Developing a new website is a difficult undertaking. You want to create something that your clients will adore, but you don't want the setup to take months or be so complicated that every copy change requires a coder.
You've undoubtedly come across WordPress as a feasible solution throughout your investigation. But there's a catch: you don't know what WordPress is or how it can help your business.
There's no need to be concerned; this beginner's guide will teach you all you need to know.
What Is WordPress and How Does It Work?
WordPress is an open-source content management system that is completely free to use (CMS). It's a popular tool for those who want to create websites and blogs but don't know how to code. The program is completely free. It is completely free to download, use, and modify.a WordPress dashboard example
What is the purpose of WordPress?
WordPress was originally designed primarily to create blogs. Fast forward to now, and the software has advanced to the point that you can now construct whatever sort of website you choose. You may create hobby or lifestyle blogs, professional portfolios, company websites, e-commerce businesses, mobile apps, and membership sites using the platform.
Blogs about a hobby or way of life
WordPress's features for this purpose are extensive because of its origins in the blogosphere, including:
- The capacity to tell the difference between pages and posts.
- Easy post creation with a powerful WYSIWYG editor
- Create a rich content organization system with posts, tags, and categories.
- Users can submit comments, and you can regulate them simply.
After you've installed WordPress, the first thing you'll want to do is pick a theme that you like and that fits your goals for your site. Themes for news, magazine and tiled layouts are available (and more).
Then, for any functionality that isn't included with the theme, such as social sharing buttons or click-to-tweet, you'll need to install plugins.
Portfolios of Professionals
WordPress also has several professional portfolio themes, making it an excellent alternative for exhibiting your brand. The "Pages" feature may be used for your homepage, about page, contact page, and so on, whilst the "Posts" feature can be utilized for individual items you wish to showcase, whether they're in pictures, text, audio, or video format.
You may use a theme with a built-in gallery or add portfolio carousels or sliders as plugins.
Websites for Businesses
A business website will need to get even more mileage out of WordPress than a regular personal blog or site, as it will frequently contain more pages and posts. well as additional capabilities. WordPress, on the other hand, is amazing at satisfying those demands, thanks to its robust built-in CMS features and the open-source community's continued iteration of solutions.
You may pick a website theme that best suits your needs and then tweak it to fit your business. The layout process is made much easier using page builders like Elementor and Divi.
Plugins for SEO, lead generation, analytics, and more can help you integrate and build your business with WordPress.
Stores that sell online
WordPress is particularly well-suited to the development of online stores. You can manage items, payments, and shipping on the back end with e-commerce plugins like WooCommerce, while your visitors enjoy a pleasant shopping experience on the front end.
Apps for mobile devices
Some customers may discover that using a mobile app rather than their device's browser to access your site's services is far more convenient. While app development might be pricey, WordPress plugins can easily transform your website into an app.
Websites for Members
WordPress plugins for membership sites are available if you want to monetize your efforts by restricting premium material to members exclusively. You'll be able to track signups, handle payments, and set up member tiers.
Why Should You Use WordPress?
For many bloggers and companies, WordPress is the preferred platform. More than 40% of all websites on the internet are powered by WordPress. The following are some of the reasons why WordPress is so popular:
1. WordPress is free and open-source software.
WordPress is both a free and open-source content management system. Anyone can alter the source code and share the software in this way. It's intended for users to submit their thoughts on how to enhance the site.WordPress has an open-source community that contributes to its development.
2. WordPress is simple to use even for a novice.
WordPress does not need a degree in computer engineering. It was designed with non-technical individuals in mind. The user interface is straightforward and straightforward. You may simply download a theme to give your website a fresh look. You just install a plugin to add a new feature, such as a contact form. Web development activities that formerly took hours to perform can now be completed in minutes.
3. WordPress is a search engine optimized.
It isn't enough to just create a WordPress website. Through search engine optimization, you want visitors to locate and visit your website. Internal linking ideas and meta description templates are available through SEO plugins such as Yoast SEO.
4. WordPress accepts all sorts of media.
Major media kinds are not restricted in any way by WordPress. As a result, you may create a website with any mix of text, photos, and videos. It's wonderful to know that the platform allows you creative flexibility in this competitive market for customer attention.
5. WordPress is a safe platform.
For businesses, security is a big concern. You want to know that your data (and your customers' data) will be protected, especially with the number of data breaches growing every year. WordPress is one of the safest and most secure CMS platforms as long as plugins are kept up to date and passwords are kept secure. The platform has various security measures, such as locking out inactive users and enabling two-factor authentication.
6. WordPress is a completely free platform to utilize.
WordPress is a free platform. You will not be charged anything if you use the program. To make your website visible online, you will need to pay a third-party hosting provider.
When Did WordPress Become Popular?
Matt Mullenweg, a college student at the time, founded WordPress in 2003. It began as a relaunch of a previous project, b2/catalog, which was initially constructed by Michel Valdrighi. Matt recognized an opportunity to improve a website's functioning without changing the source code. After then, WordPress was created.
WordPress 1.0 and Its Importance
By forking the original concept, Matt created a new branch of b2 on SourceForge. He constructed a new version with the aid of his buddies and gave it the name WordPress.
WordPress 1.0 was released to the public in 2004 after several revisions. Because Matt appreciated jazz musicians like Miles Davis, it was nicknamed "Davis." This version, like the current platform, offered various categories for grouping your website content and comment moderation.
WordPress's Expansion
After a competitor adjusted its pricing structure, WordPress gained traction. Users began exploring alternatives, such as WordPress. Matt founded his firm, Automattic, after quitting his job. True Ventures, Radar Partners, and Polaris Ventures were among the investors that contributed $1.10 million in Series A fundraising.
WordPress in the Present
WordPress currently has a thriving developer, designer, and blogging community. WordPress revamped its user experience in 2017 with the introduction of Gutenberg, a news editor. WordPress 5.0 (Bebo), the most recent version, has a new and enhanced showcase theme. The platform's usefulness continues to be recognized by major industries.
Resources for Creating a WordPress Site
When creating a website, it's easy to become overwhelmed. When it comes to hosting providers, page builders, and plugins, there are a plethora of possibilities. As a result, we've whittled down the list to get you started.
- For your website, WP Engine offers managed WordPress hosting. This organization provides a secure and dependable solution for agencies, companies, and small businesses.
- WPMU Dev is a WordPress platform that does everything. You receive everything you need to create a great website, from hosting to security protection to marketing tools.
- All in One SEO is a comprehensive WordPress SEO plugin and toolset. You can simply improve every page and post on your website for greater search engine rankings with its TruSEO score and actionable checklist.
- WooCommerce makes it easy to start an online company. To help your business flourish, this e-commerce platform features limitless customization and built-in blogging.
- Elementor's WordPress page builder is used by over 3 million websites. You may create amazing websites from pre-made templates without any technical knowledge.
- With its visual editor, GravityForms allows you to construct sophisticated forms. With its conditional logic function, which configures your forms to show or hide fields based on the visitors' selections, you can convert more visitors.
- WP Beginner is a free WordPress resource for those who are new to the platform. Their blog contains advice and suggestions for improving your website.
- Calendars, RSVP and ticketing, and extensive event management are all available for free or for a fee with the Events Calendar family of WordPress features.
Don't be scared by the process of creating a website. While there are numerous website tools available, WordPress gives you the freedom to build a fantastic online presence for your company.
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