A few months ago, my friend asked me to look at her WordPress website. Her online store looked great, but she was frustrated because visitors weren’t buying anything. After spending just 30 minutes on her site, I could see exactly why—the user experience was all over the place.

I’ve seen this same problem a lot of times. Small business owners focus so much on making their sites look pretty that they forget about making them easy to use.

The result? High bounce rates, low conversions, and missed opportunities.

That’s why I put together this guide with 13 practical tips to improve your WordPress user experience. These simple changes can dramatically boost your conversions and keep visitors coming back for more.

Why User Experience Matters for Your WordPress Site

User experience (UX) is about how easy and enjoyable it is for visitors to use your WordPress website. This applies whether they’re reading your blog, exploring your services, or making a purchase.

Think about what happens when customers walk into a well-organized store. 🛒

If everything’s easy to find and the checkout is quick, people are more likely to stay longer, browse, and buy.

The same applies to other websites: a clear navigation menu, fast load times, and a clean design keep visitors engaged.

But if your site is confusing, slow to load, or crowded with too many elements, many users will get frustrated and leave. And most won’t come back. In fact, even a one-second delay in page speed can cause conversions to drop by 7%.

That’s why good UX isn’t optional — it’s essential. The right design choices make your site easier to use and help guide visitors toward taking action, whether that’s subscribing to your email newsletter, signing up, or making a purchase.

And the best part? Many of these improvements are easy to set up, even if you’re not a developer. I’ll walk you through the most effective tips in the sections below.

Here’s a quick overview of all the tips I’ll cover in this guide:

Ready? Let’s get started.

Tip #1: Understand Your Users

Before you can improve your WordPress site’s user experience, you need to know who you’re designing for. A great way to start is by creating simple user personas, which are fictional profiles that represent your typical visitors.

For example, if you’re running a WordPress blog targeting busy parents, one of your personas could be “Sarah.” She’s a working mom looking for time-saving tips, easy-to-follow guides, and parenting hacks to manage her busy life.

Having user personas in mind helps you tailor your website’s features and content to better serve your audience. To create one, I recommend trying the free HubSpot Make My Persona tool.

Once you understand who your users are, it becomes easier to make design and content choices that actually help them.

It’s even more important to get direct feedback from your visitors if your site is already up and running. In my experience, even a simple feedback survey can uncover valuable insights about your site’s navigation, design, or content.

You can gather real feedback using tools like UserFeedback. For example, you might create a feedback form that displays across your website so that users can share what’s working (or what isn’t).

You might ask user experience feedback questions like, “Was this page helpful?” or “What information were you hoping to find?” This way, you collect direct, actionable feedback.

You can also easily create surveys and polls to gather visitor feedback with a tool like WPForms. For instance, you could run a quick poll asking which new features your users would like to see next or set up a short survey with a rating system to learn more about their overall experience.

The more you learn about your audience, the better your UX decisions will be — and the more likely your visitors will be to stick around, explore, and take action.

For more details, we have a full guide on how to choose a target audience.

Tip #2: Do a UX Audit

A UX audit is basically a deep dive into your website from a visitor’s point of view. It helps you spot anything that might be confusing, so you can fix it as soon as possible.

One of the first things you’ll want to do is test your site for usability issues. This means checking how easily someone can navigate your site, find what they need, or complete an action.

Even minor issues, like a misplaced or hidden button, can negatively impact the user experience.

I always recommend walking through important steps on your site, like submitting a contact form or making a purchase, just like a first-time visitor would.

Take note of any steps that feel confusing, slow, or frustrating — these are your pain points and bottlenecks to address.

It’s also a good idea to track the time it takes to go from finding a feature to completing the desired action. This way, you know exactly how much time a user typically takes to convert or complete a specific action.

For a full walkthrough, be sure to check out our expert tips for how to do a UX audit in WordPress.

Tip #3: Use Analytics to Guide UX Improvements

User experience isn’t just about design — it’s also about data. Tracking how users actually interact with your WordPress site helps you make smart decisions that improve usability and drive results.

While Google Analytics (GA) is the gold standard for tracking data, it can be tricky for beginners to set up and navigate. That’s why I always recommend using MonsterInsights.

It’s a user-friendly Google Analytics plugin for WordPress that gives you the insights you need without having to navigate complex reports.

With MonsterInsights, you can track user behavior, set up conversion goals, and improve your site’s performance, all inside your WordPress dashboard. At WPBeginner, our team uses MonsterInsights every day to see this data.

For more insights into its features, see our full MonsterInsights review.

MonsterInsights also lets you keep an eye on key metrics like:

• Bounce rate: If visitors leave your site right away, it could signal poor content, confusing navigation, or an unprofessional design. Addressing these issues can help keep visitors engaged longer.
• Time on page: If visitors aren’t sticking around, your content may not be engaging or visually appealing enough. Use this metric to identify pages that need improvement in writing, visuals, or layout.
• Behavior flow: This shows where visitors go next and where they drop off. If users leave key pages early, it may indicate issues with your site’s structure, navigation, or content. Analyzing this helps improve user journeys by addressing bottlenecks.

These insights are accessible on the MonsterInsights Reports page. They can help you spot what’s working and what needs improvement.

For more information, see our guide on WordPress conversion tracking.

Using heatmaps is another powerful way to visualize behavior. Heatmaps and session recording tools like Microsoft Clarity and UserFeedback show you exactly where people click, scroll, or get stuck.

This is especially helpful for refining navigation paths or identifying parts of your layout that are being ignored.

For more information on this topic, read our guide on how to set up heatmaps in WordPress.

Tip #4: Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly

More than half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices. That means if your WordPress blog or site doesn’t look or work right on a phone, you’re likely losing visitors before they even get to your content.

To prevent this from happening, I always recommend using a responsive WordPress theme. These themes will adjust automatically to different screen sizes — whether someone’s on a tablet, phone, or desktop.

Most modern themes include this feature, but it’s always good to double-check.

In my opinion, Sydney is one of the best responsive themes on the market. It’s also flexible and lightweight, and comes with 17+ starter templates.

It makes building a mobile-friendly site easy, thanks to the 8 mobile-ready header styles, drag-and-drop sections, and full design control.

Plus, there’s a free version of Sydney that you can use to get started!

Next, just because your website looks fine on a laptop doesn’t mean it’s easy to tap through on a phone. That’s why I suggest avoiding small text, hard-to-click buttons, and menus that are difficult to open.

The good news is that you can preview the mobile layout of your site from your WordPress content editor.

Some page and theme builders, like SeedProd, even let you customize the mobile version of your site from the editor.

For more information about this, you can explore our expert tips for creating a mobile-friendly WordPress site.

Tip #5: Improve Accessibility for All Users

Did you know that websites are considered “places of public accommodation”? That’s why the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows people to file complaints if a website doesn’t meet accessibility standards.

This is a good reason to make sure your site is inclusive for all users, including people with visual, hearing, or motor impairments.

But making your website accessible doesn’t just help people with disabilities. It also improves the user experience for everyone.

One easy accessibility adjustment you can make is adding alt text and titles to your images:

• Alt text is a short description of an image that screen readers read aloud. This can help visually impaired users while giving search engines more context for better SEO.
• Image titles appear when users hover over an image, providing additional context.

When it comes to fonts, ideally, you’ll want to pick options that are easy to read.

At WPBeginner, we use Proxima Nova for its clean look and readability. It’s sleek, contemporary, and subtly elegant, which is ideal for blogs, portfolios, and media companies.

Another good one is Lato, which you can see on the WPForms website. It’s welcoming and approachable with a balanced design, perfect for mobile apps, retail stores, and eCommerce websites.

But simply choosing a good font isn’t enough. You also need to make sure there’s enough contrast between the text and the background color.

And even with the right font and contrast, some users may still struggle with reading the text if it’s too small. One simple way to make your site more accessible is by letting visitors resize the text.

All that said, true ADA compliance goes beyond just these basic steps. It involves adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which provide a comprehensive framework for making web content accessible to people with disabilities.

For more in-depth insights, check out our guide on how to improve accessibility on your WordPress site.

Tip #6: Simplify Your Website Navigation and Search

Confusing navigation is one of the fastest ways to lose visitors. But the good news is that you can avoid this with an intuitive navigation menu. You’ll want it to be clear, simple, and easy to follow.

You can start by creating a logical menu structure. Stick to familiar terms like “Home,” “About,” “Blog,” “Shop,” and “Contact” so users immediately know where to go.

For example, if you’re running a business website where you sell software, your navigation should make it easy for visitors to learn about your products. In this case, key links might include “Features,” “Solutions,” “Pricing,” and “Resources.”

Plus, you may want to group similar content under dropdowns to avoid cluttering the top menu with too many items.

A mega menu can be particularly helpful for larger sites. This basically consists of multiple dropdown menus to help organize large amounts of content, products, or information.

For example, WPForms uses this menu type in their navigation to neatly group features, tutorials, and resources. This makes it easy for visitors to find what they need quickly.

For more information, see our guide on how to add a navigation menu in WordPress.

It’s also a good idea to add breadcrumbs, which are small links that show users where they are on your site (like Home > Blog > Article Name).

Breadcrumbs make it easy for visitors to backtrack and are especially helpful for blogs and online stores with lots of content.

Finally, if you want to provide your visitors with the best possible navigation experience, I suggest optimizing your WordPress search.

The default search function isn’t always the most accurate or helpful. Upgrading it can make a big difference, especially if you have a content-heavy site where users need to quickly find posts, products, or resources.

To do this, I recommend starting by reviewing your site’s search stats. This can show you what visitors are looking for, what they can’t easily find, and whether your current search function is meeting their needs.

From there, you can upgrade your WordPress search to deliver faster, more accurate results. Learn more about it in our guide on how to improve WordPress search.

Tip #7: Use Clean, Minimalist Design

A cluttered website can overwhelm your visitors and make it hard for them to focus. It can be tempting to overdo your design with fancy features, loud colors, and animations, but it’s not always the best option.

On the other hand, clean design helps guide people’s attention to what really matters — whether that’s your content, products, or call-to-action.

That’s why I strongly recommend using clean, minimalist design principles.

For starters, it’s usually best to stick to a consistent color scheme and limit your font choices to two or three. This keeps things looking polished and makes your content easier to read.

For example, on WPBeginner, we use our famous orange as the primary color on our website, and Proxima Nova as our font.

Using plenty of white space also prevents your layout from feeling crowded or cluttered. It not only looks modern but also makes your site feel more organized and professional.

I recommend keeping each page focused by limiting the number of elements, like popups, banners, and widgets, unless they serve a clear purpose.

Too many distractions can make it hard for visitors to choose what to do next, which often leads to confusion or even higher bounce rates.

In contrast, a clean and minimalist design improves the user experience. This can also increase conversions, generate more leads, and boost engagement!

One of the easiest ways to ensure a good balance of color, fonts, and white space is by using a well-designed theme, like Sydney, Neve, or OceanWP.

For tips on picking the right theme, check out our guide on selecting the perfect theme for WordPress.

If you already know you want something minimalist and easy to set up, you can take a look at our list of the best simple WordPress themes for a professional, clutter-free design.

Alternatively, you can use a page builder like SeedProd to create custom layouts that give you more control over design elements.

SeedProd lets you drag and drop elements to build landing pages, sales pages, coming soon pages, and even entire WordPress themes — no coding needed.

It’s perfect for beginners and non-technical users who need a completely custom look.

Did you know? Duplicator’s website was custom-built using SeedProd. To learn more about what the page builder can do, see our extensive SeedProd review.

To get started building your custom pages, see our expert checklist of key design elements for an effective WordPress website.

Tip #8: Present Content in a User-Friendly Way

When you showcase your content in an organized and user-friendly way, you’ll be more likely to get your message across.

To organize your content better, I recommend starting by using clear headings. They are like signposts that guide visitors along your page.

You can also use these headings to create a table of contents, like we do on the WPBeginner blog. That way, readers can quickly jump to the parts of a post or page that interest them most.

Many of our posts also start with a brief overview and then break into actionable steps using bullet points. Here’s why that helps with content organization:

• Big blocks of text can overwhelm readers who skim.
• Bullet points highlight key details quickly, while short paragraphs keep content light and digestible.
• Together, they make your posts and pages more engaging, encouraging visitors to stay and interact longer.

Visuals can make a big difference, too. Adding images, videos, or infographics can help illustrate your points and simplify complex ideas.

In our A/B test tutorial, for example, we included a screenshot of our test results. This visual comparison helped readers quickly see which version won and why it was more effective, making the concept of A/B testing more concrete and actionable. (You’ll learn more about A/B testing in Tip #10!)

Additionally, a quick explainer GIF can help keep visitors engaged and make your content more memorable.

Want to boost interaction? I also recommend including interactive polls, sliders, or fun quizzes using WordPress plugins. These small touches can make your content feel more dynamic and invite visitors to actively participate.

Looking for more details on how you can improve the way you present content? Check out our guide on how to write a great blog post and structure it.

Tip #9: Speed Up Your Website

How quickly your website loads plays a big role in user experience. A delay of just one second can cause people to lose interest and leave your site.

That’s why improving your WordPress website’s performance should be a top priority.

To start, you’ll want to use a caching plugin. Caching stores a ready-to-go copy of your site, so it loads much faster for repeat visitors.

Plugins like WP Rocket or WP Super Cache make this super easy.

I tested WP Rocket to see how it works, and it turned out to be really easy!

During testing, I enabled mobile caching to ensure a smooth experience on all devices. I also activated user caching to support logged-in users on WooCommerce and membership sites.

Then, I adjusted the cache lifespan based on how often the site content was updated, and enabled file minification and lazy loading.

These tweaks alone helped reduce my test site’s page load times by over 40%, and bounce rates also dropped.

For details, please see our guide on how to properly install and set up WP Rocket in WordPress.

Another way to boost your speed is by adding a CDN (Content Delivery Network).

A CDN stores copies of your site’s files on servers around the world, which means users load your site from the server closest to them. This can dramatically cut down load times, especially if you have visitors from different parts of the globe.

If you’re not sure where to start, we have a handy guide on how to set up Cloudflare’s free CDN in WordPress.

It’s also important to compress your images. Large image files are one of the biggest reasons sites slow down.

You can shrink your images without losing quality by using tools like TinyPNG or plugins like EWWW Image Optimizer that automate the process for you.

While you’re at it, consider switching to modern image formats like WebP. These formats offer better compression compared to traditional JPEG or PNG files, so your pages load even faster without sacrificing image quality.

Finally, don’t forget to test your site’s performance regularly. Free tools like GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights can analyze your site and give you specific suggestions to make it even faster.

For more information and tips on improving site speed, refer to our ultimate guide to boosting WordPress performance.

Tip #10: Test Website Changes with A/B Testing

When it comes to improving your site’s user experience, small tweaks can lead to big results — but how do you know what actually works?

That’s where A/B testing comes in.

A/B testing is a method for comparing two versions of a webpage or element (like a button or headline) to see which one works better.

Here’s how it works: You create two variations (A and B), show them to different groups of visitors, and then see which version gets more clicks, conversions, or engagement.

With tools like Thrive Optimize, setting up an A/B test is easy. It will then help you track which version gets more clicks, signups, or sales.

You can test things like:

• Headline variations
• Button color or text
• Page layout or section order
• Different images or testimonials

For example, in Thrive Optimize, I ran a test where I changed the color of the call-to-action (CTA) button on a landing page. After editing the variation, I split traffic between versions and started the A/B test.

This process is intuitive, and instead of relying on gut feeling, you’ll have real data to back up your design and content choices!

For example, you might find that a shorter headline keeps users engaged longer, or that moving your CTA higher on the page increases conversions.

Most A/B testing tools will automatically show the winning version once enough data has been collected, helping you continuously improve your site without guessing.

For details on how to do it, refer to our guide on how to do A/B split testing in WordPress.

Tip #11: Be Selective With Your Content

If your posts or pages include too much unnecessary content, it can make it harder for your audience to understand your message.

That’s why it’s always best to keep your content focused and intentional. Every page should have a clear goal, and every section of content should support that goal.

If you’re building a landing page, for example, the layout and copy should guide visitors toward a single action, like signing up for your newsletter or downloading a free resource.

For tips on building landing pages, please see our complete guide on increasing your landing page conversions.

When it comes to writing blog posts, the same rule applies. Publishing every idea that comes to mind might fill your site with content, but it won’t always serve your readers.

It is better to focus on topics that align with your niche and help your audience solve real problems.

To take it a step further, you can group related posts around a main pillar page using a content cluster strategy. This helps improve navigation and build authority in your niche.

We have a full tutorial on how to build content clusters in WordPress, including how to plan them around your areas of expertise.

It also helps to do regular content audits. This is because, over time, some posts stop performing — either because they’re outdated or because search intent has changed.

This is called content decay. For example, a blog post called ‘Top SEO Tips for 2020’ might no longer rank well in search results because SEO practices have evolved.

So, during your regular content audits, you’ll want to review older pages and decide: should I keep, update, or delete the content?

A little cleanup goes a long way in keeping visitors engaged and helping them find exactly what they need.

Tip #12: Encourage User Interaction 

When people can actively interact with your pages, they will naturally stay on your site longer.

Creating opportunities for user interaction can make all the difference.

A great place to start is your comments section. If it feels outdated, clunky, or inactive, people might not bother leaving a reply.

To give it an update, you can add like/dislike buttons. This way, your visitors can engage with the conversation even if they don’t want to post.

Alternatively, you might want to feature a simple user ranking system. For instance, you can pin top comments to the top of the section or award badges to users who consistently leave helpful remarks.

These small touches motivate readers to participate and foster a stronger community around your content.

To do all this, you can upgrade your comment system using a plugin like Thrive Comments. It helps create a better experience that encourages more interaction and discussion.

For insights about the plugin, see our in-depth Thrive Themes Suite review. Need more tool recommendations? Feel free to check out our expert picks of the best plugins to improve WordPress comments.

Tip #13: Build Community with Live Chat or Chat Rooms

Want to take user interaction to the next level?

Creating space for real-time conversations can turn your website into a more inclusive and supportive place. Providing a platform for real-time interaction helps create community and encourages return visits.

If you’re running an eLearning, support-based, or membership site, adding a live chat feature can make a significant impact. It allows users to ask questions about course material or get help with platform features.

For other types of websites, such as online stores or service-based sites, live chat offers immediate support. Users can easily get help with a product feature, clarifying a service detail, or resolving a technical issue.

Learn more about it in our guide on how to add live chat in WordPress.

Want something more community-focused? You can create private chat rooms or discussion boards using tools like BuddyBoss.

This is especially helpful for membership programs or online courses, where people want to connect with others on the same journey.

Hop over to our guide on how to create chat rooms in WordPress to learn more.

Bonus Tip: Detect Design Issues with Visual Regression Testing 🕵️

Sometimes, even a small theme or plugin update can break your layout without you noticing. That’s where visual regression testing comes in.

Visual regression testing (VRT) helps you make sure that updates to your website don’t accidentally mess up its look or design.

The process is simple – your VRT software takes ‘screenshots’ of a page before and after you make changes to it. It analyzes the code or pixel differences of these pages to catch any visual issues early, before they hurt the user experience.

The VRTs plugin is one of the best tools for automating this process. For step-by-step instructions, you can read our guide on how to do visual regression testing in WordPress.

I hope my tips and tricks help you improve user experience in WordPress. Next, you might want to check out our guide on how to add a forum to your site and our expert picks of key design elements for an effective WordPress website.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Improve User Experience in WordPress (13 Practical Tips) first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I first started working on my WordPress websites, I was mostly guessing what visitors wanted. It wasn’t until I started using heatmaps that I truly understood how people interacted with my site — where they clicked, how far they scrolled, and what actually caught their attention.

If you’re trying to improve your WordPress site but aren’t sure what’s working and what’s not, then heatmaps can give you some answers.

After testing several tools over the years, I’ve narrowed it down to 2 easy ways to set up heatmaps in WordPress: Microsoft Clarity and UserFeedback.

In this guide, I’ll go through each setup process step by step. By the end, you’ll have the tools you need to make data-driven changes to your site. 🔥

Why Do You Need to Set Up WordPress Heatmaps?

A heatmap is a visual tool that shows you exactly how visitors interact with your WordPress website. It uses color coding to highlight the most and least active areas on a page:

• Red, orange, and yellow (“hot” areas) show where visitors click, tap, or spend the most time.
• Blue and green (“cold” areas) show spots that get little or no attention.

By seeing this activity mapped out, you can stop guessing about what’s working and what’s not. In other words, heatmaps help remove the guesswork by giving you clear insights into visitor behavior.

They help you answer important questions, such as:

• Are people clicking your CTA buttons?
• Do they scroll down far enough to see your content?
• Are they clicking on things that don’t do anything?

With this information, you can make smart changes to your site. You’ll know what to fix, what to move, and what to improve.

You can use that insight to get more readers, boost sales, or increase inquiries from potential clients — all by making simple changes based on how people actually use your site.

In the following sections, I’ll share how to set up WordPress heatmaps using 2 of the best tools for adding heatmaps. One is completely free, and the other is a premium option with extra features.

Feel free to use the jump links below to go to your preferred method:

Step 0: Preparing Your WordPress Site for Heatmaps

Before you add heatmaps to your WordPress site, it’s important to make sure your site is properly prepared. Taking a few precautionary steps can help prevent any issues as you get started.

If you’re adding heatmaps to your live site for the first time, it’s a smart move to test everything on a staging site first.

A staging site is essentially a duplicate of your live website, where you can make changes and test new features without affecting your real website. It allows you to try out new tools, like heatmaps, safely, without risking any disruptions to the user experience.

Then, you can simply push the changes live to apply them to your real website.

If you use Bluehost, then you can easily create a staging site, thanks to their quick 1-click solution.

That said, if you don’t have access to staging through your hosting, then you can also use plugins like WP Stagecoach to create staging sites.

For a full walkthrough, you can check out our guide on how to create a staging site for WordPress.

Additionally, always back up your site before making any major changes. Having a backup ensures that, in case something goes wrong during the setup process, you can easily restore your site to its previous state without losing any important data.

Finally, remember that heatmaps work best when used alongside other analytics tools and user feedback.

Think of them as a starting point for uncovering potential issues or opportunities, not the only source of information. Combining insights from heatmaps with broader data gives you a clearer, more accurate picture of how visitors interact with your site.

Method 1: Set Up WordPress Heatmaps Using Microsoft Clarity

Microsoft Clarity is a free, easy-to-use heatmap and session recording tool that integrates seamlessly with WordPress. It’s best for overall site analysis, ideal for beginners, bloggers, and small business owners who want to understand visitor behavior.

That’s why we use it across some of our partner websites to track heatmaps and gain insights into user interactions.

Step 1: Create a Free Microsoft Clarity Account

To set up WordPress heatmaps with Microsoft Clarity, you’ll first need an account.

Go to the Microsoft Clarity website and click ‘Get Started.’

In the popup that appears, you’ll see that you can sign up with a Microsoft, Facebook, or Google account. Just click on the one you prefer.

For this tutorial, I’m going to select ‘Sign in to Google.’

After that, you can follow through the signup process by choosing the appropriate account.

Then, click ‘Continue’ on the confirmation page.

Upon signup, you’ll be asked to confirm your email address.

Don’t forget to check the Clarity Terms of Use and click the checkbox before continuing.

You’ll then be prompted to create a new project for your WordPress site.

You just need to give your project a name, enter your website URL, and choose your industry from the dropdown menu.

With that done, go ahead and click ‘Add new project’ to finish the setup.

With that done, you’re now ready to install the Microsoft Clarity WordPress plugin to set up heatmaps on your website.

Step 2: Install Microsoft Clarity in Your WordPress Site

In this step, you’ll install the Microsoft Clarity plugin and connect it to the account you just created.

From your WordPress dashboard, let’s go to Plugins » Add New Plugin.

Use the search bar to quickly find the Microsoft Clarity plugin.

Just click ‘Install Now’ on the relevant search result, and once again on ‘Activate’ when it appears. 

For step-by-step instructions, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, the next step is choosing a Clarity project to connect both tools.

You can navigate to Clarity from your WordPress admin area and choose the project you just created from the dropdown menu.

In the next few seconds, you should see a ‘Project integrated successfully’ notification.

For more details, you can see our guide on how to install Microsoft Clarity Analytics in WordPress.

💡 Note: If you are using a WordPress caching plugin, then you need to clear your WordPress cache after connecting Microsoft Clarity to your website. This is important because, otherwise, Microsoft will not be able to verify your site for a few hours.

Step 3: Set Up Heatmaps in Microsoft Clarity

Once you connect Microsoft Clarity, it will automatically start tracking your visitors — no need to paste any code manually or mess with theme files.

Inside your Clarity dashboard, you’ll find useful reports that give you an overview of how people interact with your WordPress blog or site.

Some of the key metrics include:

• Sessions – This shows how many individual visits your site received.
• Pages per session – Tells you how many pages a visitor viewed during one session.
• Scroll depth – Shows how far users scroll down each page.
• Active time – Tracks how long users are actively engaging with your page (not just leaving it open in a background tab).

You’ll also find pre-built widgets like the ‘User Overview,’ which highlights visitor types and devices.

Plus, there are behavioral insights such as rage clicks (when users repeatedly click in frustration) and excessive scrolling (when users scroll too much, possibly looking for something).

To see your heatmaps, go ahead and switch to the ‘Heatmaps’ tab.

Once inside, you’ll see a list of all the page heatmaps that Clarity automatically recorded.

Just click on a page you want to analyze.

Once you open a heatmap, you’ll see three main views: Clicks, Scroll, and Attention.

You can switch to ‘Click’ to see where visitors are clicking the most.

To find out your scroll depth, simply move to the ‘Scroll’ tab.

Here, Clarity will reveal how far users scroll down your page. This helps identify if they miss your key content.

Finally, go ahead and click on the ‘Attention‘ button to see the average time visitors spend on different parts of the page.

Red zones indicate higher attention, while blue areas get less.

That’s all – You’ve successfully set up WordPress heatmaps using Microsoft Clarity!

Method 2: Set Up WordPress Heatmaps Using UserFeedback

UserFeedback by MonsterInsights combines heatmap-style feedback with surveys and advanced targeting. It’s a powerful option for growing websites, online stores, and agencies needing deeper insights and more control over how to collect visitor feedback.

At WPBeginner, we have used UserFeedback to gain insights into what our web design customers want and expect from us. We’ve had a great experience with it, and you can check out our full UserFeedback review to see why we recommend it!

Step 1: Install and Activate UserFeedback

First, you’ll need to set up a UserFeedback account. You can do this by visiting the UserFeedback website and signing up for a plan.

Once you’ve signed up for an account, you’ll be redirected to your UserFeedback account dashboard, where you can find the download link to the UserFeedback zip file and your license key.

Now, it’s time to install the plugin.

From your WordPress dashboard, you need to go to Plugins » Add New.

On the next screen, let’s search for UserFeedback.

You can then install and activate the plugin like you would any other WordPress plugin.

New to installing plugins? Here’s a detailed guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once activated, you can enter your license key to unlock all the pro features that come with your plan.

To do this, you can navigate to UserFeedback » Settings. Then, simply copy and paste your license key from your UserFeedback dashboard into the ‘License Key’ field.

Go ahead and click the ‘Verify’ button to start the verification process.

In a few seconds, you should see a verification success message.

Step 2: Enable the Heatmaps Addon

Now, let’s go to UserFeedback » Addons to install the Heatmaps addon.

You can just scroll down the page to find the Heatmaps addon and click ‘Install Addon’ in the appropriate box.

Once installed, make sure it’s activated by clicking the ‘Activate’ button.

Step 3: Create a New Heatmap

With the Heatmaps addon activated, you can now create your site’s heatmap.

Let’s go to UserFeedback » Heatmaps in your WordPress dashboard, and click the ‘New Heatmap’ button.

In the popup that appears, expand the dropdown menu to select the specific page you want to track. For example, you can create a heatmap for your homepage, landing page, or blog post.

Go ahead and hit the ‘Create’ button to set up the heatmap.

Step 4: View Your Heatmap Results

After you create a heatmap, UserFeedback will start collecting user data immediately.

Let’s go to UserFeedback » Heatmaps and click on a heatmap to see detailed visual insights.

On the next screen, you’ll be able to view detailed insights about your visitors, including:

• Device Filter – Compare user behavior across desktop, tablet, and mobile.
• Clicks – See exactly where people are clicking on your page.
• Mouse Movements – Track how users move their mouse across the screen.

If you’re promoting your site across multiple channels, then you can also filter the data by UTM campaign, source, or medium. This helps you understand how visitors from different marketing efforts interact with your site.

And that’s all there is to it – You’ve successfully set up WordPress heatmaps using UserFeedback!

Bonus Steps: Maximize Your Heatmap Insights 🔥

Heatmaps are only useful if you know how to act on what they’re telling you. Here’s how to turn the insights from your heatmaps into real improvements for your WordPress site.

Fix Where Visitors Drop Off

You can use scroll maps to see how far down your visitors go on a page. If important content is buried too far down the page, then most people may never see it.

You can try moving key elements like CTAs or offers higher on the page, and break up long pages with smaller sections and clear headings. You can also use date filters to track how these changes affect visitor behavior over time.

This small change can reduce bounce rates and keep your visitors engaged longer.

Spot and Solve User Confusion

Sometimes, visitors try to click on images, icons, or text that aren’t clickable. This shows that they’re confused or expecting something different.

You can review your click maps and mouse movements to spot these areas. If necessary, you can link those images or add buttons nearby to make things easier for users.

You can also set up a quick survey with UserFeedback to ask what users were expecting to find.

Identify and Fix Navigation Issues

If you see visitors frequently jumping between pages without clear direction, it’s a sign that your navigation may be confusing.

Simplify your navigation by making sure information is easy to find and adjusting anything that could cause confusion. You can also walk through important steps on your site like a first-time visitor to ensure everything functions properly.

You may also want to see our guide on how to create a custom navigation menu in WordPress.

Make Your CTA Buttons Impossible to Miss

If your CTAs (call-to-action buttons) aren’t getting enough clicks, then I recommend adjusting their color, text, or placement to make them stand out more.

Go ahead and use your mouse movement insights to spot hesitation before clicking and check device filters to ensure your CTAs are visible and easy to click on all devices, especially mobile.

I hope this article has helped you set up WordPress heatmaps. Next, you might want to explore our expert-curated landing page tips to skyrocket WordPress conversions and our ultimate guide on geolocation targeting.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Setup WordPress Heatmaps (2 Easy Ways) first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I started working with small business owners, I noticed a pattern. Most of them were not using AI to its full potential, which created unnecessary work and left money on the table.

Some felt overwhelmed by the tech, and others were experimenting with AI but without seeing real results.

But once they understood what AI could actually do, everything changed. Suddenly, customer emails got answered faster, marketing became more impactful, and they had more time to focus on business growth.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how small businesses can use AI today to save time, reduce stress, and get more done. No fluff—just practical examples, tools, and strategies that actually work.

How AI Helps Small Businesses Thrive

Running a small business means doing more with less—less time, fewer staff, and tighter margins. That’s where AI becomes a game-changer.

Instead of hiring for every task or burning out trying to do it all, you can use AI to handle repetitive work, analyze data, and support customers faster.

Whether it’s writing emails, summarizing reviews, scheduling appointments, or tracking trends, AI tools can save hours of manual work each week. And for many business owners, that translates into real cost savings—sometimes thousands per year.

Here are a few ways AI helps you save time, improve efficiency, and grow smarter:

• Save Time on Daily Tasks: AI tools can handle email replies, social media captions, and appointment bookings so you don’t have to.
• Make Smarter Business Decisions: Use AI to track customer behavior, spot trends, and find new revenue opportunities.
• Improve Customer Experience: AI chatbots and email assistants can respond faster and more consistently, even during off-hours.
• Cut Operational Costs: Automating routine tasks means you can grow without hiring more staff or outsourcing everything.
• Boost Marketing & Sales: From writing blog posts to analyzing ad performance, AI can help you grow your business without extra overhead.

The key is to treat AI as a helper, not a replacement. With the right tools in place, it’s like giving your business an extra set of hands, without the extra payroll.

Here is an overview of the topics I will cover in this post. Feel free to use the jump links to go to different sections:

Powerful Ways to Use AI in Your Small Business

If you’re running a small business, you know it means wearing a lot of hats. You’re often the CEO, the marketing manager, customer support, and maybe even the accountant!

Juggling all those responsibilities can feel overwhelming, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day.

What if you had a smart assistant to help manage some of the load? That’s essentially what AI can do for your small business.

AI is a practical tool that can automate repetitive tasks, analyze data to give you insights, and streamline your workflows.

It won’t take over your business, but it will free up your time so you can focus on what really matters. Now, let’s look at some of the best ways AI can help your small business.

1. AI for Customer Service & Communication 🤖

When you’re running a small business, missed messages can mean missed money. You don’t have time to reply to every email, answer every direct message, or chase down every form submission.

This is where AI can quietly step in and save the day, answering questions, booking appointments, and making sure no customer slips through the cracks.

For example, AI-powered chatbots can handle simple FAQs 24/7—like “What are your hours?” or “Do you offer free shipping?”—while you sleep or focus on other parts of your business.

I recommend ChatBot.com, which helps you capture leads, answer product questions, and even route chats to the right person. It also works with tools like Facebook Messenger, so you can respond across platforms without juggling inboxes.

For a full walkthrough, check out our guide on how to add a chatbot in WordPress.

Phone support can be just as stressful, especially when you’re short-staffed. That’s why we use Nextiva at WPBeginner. This AI-powered business phone service offers call summaries, real-time coaching tips, and smart analytics so you can improve team performance without hiring more reps.

Need more options? Here’s our full list of the best business phone services for small businesses.

Email is another time sink. I recommend using tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to draft customer replies, onboarding emails, and marketing messages in minutes, not hours. You should still personalize everything, but the heavy lifting is already done.

💡 Want help writing replies, subject lines, and follow-ups? Try our curated list of ChatGPT prompts for marketers.

And if you’re just getting started, check out our full beginner’s guide on how to use AI for customer service. It’s written specifically for small business owners.

2. AI for Marketing & Social Media 📱

Marketing often falls to the bottom of the to-do list when running a business. Creating posts, writing emails, and creating new content every week can feel like a full-time job.

But with the right AI tools, you can keep your marketing consistent, even if you’re short on time, budget, or ideas.

For example, I use All in One SEO to speed up content writing. It comes with a built-in Writing Assistant, which uses AI to optimize your content for search engines. This can help boost organic traffic and outrank your competitors.

AIOSEO can also generate SEO titles and meta descriptions, suggest internal links, and improve on-page SEO—all from your WordPress dashboard. This alone has saved me hours of manual work. For more details, check out my full All in One SEO review.

We’ve covered this in more detail in our guide on how to use AI for SEO, which includes tools for keyword research, headline writing, and more.

For visuals, Canva AI is great for generating quick graphics and branded content. Whether you need Instagram posts, blog banners, or product mockups, it makes design feel easy, even if you’re not a designer.

I also use ChatGPT’s 4o image generation to create AI images for blog posts and landing pages. This has saved me hundreds of dollars that I previously paid for stock images.

Plus, I use ChatGPT and Gemini to draft newsletter copy and social captions.

It’s not just about speed—it helps me stay consistent, even when creative energy is low.

💡 Need help getting started? See our free guide on using AI to boost your marketing for ready-to-use tips and tools.

3. Use AI for Sales & eCommerce 🛒

Most small business websites lose sales because product pages aren’t optimized, customers leave with unanswered questions, or follow-ups fall through the cracks. But hiring a full team isn’t always an option.

That’s where AI comes in. It helps you create better customer experiences, respond faster, and sell smarter without adding to your workload.

StoreAgent.ai is one of my favorite WooCommerce tools. It uses AI to generate product descriptions, answer FAQs, summarize reviews, and even create SEO-friendly tags—all with a single click.

It helps you keep product pages updated and optimized without getting stuck writing copy from scratch.

I also recommend SeedProd’s AI builder to launch sales pages, product catalogs, and checkout flows in minutes. Just give it a short prompt, and it will generate a clean, mobile-friendly layout for your business.

This is the same visual builder we use on some of our partner brands. It’s fast, reliable, and great for getting something live without touching code. You can read our guide on how to create a website with AI to learn more.

If you want 24/7 sales support, AI chatbots from tools like ChatBot.com can guide visitors during checkout, answer last-minute product questions, and recover abandoned carts. See our ChatBot.com review to learn more.

I also recommend using an AI-powered CRM like HubSpot for email follow-ups and turning leads into conversions. It tracks user behavior, suggests the best time to send follow-ups, and helps you close more sales without the guesswork.

Want to dig deeper? Just check out our guide on how to use AI to skyrocket your lead generation.

These tools don’t just save time—they help you convert more visitors, grow faster, and keep more revenue in your business.

4. Using AI for Customer Insights 📈

It’s hard to grow your business if you don’t know what your customers are doing on your site or how they feel about your products. But most small business owners don’t have time to dig through analytics dashboards or read dozens of reviews individually.

That’s where AI comes in. It turns complicated data into simple answers you can act on.

I use MonsterInsights to track how visitors behave on my website. Their AI Insights feature gives me clear summaries of what’s working, what’s not, and where my leads are coming from—all without opening Google Analytics.

Their Conversations AI tool lets me ask plain-English questions like “How’s my product page doing?” or “Where are my conversions coming from?” and get human-friendly answers right inside WordPress.

At WPBeginner, we use MonsterInsights for everything from content strategy to campaign tracking. You can read more in our full MonsterInsights review.

If you want to understand how your customers feel, not just what they click on, you can also try using ChatGPT for sentiment analysis. You can paste in reviews, survey responses, or social comments and ask it to identify what’s positive, negative, or neutral.

I’ve used this to quickly spot trends in feedback and even catch issues before they escalate. If you’d like to try it, our guide on the best ways to use OpenAI shows you how.

You can also use UserFeedback to run quick surveys and collect input directly from your visitors. Its AI summary feature turns all those replies into a digestible report, highlighting common requests, pain points, and suggestions.

5. AI for Security & Fraud Prevention 🔒

Security can feel invisible until something breaks. For small business owners, even one hacked site or fake transaction can mean lost revenue, chargeback fees, and less customer trust.

If you’ve been putting off security because it feels too technical or expensive, you’re not alone. The good news is that AI tools can protect your site in the background without adding to your workload.

At WPBeginner, we use Cloudflare to secure our website. It uses AI to monitor for bots, malware, and suspicious traffic, and stops attacks before they ever reach us. This protection runs 24/7, and it’s one of the reasons we feel confident launching new campaigns without worry.

If you accept online payments, then tools like Stripe Radar and PayPal Fraud Protection use machine learning to detect suspicious behavior.

They block high-risk payments before they go through, without any manual monitoring required on your end.

These systems get smarter over time, learning from global transaction data to stop even the newest scams. This kind of AI-powered prevention can save you from hours of cleanup and thousands in lost revenue.

If you’re using WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads, then both integrate easily with Stripe and PayPal. You get advanced security without any complicated setup.

For help getting started, see our complete guide on WordPress payment processing.

6. Create AI-Powered Automated Workflows 👷

As a small business owner, you probably have a long to-do list every day. But that doesn’t mean you need to do everything manually. AI-powered automation can handle repetitive tasks, freeing you up to work on the big stuff.

I use Uncanny Automator to connect my website tools and set up smart workflows. It’s like having a digital assistant that knows exactly when to act, based on what users do on my site.

Its OpenAI integration is where things get really fun. You can use it to:

• Generate blog content the moment you publish a podcast episode.
• Create a branded social post when you hit “publish” on a new product page.
• Translate articles into multiple languages with zero manual effort.
• Send a welcome email that includes personalized product suggestions.
• Auto-reply to customer queries using a curated AI knowledge base.

These kinds of automations used to take expensive tools and custom development. Now you can set them up in minutes and with zero code.

For a full walkthrough, check out our tutorial on how to create automated workflows in WordPress, along with our list of the best ways to use OpenAI on your site.

Getting Started with AI in Your Small Business

Getting started with AI doesn’t mean overhauling your entire business overnight. You don’t need to be technical, and you don’t need a huge budget. You just need to start small, with tools that solve real problems you’re facing today.

For me, that meant automating repetitive tasks, speeding up content creation, and reducing time spent replying to emails. Once I saw those wins, it became easier to build momentum.

Here are a few smart ways to begin:

• Pick your biggest time-waster: What drains your energy—support emails? Blog writing? Social posts? Choose one area and test an AI tool that can help.
• Start with free or low-cost tools: Many of the AI tools I’ve tested offer free trials or entry-level plans. You can experiment before investing.
• Don’t automate everything at once: AI works best when you give it clear, focused tasks. Let it help with one thing, then add more later.
• Keep the human touch: AI can speed things up, but people still want to hear from you. Use it to assist, not replace your voice or decisions.
• Track what’s working: Check results after a few weeks. Are you saving time? Getting more leads? Adjust if needed—or scale what’s working.

Trying AI for the first time can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Start with one problem, find one tool, and go from there. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it pays off.

How to Pick the Right AI Tools (Without Wasting Time or Money)

If you’ve ever Googled “best AI tools,” you know how fast the list gets out of hand. Hundreds of options, all promising to save time or boost results. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stuck.

But here’s the truth: You don’t need dozens of tools. You just need the right one for the problem you’re trying to solve.

Here are some helpful picks based on what you want to get done:

• For Content Writing: ChatGPT and Jasper are great for drafting emails, blog posts, and product descriptions. Jasper is better for polished marketing copy, but ChatGPT is perfect for quick drafts or brainstorming ideas.
• For Visual Content: Canva AI can help you design graphics, social media posts, and ads—even if you’ve never touched a design tool before.
• For Brainstorming and Research: Gemini (from Google) works well for outlining, summarizing articles, and researching content ideas.

Still not sure what to try first? Check out our guide to the best ChatGPT alternatives for bloggers and marketers. It breaks down what each tool is good at and who it’s best for.

The Best AI-Powered WordPress Plugins for Your Business

All the tools above are great for everyday business tasks, but what if you want to use AI directly inside your WordPress site?

That’s where AI-powered WordPress plugins come in. These tools bring AI right into your dashboard, so you can write, design, automate, and analyze without switching between platforms.

Here are the top AI-powered plugins I’ve tested that can save time, improve content, and help your business grow smarter:

• All in One SEO – Includes an AI-powered Writing Assistant (powered by SEOBoost) to help you craft optimized meta titles and descriptions. It also gives smart link suggestions to improve internal SEO.
• SeedProd – Comes with an AI-powered website builder. Just describe your business in a few words, and it creates pages, headlines, and layouts tailored to your niche.
• WPForms – Lets you build forms using AI. Just type a prompt like “contact form for bakery orders,” and it creates a complete form in seconds. See our full review →
• MonsterInsights – Uses AI to summarize analytics and provide plain-language answers to questions like “Which page got the most views last week?” See our full review →
• OptinMonster – Helps you build smarter popups with AI. It can adjust your offers based on user behavior to increase conversions. See our full review →
• Uncanny Automator – Connects your plugins and creates automated workflows with OpenAI support. You can use it to generate content, translate posts, send smart emails, and more. See our full review →
• Thrive Ovation – Uses AI to collect and showcase testimonials. It can even turn customer feedback into social proof for your homepage or landing pages.

Each of these tools solves a specific problem—from SEO and forms to automation and analytics. Pick the one that meets your biggest need right now, and you’ll see results faster.

For more options, check out our expert picks for the best ChatGPT WordPress plugins.

Final Thoughts: Avoiding Common Mistakes by Using AI the Right Way

AI is powerful, but it’s not magic. I’ve seen business owners get frustrated when they expect too much too fast, or when they try to automate everything and lose touch with their audience.

The biggest mistake? Thinking AI will run your business for you. It won’t. But it can help you run it more efficiently, especially if you stay in the driver’s seat.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you move forward:

• Review everything AI creates: Whether it’s an email, blog post, or chatbot response, read it. Edit it. Make it sound like you.
• Start small, then scale: Automate one thing, see the results, and add more. Don’t try to set up 10 tools at once or you’ll burn out.
• Don’t trust AI blindly: It gets things wrong. Always double-check facts, links, and any information you publish.
• Stay connected to your audience: AI can help you communicate faster, but it can’t replace your voice. Keep your human touch.

Used the right way, AI can give you time back, reduce stress, and help you grow smarter. The key is to treat it like a tool, not a replacement for your experience, your instincts, or your relationships.

Start small, stay curious, and let AI support the business you’ve worked hard to build.

Frequently Asked Questions About Using AI

Here are some of the most common questions small business owners ask us about getting started with AI.

1. Is AI expensive for small businesses to get started with?

Not at all. Many AI tools offer free plans or affordable pricing. Even small wins—like automating customer emails or speeding up content creation—can quickly save you time and money.

2. Do I need to be tech-savvy or know how to code?

No. Most AI tools we use are beginner-friendly and require zero coding. If you can type a sentence or click a few buttons, you’re good to go.

3. Is it safe to use AI with customer data?

Yes, as long as you’re using trusted tools that follow privacy standards like GDPR. Just be mindful of what data you input, and always check the tool’s privacy settings and terms of use.

4. What if AI says something wrong or sounds robotic?

This happens! AI can get facts wrong or miss your tone. That’s why I always recommend reviewing and editing anything AI writes before hitting publish or send.

5. Can AI replace my customer support or marketing team?

In many cases, yes—at least partially. If you’re trying to cut costs, AI can absolutely take over tasks like answering FAQs, replying to emails, creating social media content, and even writing marketing copy. It won’t replace your strategy or your brand voice, but it can handle a surprising amount of the day-to-day work.

That means you may not need to hire a full support or marketing team—just someone to oversee, edit, or fine-tune what AI produces. It’s a practical way to stay lean while still keeping your business running smoothly.

Explore More AI Guides for Small Business Owners

Want to keep learning how AI can support your business goals? Whether you’re just starting or ready to dive deeper, these handpicked guides will help you take the next step—smarter, faster, and with more confidence.

Some of these tutorials show beginner-friendly walkthroughs. Others will help you scale what’s already working. All of them are written with small business owners in mind:

• How to Write Powerful Headlines Using AI (Explained)
• Best AI Content Detectors for Writers & Site Owners (Compared)
• Tips to Grow Your Business Online (Without a Lot of Money)
• Are AI Website Builders Worth The Hype? (Honest Review)
• How to Make Money Using AI (8 Easy Ideas)
• 7 Best AI Website Builders for WordPress

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post A Small Business Owners’ Guide to Artificial Intelligence first appeared on WPBeginner.

“Help! I’m locked out of WordPress!” This is one of the most common emergency requests I get from my friends who are WordPress beginners. And I get it – being unable to access your WordPress dashboard can feel like being locked out of your own house.

Fortunately, I’ve learned that there’s always a way back in. Whether it’s through FTP, password reset emails, or resetting the password via the database, I’ve developed a foolproof system for bypassing WordPress login issues.

In this guide, I’ll share the expert methods I’ve learned over the years of WordPress troubleshooting. These aren’t just random tips from the internet – they’re proven solutions that have helped many website owners regain control of their sites.

When Do You Need to Bypass WordPress Login?

Sometimes, logging into WordPress isn’t as simple as entering your username and password. Things can go wrong, and access gets blocked.

Here are some common situations when you may need to bypass the login screen:

🔑 Forgotten Password: If you can’t remember your password and the reset email never arrives, you won’t be able to log in. This can happen if your email settings are misconfigured or if emails are being filtered as spam.

⚙️ Plugin Conflicts: Some security or login plugins may be incompatible with other software on your site, causing login problems. A misconfigured setting, a plugin update, or even a caching issue could cause WordPress errors that block user access.

🚨 Hacked Website: Hackers might lock you out by changing your login details. In this case, bypassing login is necessary to regain control and secure your site.

🚫 Too Many Failed Login Attempts: Many security plugins block login attempts after multiple incorrect passwords. If you’ve been locked out due to too many failed logins, you’ll need to bypass this restriction to regain access.

🛠️ Broken Login Page: A faulty theme or plugin update can sometimes break the login page. If the login form isn’t loading correctly or is showing errors, then standard login methods won’t work.

🔄 Custom Login URL Issues: Some security plugins allow you to change the default login URL for extra protection. If you forget the new URL, you can’t access the login page.

The good news is that there are ways to bypass the issue and get back in safely. I will walk you through several different WordPress troubleshooting tips.

You can use the jump links below to skip to any section:

Having said that, let’s take a look at some easy ways to bypass WordPress login.

Tip 1. Use the Direct Login URL

Sometimes you might not be able to find the WordPress login screen.

In that case, the simplest fix is to use the direct login URL. WordPress has a default login page that you can access even if there are minor issues with your site.

To access this login page, you can try the following URLs:

• www.example.com/wp-admin/
• www.example.com/wp-login.php
• www.example.com/admin/
• www.example.com/login/

However, don’t forget to replace ‘example.com’ with your own domain name.

Typing any of these URLs into your browser will take you to your login screen.

Now, you might be wondering how accessing the login screen can help you bypass it.

Well, if your WordPress session is still active (you’re still logged in), then the wp-admin/ URL might even take you to your WordPress dashboard without requiring a password.

If the login page doesn’t load, then you can also try adding a redirect URL. Entering this in your browser might force WordPress to redirect you to the login screen:

www.example.com/wp-admin/?redirect_to=yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/

If none of these URLs work, then you can try my next trick.

Tip 2. Reset Your Password via Email

If you can’t log in because of a forgotten password, then WordPress offers a built-in way to reset it via email. This is often the quickest and easiest way to regain access.

To do this, go to the WordPress login page (https://example.com/wp-login.php) and click on the ‘Lost your password?’ link.

Once you do that, you will need to enter your username or email address and click the ‘Get New Password’ button.

WordPress will then send a password reset link to your email. Here, click the given link, and follow the instructions to set a new password.

If you don’t receive the email, then check your spam folder. Some hosting providers or email settings may block WordPress emails.

If that happens, you may need to reset your password manually through the database (more on this in the next section).

🔎 Related Post: If your site was hacked, then you may want to reset passwords for all your users. In that case, see this tutorial on how to reset password for all users in WordPress.

Tip 3. Reset Password From Your Database

If the password reset email isn’t working, then you can manually reset your password through your website’s database. This method requires access to your hosting control panel.

For this tutorial, I will be using Bluehost, but keep in mind that these steps will differ slightly depending on your hosting provider.

Simply open your hosting panel and switch to the ‘Advanced’ tab. Then, locate the ‘PHPMyAdmin’ section and click the ‘Manage’ button.

📌 Quick Explanation: phpMyAdmin is a tool to manage your website’s stored information (like a filing cabinet for your site).

Once phpMyAdmin launches on your screen, you need to select your database from the left column. You will now see the list of tables in your WordPress database.

Here, look for the wp_users table in the list and click the ‘Browse’ link next to it

Keep in mind that the table names in your database may have a different prefix than the one I am showing in my screenshot. The prefix is the group of letters before the underscore (_) in the table name.

To learn more, see this tutorial on changing table prefixes.

You will now see a list of your website’s WordPress users. From here, click the ‘Edit’ link next to the username for the password you want to change.

Go ahead and delete the value in the ‘password’ field and replace it with your new password.

After that, click the ‘Go’ button at the bottom to store your changes.

Now visit your website to see if you can log in.

For detailed instructions, see this tutorial on how to reset a WordPress password from phpMyAdmin.

Tip 4. Disable Security Plugins via FTP

Sometimes, a security plugin can accidentally block you from logging into your WordPress site. If you suspect this might be the issue, you can manually disable the plugin using FTP.

📌 Quick Explanation: FTP is a program that helps you upload and download files to your website (like a bridge between your computer and website).

First, you will need to connect your website with an FTP client like FileZilla. If you don’t know how to do that, see this tutorial on how to use FTP to upload WordPress files.

Once you have done that, navigate to the/wp-content » plugins folder.

This will open a new folder with a list of all the downloaded plugins on your site.

From here, you need to find the folder of the security plugin you want to disable. For example, if you’re using Wordfence, look for a file with its name.

When you find it, right-click the plugin folder and select the ‘Rename’ option. Then, change the folder’s name to wordfence-disabled.

This will deactivate the plugin immediately as WordPress won’t be able to find it. You can now try logging in to your website to see if the issue has been fixed.

Tip 5. Create a New Admin User via phpMyAdmin

Another way to bypass the login is to create a new admin user directly from the database using phpMyAdmin.

Go ahead and open your hosting company’s dashboard, switch to the ‘Advanced’ tab, and select the ‘PHPMyAdmin’ section.

Once it opens up, you need to click on the wp_users table. This will take you to a new screen where all the users on your website will be listed in a row.

Here, click the ‘Insert’ tab at the top to add the information for a new admin user.

For step-by-step instructions, see this guide on how to add an admin user to the WordPress database.

Once you have completed the process, you can try logging into WordPress with the new admin credentials.

Tip 6. Restore Your Site From Backup

If you backed up your site before getting locked out, then you can restore it to regain access.

Most backup plugins let you restore your site by uploading a backup file or using an external restore feature.

For example, if you’re using a backup plugin like Duplicator, then you can upload your backup package and installer file to your server to restore your site in just a few clicks.

With the paid version of the Duplicator plugin, you’ll also have access to one-click backup restores.

This allows you to restore your backup almost immediately.

However, if you backed up your site manually, then you will need to restore it using your database and files. You can either create a new database and import your backup to it, or you can empty your existing database and import the backup.

These methods will be a bit complex, which is why I don’t recommend them to beginners.

Once restored, you can log in to your site as usual and reconfigure any settings if needed.

For more information, see this beginner’s guide on how to restore WordPress from backup.

The Fastest and Easiest Way to Bypass WordPress Login 💡

Dealing with login issues, especially if they’re caused by hacks or server problems, can be frustrating and time-consuming. That’s where WPBeginner Pro Services can help.

Our Hacked Site Repair service is designed to clean up malware, fix vulnerabilities, and restore access to your site quickly.

If your login issue is due to a security breach, we’ll remove any malicious code, strengthen your site’s defenses, and get it back in working condition.

Alternatively, WPBeginner also offers an On-Demand Emergency Support Service. Our team can help with any errors on your WordPress website, and we charge an affordable, one-time fee.

For more details, see our WPBeginner Pro Services page.

How to Make Sure You Don’t Get Locked Out Again 🔒

I know that getting locked out of your WordPress site can be frustrating. Here are a few simple steps that can prevent it from happening again:

• Use a Password Manager: Forgetting passwords is one of the most common reasons for login issues. I recommend using a password manager like 1Password to securely store your credentials so you don’t have to remember them.
• Set Up an SMTP Plugin: Sometimes, WordPress doesn’t send password reset emails due to server restrictions. Installing an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP ensures your site sends emails reliably, including password reset links.
• Keep a Backup of Your Login URL: If you use a security plugin to change your default login URL, then make sure you save it somewhere safe. This prevents confusion when trying to log in later.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Adding an extra layer of security prevents unauthorized logins and keeps your site safe. Use a plugin like WP 2FA or Google Authenticator to require a verification code during login.
• Have an Alternative Admin Account: If your main account gets locked out, having a secondary administrator account can be a lifesaver. Just be sure to keep it secure and limit access to trusted users.
• Create Regular Backups: Having a recent backup ensures you can restore your site quickly if you ever get locked out. Duplicator makes it easy to create and restore full backups, so you always have a recovery option.

By following these steps, you can avoid future lockouts and keep your WordPress site running smoothly.

I hope this article helped you learn how to bypass WordPress login. You may also want to see this guide on how to fix the WordPress login page refreshing and redirecting issue or our top picks for the best WordPress login page plugins.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Bypass WordPress Login (7 Expert Tips) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Looking to boost your online store’s conversion rates? You’re not alone. When we first started selling products online, we noticed that many visitors would abandon their carts right at checkout.

The reason? They weren’t sure if they could trust our website with their payment information.

That’s when we discovered the power of trust badges. After adding them to our checkout pages, we saw an immediate improvement in sales. These small but powerful symbols help reassure customers that their transactions are secure and legitimate.

And fortunately, adding trust badges to your WordPress checkout pages isn’t complicated at all. Whether you’re selling physical products or digital downloads, this step-by-step guide will show you how to set up trust seals in WordPress.

You’ll learn which badges work best and where to place them for maximum impact. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have everything you need to boost your store’s credibility and increase your sales.

Before we dive into the beginner’s guide, here are some quick links to help you navigate to the sections that you’re interested in:

What Are Trust Badges?

Trust badges are visual elements or icons designed to reassure visitors that your website or online store is secure, reliable, and credible. You have probably seen them on checkout pages, product pages, or even website footers.

They often include badges like ‘Secure Checkout,’ ‘Money-Back Guarantee,’ ‘Verified Seller,’ or ‘Free Shipping.’ These symbols act as subtle but powerful signals that help customers feel safe making a purchase from your store.

Trust badges are especially important for online stores because customers are sharing sensitive information like credit card details.

A well-placed trust badge, such as one showing your site uses SSL encryption or is backed by a reputable payment processor, can ease concerns and help to reduce cart abandonment.

Even small design choices, like adding a PayPal or Stripe logo, can have a big impact on customer confidence.

WordPress makes it easy to add trust badges using plugins, widgets, or even custom code.

Whether you run a WooCommerce store or sell digital products with Easy Digital Downloads, adding trust badges is a simple step that can directly affect your sales.

The Benefits of Using Trust Seals in Your Online Store

Adding trust badges to your WordPress site is about more than looking professional. It also gives your customers the confidence to take the next step.

When visitors trust your site, they are more likely to stick around, make a purchase, and even return for more.

Here are some key benefits of using trust badges on your site:

• ✔️Reduce Cart Abandonment: One of the biggest reasons customers abandon their carts is fear of fraud or security concerns. Displaying trust badges like ‘Secure Checkout’ or ‘SSL Secured’ reassures them that their information is safe.
• ✔️Boost Conversions: Trust badges directly impact your sales. When customers see that your store is verified or offers guarantees, they feel more confident buying from you. In fact, a study found that adding trust badges to checkout pages increased conversions by up to 42%.
• ✔️Build Credibility: Badges like ‘Verified Seller’ or those from well-known payment processors (like PayPal or Stripe) make your site look more credible.
• ✔️Encourage Repeat Purchases: When customers have a positive, trustworthy experience, they are more likely to come back. Badges like ‘Money-Back Guarantee’ or ‘100% Satisfaction Guaranteed’ tell buyers that you stand by your products and can build long-term loyalty.
• ✔️Improve Perceived Value: Trust badges also improve how customers view your products and services. A badge like ‘Free Shipping‘ has a psychological boost because users love the idea of getting more value without additional cost.

Types of Trust Badges That You Can Use

You must keep in mind that not all trust badges are created the same, and each serves a specific purpose to address different customer concerns. From security to shipping guarantees, the type of trust badge you use can make a big difference in how customers perceive your store.

Here are some of the most common types of trust badges used on WordPress sites.

Secure Checkout Badges

One of the biggest concerns for customers when it comes to online shopping is whether their personal and payment information is safe. This is where secure checkout badges come into play.

These badges, often displayed as a padlock icon or labeled with ‘SSL Secured,’ let shoppers know your site is using SSL encryption to protect sensitive data.

In WordPress, secure checkout badges can be automatically added if you are using a reliable SSL certificate.

Many hosting providers even include SSL for free.

Pairing this with a visible badge on your checkout page makes it clear to customers that their payment details are safe from hackers or breaches.

Payment Processor Badges

Another layer of reassurance comes from using payment processor badges. Logos from trusted payment providers like PayPal or Stripe tell customers that their transactions are being handled by well-known and secure systems.

For instance, we use a ‘PayPal Verified’ logo on the MonsterInsights checkout page. This immediately ensures customers that they have the option to pay securely through a trusted platform.

This simple addition can make all the difference when a hesitant shopper is deciding whether or not to complete their purchase.

Credit Card Logo Badges

Another idea for trust badges is to display credit card logo badges on your checkout page. These badges, like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and others, let customers know that they can securely make payments using their preferred card.

It helps visitors feel more confident about sharing their payment information since they recognize these major payment brands. It is a simple way to show that your website supports safe and secure transactions.

We recommend placing these card logos where they are easy to spot, like near the payment options or checkout button.

Customer Satisfaction Badges

Customer satisfaction badges are a great way to boost confidence and encourage people to make a purchase. These badges signal to potential buyers that your store values their experience and offers reliable services.

For instance, Money-Back Guarantee is a customer satisfaction badge that reassures customers that if they are not happy with their purchase, they can get their money back.

Similarly, a Free Shipping Badge can instantly make your store more appealing. It is an easy way to increase conversions by highlighting a benefit that many customers look for when shopping online.

You can also add a Verified Seller Badge if you have a store on a platform like Etsy. This will allow you to show that your store is credible and trustworthy.

Client and Partner Logo Badges

Displaying your clients’ logos on your website is a powerful way to build credibility and trust.

When potential customers see that well-known brands or companies work with you or are using your product, it gives your business a stamp of approval.

For example, at OptinMonster, we show a list of logos of all the famous brands that are using our product.

Third-Party Endorsement Badges

Third-party endorsement badges are another tool for improving your credibility. They show that your business has been recognized or approved by an external organization or expert.

These badges act as independent validation that your products or services meet certain standards, making potential customers feel more confident about their purchase decisions.

For instance, seals from trusted organizations, like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or security certification seals (like Norton or McAfee), can go a long way in reassuring customers that your site is safe.

If your business has won any industry awards or been featured in top publications, then you can also show these badges. They will serve as proof that experts or influencers in your field recognize your business’s quality and success.

Method 1: How to Add Custom Trust Badges to Checkout Pages in WooCommerce (Custom Code)

If you’ve already designed your WooCommerce checkout page and want to add trust badges to it, then this is the method for you. It’s also a free method if you don’t want to invest in a dedicated WooCommerce plugin like FunnelKit (Method 2).

We’re going to be working with custom code here, which can be a bit risky and even break your website. That’s why we’re going to use WPCode.

It is the best WordPress code snippets plugin on the market. After thorough testing, we have concluded that it is the easiest and safest way to add custom code. To learn more, see our WPCode review.

Note: Keep in mind that you will also need to add your own trust seal images to the WordPress media library. For details, see our guide on how to properly add images in WordPress.

First, you need to install and activate the WPCode plugin. For step by step instructions, see our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, head over to the Code Snippets » + Add Snippet page from the WordPress dashboard.

Here, click the ‘Use Snippet’ button under the ‘Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)’ option.

You will now be directed to a new screen where you must add a code snippet name. This name will only be for your identification and will not be shown to any users.

Then, choose ‘HTML Snippet’ as the ‘Code Type’ from the popup.

Go ahead and add the following custom code into the ‘Code Preview’ box:

<div class="wpcode-trust-badge" style="text-align: center;">
	<img src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/trust-badge.png" width="100" alt="Trusted" />
</div>

After that, be sure to replace the placeholder image URL with the URL of your trust badge image to display it correctly on the checkout page.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to upload the trust badge image to your WooCommerce store and retrieve its URL from the WordPress media library. If you’re unsure how to do this, check out our tutorial on how to get the URL of images you upload in WordPress.

You can add as many trust badge images as you like.

Now, scroll down to the ‘Insertion’ section and choose the ‘Shortcode’ option.

Then, toggle the ‘Inactive’ switch to ‘Active’ and click the ‘Save Snippet’ button.

Once you do that, WPCode will generate a shortcode that you will be adding to your WooCommerce checkout page.

Simply click the ‘Copy’ button and store the shortcode somewhere safe.

Now, open your store’s checkout page in the WordPress block editor.

Here, you need to choose a suitable place within the checkout block to display your trust badge, ensuring it’s highly visible to customers.

While the ‘Shortcode’ block isn’t available in this section, the trust badge shortcode will still work correctly when placed inside a ‘Paragraph’ block.

Finally, click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button to store your changes.

Now, visit your WooCommerce store to see the trust badges in action.

Method 2: How to Add Trust Badges to WooCommerce Checkout Pages (Plugin Method)

If you want to add trust badges to your WooCommerce checkout page without using custom code, then FunnelKit Funnel Builder is a great option.

It comes with professionally designed checkout templates that already include trust badges, helping you create a high-converting checkout experience with minimal effort.

Keep in mind that this version will involve creating an entirely custom WooCommerce checkout page. So, if you just want to add trust badges to your existing checkout page, then please go to Method 1.

We’ve tested FunnelKit a lot over the years, and it’s a great tool for improving your WooCommerce store. For details, see our complete FunnelKit review.

First, you need to install and activate the FunnelKit Funnel Builder plugin. For details, see our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once you’ve activated the plugin, you need to go to the FunnelKit » Store Checkout page and click the ‘Create Store Checkout’ button.

You can now choose from any of FunnelKit’s professionally designed checkout page templates.

To take a closer look at the trust badges for each template, simply click the ‘Preview’ button.

We’re using the Hific template, which has multiple trust badges related to security.

When you find a template you want to use, go ahead and click on the ‘Import This Funnel’ button.

Doing this will show a prompt on the screen.

Go ahead and click the ‘Activate’ button. Once you do that, type in the name for your store’s checkout page.

You will now be able to edit the checkout page according to your liking.

For step-by-step instructions, see our guide on how to customize checkout pages in WooCommerce.

Once you are done, head back to the Store Checkout page and click on the ‘Draft’ button.

Then, choose the ‘Publish’ option from the dropdown menu.

Now, visit your WooCommerce store to see the custom checkout page.

Here, you will see the trust seals at the bottom.

For more details on getting the most out of FunnelKit, see our guide on how to make a high-converting sales funnel in WordPress.

Method 3: How to Add Trust Badges to Checkout Pages for Digital Products

If you sell digital goods with Easy Digital Downloads (EDD), then it’s actually super easy to add trust badges to your checkout pages. You’ll just need to make sure that you first have a functional store for selling digital downloads in WordPress.

You’ll also need the WPCode plugin because it comes with built-in EDD locations that make it even easier to add trust badges to your store.

Important: Keep in mind that you will also need to add your own trust seal images to the WordPress media library. For details, see our guide on how to properly add images in WordPress.

First, you will need to install and activate the WPCode plugin. For details, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, visit the Code Snippets » + Add Snippet page and choose the ‘Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)’ option.

Then, select ‘HTML Snippet’ as the code type.

Now, simply add the following custom code into the ‘Code Preview’ box:

<div class="wpcode-trust-badge" style="text-align: center;">
	<img src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/trust-badge.png" width="100" alt="Trusted" />
</div>

Once you do that, make sure to add the URL of your trust badge image from the media library. If you’re not sure where to find it, then please see our guide on how to get the URL of images you upload in WordPress.

Then, scroll down to the ‘Insertion’ section and choose the ‘Auto Insert’ mode.

After that, you need to expand the ‘Location’ section and switch to the ‘eCommerce’ tab.

Next, scroll down to the ‘Easy Digital Downloads’ section and select the ‘After the Checkout Cart’ option. Now, your trust badges will automatically be added to your EDD checkout page.

If you’re using the free version of WPCode, then you’ll need to copy the WPCode shortcode and paste it into your checkout page. For details, see our guide on how to add shortcodes in WordPress.

Go ahead and toggle the ‘Inactive’ switch to ‘Active’ from the top.

Then, click the ‘Save Snippet’ button to store your settings.

Now, visit the checkout page in your digital downloads store.

Here, you will notice that the trust badges are showing in your chosen location.

Bonus Tips for Using Social Proof in Your Online Store

Using random icons on your checkout page won’t automatically boost conversions. Instead, you need the right trust signals in the right places.

Here are a few tips to get the most out of social proof in your WordPress store:

• 🎨Match the Badges to Your Store’s Design: Trust badges should stand out just enough to grab attention without clashing with your design. Avoid oversized, pixelated, or mismatched badges that make your checkout page look cluttered.
• 🔥Test and See What Works Best: Not all badges work the same for every store. Try different placements, designs, and messaging to see what resonates with your customers. A/B testing can help you find the perfect combination.
• ⭐Show more social proof with customer reviews. Showing positive reviews from happy customers can also convince shoppers to complete their purchases. For details, see our guide on how to show Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews in WordPress.
• 💰Show real-time purchase notifications. Showing users that other customers are buying your products can convince them to do the same. Learn how to do this in our guide on how to create a live sale notification in WooCommerce.

Related Guides for Boosting Sales in WordPress

• How to Reduce Stripe Transaction Fees in WordPress (Expert Tips)
• How to Create a Services Section in WordPress (Easy Ways)
• Important Online Payment Statistics, Data, and Trends
• How to Make Money Using AI (Easy Ideas)
• Best Homemade Things to Make and Sell Online (Expert Pick)
• WordPress Payment Processing: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Add Trust Badges to Checkout Pages in WordPress (& Boost Sales) first appeared on WPBeginner.