WordPress Websites. Why?

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that enables every day users to create websites or blogs without having to know code. It's known for its ease of use, flexibility, and extensive range of features. At MSMDigital, we use WordPress to design websites and are very satisfied with its capabilities. However, like any platform, WordPress does have some disadvantages to consider. Let's explore the reasons behind its popularity and some potential drawbacks.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is an open-source platform, meaning its code is accessible for developers to modify and improve. It functions as a CMS, allowing users to build websites from scratch or enhance existing ones. WordPress has a user-friendly interface, customizable themes, and numerous plugins. WordPress simplifies website creation, making it accessible for personal blogs and large e-commerce sites.

Why Use WordPress?

WordPress is a popular choice for small businesses due to its simplicity and flexibility. WordPress.com powers over 43% of the internet.

Here are some reasons to use WordPress:

• Ease of Use: A simple setup process, allowing users to create professional-looking websites without coding knowledge.

• Cost-Effectiveness: The core software is free, making it an affordable option for small businesses.

• Customization: WordPress offers many free and premium themes and plugins to customize a website's look and feel.

• SEO Friendly: It is optimized for search engines. It has SEO-friendly features, which help sites rank higher in search engine results.

• Flexibility: It can handle small blogs or large online stores and is scalable for growth.

• Maintenance Done For You: WordPress.com runs all the necessary updates, including security patches, WordPress core updates, and plugin updates.

Problems with WordPress

While WordPress offers numerous benefits, it also has potential drawbacks, which require a web designer on hand.

• Plugin Reliability
  A web designer can address this by carefully selecting only reputable, well-maintained plugins from trusted sources. The designer will be testing plugins before deploying them live.

• Limited Functionality
  When WordPress's built-in features or available plugins don’t meet a client’s needs, a skilled web designer can develop custom themes or plugins tailored to specific requirements. This ensures the site has the exact features needed without unnecessary bloat, and that functionality is reliable and well-integrated.

• Website Speed
  A web designer can significantly improve website speed by optimizing images (compressing and resizing), minimizing the use of heavy plugins, implementing caching plugins, and choosing a lightweight, speed-optimized theme. They can also enable lazy loading for images and videos, reduce external HTTP requests, and keep the site’s codebase clean and efficient.

• Learning Curve for Advanced Features
  While WordPress is undoubtedly beginner-friendly, mastering its advanced features-like custom post types, API integrations, and sophisticated SEO strategies-requires a deeper level of technical expertise. This is where partnering with an experienced WordPress developer becomes invaluable. Building a simple single-page site with a visual builder is accessible to most users, but developing a complex website with dynamic elements and multiple API connections is best handled by professionals who can ensure everything works seamlessly.

  By applying these best practices, a web designer not only solves common WordPress problems but also ensures the website remains secure, fast, and scalable for future growth.