WordPress.
Why the Hype?
Why I (and so many others) choose WordPress.
Posted by Cat Carbone
Last updated on Dec. 17, 2021
It’s no secret, I’m pro-WordPress. Based on my years of research, experience in marketing and in using WordPress, I want to share why WordPress is my preferred CMS and highlight some benefits. No fluff, just get right to it.
So, why WordPress?
WordPress is the most widely used CMS
…..by a long shot. According to digital.com, 59.9% of all websites that use a CMS, use WordPress. Coming in second, having only 5.9% market share, is Joomla. That’s a huge gap between the no. 1 and 2 spots. (If you’re curious, the 3rd and 4th place winners are Drupal and Magento)
In addition, this makes finding a designer/developer much easier as the majority work within WordPress. If you suddenly have a technical issue that you can’t fix in-house, your access to a developer is basically unlimited.
SEO SEO SEO SEO
In case you missed that, SEO. Search engines like WordPress. Yep, that’s important. WordPress may rule CMS, but when it comes to search, Google reigns supreme. Here’s a little nugget: Google, for example, often ranks websites that use WordPress higher than ones that don’t. However, they aren’t the only one to do so. WordPress’s structure makes it easy for search engines to read, and that’s key to good SEO.
There are several factors that affect how search algorithms work. That’s a topic for another day, or month!
Integrations and Capabilities
Holding the #1 spot means WordPress needs to be able to integrate with other platforms, and do they ever. There are few needs that WordPress can’t fulfill. WordPress can fully integrate with a ton of 3rd-party platforms, including marketing goliath’s like HubSpot, which is great if you’re using their CRM, making it easy to manage all key metrics in one place, and more.
There is often a misconception that, if using a major marketing platform that also functions as a CMS, you should move websites out of WordPress into that particular 3rd party marketing platform in order to easily access important data in one location. Integration resolves that and there are very few reasons that should require migration out of WordPress.
I’ve also read reports that integrations or plug-ins pile on the cost of using WordPress. As a very small business owner who started out trying to cut as many costs as possible, when used correctly, it absolutely does not pile on costs.
WordPress, more often, results in savings along with greater flexibility and customization options.
Customization
Which brings me to customization. WordPress makes it easy to build and customize your website exactly as you want. Through WordPress, or one of the many website builder plug-ins out there, your design options are endless.
I currently use Elementor and own an unlimited use license with Premium Elementor. When I build websites, along with turning out an awesome site, my goal is to make it easy for businesses to make small updates in-house, without having to pay a designer to do so. Elementor makes it easy to make that easy.
Responsive and Easy
If there is anything I want you to take away, it’s that a responsive website is not an option, it’s a must-have. Both WordPress and Elementor are built to ensure your websites are responsive, meaning, they look as good on mobile as on desktop. This is so important that Google is actually ranking websites lower that aren’t mobile-friendly.
Even though the framework provides what is needed, designers still play a vital role in ensuring site responsiveness. It’s not automatic, and when you hire a website designer, make sure they build sites to be fully responsive. Don’t just accept someone’s ability to use a bunch of technical terms in a sentence as proof that they understand the importance of the user experience and how to design a site around that, ask for examples of their work. I have witnessed companies waste thousands of dollars only to end up with websites that are a (non)responsive disaster because they didn’t put any effort into planning, or understanding.
Finally... WordPress is FREE
It costs nothing to open and maintain a WordPress account.
In conclusion...
The benefits I chose to highlight are based on my opinion and experience. There are many benefits of WordPress, and you’ll find other reviews with lists that are shorter or much longer. There is no shortage of info online. Even when hiring an expert or professional to handle certain aspects of your business, I believe it’s important for any business owner or leadership team to have a general understanding of why certain programs or platforms are recommended or preferred.
Keep your eyes open for my next article; what to be aware of when choosing the right CMS platform for your business and the pro’s and con’s of migrating from WordPress to another CMS. I’ll highlight some lessons and concerns I’ve faced within the industry, along with important factors that could ultimately help save time and thousands and thousands of dollars.
Until then, as always, I recommend pouring a cup of freshly brewed coffee and sitting down to do your own research to support making the best decisions for your business.
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