WordPress is the most popular Content Management System (CMS) used to build websites. It is estimated that one-third of all sites are powered by the platform. Bigger doesn’t always mean better, though in this case, the reasons to use WordPress are plentiful. Anyone running or planning to launch a website should take the time to understand why using WordPress makes sense. Here are some of the benefits that should be considered when making this decision.
WordPress was initially built as a blogging platform. It has evolved heavily over the years, but the bones of the product still support running a blog. This should be a key consideration for business owners since maintaining a blog to communicate with your customers is often a critical component of a company’s website. WordPress makes creating and maintaining blogs a breeze. More than that though, since the early audience for the product was not tech-savvy, the user interface remains one that most any user can easily navigate.
The WordPress journey from blogging platform to web content powerhouse has been fueled by the power of being open source. This has enabled users and developers from around the world to build extensions that can transform a WordPress site into just about anything. Themes are templates that allow owners to change the look and feel of their website quickly. There are specialized themes for all sorts of designs. Typing the phrase “Best WordPress Theme For…” into Google will reveal a wide array of choices enabling any site owner to find something appropriate. Some are free, many others do come with a cost, but finding the right theme is often the key to building a powerful site.
Plug-Ins are extensions to the WordPress code that add additional and beneficial functionality. While WordPress was built with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in mind, there plug-ins that can turn your site into an SEO machine by ensuring you are including both the necessary and relevant info. There are numerous plug-ins for e-commerce as well with many types of niche markets being covered. Plug-ins also help with more web-oriented details such as contact forms, website analytics, and opt-in offerings. Like themes, some plug-ins are free, others come with a cost. Two-tier pricing is often a standard with developers having a free version with reduced capability and a paid version providing more.
Most themes and plugins can be downloaded directly inside the WordPress application. While it is possible to do so outside of the product, it is advisable to do as much within the WordPress architecture as possible since you can rely on it being safe and secure. Being the largest CMS product on the planet means that WordPress has to take security seriously. Updates are rolled out consistently to combat the inevitable hackers. Of course, there are steps any website owner must take to keep their site and WordPress instance secure, but using the platform means having a partner in this never-ending battle. Since WordPress is so popular, there are also numerous support sites and forums that can assist even the most novice users with their questions.
While WordPress is the most powerful and adaptable CMS on the market, there are alternatives. Someone building a very basic website might be able to go with a less functional product. However, the majority of sites will benefit from the superior capabilities that WordPress, its themes, and plugins can provide.
Is your content management system working for you? Do you need a website? MosierData can help. Contact us here or call 863-687-0000 to find out more.
