Updated for 2024.
Small Business owners looking to establish their online presence often see WordPress mentioned as a possible solution. But not much else is said on the matter, like its pros, cons, requirements, costs, etc. So what exactly is WordPress? Is WordPress good for a small business? The purpose of this article is to answer those questions and more. Let’s get started by giving a birds-eye view of WordPress.
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What is WordPress?
A common misconception we need to clear up is that WordPress is not a website, but a Content Management System (CMS). In lay-mans terms, you can think of WordPress as a piece of software that lets you manage a website without being a programmer. It simplifies the website maintenance process by letting you add, remove, or change aspects of the site without having to dive into customizing code. For example, a traditional website built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript would need a skilled developer to access the server and custom build another page. WordPress on the other hand streamlines this by using a traditional text editor or drag and drop builder (depending on your plugin setup) built into the platform. Publishing changes to WordPress sites are as easy as pressing a button.
WordPress excels in giving less tech-versed individuals a way to quickly set up or update a website to expand their online footprint. The user friendly navigation, simple post and page building process, extensive customization and advanced features make WordPress a popular choice for small business web sites. Just about anything can be done on the WordPress platform, and in the off chance you need a bit more customization, WordPress’ open-source nature lets you change any part of its code. If you don’t have the time to follow guides or learn WordPress development, there are plenty of developers out there for hire. WordPress makes up 43% of today’s internet, meaning help isn’t far off.
Should I Use WordPress for my Small Business?
WordPress is an excellent choice for a small business website, however, there are a few things to consider. Will you be working on the site yourself or are you planning to hire a developer? Is the site going to receive continuous updates, or will you “set and forget”? Have you thought about the negatives associated with running a WordPress site? Have you considered alternatives, like building a static website, or using another CMS like Joomla or Drupal? Do you really need WordPress for your small business website, or are you following trends or advice blindly?
Its crucial to weigh your options before jumping into anything. As a web designer and web developer myself, I encourage you to do more research on the matter. Building a website is a very time consuming process. If you choose the wrong foundation for your website, you will only incur delays and increased costs later!
Learn More
To learn more about WordPress you should head on over to their website. For any questions regarding WordPress or small business website development, feel free to get in touch. Sites By Stephan offers WordPress web design and development services for small businesses at an affordable price.
Looking for more information on whether WordPress or HTML is better? Check out my blog post : WordPress vs. HTML – Which is Better?