What is WordPress

You may hear this word being thrown around a lot when it comes to web design or web development. So what is WordPress? In short it’s a Content Management System also known as a CMS.

What is a content management system?

A content management system is software that helps you create, manage and modify content on a website. Its user-friendly design makes it easy for anyone to add updates to their website.

What is the purpose of a CMS?

  1. Create and Edit Content: You don’t need to write code to add or update text, images or videos on your website.
  2. Organise Your Content: With a CMS, you can add or update text, images or videos on your website.
  3. Access for the Whole Team: Multiple users can work on the same site, with different roles and access permissions.

Why use WordPress?

WordPress was launched in 2003 as a blogging platform, and since then it has evolved into one of the most widely used CMSs. WordPress now powers over 43% of all websites on the internet. Why is WordPress so popular? Let’s talk about the benefits:

User-Friendly Interface

WordPress offers an intuitive dashboard that even beginners find easy to navigate. Whether you’re adding a blog post or uploading an image the process is straightforward. This allows website owners to easily update and add information to their website, saving them money in the long run, as they are able to update this information themselves, without having to pay a web developer.

Customisation

One of WordPress’s strongest suits is its flexibility. It can host a wide type of websites, from personal blogs to business websites and e-commerce stores. You can customise your site with thousands of themes and plugins available. Themes control the appearance of your website, while plugins add functionality like contact forms, SEO Tools and e-commerce capabilities. Whether you want a minimalistic design or a feature-rich website, WordPress can accommodate.

SEO Friendly

WordPress is built with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) in mind. WordPress allows you full control to optimise your website including using target keywords within your URLs and images, whilst internal linking and categorisation gives a site map which is what search bots are looking for. Plugins also enhance your site’s SEO, helping you rank better in search results.

Scalable

WordPress grows with you. Whether you’re starting a small blog or running a major news site, WordPress can handle it. You can start with a simple site and scale up adding more content and functionality as needed. High-traffic sites such as Disney, MTV News and Vogue run on WordPress, demonstrating its ability to manage extensive content and traffic volumes.

Cost Effective

WordPress itself is free and open source. You can download, install and modify it without any cost. You will incur costs for hosting, premium themes, and specific plugins, however, the overall expense can be lower compared to other CMS platforms.

Security

WordPress is equipped with various security features and there are plugins available to strengthen your defenses. Regular updates to the core software and plugins help to protect your website from vulnerabilities.

Mobile Friendly

Having a site that looks good on smartphones and tablets is crucial. Many WordPress themes are responsive, meaning they automatically adjust to different screen sizes. This ensures your site looks great and functions well on any device.

E-Commerce Ready

Want to sell products or services online? WordPress integrates seamlessly with e-commerce plugins like Woo-Commerce which allows you to set up an online store with ease. You can manage products, handle payments and track orders from your WordPress Dashboard.

Why WordPress is the best CMS?

WordPress’s combination of ease of use, endless amounts of plugins and capability for growth makes it the best CMS for most users. It’s suitable for beginners who need a straightforward platform for their website and for advanced users. Its SEO capabilities and robust security make it the go-to choice for large and small businesses.

If you are looking to create a website, WordPress is a reliable and versatile option. It simplifies the process of managing content, offers a high degree of customisation and provides a strong foundation for SEO and security, it’s not difficult to see why so many users opt to use WordPress as their CMS.
Here at Platform Media, we use WordPress
to create visually appealing multi-functional websites that are optimised for SEO. Our web developers and SEO experts can ensure that your website ranks in search engines. Get in touch with us to see how we can help you.

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