WordPress originally started as a blogging platform but has since transformed into a fully customisable content management system (CMS). It’s incredibly popular, powering around 43% of all websites on the internet. From intricate websites to simple blogs and online stores, WordPress can handle it all.
With so many users, there are countless web designers who specialise in WordPress. Finding help for your website’s ongoing support is readily available. If you’re technically minded and enjoy getting hands-on, you can even handle most of the setup and configuration yourself. Templates make this process easier by taking care of the technical details while still allowing room for your creative input.
What is so great about WordPress?
Besides being the most widely used platform worldwide, WordPress has an array of impressive features worth highlighting. Here are some:
Simple to Use
It’s incredibly user-friendly. With a bit of guidance and support, anyone who knows their way around a web browser will feel right at home. You don’t need any technical programming knowledge. Just point, click, type, and publish. There you go!
Super search engine friendly
Google absolutely loves WordPress – they even publicly endorse it. Matt Cutts, the head of Google’s web spam team, once stated, “WordPress takes care of 80-90% of (the mechanics of) Search Engine Optimization (SEO).” Straight out of the box, it includes most of the essentials your website needs to succeed. A handful of useful plugins can further enhance your reach on Google.
Different user types
You have the flexibility to assign various levels of access and restrictions to your website. Administrators can oversee site management, editors can focus on content creation, and authors and contributors can generate content. It’s like having your own personalised online newspaper!
Easily add a blog
Keep your audience informed by creating blogs. WordPress actually began as a blogging platform. It supports built-in or enhanced commenting, enabling reader interaction through questions or feedback on your posts, thus encouraging discussion and dialogue.
Scalable
As your business grows, so can your website. Whether it’s a simple five-page website or a sprawling 10,000-page site, WordPress can handle it all. Major companies like CNN, General Electric, and Time Magazine all use WordPress for their websites or blogs.
Completely customisable
WordPress serves as the foundational engine of your website. You have the freedom to customize the appearance of your site entirely, ensuring that its look and vibe align perfectly with your brand. This allows your site design to stand out and truly represent your unique identity.
Limitless plugins
Out of the box, WordPress comes with lots of features. These functionalities can be expanded by using ‘plug–ins’. With plugins, you can integrate photo galleries, social media sharing buttons, e-commerce shopping carts, interactive maps, contact forms, and much more. If a specific plugin doesn’t already exist, you have the option to have one developed, providing the tailored functionality you need.
Inexpensive to run and maintain
WordPress is free to download, use and customise, with no licensing fees involved. You can choose from thousands of free plugins and themes. Hosting your site is affordable, and the best part is, you own your website and data, you can move it wherever you want. This means you’re not stuck with any particular web designer or host.
Hundreds of thousands of developers
Because WordPress is widely used, many freelancers and web design agencies focus on WordPress design and development. This is great for small business owners because it offers you choices. If your web designer is unresponsive or unreliable, you can easily switch to another. Transitioning to a new provider is relatively simple, straightforward, and easy, so you don’t have to stay stuck with a provider who is not doing their job well.
