One of the questions we often get asked is: Why should I use WordPress?
Users considering a switch from another platform want to compare the advantages of using WordPress.
In this article, we will share the most important reasons why you should use WordPress.
1. WordPress is Free as in Freedom
WordPress is free, open-source software. It means you are free to download, install, use, and modify it to match your needs.
You can use it to create any kind of website.
While the WordPress software 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 like your website’s house where all your website files are stored.
Pricing for domain names starts at $14.99 per year, and a starter hosting plan begins at $7.99 per month.
We recommend using Hostpappa. They are one of the largest hosting companies in the world and an officially recommended WordPress hosting provider.
2. WordPress is Easy to Customize with Themes and Plugins
Apart from free themes, you can also buy inexpensive paid themes that come with even more features and premium support.
There is a perfect WordPress theme for every kind of website (whether it’s a blog, small business site, or an online store).
WordPress themes are easy to customize because a lot of them come with their own options panel.
This allows you to change colors, upload logos, change the background, create beautiful layouts, and truly customize it to your needs without writing any code at all.
Aside from adding extra functionality, some WordPress plugins can let you transform your website into a completely new kind of platform.
For instance, WooCommerce plugin is used by thousands of eCommerce websites, or the MemberPress plugin, which allows you to sell online courses.
3. WordPress is SEO Friendly
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helps you get free traffic to your website from search engines like Google and Bing.
By design, WordPress is very SEO friendly out of the box. It is written using standard-compliant and high-quality code that produces semantic markup.
In non-techie terms, this makes Google and other search engines love WordPress and is why WordPress sites tend to rank higher than others in search engines.
Additionally, you can use WordPress SEO plugins to further optimize your website.
4. WordPress is Easy To Manage
WordPress comes with a built-in updates management system. This allows you to update your plugins and themes from within your WordPress admin dashboard.
WordPress also notifies you when there is a new version of WordPress available, so you can update your site by simply clicking a button.
To protect your data from any accident or hacking, you can easily use a WordPress backup plugin to automatically create backups and store them safely in a remote location.
5. WordPress is Safe and Secure
WordPress is developed with security in mind, and it is considered to be a very safe and secure platform to run a website. However, just like the real world, the internet can be an uncertain place.
There are intruders and hackers out there who want to get their hands on as many sites as they could.
Thankfully, there are awesome security plugins that add layers of security around your website. With just a few simple steps you can make it even more secure.
6. WordPress Can Handle Different Media Types
WordPress is not just limited to writing text. It comes with a built-in media uploader to handle images, audio, and video files.
WordPress supports oEmbed-enabled websites. This allows you to easily embed social media content anywhere on your site.
For instance, you can embed YouTube videos, Instagram photos, Tweets, and Soundcloud audio by just pasting the URL in the WordPress post editor. Each of these embeds also has unique blocks in the content editor, complete with specific options for that type of embed.
What Ways to Use WordPress?
The following are just a few examples of different kinds of websites you can make with WordPress:
- Start a Blog
- Make a business website
- Start an online store
- Build a membership website
- Sell online courses
