my message is clear or my booking process is easy to use.

For me, the useful lesson is to pay attention to what I’m adding to the website. I want a reason for each feature, and I want to check the result rather than assume an addition has no effect.

Check your own homepage before changing everything

Open your homepage and try looking at it as someone who has never heard of your business.

Ask yourself:

• Can someone quickly understand what my website offers? Read the opening heading and the text beneath it. Would they make sense without an explanation from you?
• Is the next step clear? If someone wants to contact you, learn about a service, or make a purchase, can they see where to go?
• Is anything distracting from that purpose? Look for outdated information, unnecessary features, or sections that repeat the same message.

Then choose one improvement.

That might mean rewriting a vague heading, making a button easier to understand, or removing an announcement that no longer applies.

Start with what you think matters most. Fix that, review the result, and move on to the next thing. You don’t have to rebuild the entire website to begin making it more useful.

Build around what your visitors need

My website is designed around the work I do today. Your business may need more pages or different functionality, and that’s fine.

What I want to share is the habit of asking why something belongs on the page. Does it help visitors understand you? Does it answer a question? Does it help them take the next step?

That’s why I keep my WordPress websites simple. I want the purpose to be clear, and I want the website to support the people using it.

If you’re considering which tools to use, you can download my free WordPress Toolkit. If you’d like personal help, visit WPEdge Solutions to explore the consulting options.

What part of your website feels more complicated than it needs to be—and what’s one change you could make first?