Top 10 benefits of WordPress

If you’ve ever opened a browser and visited a business website, chances are you’ve come across a WordPress website in your lifetime. In fact, more than a third of the websites on the internet are built on WordPress. So why do so many choose WordPress to build their website over Bubble, Wix, or a host of other website creators? In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of WordPress in detail and answer that exact question.

Here’s what you can expect:

• What is WordPress?
• #1: It’s easy to use
• #2: WordPress site is free!
• #3: Web hosting is simple
• #4: Huge variety of themes
• #5: Updates are a breeze
• #6: Search engines will love your WordPress website
• #7: Blogging platform which is mobile-friendly
• #8: A plugin for everything!
• #9: Manage your site anywhere in the world!
• #10: The massive WordPress community

Let’s jump in!

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a free and open-source website builder and content management system (CMS). WordPress powers over a third of the internet including some of the biggest companies in the world like Spotify, Fortune, UPS, and CNN. The beauty of WordPress CMS is that users can download and install it for free. On top of that, there are a host of unique features that make it popular for mom & pop operators all the way up to huge companies like Spotify. In this article, we’ll take a look at these features and WordPress benefits in detail.

#1: It’s easy to use

WordPress was originally designed to be just a blogging platform for online publications. However, throughout its development, WordPress has come to support a wide range of use cases and purposes specific to all types of businesses. This includes small-time start-ups and multinational companies with huge online infrastructure.

After you install WordPress, one of the biggest advantages is that you can create and publish content with a few clicks of a mouse. You don’t need experience with the WordPress platform because the navigation and toolbar are intuitive and simple to use. You can familiarize yourself with some WordPress tutorials on Gutenberg Block Editor, which makes life even easier for newcomers or for those who don’t have a great deal of coding experience. The Block Editor is essentially drag and drop for WordPress sites landing pages and blogs. If you’ve ever used Canva, then this is the ease of use that the Gutenberg Block Editor provides.

The good folks over at WordPress software understand that marketers use the popular website builder as much as developers. It’s for this reason that they have adopted a more simple user experience for those with less technical know-how.

#2: WordPress site is free!

No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you, you can install WordPress for free with no hidden costs or clauses. Anyone can download the software from WordPress.org and get started building their incredible website right away. While other website builders, like Wix, have a free version, WordPress is unmatched in terms of the quality of the site you can build. While you can download and get building your site for free with WordPress themes, you do have to pay for hosting if you ever want people to see it. Don’t worry though, there are plenty of hosting options available from providers like GoDaddy or SiteGround where you can purchase domains and host your site for as little as $5.

#3: Web hosting is simple

Speaking of hosting, WordPress makes it super easy for you to host your website online. There are two options available to you:

• Self-hosting:

Self-hosting is when you buy a web hosting plan, download the WordPress websites files from WordPress.org, and then install them by yourself on your hosting account. This option is cheaper but also requires some technical expertise or know-how to ensure that it is done correctly.

• Managed hosting:

Managed WordPress hosting is when a company manages the setup, administration, and server or application support. There are several companies from which you can choose your own hosting provider such as GoDaddy, SiteGround, Pantheon, or Bluehost, just to name a few. Managed hosting is probably the best option if you’re new to WordPress and want to get things moving quickly. Setup time is quick and easy, and you can focus on more important things like your own website design.

#4: Huge variety of themes

WordPress themes provide users with a wide array of designs for their own website. There are countless themes available for free and each provides a unique style and layout without having to deep dive into the code. Many of the themes are available instantly in the WordPress theme directory. There are also thousands more that are available for purchase via third-party designers and marketplaces all over the globe.

Choosing a theme is one of the biggest decisions that come with building a new WordPress site. This decision sets the tone for the entire website and should not be taken lightly. One note for any new WordPress user is that the premium themes generally have more capabilities. Things like boosting your site’s SEO or having better mobile capability are optimized with premium themes. If you intend to build organic traffic to your site, these are important considerations to keep in mind.

#5: Updates are a breeze

When it comes to building and managing a new website, many people are put off by the updates and maintenance. The thought of having to peel back the hood of the site and dig into the code to ensure the website is running smoothly is scary. Usually speaking, you would have to contract a web developer to do this, which comes at a steep hourly rate.

Fortunately, you won’t have that problem with a WordPress site. With a few clicks of the mouse, you can update everything from the WordPress plugins you’re using all the way to the WordPress version itself! It is also possible to install security updates and change your theme without losing pictures and blog posts on your site.

#6: Search engines will love you

One of the biggest WordPress benefits is the impact on search engine optimization (SEO). WordPress sites are SEO friendly and use simple and very clean code which makes it easier for search engines to read and index the site’s content. Additionally, every page, image, and post can have its own meta tag keywords, description, and title which is also great for the search engine’s ability to crawl your site. Finally, there are many tools and WordPress plugins available for optimizing your WordPress site content. Many of these tools are either free or at least have free versions (like Yoast) which means you don’t need to break the bank to get better SEO results.

#7: Blogging platform which is mobile-friendly

One of the biggest advantages of WordPress sites is that they are mobile-friendly. More and more internet users are using their mobile devices to browse the web than ever before. In fact, close to 60% of internet users opt for their mobile device over desktop. As such, search engines like Google are placing more and more emphasis on the mobile-friendliness of your website. It is one of the biggest ranking factors to consider if you want your content to appear in the top search results. This makes a big difference in search engine optimization.

Luckily WordPress content management system offers a variety of responsive designs that are optimized for mobile usage. If you are opting for a static site, there is also an entire catalog of plugins and adjustments to theme files for better mobile responsiveness. If you’re creating a WordPress site for the first time, this is something that you must consider with your overall design and setup.

#8: A plugin for everything!

Plugins are certainly a key differentiator and definitely a huge WordPress benefit. The basic features and elements needed to create a site are all included in the WordPress setup. However, if you want to extend your site’s functionality and overall user experience, plugins are a very useful tool. There are literally hundreds of premium plugins available in the WordPress site directory that allow users to add features like responsive maps, shopping carts, galleries, contact forms, and loads more. Premium Plugins are easy to install and can be switched on or off depending on your needs or as your website evolves over time.

#9: Manage your site anywhere in the world!

Being able to manage your site anywhere is definitely one of the biggest advantages of WordPress. If you’ve got a stable internet connection you can literally manage your site anywhere in the world. This is because WordPress is browser-based meaning you can make edits to your site’s content from the comfort of your couch or while enjoying a pina colada on a tropical beach.

#10: The massive WordPress community

We mentioned earlier that close to 40% of the entire internet is built on WordPress. This is because WordPress is free and open-source meaning tonnes of people looking over the source files and keeping WordPress updated and secure. It also means heaps of online content about best practices and methods for building an awesome WordPress site. WordPress camps are hosted by the WordPress community which also contributes to its overall growth and support.

Final word: The benefits of WordPress

There are literally countless advantages of WordPress sites. There is a reason that so many companies around the world choose WordPress websites as their preferred site builder. The accessibility, ease of use, and easy setup mean that even those of you with little experience can get building your own site in no time. There are also the added SEO benefits, support, and massive WordPress community that make it so popular.

If you’d like more information, contact us for a free consultation for even more tips and insights on WordPress SEO best practices today.