WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) for websites these days and for good reason. Below are the top reasons why I use it for my own website, and for my clients too! Please keep in mind that I’m referring to the dot org version, not dot com. For more information on the difference between the two, check out this article.
1. It’s open source
Everything on WordPress is created by and for the community, and there are hundreds of people all over the world working on it. It’s free and open to be used for any type of website or organization.
2. It’s easy to learn and teach
WordPress is considered to be a WYSIWYG platform, meaning “what you see is what you get,” so you don’t have to be an expert developer or fluent in all the coding languages to build a good-looking site. This also means that once I’ve finished the website design, my clients are perfectly capable of maintaining their own website if they so choose.
3. There are so many design options
Thanks to the open source component, there are hundreds of developers who have created their own website design templates for anyone to use and adapt. This means that I can give my client the design they’re looking for without reinventing the wheel. It allows me to spend more time making customizations that will serve my client’s needs and help the website stand out.
4. Design themes are affordable, and sometimes free
Many developers sell free versions of their design templates, which is great for clients with small budgets. Even the paid or “pro” designs are typically between $100-$200 for a one-time cost (usually).
5. It’s easy to integrate with most hosting services
WordPress is one of the most popular website platforms and therefore most hosting services have easy integration options. For example, my website is hosted by Bluehost and all it took was the click of a button to connect it to WordPress.
6. The customization options are nearly endless
Similar to design themes, there are hundreds of developers that create WordPress plugins, which add different functionality to your site. Examples include: added security features, contact forms, social media integration, message boards, you name it.
7. You can create any type of website or blog
WordPress is so versatile that just about anyone can use it for their website. E-commerce shops, research forums, nonprofit sites, Fortune 500 sites and everything in between. You can also integrate your site with your favorite email marketing service, PayPal, social media, and much more.
8. The large community is priceless when troubleshooting
When designing a website, I really appreciate having a large community to refer to when I’m having an issue. Chances are that someone else has experienced the same problem, so sometimes all it takes to find a solution is a simple Google search.
9. It’s SEO friendly
Making your website optimized for search engines is very easy with WordPress. Plugins like YoastSEO or All in One SEO make adding keywords to pages and blog posts very simple. It’s also easy to name images and files for SEO compatibility within the platform.
10. It’s easy to make websites “responsive” or mobile friendly
Most WordPress themes include some form of responsive capability, which is essential these days. I appreciate not having to design a separate mobile site for each website I create.
11. It’s frequently updated and well-maintained
The WordPress platform itself is regularly updated and the majority of the themes and plugins are also well maintained. But it’s always smart to choose themes and plugins wisely, and make sure they have a history of being updated.
12. It has multi-user capability
This feature is awesome for organizations that have multiple people that need access to the website, but they don’t all have the same expertise. For example, you can assign roles like Administrator, Editor, Contributor, etc. that have different editing permissions. This is great when I’m maintaining a site for a client because I can make sure that the overall design can only be changed by me, but they have the freedom to make any changes to the content that they need.
Are you considering WordPress for your website? Let me know in the comments if you have any questions!
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