Web Tips & Articles

Why We Use WordPress

We were recently asked by a potential client why we use WordPress for our websites' Content Management System (CMS). Here are a few of the reasons:

1. WordPress is free and open source. This means that there are many plugins available that offer functionality and that custom plugins can be written by WordPress plugin developers to address specific user needs of various websites.
   
   Being Open Source also means that users are not tied to specific developers. Unlike a custom/proprietary CMS, which means you will need to use the same developer throughout the life of the site. A site that uses a proprietary CMS isn’t “portable” and can’t be moved from that hosting company or developer due to the custom CMS.
   
   WordPress has thousands of developers and is fully portable; your WordPress website can be moved from one hosting company to another, should the need arise.
2. WordPress is adaptable. While originally developed as a blogging platform, WordPress can be now used to build websites, including: full-featured eCommerce, membership application, portfolios, eLearning, or directories. With custom plugins just about any type of website can be created with WordPress.
3. WordPress supports most all media types: images, documents, audio and video.
4. WordPress is easy to learn. Once the site is set up it is easy for users to create and manage content. The interface is fairly standardized across plugins as well. Once you know how to use WordPress, you can extend that knowledge to any plugins you may want to use.
5. WordPress is scalable. Adding functionality is just a matter of installing a plugin or having a custom plugin created for you. Updating a site doesn’t mean re-creating your pages. Just change the theme and you have a new look, after some adjustments are made to accommodate the new theme.
   
   Additionally, WordPress works well with large amounts of user visits. Depending on the hosting and the number of plugins being run, it maintains acceptable speed under high use.
6. Long-term maintenance is simplified. Backups, updates and security can all be handled with a combination of good hosting and WordPress plugins.
7. WordPress is written to enhance search engine optimization. SEO is built into the platform and title tags and meta descriptions are automatically generated for all of your pages. Additional SEO plugins can enhance this.
8. WordPress incorporates accessibility into its core platform. This means future updates continue to incorporate additional accessibility features as accessibility standards change.
9. WordPress is the most-used CMS on the internet (see https://kinsta.com/wordpress-market-share/). 43% of all websites use WordPress.
   
   Subsequently, there is a large body of developers and users that know WordPress in the community, making it easier to find local support and assistance. There is also a wide body of support information on WordPress through online videos, forums and helpful websites.

 

If you are would like help setting up a WordPress website, contact the web developers at Yakindo Web Designs.