Welcome to our WordPress series!
We’ve put this together to help you wrap your head around the most popular method of managing a website. From the basics of understanding what WordPress is and whether you should use it, to some canny tips for picking out potential WordPress web agencies, we’ve got you covered on a whole host of helpful info. We’ll keep updating this series with new posts, so don’t forget to come back and check for more.
There are a lot of ways to manage a website.
WordPress has direct competitors such as Drupal and Joomla, which basically run the same way as a WordPress website. Alternatively, there are new services like Wix and Squarespace, known as website builders. These have their own ups and downs.
So, why is WordPress so popular in comparison to all these other competitors?
There are a lot of potential variables to discuss in this area, and we’ll have a whole post online soon to help you decide whether to use WordPress for your own project.
For now, let’s stick to why WordPress is still the king of website management.
WORDPRESS HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME
When it comes to web software, this is really important.
Because so many skilled developers have used WordPress for so long, there’s an enormous store of knowledge and information out there to help people with queries and problems.
This is reassuring to a new user. You’re more likely to trust a product that already has so much uptake.
WORDPRESS IS OPEN SOURCE AND FREE TO USE
What does open source mean? Basically, anyone is allowed to alter and update WordPress code.
This means developers and hobbyists can make changes to existing WordPress code, and make those changes freely available to other users. As a result, WordPress is extremely versatile.
You can also host WordPress with just about any hosting provider, meaning you’re not stuck with one (potentially crappy) service.
(Website builders, like Wix and Squarespace, aren’t open source – so they’ll limit you more).
WordPress doesn’t technically cost anything. Sure, hosting costs money, domain names cost money, getting a web developer to set it up costs money… But the actual WordPress software can be downloaded and edited for free.
the options are (almost) infinite
Because it’s popular, open source, and has been around for so long, WordPress has the largest directory of plugins and themes in the whole damn world. Not sure what these are? Check out our previous post, Anatomy of a WordPress Website.
There are literally thousands of themes to choose from, and a plugin for nearly every type of functionality you can think of. Online shops, Instagram galleries, social network functionality, digital downloads, booking systems… The list goes on and on.
Essentially, WordPress is like a giant snowball, gathering more experts, ideas, and flexibility as it rolls through internet history. It’s far from your only option when building a website, but it’s a safe bet that will never impose arbitrary limits on your project.
By the way – we’re not affiliated with WordPress in any way. It’s just often the best fit for building our clients’ websites. If you’d like to talk to us about building your website, get in touch.