Whether or not you’re in the website business, you’ve probably heard of WordPress because of this simple reason: it’s the most popular tool for creating websites – like, super popular! In this post, we’ll break down what WordPress is, what it can do, what kind of sites you can build with it, and why it’s so great. Let’s get started!
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a tool that lets you build websites and blogs. You can even use it to create online stores!
- Anyone can use WordPress because it’s a free and open-source software.
- It was founded by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little in 2003 as a blogging tool, but now it’s much more powerful.
- More than 810 million: Over 43% of all websites in the world are built with WordPress – that’s a lot!
What Kind of Websites Can You Make Using WordPress?
WordPress is super flexible! You can use it to make anything from a simple blog to a fancy business website.
It’s even great for making money online – you can sell products, and courses, or create memberships!
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Start a blog
- Create a small business website
- Build online stores
- Sell online courses
- And many more!
Why you should use WordPress?
1. Beginner-friendly.
Even if you have no clue about technology, you can still use WordPress! This means that you don’t need to be so keen on these technologies to understand and make good use of WordPress especially when it comes to creating your website.
Think about your website as a house. WordPress provides you with all the necessary options for constructing a foundation and building without difficulties. Do you want to change something at your web house (design)? Just select another theme – as if you painted walls with different colors. Whenever you feel like putting more another thing such as a doorbell (contact form), just use plugins.
2. Free.
The good news is that WordPress itself is free! You can download the software and make a website for no cost at all. But for people from all over the world to see your website online, you have to pay a hosting company a small monthly fee. It is like paying rent for a place where you keep a house (website) for people to visit.
3. Open-source and supported by a large community.
Anyone can build on WordPress! It’s open-source, meaning it’s free of charge and can be modified. The goal of different people across the globe is to enhance WordPress with their opinions and code contributions.
One may perhaps need some time to become accustomed to WordPress, but there is nothing difficult in its usage, you will manage everything yourself! There are many tools and sources available to guide you in the right direction. These include websites, blogs (like Inscriptox!), and videos uploaded on YouTube.
4. SEO-friendly.
Search engines love WordPress websites! This means more people are likely to find your site. WordPress even has tools to help you, like plugins that suggest how to increase your SEO score and how to choose the correct keywords.
5. Secure and protected.
Security is crucial, and WordPress has it all taken care of! No one wants their sensitive information leaked or stolen by hackers. Once you maintain the latest version of your software and create strong passwords, your website will be safe from any threats. WordPress has taken measures to assist – for instance, there are options for logging off users who have been idle for some time, as well as two-step verification (e.g., requiring a code from your mobile phone to log in).
Furthermore, you can enhance security even more with plugins such as Wordfence or Sucuri.
6. Unlimited customization options.
Make it your own! WordPress can be compared to blank paper for your online platform. You are allowed to change its appearance with themes that function as patterns that have been pre-designed.
What about additional features? Nothing could be quicker and simpler! Just insert plugins that serve as tiny applications for your portal. Even though this might be your first encounter with website development tools, by using WordPress, you are at liberty to craft anything unique from scratch; however, experienced programmers may decide to deeply engage in code editing.
7. Fast.
Website load speed is essential for every website because no one likes a slow connection. WordPress got you in this regard, too. It is relatively fast compared to other CMS (Content Management System) and it can be faster by tweaking some optimizations like using caching plugins (like LSCache) and buying a reliable hosting service (like Hostinger).
What do you need to get started?
You’ll need web hosting and a domain when you’re starting. Not only WordPress websites, but all websites need hosting and domain.
Hosting is where all your website files are stored so that others on the internet can access your content.
A domain name is your website’s address on the internet (for example, inscriptox.com).
There are many options to choose from when it comes to hosting and other relevant services. We’ve picked some of the best services to save you time:
- Hostinger is a hosting service that provides managed WordPress hosting for the best price on the market!
- Namehero is a service where you can buy domain names with competitive price.
- Elementor gives more design options than WordPress core with pre-made templates.
- WooCommerce helps you build online stores with ease.
- WPForms lets you easily create individual forms to get in touch with your customers.
- Sucuri is a WordPress security plugin to protect your site from hackers.
- All-in-One SEO is to boost your site’s visibility on the web so it ranks higher in search engines like Google.
Some website examples built with WordPress
1. The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. The New York Times covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews.
2. TechCrunch
TechCrunch is an American global online newspaper focusing on topics regarding high-tech and startup companies. It was founded in June 2005 by Archimedes Ventures, led by partners Michael Arrington and Keith Teare. TechCrunch. Type of site. Technology news and analysis.
3. Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded October 28, 1636, and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.
4. Sony Music
Sony Music, or Sony Music Entertainment (SME), is a global music company that records, produces, and promotes music and videos. It is the second-largest recorded music company in the world and is owned by Sony Corporation of America. Sony Music’s artists include Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Britney Spears, and Pitbull.
5. TED Blog
TED Conferences, LLC is an American-Canadian non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan “ideas worth spreading”.
6. Microsoft News
Microsoft News updates you with notifications of breaking news, quickly and accurately, 24/7 – Sync your preferences across the app and the Web. Microsoft News works in partnership with hundreds of publishers in dozens of countries globally.
7. PlayStation Blog
PlayStation.Blog is the official blog for the PlayStation gaming console and its games. It’s a source of news and updates for PlayStation, PS4, PS5, PS VR, and PlayStation Plus. The blog offers a variety of content, including: Insights on specific games, Round-ups of monthly PlayStation Plus catalog releases, and Community engagement.
8. The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California
9. The White House
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800 when the national capital was moved from Philadelphia.
10. Time Magazine
Time is an American news magazine based in New York City. It was published weekly for nearly a century. Starting in March 2020, it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York City on March 3, 1923, and for many years it was run by its influential co-founder, Henry Luce.
FAQs about WordPress
1. Is WordPress free?
WordPress is a free open-source software that can be used by anyone. Nonetheless, you must pay for web hosting services to make your website available on the internet. This payment provides for the storage space used for your website’s documents.
2. Is WordPress difficult to use?
No! It is made to be user-friendly even for those who don’t write code themselves. Its interface is simple and there are plenty of tutorials as well as other learning materials aimed at assisting beginners during their initial stages.
3. What are the advantages of WordPress?
Here are some reasons why you should use it:
- Ease of use. WordPress is designed for beginners and requires no coding experience.
- Highly customizable. You can change your website however you want with plugins and themes.
- Free and open-source. No hidden fees and ever-improving features.
- SEO friendly. Search engines like websites built with WordPress.
- Secure. While security is an ongoing effort, WordPress itself is a secure platform.
- Large community. With a massive global community of users and developers, you’ll find plenty of resources, tutorials, and forums to help you with any issue you encounter.
4. What are the disadvantages of WordPress?
Dependency on plugins: Plugins bring much functionality along with themselves, but still, they increase complexity and might bring compatibility issues. Too many plugins will slow down your website, and outdated plugins will bring security risks. Always select plugins wisely and keep them updated.
Can be time-consuming: While user-friendly, learning and managing a WordPress website takes time. Keeping plugins and software up to date, creating content, and keeping it secure are all ongoing activities.
May not be best for big, complex sites: If you are creating a large, complex website where advanced features are required (e.g., building web applications), JavaScript and its frameworks work best.
P.S. Now you know what WordPress is. You might be considering creating a website with it, if so, you can go to this article to read a comprehensive guide.
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