Many users find that their WordPress questions go unanswered on forums or that they receive curt replies directing them to another link. They often feel bewildered and hurt by what they perceive as a lack of interest in their problem, with no idea about what they could be doing wrong to inspire such responses. We bring you some tips and tricks to help you understand how support for WordPress works.
WP Learning Lab
The best place to go for WordPress help is right here: https://wplearninglab.com/. We have a lot of resources and tutorials on this websites and a ton of video tutorials on our YouTube channel. If none of those get you closer to your answer then feel free to leave a comment on any blog post, any video or contacts us via Twitter to get help.
Google the problem
Since those providing WordPress support are often volunteers and take the time out of their lives and professions to provide support, it is frustrating for them to have to repeatedly answer the same question again and again. Before you post any question or problem, it is important to do your own preliminary troubleshooting and research. It is very likely that the problem you are facing is a common one that someone before you has encountered and that has a solution available online.
Ask at the right place and in the right manner
The support forums are the correct place to ask for help related to any free theme or plugin. When you go into the support tab for any theme’s repository, you will find a number of topics already being discussed. If you do not see an issue similar to yours, you may have to start a new thread.
When you ask a question, be sure to include specific info such as WordPress version, plugin name/version, the cause of the problem, and all the troubleshooting done by you so far. Any additional information, such as the browsers that you have tried and the name of your web host could also be helpful. Sometimes, the support person may ask for the link to your website as well as a list of all the plugins that you have installed.
In some cases, it may be possible that a solution is available online, but that you have been unable to find it. An experienced volunteer may simply paste a link to the solution. It is not meant to belittle you or your problem, but rather is an attempt to help you and to save time in order to answer queries from other users. After the support thread, it may be a good idea to leave a follow up message either via email, at the developer’s Twitter account, or on the product’s Facebook page, but NEVER on all three of them.
Support for paid products
When you are using a commercial plugin/theme, there are designated support areas for receiving help. It will be hard to find assistance related to paid themes/plugins with anyone else apart from the providers. It is always a good idea to check the company’s reputation when it comes to providing support before you buy their product.
WordPress is an open source software and most people helping out on the forums are users like you or independent developers. Similarly, creators of free themes/plugins usually develop them for their own personal use. It is important to respect the time and energy that these volunteers expend in providing free support for these products. A respectful and courteous tone goes a long way in ensuring that you receive good support, as does doing your preliminary research and asking the right questions.