In today's fast-paced digital landscape, businesses need a website that not only captures attention, but also delivers exceptional performance and drives lead generation. When it comes to choosing a powerful website platform, one name stands out: WordPress.
Building the digital space where customers and prospects begin their buying journey requires a reliable digital foundation. WordPress is a great content management system (CMS) for developing a dynamic and engaging website that supports the digital needs of any business.
In fact, with its extensive track record and unrivaled versatility, WordPress has become the go-to choice for businesses worldwide. Its dominance as a website platform is undeniable, with an impressive market share of 63.5% among all content management systems. It powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, undeniable evidence of its widespread popularity and reputation.
With a market share four times that of its closest competitor, businesses of all sizes have put immense trust in WordPress. Its flexibility, customization options, and robust features have empowered businesses to create incredible online experiences that captivate their audiences and drive growth.
Here’s a closer look at why WordPress is such a popular CMS with businesses, one that has evolved quite a bit from its humble beginnings as a blogging platform.
The Benefits of WordPress for Businesses
WordPress is a dynamic and feature-rich content management system (CMS) that has transformed the web landscape. Its dominance in the CMS realm is a testament to its reliability, user-friendly interface, and ever-growing community of developers and enthusiasts.
These notable organizations, among many, put their trust in WordPress:
- The Walt Disney Company
- Mercedes-Benz
- HubSpot
- Dropbox
- Toyota Brazil
- The White House
- Groupe Renault
- WooCommerce
If you're wondering why these and other organizations choose WordPress for their CMS, here are some of its key benefits for businesses.
User-Friendly Interface and Ease of Use
WordPress empowers even non-technical users to take control of their websites. Its intuitive dashboard and straightforward navigation provide a seamless content management experience. From creating and editing pages to uploading images and managing comments, WordPress makes it a breeze to maintain a dynamic online presence.
Explore WordPress's vast selection of video tutorials, forums, and support communities to enhance your WordPress skills and knowledge.
Cost-Effectiveness and Affordability
In business, every penny counts. WordPress offers a cost-effective solution with its free core software. Outside of expenses for hosting, premium themes, and plugins–all of which are necessary for most platforms–there are a few other costs. The overall investment remains highly competitive compared to proprietary platforms. This cost-effectiveness makes it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes. Most business websites require costs for design, whether using an open-source platform or closed system.
Evaluate your team’s tech and design skills, then solicit bids from design agencies.
Extensive Plugin Ecosystem for Added Functionality
One of WordPress's greatest strengths and weaknesses lies in its vast plugin ecosystem.
With over 59,000 plugins available, you can enhance your website's functionality with ease.
Need an ERP solution? Look no further than "WP ERP" plugin. Want to optimize your site for search engines? Yoast SEO has you covered. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to tailor your website to meet your unique business needs.
WordPress plugins have been downloaded over 2.4 billion times, highlighting the platform's versatility and various functionalities. And it is often poor quality or nefarious plugins that create security vulnerabilities. Often security breaches stem from plugins, yet WordPress often takes the blame.
When selecting plugins, carefully evaluate their reviews, ratings, and compatibility with the latest WordPress version to ensure security and performance.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Advantages
WordPress's clean code structure and optimized performance lay a solid foundation for search engine optimization. Additionally, the platform offers built-in SEO features, including customizable permalinks, meta tags, and XML sitemaps. Combined with popular SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, WordPress empowers businesses to climb the search engine ranks and increase online visibility.
Leverage WordPress's SEO capabilities to boost your website's performance. Consider partnering with a reputable digital marketing agency to develop an effective SEO strategy tailored to your business goals.
Mobile Responsiveness and Accessibility
In the age of smartphones, mobile responsiveness is crucial. WordPress understands this and offers responsive themes and templates, ensuring your website looks great on any device. With a mobile-friendly website, you can engage and retain visitors, resulting in a positive user experience and increased conversion rates.
Regularly test your website's responsiveness across different devices and screen sizes to make sure it performs on Apple and Android phones and tablets in addition to desktop browsers.
Integration with Various Third-Party Tools and Services
WordPress integrates with many third-party tools and services, enabling you to extend your website's functionality. From email marketing services like Mailchimp and HubSpot to social media integrations and analytics platforms, WordPress acts as a hub for all your digital marketing tools.
Evaluate your workflows and the tools you use to identify integrations that support efficiency, marketing goals, and your website's performance. Automate processes and gain valuable insights to drive your business forward.
Content Management Capabilities
WordPress is not just a website platform; it's a powerful content management system (CMS). With its built-in blogging functionality, you can easily create, publish, and manage engaging content, essential for organic search success. Whether you're a small business sharing industry insights or a multinational corporation maintaining a company blog and newsroom, WordPress provides the tools to support efficient content marketing.
Develop a content strategy aligned with your target audience's interests and optimize your blog posts for SEO to attract organic traffic and establish your brand as an industry leader.
Customization and Branding
WordPress offers an extensive collection of professionally designed themes and templates. This variety allows you to find the perfect visual representation for your brand. You also have the freedom to customize your website's appearance, layout, and functionality to align with your brand identity. From logo placement to color schemes, you can create a unique online presence.
Regular Security Updates and Patches
WordPress has a dedicated team that releases regular updates and patches to address any vulnerabilities and enhance the platform's security. It's crucial to keep your installation and plugins up to date to protect your website from potential security risks.
Consider an agency to manage hosting, routine updates, and security threats. That’s their business. Smaller companies without IT resources may not have the bandwidth to address issues promptly.
Robust User Management and Access Controls
WordPress offers granular user management features, allowing you to assign specific roles and permissions to different users. This ensures that only authorized individuals can access sensitive areas of your website.
Streamline access for multiple users using single-sign-on (SSO). It is compatible with Microsoft’s Active Directory and other methods.
Backup and Restore Options for Data Protection
WordPress provides plugins and built-in functionalities to create backups of your website's data. Regular backups are essential in case of data loss or website issues, allowing you to restore your website to a previous working state.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
By implementing 2FA, you add an extra layer of security to your WordPress login process, requiring users to provide a second form of verification, such as a unique code generated by a mobile app, along with their password.
Carefully evaluate security updates.
Debunking Myths About WordPress
There are several myths and misconceptions surrounding WordPress that can impact people's perceptions of the CMS.
Let's explore some of these myths and debunk them with the corresponding facts:
MYTH: WordPress is only for blogging.
FACT: WordPress has transcended its origins as a blogging platform. It powers websites across various industries. WordPress's versatility has attracted global brands to the platform, including The Walt Disney Company, Mercedes-Benz, HubSpot, Dropbox, Toyota Brazil, Groupe Renault, WooCommerce, and more.
MYTH: WordPress is not secure enough.
FACT: Cybersecurity ranks as a top concern for any business. WordPress understands this and has robust security measures in place. Regular security updates and patches are released to address vulnerabilities. By following best practices, such as using strong passwords, implementing secure hosting, and staying vigilant with plugin selection, you can safeguard your WordPress website effectively. As previously discussed, nefarious plugins can open cracks for hackers. The bad actors tarnish the WordPress platform. For some perspective, The White House built its website on WordPress.
MYTH: WordPress websites aren't very customizable.
FACT: WordPress provides a vast selection of themes and templates, enabling businesses to create visually stunning and unique websites. From industry-specific themes to customizable frameworks, the options are limitless. Additionally, WordPress offers plugins and custom development options, allowing you to tailor your website's look and functionality to match your brand identity precisely.
MYTH: WordPress is difficult to use.
FACT: Gone are the days when website management required extensive technical expertise. WordPress's user-friendly interface and intuitive design empower individuals of all skill levels to manage their websites effortlessly. The introduction of the Gutenberg editor has further simplified the content creation process, making it easier than ever to create professional-looking web pages.
MYTH: WordPress is not SEO-friendly.
FACT: On the contrary, WordPress provides a solid foundation for SEO success. Its clean code structure, customizable permalinks, and optimized performance contribute to improved search engine rankings. With plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, you can fine-tune your website's SEO settings, conduct keyword research, and optimize your content for better visibility in search engine results.
MYTH: WordPress lacks professional support.
FACT: While WordPress has a vast and helpful community with professional help readily available, numerous agencies, freelancers, and WordPress consultants specialize in providing advanced assistance, ranging from website development and customization to security audits and performance optimization. Moreover, official documentation, forums, and online resources ensure you have access to the support you need.
MYTH: WordPress is expensive.
FACT: On the contrary, WordPress affordability is one of its most compelling features. The core software is free and open-source, eliminating licensing costs. While you may incur expenses for hosting, premium themes/plugins, and optional services, the overall investment remains highly competitive compared to proprietary platforms. With the cost savings, you can allocate resources to other crucial aspects of your business.
Unleash the Power of WordPress for Your Business Website
WordPress is an exceptional website platform that empowers businesses of all sizes. Countless success stories demonstrate the effectiveness of WordPress as a capable CMS for business websites. From global brands like Coca-Cola and Sony to small businesses and personal blogs, WordPress has established itself as a go-to digital solution for achieving business goals.
At DBS, we have specialized in design and development of WordPress websites for over 20 years. Our portfolio of proven results demonstrates our commitment to the highest best practices for website design and user experience to ensure our websites help clients win more business.