WordPress was originally launched on May 27, 2003. WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS). It’s a well-liked tool for people who wish to create websites and blogs but don’t know how to code. There is no payment for the software. It is free for anyone to install, use and change.
WordPress was first developed for blogging but it has grown to be so widely used that it currently runs over 43.1% (810 million websites) of all websites! It’s a huge number of websites! Regarding WordPress, there are two things to remember: WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Although it has some restrictions, WordPress.com is a free service that makes it very simple to establish a website. WordPress.org offers greater flexibility and control but you’ll need to arrange your own web hosting.
Usage of WordPress
WordPress was mostly used as a tool for creating blogs instead of more conventional websites many years ago. However, that hasn’t been the case in a while. These days, you may use WordPress to construct any kind of website because of updates to the core code and the vast ecosystem of plugins and themes.
For instance, WordPress powers the majority of blogs and commercial websites and is also the most widely used platform for building eCommerce stores! WordPress allows you to create:
- Business websites
- Membership sites
- Blogs
- Forums
- Social networks
- Portfolios
- Resumes
- eCommerce stores
Exactly why is it so popular nowadays to use WordPress?
WordPress is the beloved platform for many bloggers and businesses. In fact, more than 43.1% of all websites online use WordPress. Here are a few reasons why WordPress is so popular:
1. WordPress is open-source software
The platform, WordPress, is open-source. This implies that anyone can alter the software’s source code and release it again. It is intended for users to submit suggestions to enhance the platform. An open-source community contributes to the improvement of WordPress.
2. Easy to use for a beginner
WordPress doesn’t require a computer engineering degree. It’s actually built for non-technical people. The user interface is intuitive and friendly. All it takes to change the look of your website is to download a theme. Simply install a plugin if you need to add a new feature, like a contact form. Jobs involving web development that once required hours to finish can now be finished in a couple of minutes. This WordPress video will walk you through the installation and usage of a theme.
3. SEO-friendly
It’s not enough to just build a WordPress website. You want people to find and visit your website through search engine optimization. With SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, you can boost your rankings with internal linking suggestions and meta description templates.
4. Supported by several media types
- Images: You can use sharp JPEGs, precise PNGs, animated GIFs, and even favicons (small icons that appear in browser tabs) to add visual interest.
- Audio: You can add some flavor to your content by using podcasts, music samples, or even sound effects in WAV, MP3, M4A, and OGG formats.
- Videos: It allows you to use interesting videos to captivate your viewers! You can display everything from product demos to explainer animations by uploading MP4s, MOVs, WMVs, and more.
- Documents: It’s easy to share important files with WordPress. PDFs, Microsoft Word documents (DOC and DOCX), PowerPoint presentations (PPT and PPTX), Excel spreadsheets (XLS and XLSX), and Adobe Photoshop files (PSD) are among the supported formats.
5. Never give up on security concerns
Sensitive data, such as contact information and user profiles, is frequently stored on WordPress websites. Sophisticated security measures prevent unwanted access to this data. Cybercriminals are continually coming up with new strategies to take advantage of gaps. To keep ahead of them, regular security updates are necessary. Secure websites are preferred by search engines. Keeping your website secure will improve its search engine rating.
6. WordPress is free to use
As WordPress is an open-source platform, anyone can use, alter, and share its fundamental code without restriction. Thousands of free themes and plugins are available to alter the appearance and features of your website.
Even though WordPress is free, there are some expenses to take into account while using it to create a website:
- Registration of a domain name: This is your website’s address (e.g., [invalid URL removed]). Typically, domain names cost between approximately $10 and $15 a year.
- Web hosting: This is where the files for your website are kept in storage. Monthly web hosting packages start at approximately $3 to $5.
When everything is taken into account, WordPress is an almost free website creation tool. You only have to pay for extra features if you really need them after starting for free. Here’s a breakdown of what’s free and what’s not:
Free:
- WordPress software
- Countless themes and plugins are available.
Paid (optional):
- Web hosting,
- Domain name registration
- Premium themes and plugins
In Conclusion:
In summary, WordPress is much more than just a blogging platform; it’s a versatile and powerful CMS that empowers users to create, customize and manage websites with ease. Whether you’re a blogger, a business owner or a creative professional, WordPress offers the tools and flexibility you need to bring your vision to life online. So why wait? Dive into the world of WordPress today and unlock the endless possibilities that await!
