WordPress: Right For Your Business?
As of right now, about 22% of all websites are built with WordPress. At Blue Kite we’re using WordPress almost exclusively these days. We feel that it’s the best deal for our clients because it has an incredible number of features built right in. In the “olden days,” we would have had to charge a small fortune to create these features from scratch.
WordPress is “open source.” This means that its programming code is freely available to anyone with a simple download. When we use WordPress for our clients, we start with this downloaded code and then build on it to customize a project.
Besides the fact that it’s free and has a zillion wonderful features, what else is really cool about WordPress?
It’s easy to use
If you are comfortable editing a Word document, you’ll be able to work with the content on your WordPress site. WordPress has a backend area where you log in and edit the pages, posts and graphics on your site
You’re not locked in
A lot of hosting companies offer do-it-yourself website builders that seem like a good deal. They can be, but they are limiting. If you’re unhappy with your service and want to move your site, you can’t — because it belongs to the hosting company and only runs on their server.
With WordPress, you can create a website in one place then move it somewhere else at any time. All hosting companies run the same WordPress.
Similarly, you’re not tied to a particular web designer. Since WordPress is so commonly used around the world, it’s simple for a new designer to take over your WordPress site. A site built on a less popular platform could require either a lengthy search for another designer who can work with it or possibly even starting again with a new website.
Google adores it
WordPress works really well for search engine optimization (SEO). When you add new content to your website, it will be picked up almost immediately by Google. Google’s own Matt Cutts says “WordPress is made to do SEO well.”
You can find even more goodies
WordPress comes with a lot of features built right in. But there are even more features that can be added on. Because WordPress is so popular, there are a lot of third-party pieces of software, called “plugins,” that do all sorts of things. (A little research and reading of reviews is necessary here, though. Not every WordPress plugin is high quality. Your web designer can also guide you.)
You can edit your site on the go
You’ll be able to edit your website or blog from any place you can get on the internet. Download a WordPress app for your smartphone and you can literally work on your website from anywhere.
You can be social
WordPress makes it easy to link content up with your social media accounts.