WordPress was used by 40% of all globally existing websites in 2022, a 8% rise from 2018. But despite its current dominance is WordPress still popular blogging platform out there? In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons why WordPress is still a dominant force in the world of web development.
WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) based on PHP and MySQL. For the first time, WordPress was released in 2003, by its founders: Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little in California, USA.
WordPress is reportedly the most popular website management or blogging system in use on the Web, supporting more than 60 million websites. In 2022 WordPress runs on 65% of all global content management systems, remaining 35% is shared between Shopify, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow and others. With the last four ones gaining on popularity recently due to their simplicity and ease to use.
WordPress has been around for nearly two decades but it does not show any sign of being tired, rusty and outdated. Do not be mistaken, WordPress is like good wine, gets better with an age. 830 company employees work very hard to realise new default theme for each year, what set the design trends for all community, developers and users. Daily WordPress new starters numbers are really astonishing: 650 new WordPress websites pop up every day and nearly 300 new WooCommerce (e-commerce solution for WordPress) shops appear on each day globally.
WordPress position is strong, it will be even greater in the coming future. The biggest strength of WordPress is continuously evolving. It never stops to address and implement the needs of millions of web users around the world. The direction of WordPress development directly depends on the needs of users. WordPress is one of the most empowering thing invented by people for people to create an amazing habitat of web spaces universe.
Flexibility
One of the main reasons WordPress is still so popular is its flexibility. WordPress is an open-source platform, meaning anyone can use, modify, and distribute its source code. This makes it an attractive option for developers who want to customize their websites to suit their specific needs.
WordPress also offers a vast selection of plugins and themes that allow developers to add additional functionality and visual elements to their sites. With over 50,000 plugins and thousands of themes available, there are endless possibilities when it comes to customizing a WordPress site.
Ease of Use
Another reason why WordPress is so popular is its ease of use. Unlike some other CMS options, WordPress is relatively easy to set up and manage. The platform’s user-friendly interface makes it accessible to people with little or no coding experience, and its intuitive design makes it easy for users to navigate and update their sites.
WordPress also offers a wide range of documentation and support resources, including a user-friendly knowledge base, community forums, and developer documentation. These resources help users get up and running quickly and provide ongoing support throughout the development process.
Scalability
WordPress is also highly scalable, making it an ideal choice for websites of all sizes. Whether you’re building a small blog or a large e-commerce site, WordPress can handle it. The platform is designed to be flexible and scalable, and it can handle high levels of traffic without sacrificing performance.
In addition, WordPress offers a range of hosting options, from shared hosting plans to dedicated servers. This means that developers can choose the hosting solution that best suits their needs and budget, making it easy to scale up or down as needed.
Community
One of the biggest strengths of WordPress is its community. WordPress has a large and dedicated community of developers, designers, and users who are passionate about the platform. This community is responsible for creating many of the themes, plugins, and other resources that make WordPress such a versatile platform.
The WordPress community is also active in providing support and guidance to users. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, you can find help and advice from the WordPress community through forums, social media groups, and other online resources.
Security
Security is a major concern for any website owner, and WordPress takes security very seriously. The platform is constantly updated to address security vulnerabilities, and the WordPress team works closely with the community to identify and fix issues as they arise.
In addition, WordPress offers a range of security plugins and other tools that can help website owners protect their sites from attacks. These tools can help block spam, prevent unauthorized access, and protect sensitive data, making WordPress a reliable and secure option for website owners.
The world’s top high-traffic websites and companies behind them:
You Tube
Wikipedia
WordPress is known as two different types of this platform: WordPress org v WordPress com.
WordPress.com is a commercial site where you can host your own site for free, but with some limitations. It runs on the open-source WordPress platform. Hosting with WordPress.com means that your site will be free forever, but you can also pay to upgrade your site to achieve your specific needs. It also means your site will be well looked after with top of the line spam-fighting power and automatic security updates.
All you need to do is sign up and choose your blog name, then design your site. You won’t have to worry about installing the software since it’s all managed for you instantly.
WordPress.org is where you can download your own copy of the WordPress blogging / Content Management System (CMS) software for free. This version can be a foundation for any further web developments and tweaks.
It currently powers 24% of the web!!! With the software comes the responsibility of finding your own hosting company to house your WordPress site along with your own domain name to point visitors to it. Most of the respected hosting companies already have one-click WordPress installation coming with the package you purchased but also back-ups, local SEO, SSL certificate, hundreds of email accounts.
You are here completely independent about what you hosting!! You have full control over the WordPress software and your site. The only limitation you might have could be the resources you’re given in the hosting package you picked. So is worthy to spend some time researching the market for possible the best deal.
WordPress.org also includes extensive documentation and a huge community forum where you can ask questions if you get stuck or help someone else. It’s also the site to go to if you would like to get involved and join many other volunteers in contributing to the WordPress core code, mobile apps, translations, and accessibility. Here also you find different type of themes and plugins for literally everything 🙂
So which type of WordPress suits you better. WordPress org v WordPress com?
Both are great options and the best one for you depends on the plans you have for your site, your skill level and how much time you can spend on maintaining and designing your site.
If you would like to create a simple site or blog, don’t want to fuss with regular maintenance or security and don’t want to customize your site too much, then WordPress.com may be your best pick. If you travelling, or you are a chef, photograph, writer and you just want to blog without getting involve into coding then this platform is for you.
If you’re on the opposite side and need full control over your site design, plugins, files and database with total freedom to change and tweak to your heart’s content and don’t mind maintaining and securing your site, then WordPress.org can provide the software you need. If you are interested in web & digital industry, or you are self-taught and you don’t mind to tinker with code to achieve the desired look then this platform is perfect fit for you. Over a time knowing WordPress is a valuable skill which might get you a job or other great prospects in future.
It may take more time and effort to set up a WordPress site, but you will have full control over the look and feel of your site. You will be able to use custom themes and customize their look, and also upload custom plugins to add more functionality to your site.
So if you have great products, service and business WordPress can help you increase visibility, brand awareness, traffic, sales but also increase your website conversion rate. It is your personal what use between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. For sure if you are new to online presents WordPress is one of the best platforms, to begin with. WordPress gives you nearly every solution you need out of the box. This can be massive boots in early days starting your online business. WordPress also gives you years of experience, best practices and a huge community.
Most notable big name brands that are using WordPress:
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