From small personal blogs to websites of major corporations including Disney, Bloomberg and BBC America, WordPress is the site-building platform of choice for nearly a third of the world’s websites.
WordPress is a free and open-source software that can be customized from the code up to give users complete control over the look and functions of a website along with flexibility, simplicity and ease.
Continue reading our WordPress guide below for more information on this popular content management system.
Why use WordPress?
WordPress is a popular choice for website development, and there are several compelling reasons why businesses and individuals opt for it:
1: WordPress is free
One of the standout advantages of WordPress is that it’s an open-source platform, which means it’s free to use.
You can install WordPress without incurring any software costs, making it an accessible option for businesses and individuals alike.
Furthermore, there is a vast ecosystem of free and premium WordPress plugins available, allowing you to add various functionalities to your website.
2: WordPress is completely customizable
WordPress supports extensive customization, making it suitable for a wide range of website types.
Whether you’re building a personal blog, an e-commerce site, or a corporate portal, WordPress can be tailored to your specific needs.
Themes and templates are readily available, and you can further customize the design and functionality of your site using WordPress plugins.
This flexibility makes WordPress an ideal choice for those looking to create unique, feature-rich websites.
3: WordPress is SEO friendly
Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for driving organic traffic to your website. WordPress has built-in SEO features that make it easier to optimize your site for search engines.
It generates SEO-friendly URLs, allows you to customize meta tags, and supports the use of various SEO plugins to enhance your website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).
This SEO-friendliness is essential for improving your website’s online presence and attracting more visitors.
4: WordPress is safe and secure
Security is a top concern for website owners, and WordPress takes it seriously.
The WordPress community regularly releases updates and security patches to address vulnerabilities and ensure the platform remains secure.
Additionally, there are numerous security plugins available to help safeguard your site from potential threats.
For added peace of mind, many hosting providers offer WordPress managed hosting, which includes enhanced security measures, automatic updates, and expert support.
How WordPress works?
WordPress is a complete software package for setting up and running websites of all kinds and sizes. WordPress was created in 2003 to give anyone an avenue for sharing their message and establishing a presence online. Because developers Mike Mullenweg and Mike Little wanted to “democratize,” online publishing by making it accessible to everyone, WordPress was designed so that experienced developers could work directly with the program’s PHP code, but new users with no web design expertise could also get a site up and running in less than an hour.
WordPress can be downloaded for free from its parent site, WordPress.org and installed on any hosting platform. To make it even easier for users to set up a WordPress site, most hosting providers even include WordPress as a “one-click” install at no additional cost. WordPress is licensed under the General Public License, which means that it can be modified by anyone at any time and shared in any way a user desires.
Install with just a click
A WordPress site can be set up in minutes. All you need is a hosting service and a domain name. Advanced users can manually install WordPress to the web hosting provider of their choice using an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client that places the downloaded WordPress files in the root domain or subdomain folders for the new site. For users without that kind of experience, most web hosting providers include WordPress in their hosting plans, so that it can be auto-installed on a user’s new domain with the well-known single click to start the process.
Once the installation is complete, WordPress can be customized from the site’s dashboard with any of the many themes available in the accompanying theme directory. To add more specialized functions to a basic WordPress site, users can also browse a long list of plugins that add features like shopping carts, gallery options, and contact forms—also with just a single click.
Add and manage content quickly
WordPress was originally designed as a blogging platform and its basic interface is text-based, so it is easy to create a new page or post and add content, text, or video. The main text editor in WordPress allows users to input text directly, paste from elsewhere, and format it in a variety of styles and colors.
Media of all types can also be added to blog posts and pages instantly from the site’s media gallery and resized, repositioned and edited for titles and metadata right in the content window. Content from other sites, such as an online magazine or storefront, can also be embedded in any WordPress page or post.
For artists, authors and other creatives, the WordPress software offers several gallery and magazine plugins for showcasing images, photographs, published clips, and art of all kinds. Once installed, these can be managed easily from the site’s dashboard, so that users can configure the gallery and its contents to meet specific needs. Other plugins allow users to create marketing campaigns, manage email lists, and cross-post content to social media and other sites quickly and easily.
Top ways to make WordPress easier to use
Use WordPress-specific hosting
When you decide to install WordPress, consider opting for WordPress managed hosting services.
These hosting providers specialize in WordPress and offer optimized environments, automatic updates, and dedicated support.
With WordPress hosting from Bluehost, you can offload technical tasks, ensuring that your site runs smoothly without worrying about server maintenance.
This simplifies the hosting process, making it more user-friendly.
Use an easy WordPress website builder like Wondersuite
Wondersuite can simplify the website building process significantly.
It allows users to create and customize web pages easily, without the need for coding knowledge.
This intuitive offering from Bluehost will streamline the design and layout of your website, making it more accessible for those looking to build and edit web content without technical expertise.
Customize with themes and plugins
WordPress supports a vast ecosystem of themes and plugins that enhance its functionality and appearance.
Themes control the overall design of your website, while plugins add specific features and capabilities.
Choose a theme that aligns with your website’s purpose and customize it to your liking.
Additionally, leverage plugins to extend the functionality of your site, whether it’s adding contact forms, SEO optimization, e-commerce capabilities, or social media integration.
This modular approach allows you to tailor WordPress to your needs without complex coding.
Get involved in the WordPress community
The WordPress community is a valuable resource for users seeking guidance and support.
Participate in forums, attend local meetups, or join online groups where WordPress enthusiasts and experts share tips and solutions.
Engaging with the community can help you troubleshoot issues, learn new techniques, and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in WordPress.
It’s a collaborative environment that can make your WordPress journey more accessible and enjoyable.
What kind of website can you create with WordPress?
WordPress is a versatile platform suitable for creating a wide variety of websites, from blogs and business sites to e-commerce stores, educational platforms, and more. Below are some of the most popular websites that people create using WordPress
- Blogs
- Business websites
- eCommerce stores
- News and magazine sites
- Portfolio websites
- Non-profit and charity websites
- Educational
- Community and membership sites
- Forums and social networks
- Real estate websites
- Personal and portfolio websites
- Event websites
- Restaurant and Food
- Health and wellness websites
- Government and municipal sites
WordPress is a versatile platform suitable for creating a wide variety of websites, from blogs and business sites to e-commerce stores, educational platforms, and more.
Its adaptability, extensive theme and plugin options, and user-friendly interface make it a preferred choice for website development across different industries and purposes.
Common questions about using WordPress
You don’t need coding knowledge to use WordPress. It’s designed with a user-friendly interface, and you can build and manage a website using pre-designed templates and plugins.
WordPress is relatively easy for beginners. The learning curve is moderate, but numerous resources, tutorials, and a supportive community make it accessible to users without advanced technical skills.
Yes, adding and editing content in WordPress is straightforward. It employs a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor that allows you to create and modify content like text, images, and multimedia without coding.
Yes, you can manage multiple users on your WordPress site. WordPress allows you to create user roles with varying levels of access, enabling you to assign different permissions to individuals, such as editors, authors, and contributors.
You can acquire a basic understanding of WordPress in a few hours or days. To become highly proficient and comfortable with WordPress, it may take several weeks to a few months of consistent learning and practice. If you want to become an advanced WordPress user or developer, it can take several months to a year or more of continuous learning and hands-on experience.
Conclusion – Is WordPress easy to use?
Yes, WordPress is easy to use.
Whether you’re a beginner searching for simplicity or an experienced developer looking for customization choices, WordPress is a top-tier solution for quick and successful website creation and management.
