Ever notice how we instinctively try to fix things by adding more, not taking away? We see a problem and think, “What’s missing?” instead of “What can we remove?” It’s a natural human tendency, but not always the best approach, especially with websites. WordPress, in particular, can get bogged down with too much going on.
A 2021 study published in Nature highlighted this “adding” bias. Researchers found people consistently default to adding components rather than subtracting them, even when removing something is simpler and more effective. This habit, they argue, impacts us beyond just design choices – it’s why we struggle with packed schedules, bureaucratic red tape, and why our homes are full of stuff we keep “just in case”.
The study suggests we often overlook subtractive solutions simply because no one prompts us to consider them. It’s like we’re hardwired to add first, ask questions later. There’s also the perception that adding things appears more valuable, more worthy of praise or payment. While this isn’t necessarily true, it does explain why we sometimes see complex, expensive solutions when a simpler approach would do.
The Argument for Minimalism in Web Design
Here’s the thing: in design, simplicity reigns supreme. There’s a reason the Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS) principle exists – It sounds harsh, but it reminds us that the simplest explanation is often the best.
Why does simplicity matter? Because people crave clarity. Whether it’s a website, a poster, or even a coffee machine, we want things that are easy to understand and use. Overly complicated designs ultimately just leave people frustrated and confused.
This principle holds true for websites as well, so how do you “KISS” in web design? Think about stripping away the unnecessary. Every element, every line of text, every button should have a clear purpose. If it doesn’t directly contribute to the user’s understanding or experience, it’s probably clutter.
This doesn’t mean your designs have to be boring! Simplicity isn’t about sacrificing creativity. It’s about making sure your creativity shines through in a way that’s clear, concise, and impactful. Stripping away unnecessary elements will often lead to a smoother, more enjoyable user experience.
4 Areas Where WordPress Sites Benefit from Simplicity
Let’s look at some common WordPress scenarios where less truly is more:
Rethinking Site Speed
Caching plugins are handy tools… to a point. As your website grows, even the best caching plugin might struggle to keep up. It’s tempting to throw more plugins at the problem – image optimization, database cleanup, CDNs – but each addition consumes resources and potentially slows you down further.
Instead of piling on, consider a more fundamental solution: better hosting. Upgrading to a plan optimized for performance, like VPS hosting, can make a world of difference. These plans often handle optimization at a server level, making your caching plugin redundant. You free up resources and simplify your setup, all while boosting speed.
Image Optimization: Taking Control Back from Plugins
High-quality images are important, but they can also be massive bandwidth hogs. Image optimization plugins aim to streamline the process of resizing and compressing images. However, these plugins aren’t always perfect. They might not optimize aggressively enough, leaving you with bulky images that Google PageSpeed Insights flags as problematic. Rather than relying solely on a plugin, take a more hands-on approach and resize images to their exact dimensions using design software.
Beyond that, consider optimizations available through your hosting provider, like our built-in image processor, PressTHUMB. PressTHUMB automatically serves perfectly sized and compressed images to your visitors. Just append your image URLs with the desired dimensions, and PressThumb will dynamically generate a new, optimized image on the fly. No more clunky plugins or manual optimization – just perfectly sized images, every time.
Auditing Your Plugins and Theme
Remember to be critical of the plugins you’re using and the specific purpose(s) they serve. While multipurpose plugins and themes can check a lot of your boxes, they can also be resource hogs. These tools have their place, especially for complex sites, but they often come loaded with features most users never touch.
Regularly audit your plugins and themes. Once a year, go through and identify:
- Plugins you no longer use.
- Plugins that duplicate functionality.
- Plugins or themes where you only use a fraction of the features.
WordPress’s mix-and-match nature is powerful, but it can lead to bloat. Regularly trimming down ensures you’re only running what’s absolutely necessary, improving speed and reducing potential conflicts.
Understanding Low Conversion Rates
A low conversion rate is frustrating, and it’s tempting to start adding elements – more calls to action, pop-ups, you name it – hoping something sticks. However, before adding anything, you first need to understand why users aren’t converting.
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) offers valuable insights beyond just raw numbers. Features like path exploration and event tracking can help pinpoint where users drop off or encounter friction in the conversion funnel. By analyzing this data, you can identify problem areas and formulate data-backed hypotheses.
Think of it this way: GA4 lets you define custom events – say, clicking a specific button, watching a video, or even downloading a resource. You can track these actions as they relate to your specific goals. If you notice a high drop-off rate on a particular page, examine its layout and content. Maybe a clunky form or confusing call to action is the only thing hindering conversions. Want to see how many people who added an item to their cart actually completed the purchase? Funnel exploration in GA4 allows you to lay all that information out, visually showing where users drop off at each stage of the process.
GA4’s detailed insights can help guide you towards making informed decisions about what to remove or refine, rather than simply adding more elements into the mix, and this granular view can reveal surprising bottlenecks in your conversion funnel that you might not have even considered.
The Power of Subtraction
Da Vinci said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” He was onto something there, and it certainly applies to web design. Stripping away the unnecessary to reveal a clean, elegant design, that’s the heart of it, isn’t it?
Start thinking subtractively. Challenge the urge to add more. Sometimes, the most effective solution involves taking something away. Embrace the power of simplicity, and watch as your websites become leaner, faster, and ultimately, more successful.
