In case you’ve been living under a rock, WordPress is the most popular and most-used open-source content management system (CMS) and blogging platform. It was first released in 2003 and has since become one of the most dominant online CMS choices.
Users can customize the appearance of their websites using pre-designed themes or create their own custom themes to match their branding and style. WordPress provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it accessible to users with little to no coding experience.
For those still wondering, “What is WordPress and why should we care,” here’s a quick rundown of its other top features.
Plugins
WordPress has a vast plugin ecosystem, allowing users to add various website functionalities, such as contact forms, galleries, e-commerce, SEO optimization, and much more.
SEO-Friendly
WordPress is search-engine friendly, which can help improve the website’s visibility in search engine results.
Blogging Platform
Initially developed as a blogging platform, WordPress still excels as a blogging tool, making it easy for users to create and manage blog posts.
Community and Support
Being an open-source platform, WordPress benefits from a vast community of developers and users. This community contributes to its continuous improvement, security updates, and extensive support resources.
Media Management
WordPress offers a straightforward way to manage and insert various media types like images, videos, and audio into posts and pages.
Multilingual Support
WordPress supports multilingual websites, allowing users to create content in multiple languages.
Mobile Responsiveness
Many WordPress themes were created with responsiveness in mind, meaning they adapt and display correctly on various devices, including smartphones and tablets.
eCommerce Support
With plugins like WooCommerce, WordPress can be turned into a powerful e-commerce platform to create online stores and sell products.
Now, here are a few reasons why WordPress has become the cornerstone of modern website creation.
Ease of Use
WordPress’s user-friendly interface and intuitive design make it accessible to all kinds of users, including those with limited technical knowledge. Creating, editing, and managing content on WordPress is relatively straightforward, allowing individuals and businesses to set up and maintain their websites without extensive coding skills.
Plugin Ecosystem
The availability of thousands of plugins is one of the main reasons WordPress is so versatile. Plugins allow users to add contact forms, social media integration, security enhancements, SEO optimization, e-commerce capabilities, and more. This extensibility allows website owners to tailor their sites to specific needs and goals.
Vast Theme Selection
WordPress offers a vast array of pre-designed themes to fit various website types and industries. These themes provide a professional and visually appealing foundation for websites, significantly reducing the time and effort required to build a site from scratch.
Mobile Responsiveness
With the increasing use of mobile devices, having a website that is responsive and adapts to different screen sizes is crucial. Many WordPress themes are designed to be mobile-friendly, ensuring that websites look and perform well on smartphones and tablets.
Constant Development and Improvement
WordPress’s open-source nature means it benefits from a vast community of developers, contributors, and users. This community continuously works on improving the platform, releasing updates, security patches, and new features. As a result, WordPress remains up-to-date with the latest web technologies and trends.
Improves Website Visibility
WordPress’s clean code, customizable permalinks, and ability to use SEO plugins help improve a website’s visibility in the results, making it easier for people to find the site.
Scalable
WordPress is suitable for different kinds of websites, ranging from small personal blogs to large enterprise sites. Its scalability allows businesses to start with a basic website and expand it over time as their needs grow.
Cost-Effective
WordPress itself is free and open-source, which means there are no licensing fees. While users may need to pay for premium themes or specific plugins, the overall cost of using WordPress for website creation and maintenance is generally lower compared to custom-developed solutions.
Community Support and Resources
With a large and active user community, finding support and resources for WordPress is relatively easy. There are countless forums, documentation, tutorials, and videos available to help users troubleshoot issues and learn how to make the most of the platform.