So, you’ve got a fantastic business idea and you’ve made up your mind that you’re going to produce and publish your own website. Well, as you most probably know, there are many factors to take into account. The design of the website, the images you’re going to use, the content, the website architecture, the logos, the online store – the list goes on. But ultimately, what’s most important when building a new website is the platform you choose. There’s a variety of website platforms available with an array of varying features, targeting the entire spectrum of developers from amateurs to experts. You’ll ask for recommendations on which platform to use and developers will argue for weeks on end about why one platform is better than the other.
It can really be confusing to weigh the pro’s and con’s of each website platform and determine which is best for you. So, to save the time and arguments, the basic answer to this question is ‘WordPress’. The following article will offer five strong arguments as to why WordPress is the best platform to use, regardless of your website development skills and abilities.
1. WordPress is simple to use and manage
WordPress is particularly easy to use so you don’t have to be a specialist HTML coder to develop an effective and powerful website. The installation process is quick and simple, the tools are intuitive and there’s a built-in updater so you don’t need to stress over not taking advantage of all the latest features. There are inbuilt features for blog publishing, RSS feeds, user management, automated backups, revisions and much more. Once installed, you can start making custom configurations without even writing any code!
2. WordPress is extremely SEO-friendly
In the words of Google Engineer Matt Cutts, “WordPress automatically solves a tonne of SEO issues”. SEO is a remarkably important aspect of any website so having in-built features that seamlessly make your website SEO-friendly is invaluable. WordPress coding is standard compliance, top quality, and produces semantic mark-up which makes your site very attractive to search engines. There are also a selection of free plugins that you can install which will make your website even more SEO-friendly, but we’ll touch on WordPress’ plugins next.
3. WordPress is FREE and Open Source
Yes, you read it correctly; WordPress is free to download, install, and use to create any kind of website you desire. The problem is you need a website host to run it on, which are not free. There are more than 2,600 WordPress themes and over 3,100 different free plugins available for use. Considering that WordPress is a community software, it is maintained by a large group of volunteers who all contribute to the software by writing patches, answering support questions and updating documentation. If you have any questions or concerns about anything WordPress related, there are practically thousands of people ready to help.
4. WordPress is mobile-friendly
As a result of the increasing use of smartphones for internet usage, it’s extremely important that your website is optimised for mobile devices. In fact, one of Google’s latest updates requires websites to be optimised for mobile devices or they’ll be penalised in SEO. Thankfully, most WordPress themes are designed to be mobile responsive, meaning that irrespective of what device your visitors are using, WordPress websites will automatically adjust the appearance of your website to match. WordPress also allows you to work on both your mobile website and PC website individually, so you can easily customise both to optimise the user experience.
5. WordPress is secure
Today, website security is extremely important, so of course, WordPress has high-security standards. Virtually one-quarter of websites are built on WordPress, so hackers are constantly searching for ways to compromise them. WordPress is well aware of this so has developed a series of security features that prevent any malicious attacks by releasing regular updates that neutralise these threats. Bear in mind, it’s also essential for you to be using a secure device when accessing your WordPress account, so make sure that you utilise standard security tools on your device and only download credible plugins from trusted sources.
6. Versatility and Customisation:
WordPress is highly versatile, catering to various website needs. Whether you’re creating a blog, business site, portfolio, or e-commerce store, WordPress offers a wide range of themes and plugins for customisation. Themes allow you to change the look and feel of your site effortlessly, while plugins add new features without complex coding. This versatility ensures that your website can evolve with your changing requirements.
7. Community Support
WordPress boasts a large and active community of users, developers, and designers. This community support is invaluable when you encounter challenges or seek advice. Online forums, tutorials, and extensive documentation are readily available, making it easier to find solutions, share insights, and stay updated on the latest trends and best practices in website development.
8. Regular Updates and Security Measures
WordPress is committed to staying current with technological advancements. Regular updates are released to improve performance, fix bugs, and address security vulnerabilities. With a significant portion of websites built on WordPress, the platform is a target for hackers. However, the dedicated security team continuously develops and implements features to safeguard your website. Ensuring you apply updates promptly is crucial for maintaining the security of your site.
9. Scalability
Whether you’re starting with a small blog or planning a large-scale e-commerce platform, WordPress is scalable. As your website grows, you can easily expand its capabilities to meet increased demands. The platform accommodates the growth of your content, traffic, and functionality without compromising performance or user experience.
10. Cost-Effectiveness
WordPress itself is an open-source platform, available for free. While there may be costs associated with premium themes, plugins, or hosting services, the overall expenses are often more affordable than developing a custom-built solution. The extensive availability of free themes and plugins further contributes to the cost-effectiveness of using WordPress.
11. Mobile Responsiveness
Having a mobile-friendly website is a must. WordPress themes are designed to be responsive, ensuring that your site looks and functions seamlessly on various devices, including smartphones and tablets. This mobile responsiveness contributes to a positive user experience and helps maintain your site’s visibility in search engine results.
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