Last updated on November 1, 2023 by Elman Ucchwas
Thanks to WordPress, creating impressive websites has become so much easier.
In the past, you needed to know HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript. But now, using this CMS, you can create any website without writing a single line of code.
Whether you’re planning to start a blog, an e-commerce store, a personal website, or even a complex corporate site, WordPress covers all!
However, if you’re new on the web and wanna know what WordPress is and what WordPress is used for, then you’ve reached the right place. In this article, I’ll explain everything you need to know about this awesome CMS and more.
Let’s begin!
Table of Contents
WordPress is an open-source website builder and content management system (CMS). Open source indicates anyone can access the code and modify it. So, a global community of developers is constantly improving this website builder with custom themes and plugins. It allows individuals with no programming knowledge to make their own websites easily.
With this useful content management system, you can use the software to create and manage the website’s content.
45.8% of all websites on the internet are created using WordPress, meaning that for every 5 websites you visit, 2 of them use this application! Certainly, WP is the most popular website builder worldwide.
It provides an easy way to design, customize, and update your website. With its drag-and-drop features and a vast library of themes and plugins, you can create anything from a personal blog to a professional business website with WordPress.
So, if you want to share your thoughts on a blog, sell cool stuff online, or show off your business, WordPress has your back. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of website tools.
In the early days of the internet, making a website meant using HTML or PHP code. Your web browser would then translate this code into colors and text to create the website.
It automatically updates the code when you make changes to your website and displays those changes. You don’t have to write any code yourself. It’s like a cool graphical interface outputting the complex programming framework. Only you don’t need to bother looking at any of those codes to build an amazing website!
Furthermore, you can select from 20,000 different WP themes, which are templates that determine your website’s appearance. You can customize text, fonts, and font sizes, create buttons, design borders, upload images and videos, and more.
You can also choose from over 60,000 plugins and widgets to enhance your website’s functionality. The possibilities are endless!
And building your website with content management software is all online, so you can build your WordPress blog or website anywhere as long as you have a stable internet connection.
WordPress has been around for over two decades. So, naturally, it has gained its fair share of rumors and myths over the years, and I’ll clear them now.
Here are a few common rumors and misconceptions that have circulated about WordPress:
WordPress is Not Extendable
However, this notion is far from the truth. In fact, WP is the engine behind more than 43% of websites on the internet, including prominent ones like CNN, MSNBC, and The Rolling Stones. These websites handle significant traffic, proving that they can scale effectively for large sites.
Only for Blogs
While it certainly started as a blogging platform, it has evolved into a full-fledged content management system. Many non-blog websites, such as BuddyPress for creating social media sites and AppPresser for building native iPhone and Android apps, demonstrate WordPress’s versatility. Undoubtedly, this amazing website builder is not limited to blogging; it’s a flexible platform for various purposes.
Not Suitable for E-commerce
This is a completely false notion. WordPress has several excellent e-commerce plugins, such as WooCommerce, which power many online stores nowadays. It’s a robust solution for building and managing e-commerce websites.
WordPress is Not Secure
There is considerable debate surrounding whether WordPress is secure or not. Pointing to WP security vulnerabilities, some argue that the open-source nature of WordPress makes it insecure since anyone, including hackers, can examine the source code.
Well, they can indeed read the source code, but remember that even in closed-source software, attackers can still thoroughly analyze it to uncover security holes.
For your information, open source actually enhances security. It allows a global community to inspect the code, identify vulnerabilities, and propose improvements. Then, Security professionals continuously monitor and patch potential issues.
The main security concerns typically occur from insecure and outdated third-party plugins. However, some reputed security plugins are proven to be useful in minimizing the risk. So, as long as you keep everything updated and use reputable plug-ins by well-known authors, you’re perfectly fine.
WordPress is Completely Free
WordPress itself is indeed an open-source software and can be downloaded and used for free. But, while the core software is free, there are associated costs to set up your website on the back end.
For instance, you may need to pay for web hosting, domain registration, premium themes, plugins, and potentially developer services for customization and maintenance.
So, while WP can be budget-friendly, it is not completely cost-free, and the expenses can add up based on your website’s needs.
WordPress has a captivating history dating all the way back to 2003 when it was brought to life by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little. Their mission was to create a user-friendly and versatile platform for bloggers, and it’s safe to say they accomplished this goal spectacularly.
The project evolved from an earlier CMS called b2/cafelog, which its developer had abandoned. Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little decided to fork b2/cafelog and create their own version. Consequently, on May 27, 2003, they released WordPress 0.7, marking the birth of this open-source software!
WordPress gained momentum quickly due to its simplicity and user-friendly nature. The release of WordPress 1.0 in January 2004 marked a significant milestone. It introduced essential features like WP plugins, WP themes, and a more user-friendly interface, making it attractive to a broader audience.
Over the years, this application has gone through numerous updates and improvements. The famous “five-minute installation” in WordPress 3.0 simplified the setup process, and the Gutenberg block editor introduced in WP 5.0 significantly improved the content editing process.
However, WordPress has grown beyond its blogging roots and now powers many websites, from personal blogs to e-commerce stores and corporate websites. Its extensive plugin and theme allow users to customize their sites to a high degree.
Today, WP remains a dominant force on the internet, with a substantial market share among CMS platforms.
When you search WordPress on Google, it can be a bit confusing because two types of WordPress show up — a .com version and a .org version. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
So, before you start making your website, you should have a clear understanding of the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
Let’s discover which WordPress you should choose:
Hosting and Control
WordPress.org offers complete control and flexibility as it’s a self-hosted platform. You are responsible for finding your own hosting service. This is ideal for those who want full creative freedom.
Conversely, in WordPress.com, Automattic, the company behind the main CMS software, provides hosting. It’s more user-friendly, but you have limited control over server settings. It is less suitable for those with specific hosting requirements. However, you can just buy hosting space from wordpress.com and build your website with a CMS application from wordpress.org. They offer a pretty secure server which WordPress itself recommends.
Website Customization
WordPress.org excels in customization. You can modify code, install custom themes and plugins, and build entirely unique websites according to your preferences.
On the other hand, WordPress.com has customization limitations, especially on the free plan. This is the reason why I personally don’t use WordPress.com because you cannot switch themes or install plug-ins until you get the Business plan, which is $25/month.
Monetization
WordPress.org allows you to monetize your websites in various ways, including advertising, selling products, and using affiliate marketing, without restrictions.
In contrast, WordPress.com limits monetization, especially on the free plan. You need to upgrade to a paid plan to access more monetization options, and even then, you cannot put your own ads on your website.
Website Maintenance & Security
With WordPress.org, users are responsible for site maintenance and security, including updates, backups, and security measures. While this offers full control, it requires technical knowledge and time commitment.
WordPress.com, on the other hand, handles much of the maintenance and security automatically, reducing the user’s responsibilities. However, it comes at the cost of giving up some control over the company.
So, choose WordPress.org for more control, customization, and monetization but with added technical expertise and maintenance, or go for WordPress.com if you want a more straightforward, hassle-free website management experience with less control and customization.
WordPress’s adaptability and vast ecosystem of themes and plugins make it a versatile platform for building any website.
Let’s see what kind of sites WP can make:
1. Business Websites
WordPress provides a user-friendly interface for businesses to build their online presence. It allows for easy content management, showcases products or services, integrates contact forms, and provides a professional look and feel.
To create a business website in WP, you can start with a professional theme that reflects your brand. Themes like Divi or Avada offer customization options and pre-designed templates suitable for any business.
2. eCommerce Stores
By utilizing eCommerce plugins like WooCommerce, WP can transform into a full-fledged online store. It allows you to create product catalogs, shopping carts, payment gateways, and inventory management.
3. Personal & Professional Blog Websites
WordPress originated as a blogging platform, and it excels in this domain. It offers an intuitive post editor, categorization, tagging, and scheduling features, making it the easiest solution to start a WordPress blog. Thus, it’s ideal for bloggers and content creators.
Just choose a theme that focuses on readability and aesthetics and use plugins such as Jetpack for performance optimization and Yoast SEO for better search engine ranking. And your site will be ready to engage readers.
4. Professional Portfolios
This amazing CMS provides themes like Oshine and Uncode with readily available portfolio templates, and you can customize these to create a stunning showcase of your skills and projects. Also, use plugins such as Envira Gallery to create stunning image galleries to organize and display your work.
5. Forums
With plugins like bbPress, WordPress can be extended to create online discussion forums. Users can engage in discussions, share ideas, and ask questions.
6. Membership Sites
WP makes it easy for you to create membership sites using plugins like MemberPress or Restrict Content Pro. it lets you develop subscription-based websites in WP, and you can offer exclusive content or services to paying members.
7. Mobile Applications
Even though WordPress itself doesn’t create mobile apps, it can serve as the backend for them. With the WordPress REST API, developers can build mobile apps that pull content and data directly from a website, offering a seamless user experience.
Due to WordPress’s flexibility, user-friendliness, SEO optimization capabilities, and robust security features, big industries use it, whether large tech companies, government agencies, or entertainment and media outlets.
Here are some popular websites that use WordPress:
Facebook’s About Website
Facebook’s About Website is built on a highly customized WP platform. Its flexibility allows developers to tailor the website’s design and functionality to meet the specific needs of a global tech giant like Facebook.
Microsoft News Site is Made using WordPress
Microsoft’s News Website benefits from WordPress’s robust publishing capabilities. Its ease of use and intuitive editor make it simple for Microsoft to update and publish news articles and content regularly.
White House Official Website Uses WordPress
The most powerful official in the World uses WordPress! Can you imagine that the White House relies on WordPress to efficiently manage its online presence?
WordPress’s customizability has allowed the White House to design a website that reflects its branding and governmental functions. Their security measures are crucial for safeguarding sensitive government data and maintaining the website’s integrity.
Sony Music Uses WordPress
Sony Music leverages WordPress to create a dynamic and engaging online platform for its artists and music releases. The CMS allows for easy content management, making it simple for Sony Music to update artist profiles, showcase music, and run promotional campaigns.
Spotify NewsRoom
Spotify’s NewsRoom relies on WordPress for its content publishing and management needs. The CMS’s user-friendly interface enables Spotify to publish press releases, updates, and announcements efficiently.
TED Blog
The TED Blog utilizes WordPress as its content-rich platform. Fully customizable WP themes and plugins allow TED to create a visually appealing and interactive blog that caters to its global audience.
PlayStation Blog
PlayStation’s Blog is built on WordPress, enabling the gaming giant to maintain a dynamic and interactive online presence.
So you see how such huge organizations use WordPress to create popular, customizable, SEO-friendly, high-security websites.
Okay, but why would you, an individual who doesn’t have an unlimited budget or a big team of web developers like those companies to create and manage your website, want to use WordPress?
Let’s find out!
WordPress is a popular choice for beginners looking to create a website, and there are several reasons why it’s a good option:
You don’t need to be a web developer or have extensive coding knowledge to use this awesome content management system. It offers various pre-designed themes and plugins to help you customize your site without writing code. It is ideal for those who are new to website development.
WordPress has a vast and active community of users, developers, and support resources. You can find plenty of tutorials, forums, and documentation online to help you with any questions or issues you encounter while using the platform.
WP provides a high degree of flexibility in terms of design and functionality. You can choose from thousands of free and premium themes, and there are over 60,000 plugins available to add features and functionality to your site.
WP is well-regarded for its search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities. Also, there are various WP SEO plugins available to improve your site’s visibility in search engines. So visitors can easily find your website.
Many WP themes are responsive, meaning they adapt to different screen sizes and devices. This ensures that your website looks good and functions well on both desktop and mobile devices, which is crucial for user experience.
This CMS is regularly updated to improve performance and security. It also has a robust security community and offers various security plugins to help protect your website from threats.
Once these components are in place, you can start building and customizing your website using WordPress.
WordPress is open-source software, which means it’s free to use. While you may invest in premium themes or plugins, you can create a functional website without a significant upfront cost.
Overall, WP is an excellent choice for beginners due to its user-friendly nature, extensive support, and customization options. It allows you to create a website according to your needs without a steep learning curve.
To use WordPress, you primarily need three key elements – web hosting, a domain name, and the WP software itself.
Read our detailed guide on how to choose the best wp hosting to learn more about choosing the right hosting provider.
However, a domain name is your website’s unique address on the internet (e.g., newwebber.com), and you’ll need to register one through a domain registrar.
Lastly, you need the WordPress software, a free and open-source CMS that powers your website. You can download it from WordPress.org and install it on your hosting server.
So, by now, you should have a clear idea of what WordPress is and what it can do.
But what about other website-building tools? Are they any good or even better than WordPress?
Let’s see!
Comparing WP to other website builders can help understand the strengths and weaknesses of each platform. Below, I’ll discuss some popular website builders:
Wix
Wix is a user-friendly website builder that provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It is used by approximately 2.3% of websites.
This website-building tool is known for its simplicity and offers a variety of templates, making it an excellent choice for beginners or small business owners who want to create a basic website quickly. While it’s easy to use, it may have limitations for more complex, custom, or large-scale projects.
Also, you cannot make websites with Wix for free. It’ll cost $4.50/month to create a basic personal site and $17/month to create an eCommerce site.
Squarespace
Squarespace is another famous website builder known for its elegant and professionally designed templates. It accounts for about 2% of websites.
Squarespace offers a simple and visually appealing way to build a website, making it an excellent choice for creatives, artists, and small businesses. However, it offers less flexibility than WordPress for highly customized websites.
And just like Wix, Squarespace doesn’t have a free plan. You’ll need to pay $16 every month to make a basic personal site. Also, if you want to integrate eCommerce and Advanced website analytics, you’ll have to upgrade to the Business plan, which costs $7 more.
Shopify
Shopify is a specialized website builder designed for e-commerce. It has powered around 4.2% of e-commerce websites. It provides an all-in-one solution for online stores, offering features like product management, payment processing, and inventory tracking.
While Shopify excels in e-commerce, it is not a good choice for non-commercial websites. It also doesn’t have a free plan. The most basic plan costs $25/month. Although they offer just $1/month for the first 3 months.
Weebly
Weebly is another user-friendly website builder known for its ease of use and drag-and-drop interface. It has accounted for approximately 0.4% of websites. And it offers a free plan for basic use. But if you want to create professional websites using Weebly, it’ll cost $12 each month.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend this tool for Weebly for large-scale projects. it is only suitable for simple websites and amateur blogs.
Here’s a comparison table between WordPress and other popular website builders:
Lastly, I’d say WordPress’s user-friendly interface, versatility, and so many themes & plug-ins make it an ideal choice for beginners looking to create and maintain their websites.
Whether you’re starting a personal blog or a small business site, WordPress lets you bring your web development ideas to life.