One of the questions we often get asked is: Why should I use WordPress? Is my old site not good enough? Why do I need to switch to WordPress from another platform? If you are asking this question then you are in the right place. In this article, we will share 6 important reasons why you should use WordPress. We will also cover all the different types of websites you can build with WordPress as well as show you the popular sites that are using WordPress.
Note: Throughout this article, when we say WordPress, we are talking about WordPress.org, also known as self-hosted WordPress. Please do not confuse it with WordPress.com which is a hosting service. For details, see our comparison of WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com.
The most common misconception about WordPress is that it is just a blogging platform.
It’s not.
While WordPress started out as a blogging tool, it has evolved into a powerful website builder and a robust content management system (CMS) throughout the years.
The best part about WordPress is that it is easy to use and flexible enough to create different types of websites. This is the main reason why WordPress has grown in popularity so much. According to a recent survey, WordPress powers 32.3% of all websites on the Internet.
Because of its robust features, many top brands use WordPress to power their websites, including Time Magazine, Facebook, The New Yorker, Sony, Disney, Target, The New York Times, and more.
Let’s take a look at why you should use WordPress to build your website.
1. WordPress is Free Like Freedom
WordPress is a free software. This means that you are free to download, install, use and modify it to suit your needs. You can use it to create any kind of website. To learn more, check out our article Why is WordPress free? ,
While the WordPress software itself is free, you need a domain name and web hosting to install it.
A domain name is the address of your website on the Internet. This is what your users type in their browser’s address bar to access your website (for example, wpbeginner.com).
Web hosting is the home of your website where all the files of your website are stored.
We recommend using Bluehost. They are one of the largest hosting companies in the world and an officially recommended WordPress hosting provider.
They are also offering WPBeginner users 60% off on hosting and a free domain name. Basically, you can get started for $2.75 per month.
Need more hosting recommendations? Check out our picks of the best WordPress hosting providers.
If you want someone experienced to setup your WordPress site, our talented staff members will be happy to help you get started. The best part is that we offer a free WordPress blog setup service.
You can also do it yourself by following our step-by-step guide on how to install WordPress.
If you run into any issues with WordPress, just type your question into Google and add wpbeginner to the end of your question. You are likely to find the answer on our website.
2. Easy to Customize with WordPress Themes and Plugins
A vast majority of people who use WordPress are neither web designers nor programmers. As a matter of fact, most people start using WordPress without prior knowledge of designing websites.
For non-tech savvy people, WordPress is the perfect solution as there are thousands of free website templates (themes) that you can choose from. There is a perfect WordPress theme for almost every type of website (be it a blog, business site, or online store).
WordPress themes are easy to customize because many of them come with their own options panel that lets you change colors, upload logos, change backgrounds, create beautiful sliders, and more without having to code. Write can truly customize it as per your needs.
You can also add custom functionality to your WordPress site using plugins. WordPress plugins are like apps for your website that you can use to add advanced features like analytics, contact form, membership area, and more.
Just like with themes, there are thousands of free and premium plugins available for you to use. To learn more, see our article on What are WordPress Plugins and How They Work.
In addition to adding additional functionality, some WordPress plugins can let you convert your website to an entirely new platform. Take a look at our expert selection of essential WordPress plugins for every website.
3. WordPress is SEO Friendly
WordPress is written using standards-compliant high-quality code and produces semantic markup. In non-geek terms, it makes Google and other search engines love WordPress.
This is the reason why WordPress sites rank higher in search engines than others.
By design, WordPress is very SEO-friendly. You can also use WordPress SEO plugins to further optimize your website. For step-by-step instructions, check out our ultimate WordPress SEO guide to properly optimize your website.
4. WordPress is easy to manage
WordPress comes with a built-in update management system. It allows you to update your plugins and themes from within your WordPress admin dashboard.
WordPress also notifies you when a new version of WordPress is available, so you can update your site with just the click of a button.
To protect your data from any mishap or hacking, you can easily create backups automatically using the WordPress Backup plugin and store them securely at a remote location.
You can also manage your WordPress site on the go with the WordPress mobile app.
5. WordPress is safe and secure
WordPress is developed with security in mind and is considered to be a very safe and secure platform to run a website. However, just like in the real world, the Internet can be a precarious place.
There are intruders out there who want to get their hands on as many sites as possible. To protect your WordPress site, there are a few simple things you can do to make it even more secure. For details, see our step-by-step WordPress security guide for beginners.
We use Sucuri on our websites to protect us from common threats such as brute force attacks and malware.
6. WordPress Can Handle Different Media Types
WordPress is not limited to just writing text. It comes with a built-in media uploader to handle images, audio, and video files.
WordPress supports Embed-enabled websites, which means you can embed YouTube videos, Instagram photos, tweets, and SoundCloud audio by pasting the URL into the WordPress post editor.
What are the ways to use WordPress?
WordPress can be used in many different ways, from simple websites to eCommerce marketplaces and anything in between.
The following are some examples of the different types of websites you can build with WordPress.
- start a blog
- create a business website
- start an online store
- Create a Membership Website
- sell courses online
Check out our full list of the 19 different types of websites you can build using WordPress