A common assumption that I and many others make is that WordPress is primarily for blogging. However, WordPress has diversified with themes and plugins, so “you can create any type of website with WordPress.” Today, WordPress drives 43.5 percent of all websites. Organizations like the White House and Microsoft use WordPress websites. Furthermore, the platform’s expansion has made it the most popular method for setting up an e-commerce store (Kinsta, 2024).

Web designers have two choices when creating a website: build from the ground up or use a content management system (CMS), a type of software, like WordPress. Using a CMS is often quicker and less technically difficult of the two. For instance, a user can bypass learning extensive coding and build a website through a WordPress Editor graphical user interface. A CMS allows users to make, distribute, and administer a website (Morris).

There is WordPress.org and WordPress.com online. WordPress.org, the free and self-hosted one, is open-source software that lets web designers create a website that is theirs. WordPress.com offers a simple, commercial service run by WordPress.org, but with fewer options. Of the two, most people associate the term ” WordPress” with the organization. Usually, using WordPress.org is the best choice for complete control of your website.

Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little worked together to create the earliest version of WordPress in 2003. Mullenweg became WordPress’s figurehead and later founded the commercial WordPress.com. Because of the software’s open-source nature, WordPress has had countless contributors over the years.

Reasons to Use WordPress

• You might have to pay to host your site, but if you use WordPress.org, you will not need to pay anything to use this free and open-source software. Many plugins and themes are free as well.
• WordPress is highly expandable. You can easily alter your website by changing the theme (or how the website appears) by adding plugins, which manage a site’s functions. Plugin abilities range from adding a form, overviewing your website’s SEO, or creating an e-commerce shop.
• WordPress is easily installable on your web host or your personal computer. Many web hosts can preinstall WordPress or offer an easy-to-understand guide. The advantages of installing WordPress on a local network include creating a new website, making alterations without online exposure, or adding a plugin/theme without breaking a website.
• WordPress’s flexibility allows you to create any website you imagine. Website creators can add plugins to enable their site’s functionality.
• The WordPress community offers help whenever you run into problems. Resources include forums, blogs, tutorials, and social media groups (Kinsta, 2024).

References

Kinsta. (2024, May 24. What is WordPress? Explained for beginners. https://kinsta.com/knowledgebase/what-is-wordpress/

Morris, S. (n.d.) Tech 101: What is WordPress? Skillcrush. https://skillcrush.com/blog/what-is-wordpress/