CleanTool: 10 Tips to Reduce Excess CPU Usage on WordPress

WordPress is notorious for it’s excessive CPU usage especially if you’re using a shared hosting plan. I’ve been on WordPress for a couple of years now, had some experience with two different web hosts and within this time, I’ve had some pretty ugly experiences like twice or so. If your WordPress blog isn’t well managed and optimized the right way, you may just wake up one day to see that your web host has already suspended your account.


I’ve had such issues more than once and the recommendations given in this post are from what I personally implemented on this blog. If your web host just complained about high CPU usage or excess MySQL processes running, there are a few things you can do to rectify this:

1. Reduce your plugins
Admit it, some of those plugins you installed are unnecessary and you can do without them. Install only important plugins and removing useless ones is the first step to rectify this issue.

2. Remove related posts plugins
Yet Another Related Posts, Plugin (YARPP), Contextual Related posts plugin and other related posts plugins eat up resources and should be avoided. The last time I used YARPP on a client’s site, I was getting “Internal Server Error” till I removed it.

If you must use a related post plugin, I recommend nRelate since the whole process doesn’t happen on your server, the script and images needed to display the related posts are hosted on nRelate server.

3. SEO Plugins too can be crazy
I know this may sound weird but believe me, its true. SEO plugins including All in One SEO Plugin, Yoast and others require a high CPU usage. If you’re using Genesis theme framework, using the default SEO feature in Genesis isn’t that bad.

My last experience with SEOPressor too wasn’t that nice though a lot of people use it without complaining but it puts one helluva load on my server.

4. Optimize your database tables regularly
Have you ever logged in to PhpMyAdmin to optimize your database tables? This is very important and should be done regularly to keep things running smoothly

5. Use a good theme
Your themes should be up to date. Themes too can contribute to high CPU usage and if you have a feeling that your theme is heavy, be sure to update it or change to something optimized or simpler. I use Genesis and I think it’s okay. There are in-built features you normally need to install plugins for that already come with it.

6. Statistics plugin
Statistics plugins can create some pretty big problem for you and I’m not only talking of regular stats plugins, SEO Search terms Tagging and similar ones too should be kept to the barest minimum or avoided.

You shouldn’t have more than one stats plugin installed and I think installing Google Analytics code is even enough since it’s more accurate.

7. Upgrade to WordPress latest version
If you’re still using an older WordPress version, I suggest you should upgrade as soon as possible. Lots of patches may have been included for optimization and security.

8. Update your plugins
Updates are pushed to you all the time and there’s always a good reason for that. Be sure you don’t ignore an update.

9. Reduce your widgets
There are some widgets you added that aren’t really necessary. Take a closer look at those widgets, remove those you know that do not actually benefit your readers. The more widgets you have, the more load you put on the server for each page view.

10. Use W3 Total Cache
This plugin can be a life saver and if your host is already telling you to move to a VPS, caching may save you that extra money you’re about to spend.

These tips definitely work and I’m sure by the time you follow them, your CPU usage must have reduced and web host should be off your ass.

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Searching For How To Start Your Own Blog?

Blog

These day, everybody wants to own a blog but most people don’t know how to. I have been blogging since 2008 and I can tell you its fun to blog about something you really enjoy writing about. I always enjoy explaining the advantages of having a blog over a traditional website, but it is a lot information to take in over dinner. I thought I would document the process to make it easier to understand.

Now, these steps will guide you to great that the blog of your choice.

1. Deciding What You Want To Blog About:
Yes. There are millions of bloggers on the web already. To be able to be a focusyou’re readers, you need to establish your integrity. Don't just blog about anything. Pick a topic you are obsessive about. Something that you have lots of knowledge with.

Still On Deciding: To Host or Not To Host
Most people don’t know about this, most people do but don’t have the facilities for it. When it comes to creating a blog, your principal decision will be whether you want to host the blog yourself, or use a free blogging service that is hosted for you.

We Have Free Blogging Services:
Are you surprised? Don’t be! It’s free. But when you start a blog with a free blogging service, you don't get your own domain. You get something like knowshowto.blogspot.com (where there are a million other blogs at blogspot.com).

Talk About Cheap: - Host your own blog using WordPress free Blog software
This is the method I suggest, because it offers much more flexibility and freedom to do what you want. You will have your own domain name, like knowshowto.com. You can get this for as little as $30 per year. In my experience, WordPress is excellent free blog software that allows flexibility and room to grow.

If you want to go the free blogging service route, check out links to free blogging services. If you want to host the blog yourself, read on.

Getting Your Domain Name:
Don’t be scared, the part is the fun part. You already know what your blog is about, so now you have to find a good domain name.

Finding The Right Web Host for Your Blog:
By far, the easiest way to get a website is to go with a hosting company that offers "1 click installs", or instant installations for Blogging and Forum software. Blogs and Forums make it promising for someone with no knowledge to get good content up fast.

"1-click" (easy) Installation
Dreamhost Hosting
For beginners, I recommend Dreamhost, because they tend to care, where as many other huge hosting companies don't. They cost a bit more, about $119 for a year, but it is worth it. Edit: I actually used a promo code and was able to get 1 year for about $60. Go to: Dreamhost.com and enter Promo Code: WMLGS1 to save $50.

(New) GoDaddy Blog Hosting
Another great blog host I recently learned about is GoDaddy. They have a 'one click install' Economy WordPress hosting plan that is really a great deal (as low as $3 to $5/ month (that's $36 to $60/ year) depending on how long you sign up for). Go to GoDaddy to check it out.

Standard Hosting:
1and1 Hosting
If you are on a budget, I recommend 1and1 hosting. They are much less expensive, but the one thing to be aware of is that it takes a little bit longer to get good support at 1and1. Having said that, I have been using 1and1 for over 4 years (this site is hosted at 1and1). Compared to a lot of other hosts, they have an extremely user friendly control panel, and their servers are extremely dependable. Prices start at 3.99 / month. For more information, go to 1and1.com

Installing WordPress:
Installation Overview If you have knowledge with installing web applications that use mySQL, this could take as little as 5 minutes to do, and the 5 steps below may be all you need, however, I have further explained each step below for beginners.

Make sure your host meets the requirements.
Make sure you have a database ready with proper username and password.
Download and unzip WordPress.
In the WordPress folder, find and make a copy of wp-config-sample.php. Rename the copy to wp-config.php and fill in your database details. Save the new file.
Upload all the files to the directory in your web host where you want the blog to live -
Run the installation file. install-folder/wp-admin/install.php.

Requirements:
To run WordPress your host just needs a couple of things:

PHP version 4.2 or greater
MySQL version 4.0 or greater

Create a Database
You can usually do this in your hosting control panel. If you aren't sure how to do this, ask your hosting company. After you have set it up, you should have 4 pieces of information about the database.
1. Database Name - The name of your database.
2. Username - your database user name.
3. Password - Your database password.
4. Host name - This is going to be a host name. It might be something like mysql.mydomain.com, or just localhost.

Without these 4 things, you won't be able to set up WordPress. Again, contact your hosting company's tech support if you have any trouble with this.

Download the current version of WordPress.
This is easy. Just go to wordpress.org/download/, and download the current version. You have a choice between the ZIP file or the TAR.GZ file. I think the TAR.GZ file may be smaller, but I always download the ZIP.
Uncompress the WordPress ZIP file.
Again this is easy.

Configure WordPress
Open the WordPress folder and rename the file wp-config-sample.php to just wp-config.php. Now open it and insert the 4 pieces of information about your database into the 4 fields below.

Change:

define('DB_NAME', 'wordpress'); // The name of the database
define('DB_USER', 'username'); // Your MySQL username
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'password'); // ... and password
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost'); // 99% chance you won't need to change this value

to

define('DB_NAME', 'yourDatabaseName'); // The name of the database
define('DB_USER', 'your-username'); // Your MySQL username
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your-password'); // ... and password
define('DB_HOST', 'your-hostname'); // 99% chance you won't need to change this value

Choose Your Install Directory and Upload Everything
If you want your WordPress blog in a separate directory of your website, like “yourdomain.com/blog”, then rename the “wordpress” folder to “blog” and upload it to the root directory with an ftp program.

If you want your blog to be in the root directory of your site, meaning the blog will be located at “yourdomain.com”, then just open the wordpress folder and upload all the files and folders into your web root. If you already have a file called index.html, or index.php, you'll need to rename it or get rid of it before you uploading everything.

Finish and Install
8. In a browser, go to the domain where you uploaded WordPress, and then to /wp-admin/install.php, and follow the simple directions there.

You will be given a username and password. Save it in a safe place.

That's it. You now have a new blog. You can now log in with your username and password, and start writing.

Download a WordPress theme
This is the fun part. Picking a WordPress theme. There are many places to find WordPress Themes. When you find one you like, just download it and unzip it just like you did with the WordPress ZIP file.

6. Add Your Theme
You can do this after you upload, but it's probably easier to just do it now.

Look for the themes folder. It's in the wordpress => wp-content => themes.

There should already be 2 theme folders in the themes folder, “classic” and “default”.
Just drop your new theme folder in with them. (Remember, it must be unzipped first)

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