At its heart, WordPress is renowned as the most user-friendly and widely embraced platform for crafting your own website or blog. Astonishingly, WordPress empowers over 43.6% of all websites across the internet. Indeed, more than one out of every four websites you encounter is likely built with WordPress.
From a slightly more technical perspective, WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) distributed under the GPLv2 license. This means WordPress is free for anyone to use and modify, reflecting its commitment to accessibility and community-driven innovation.
A content management system essentially provides you with the tools to effortlessly manage critical aspects of your website, most notably your content. This is achieved without requiring any knowledge of coding, making website management accessible to everyone.
Ultimately, WordPress democratizes website creation, making it achievable for individuals regardless of their technical expertise. It bridges the gap, allowing even those without a programming background to establish a robust online presence.
What Types of Websites Can You Build with WordPress?
Years ago, WordPress was primarily recognized as a blogging tool, rather than a platform for building conventional websites. However, this perception has long been outdated. Today, thanks to advancements in its core code and a vast ecosystem of WordPress plugins and themes, WordPress is capable of creating virtually any type of website you can imagine.
WordPress not only supports a significant number of business websites and blogs, but it also stands as the most popular solution for creating eCommerce stores online! With WordPress, you are equipped to build:
- Business Websites: Establish a professional online presence for your company.
- eCommerce Stores: Sell products and services online with ease.
- Blogs: Share your thoughts, ideas, and expertise with the world.
- Portfolios: Showcase your creative work and projects.
- Resumes: Create a dynamic online CV to impress potential employers.
- Forums: Build online communities and discussion platforms.
- Social Networks: Develop your own niche social platforms.
- Membership Sites: Offer exclusive content and services to members.
- And virtually any other type of website you can envision.
To customize your website’s appearance, you can easily learn how to install a WordPress theme.
WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com: Understanding the Difference
The distinction between WordPress.org and WordPress.com is crucial. We’ve explored the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com in greater detail, but here’s a concise explanation:
- WordPress.org, frequently referred to as self-hosted WordPress, is the free, open-source WordPress software. You download and install it on your own web hosting to create a fully independent website, giving you complete control.
- WordPress.com, on the other hand, is a for-profit, hosted service built upon the WordPress.org software. It offers a simpler, more managed experience, but it comes at the cost of reduced flexibility compared to self-hosted WordPress.
Generally, when people mention “WordPress,” they are referring to the self-hosted WordPress available through WordPress.org. If your goal is to truly own and control your website, self-hosted WordPress.org is almost invariably the superior choice.
To begin with self-hosted WordPress, you’ll need two essential components: a WordPress hosting service and a domain name. These are the foundational investments for establishing your independent WordPress website.
The Origins of WordPress: Who Created It and When?
WordPress emerged as an independent project in 2003, evolving from an earlier initiative known as b2/cafelog.
As open-source software, WordPress is currently developed and maintained by a vast community of contributors from around the globe. However, tracing back to its inception, WordPress was originally conceived as a collaborative effort between Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little.
Since its inception, Matt Mullenweg has become the prominent figurehead of WordPress. He also founded Automattic, the company responsible for the commercial WordPress.com service.
The history of WordPress from its beginnings as a blogging platform in 2003 to its current status is extensive and filled with milestones.
In essence, WordPress has continually advanced and, thanks to its dedicated contributors and expansive community, has evolved into the leading solution for creating diverse types of websites.
Who Relies on WordPress? Real-World Examples
WordPress is utilized by a wide spectrum of users, ranging from individual bloggers to large corporations and everything in between. Notably, we at what.edu.vn use WordPress to power our own website! The very site you are currently viewing is built using WordPress.
Numerous other well-known organizations and figures also rely on WordPress. Here are some prominent examples:
1. The White House (Whitehouse.gov)
The official website of the Whitehouse.gov is powered by WordPress. This choice by a high-profile institution underscores WordPress’s reliability and scalability.
2. Microsoft
Microsoft employs WordPress to manage its official blogs. Furthermore, WordPress supports blogs for specific Microsoft products like Windows and Skype, showcasing its versatility for corporate blogging.
3. The Rolling Stones
Even iconic bands like The Rolling Stones embrace WordPress! The Rolling Stones’ official website is entirely built on WordPress, demonstrating its appeal across diverse industries and for varied content needs.
Why Choose WordPress for Your Website? Compelling Benefits
With over 43.6% of all websites on the internet powered by WordPress, including entities like the White House and Microsoft, the platform’s popularity is undeniable.
But why should you specifically choose WordPress?
Regardless of the type of website you intend to create, there are numerous compelling reasons to use WordPress. Here are some of the most significant advantages:
1. WordPress is Free and Open Source
One of the most significant advantages of WordPress is its open-source and free nature. While you will incur costs for hosting and potentially premium themes or plugins, you will never have to pay to use the core WordPress software itself. This contrasts with proprietary platforms like Squarespace.
Beyond being free, the open-source nature of WordPress fosters a vibrant community, continuous improvement, and extensive customization options through themes and plugins.
2. WordPress is Highly Extensible
Even without coding expertise, you can extensively customize your website thanks to WordPress’s vast ecosystem of themes and plugins:
- Themes: Primarily control the visual design and layout of your website.
- Plugins: Primarily extend the functionality of your website, adding features ranging from contact forms to comprehensive eCommerce store capabilities.
Currently, the WordPress plugin repository boasts over 50,000 free plugins, and there are more than 5,000 free WordPress themes available, along with countless premium options. This abundance ensures you have a wide array of choices to tailor your website precisely to your needs.
3. WordPress Installation is Remarkably Easy
Thinking you need advanced technical skills to launch your own website? Think again! Installing WordPress is often as simple as a few clicks.
Today, the majority of web hosting providers offer:
- Pre-installed WordPress: Hosting services that come with WordPress already installed, allowing you to start building immediately.
- Simplified Installation Tools: User-friendly interfaces and tools that streamline the WordPress installation process for beginners.
For instance, Kinsta users can create a new WordPress site in the MyKinsta dashboard by navigating to WordPress Sites in the sidebar menu and clicking Add Site in the upper right corner. A dropdown menu will allow you to choose to create a new site or migrate an existing site to Kinsta.
Alt text: Screenshot illustrating the process of creating a new WordPress site in MyKinsta, highlighting the ‘Add Site’ button and WordPress site options.
You can also install WordPress on your personal computer for development or testing purposes.
There are several compelling reasons to install WordPress locally. For example, if you are developing a new site, testing a new theme or plugin, or simply want a safe environment to experiment with your existing website without risking live site issues.
For local installations, we recommend using DevKinsta, a free tool that simplifies installing WordPress on your Mac or PC.
4. WordPress Offers Unmatched Flexibility
As previously mentioned, WordPress excels in its versatility, enabling you to build almost any type of website. Moreover, your WordPress website can adapt and evolve with your changing needs.
Need to add a forum to your existing WordPress site? Easily done – just install the bbPress plugin! Want to integrate social networking features? No problem! Simply use the BuddyPress plugin.
With WordPress, you are never confined to a fixed set of features. You have the freedom to continuously adapt and expand your website’s capabilities.
5. Extensive Support and Resources are Readily Available
Given WordPress’s immense popularity, finding help and support is straightforward should you encounter any challenges. A wealth of resources is at your disposal, including:
- Blogs: Numerous blogs dedicated to WordPress tips, tutorials, and news.
- Tutorials: Step-by-step guides covering a wide range of WordPress topics.
- Forums: Community forums where you can ask questions and get advice from other WordPress users.
- Facebook Groups: Active Facebook groups focused on WordPress, offering community support.
- Developers: A large pool of freelance and agency developers available for hire.
Still Need More Reasons?
If you’re still unsure about WordPress being the optimal choice for website creation, explore this detailed post for an in-depth look at ten compelling reasons to choose WordPress.
In Conclusion: WordPress is the Premier Website Building Platform
WordPress has earned its position as the most popular website building platform for good reason. Whether you aim to create a blog, an eCommerce store, or any other type of website, WordPress is an excellent choice.
Always remember the distinction between self-hosted WordPress.org and WordPress.com. In most scenarios, self-hosted WordPress.org is the preferred option for building a website, providing greater ownership and access to the full spectrum of WordPress benefits and community resources.
So, how will you utilize WordPress? We are excited to see what you create!
