WordPress is already a power in the internet as a content management system, as more than 37.6 percent of all websites are operated with WordPress – and the trend is rising daily. Due to this enormous market share, users rightly ask why WordPress is so successful and what advantages and disadvantages arise from its use. In this article, we will get to the bottom of these questions!
WordPress Advantages & Disadvantages – Why WordPress?
This article will explain a lot, almost everything, about WordPress as a system for websites, web design, and also online shops, and will show the many advantages and few disadvantages.
What is WordPress and what can it do?
WordPress is a content management system that was released as open source (under the GPLv2 license). The software can be used for free without restrictions. One of the essential advantages of the CMS is that content can be managed easily and quickly in this way. Even for a layman, it is uncomplicated to create a representative website from it.
By the way, everything in WordPress can also be extended and translated into German (if it is not yet translated)!
Who developed WordPress?
In 2003, WordPress was released as an independent project. The origins of its development lie with Mike Little and Matt Mullenweg, who is now the face of WordPress and also the founder of Automattic. However, the project is further developed by numerous developers from all over the world based on the open-source regulation.
What kind of website can be created with WordPress?
WordPress was originally developed to allow users to create their own blogs. Before Facebook and other social media channels existed, texts were preferably published on one’s own website. This is still the case today, but by no means to the same extent.
Due to its adaptability through plugins and themes, the content management system can even be transformed into an online shop or a discussion forum. However, there are also other possibilities, which can of course also be used commercially:
- Creation of a company website (Business Website)
- Creation of an online shop
- Running a news or opinion blog
- Personal blog
- Creation of a discussion platform
- Membership sites (for example, for associations)
- Online resume or reference page
The advantages of WordPress are obvious just from this, as hardly any other system is so versatile. This also benefits companies, because the Corona pandemic, in particular, has shown how important adaptation can be. Companies were able to quickly and easily set up a web shop alongside their website – without having to install another system.
What is "the real" WordPress?
When researching WordPress on the internet, a distinction is made between two different versions. There is a significant difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com. To highlight these differences immediately, we will briefly explain them.
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- WordPress.org provides a free download. The CMS can therefore be installed on any web host. The advantage is that the installation can be fully controlled. This option is highly recommended!
- WordPress.com is a paid service, which is also based on WordPress, but does not offer the enormous range of functions and certainly not the flexibility.
Who uses WordPress anyway?
The CMS advantages of WordPress have long been recognized by large companies and governments. However, this was not always the case; back then, almost everyone placed great importance on the website being created from scratch by themselves. This had numerous disadvantages, especially in content management and security.
Probably the most famous example of a WordPress website is Whitehouse.gov or the official Microsoft Blog. Through this channel, the company provides information about its products such as Skype or Windows and artificial intelligence.
In addition, the software is also used by popular bands like the Rolling Stones. However, not in the form of a blog, but actually as a homepage complete with a registration page and shop.
WordPress can be extended as desired with plugins & themes (templates)
The extensibility of WordPress is one of its biggest advantages. Even if you don’t program yourself, the installation can be extended as desired. The CMS ecosystem has now grown to over 50,000 plugins and 5,000 free themes.
The term Themes refers to the display options. A theme can completely change the design of the website – for example, in the form of a landing page, a personal homepage, or similar.
Plugins are additional tools that can be used to create a contact form, an online shop, or private pages for members with downloads, further information, or similar.
WordPress has a large fan base
Behind WordPress are numerous developers and fans from all over the world. Every day, hundreds of updates or new developments occur here, which can be directly adopted on one’s own website.
As already mentioned, this software is open source. This means that there is no official point of contact. This is not a disadvantage, because there have long been Facebook groups, forums, and websites that specialize in questions about WordPress. Numerous experts can be found here.
Content: Easily manage texts and media
Before content management systems became so popular, HTML templates were predominantly used. Managing content and media was not so easy, as this was done directly via the respective files using HTML and, if necessary, CSS. Not everyone had knowledge of this, which is why agencies were usually commissioned for it. Nowadays, this time can be spent on much more important tasks.
In WordPress, the editing of texts, images, videos, and audio is done directly via the editor. Every change happens by clicking buttons or simply by typing – completely uncomplicated! In addition, there are also special plugins that simplify editing even further.
- Elementor: This page builder plugin is also used by agencies to easily create a corresponding subpage. The special feature is that widgets can also be inserted via this, as well as any extras that are exclusively available for Elementor.
Click here for the Elementor Plugin* - WPBakery: WPBakery is the most sought-after page builder plugin of all, as most premium themes rely on it. Over 50 templates, elements, and add-ons are integrated. The respective subpage can also be tested on mobile devices directly within a preview. This is an important factor for search engine optimization today.
Click here for the Wp Bakery Page Builder* - Divi: The Divi Page Builder is directly from the manufacturer Elegant Themes, who creates their designs on it. Thus, this plugin forms a corresponding basis. Buttons, sliders, galleries, and forms can also be inserted via this.
Click here for the Divi Page Builder*
Summary: WordPress is extremely user-friendly! Since WordPress 5.0, there is even its own Page Builder, which has been directly integrated into the software. A page builder is not absolutely necessary, but could certainly be helpful or even a prerequisite for some themes.
Automated Security Updates
It is often complained that a website has fallen victim to a hacker. This danger will always exist, as these attacks are usually completely automated. To eliminate this problem, WordPress has recently even started performing security updates automatically. This promptly closes security vulnerabilities.
Other updates (for example, plugins or larger WordPress updates) are not performed automatically but require administrator confirmation. These updates usually have a larger scope, which could lead to various consequences.
In any case, it is also important to create backups. These backups can, for example, be created at three-day intervals. This is helpful if the website should ever be attacked. This way, all data is still available.
Security of WordPress Installations Can Be Improved
WordPress itself is secure, but plugins and themes can still create security vulnerabilities. Some extensions repeatedly make headlines because they constantly open the door to attackers – albeit unintentionally. For a layperson, such a problem is naturally unfamiliar.
However, it is important to address this issue. Plugins like Ninja Firewall can solve the problem, as they close security vulnerabilities and continuously check the website. This includes typical factors such as SEO spam, code injections, and backdoors. As a layperson, it is important to read and react to the software’s messages.
Setting up WordPress is child's play!
The advantages of WordPress actually begin with its setup. With ordinary content management systems, setup must be complicatedly done via files, and the subsequent setup is anything but user-friendly.
Fortunately, WordPress has solved this quite differently. There are several WordPress hosting providers that offer a one-click installation, allowing WordPress to be used directly. The database is set up automatically.
If the hoster does not offer such a service, then only the database needs to be specified in the wp-setup.php. After uploading, the page can be accessed, where the administrator’s access data is entered, and the installation is complete! The time required is perhaps three minutes.
WordPress is also suitable for large projects – many subpages, products, and multiple languages
WordPress is only for small blogs? Not anymore! WordPress is suitable for both small sites and large projects with several thousand visitors per day. WordPress is no longer just blog software, but a fully-fledged and comprehensive CMS that can realize any type of web project.
As already mentioned, even the US government relies on WordPress, as do numerous large companies. For both, it is important that the website is always intact. No wonder, then, that WordPress is used.
WordPress SEO – Search engine optimization is easier than ever!
When asked „Why WordPress?„, the WordPress advantage of being able to implement search engine optimization through it is often mentioned. As an advertising and SEO agency, we always rely on WordPress websites and have already achieved enormous results for our clients from various industries.
The reason for this is that sites based on WordPress themes often function technically flawlessly and have been optimized accordingly. But that’s not all! With SEO plugins like Rank Math and Yoast SEO, further settings can be implemented.
Optimizing loading speed
One CMS advantage is that everything can really be solved from the dashboard (or admin center). However, probably no other CMS offers such a good opportunity to adjust the loading speed.
There are numerous plugins for this, such as Autoptimize, because this allows for a lot of performance to be realized. An experienced WordPress agency, like us, could refine the settings and possibly also take measures within the files.
Future-proof for the next decades?
The previous advantages of WordPress are already obvious. But what about the future? The internet is changing rapidly, and theoretically, the CMS could still be pushed aside, couldn’t it?
WordPress is currently the market leader and will not give up this position; an entire team and numerous developers work on this every day. Catching up with this lead will be extremely difficult. As mentioned, approximately 37 percent of all websites worldwide run on this software.
This CMS is future-proof and there is no risk of it being replaced in the next few years.
Further advantage: Cheaper than other content management systems
A very important WordPress advantage is also that it is significantly cheaper than other content management systems such as Joomla, Drupal or Typo3. This is mainly due to the fact that additional functions do not have to be programmed separately, as there is already a plugin. Instead of spending over 1,000 euros on a programmer, you might only have to spend around 50 to 100 euros on the plugin. Much easier on the wallet!
In addition, WordPress is much more adaptable than Typo3 & Co., because this system would first have to be reprogrammed – which devours huge amounts of time and money.
What are the disadvantages of WordPress?
Since over 37 percent of all websites are based on WordPress, this also entails a corresponding risk for hackers. Therefore, it is all the more important to create appropriate security measures – we have already discussed this in this post. If the settings have been correctly set and regular backups are made, then there is no need to worry about this. We are happy to provide advice!
And by the way: WordPress is by NO MEANS insecure or less secure than other systems!
Summary: This is what WordPress offers and why WordPress has a future!
The success of numerous websites & shops worldwide is already based on WordPress.
- Ideal user-friendliness even for beginners
- Customization options of all kinds (no limits!)
- Numerous design possibilities
- Thousands of extensions
- Opportunities for excellent SEO values (WordPress SEO)
- No programming knowledge required
- Uncomplicated and fast maintenance
- WordPress is the global market leader among CMSs
- Free support via groups and forums (world's largest community)
As a WordPress agencyandWooCommerce agency, we offer over 10 years of experience from demonstrably over 1,000 projects.
Florian Ibe
CEO & Marketing Consultant
Your contact person: Florian Ibe
DE
