9 Compelling Reasons to Utilize WordPress for Website Projects in 2023
What are the primary motives behind opting for WordPress in your website projects? How can WordPress expedite the website development process?
Some may question whether using WordPress, with its user-friendly approach, can be seen as taking shortcuts in web development. The traditional path to becoming a web developer often involves mastering coding and building websites from the ground up.
However, the reality is quite different:
WordPress can significantly streamline the life of a web developer, especially for those aspiring to work as freelance developers. In this competitive field, efficiency is key to saving time and increasing earnings.
Moreover, crafting a professional portfolio website on WordPress can be accomplished much faster than one might expect.
For the uninitiated, WordPress reigns as the world’s leading Content Management System (CMS), underscoring the substantial demand for skilled web developers capable of crafting stunning websites using it.
In learning to create WordPress websites for clients, one can be assured of a steady stream of work, without a doubt.
This robust CMS empowers you to construct websites that operate seamlessly, exude excellence, and necessitate minimal ongoing maintenance.
In this post, I will guide you through the top reasons to embrace WordPress to launch a successful freelance web developer career.
So, let’s delve right in and explore the myriad benefits of this platform!
What is WordPress?
WordPress, initially unveiled in 2003 as a blogging platform, has metamorphosed into a versatile and robust Content Management System (CMS), catering to a vast array of website types. As of the current moment, it exerts its influence over an impressive 43% of the top 10 million websites across the globe.
Furthermore, it proudly wears the crown as the predominant CMS, commanding an astonishing market share of 63.8%. There exist two distinct incarnations of WordPress, WordPress.com and WordPress.org, each with its unique features and functionalities. Let’s now delve into a comprehensive examination of the salient distinctions between these two variants.
To delve deeper into WordPress, it’s imperative to explore its remarkable evolution since its inception in 2003 as a premier blogging platform. Over the years, it has undergone a remarkable transformation, blossoming into a remarkably robust and highly customizable Content Management System (CMS) suitable for a diverse range of website types.
At the present moment, WordPress holds a commanding presence, reigning over an astonishing 43% of the top 10 million websites worldwide. It has solidified its status as the unrivaled champion in the CMS arena, boasting an impressive market share of 63.8%. It’s important to note that WordPress exists in two distinct versions, namely WordPress.com and WordPress.org, each offering a unique set of features and capabilities.
Let’s now embark on a comprehensive exploration of the key differentiators that set these two WordPress variants apart.
1: WordPress.com
Many bloggers opt for the WordPress.com option, which serves as a popular choice due to its accessibility and user-friendly features. This free blogging platform empowers individuals to initiate their online presence within minutes, allowing them to publish their inaugural blog post immediately.
The web addresses of their blogs typically take the form of “myawesomeblog.wordpress.com,” indicating that their blogs are subdomains of the WordPress.com domain. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that bloggers on this platform do not have complete ownership over the traffic directed to their websites or their content.
Furthermore, WordPress.com may incorporate advertisements into their sites, which bloggers have limited control over disabling or regulating. This can sometimes result in a less than optimal user experience.
Additionally, bloggers on WordPress.com face certain limitations when it comes to customizing their site’s design. While there are various themes available, they lack the full range of flexibility that comes with self-hosted WordPress websites.
Consequently, individuals who opt for WordPress.com should be aware of these constraints as they embark on their blogging journey, as it may impact their ability to exercise full creative control and monetize their content effectively.
2: WordPress.org
The alternative that leans towards a more professional approach is the self-hosted WordPress.org software, setting itself apart from other options.
You have the capability to seamlessly set up WordPress directly on your own web hosting account, affording you the liberty to register a domain name of your choosing and craft a tailor-made website using WordPress. As a result, your website’s URL through WordPress.org would appear something like “mygreatwebsite.com.” The self-hosted WordPress.org software furnishes you with complete autonomy over every aspect of your website. In this discussion, whenever I mention WordPress, I’m specifically referring to this self-hosted variant. However, how did WordPress emerge as a dominant contender in the market? What attributes contribute to its remarkable appeal, and what sorts of projects can you undertake with it?
What can you build with WordPress?
WordPress appeals to a broad and diverse audience for numerous compelling reasons. To put it simply, it provides an efficient framework suitable for a wide range of website projects, including blogs, news portals, business websites, e-commerce platforms, discussion forums, personal homepages, portfolio sites, and social media networks. In 2023 and beyond, WordPress stands out as an exceptionally versatile tool for web developers.
Furthermore, if you’re considering using a content management system (CMS) as a web developer, it’s worth noting that WordPress offers the most extensive pool of job opportunities available for you to pursue. Therefore, if you’re aiming to embark on a freelance web development career, mastering the art of creating stunning WordPress websites represents your most secure path.
Even if you’re just beginning your journey into web development, you can start generating income through online freelancing sooner than you might expect. If you peruse job listings on platforms like UpWork, you’ll discover a plethora of opportunities offering around $500 for projects that require:
- A modern, responsive, and customized design.
- Content spanning 4-10 pages, encompassing sections like “About,” “Contact,” and “Services,” among others.
- A functional contact form.
- Either a blog, portfolio, or online store.
- The capability for clients to manage and update their websites independently.
The great news is that WordPress is the ideal solution for all these requirements. So, if you can acquire the skills to meet these criteria as a freelance web developer, you’ve struck gold.
Why is WordPress so popular?
WordPress boasts numerous incredible features, contributing to its staggering popularity. However, it’s important to note that employing a content management system (CMS) like WordPress for website development garners mixed opinions among web developers. Some argue that it’s akin to “cheating” because you’re not starting from scratch.
Nevertheless, the truth is that the demand for WordPress websites has reached unprecedented levels. This is primarily because building every website from the ground up results in exorbitant costs that most clients, especially small businesses, simply can’t afford. Consequently, offering competitive pricing becomes a challenge for those aiming to create websites for fellow freelancers or small businesses.
WordPress offers substantial time savings and allows for the rapid development of full-scale websites compared to coding them from the ground up. This, in turn, broadens your potential client base and allows you to deliver exceptional results without straining budgets.
However, it’s imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of how WordPress operates beneath the surface. This knowledge is essential for customizing the system to suit your clients’ specific requirements.
Now, let’s dive into some of my favorite reasons for embracing WordPress:
Reason #1: WordPress saves you time
Learning the fundamentals of WordPress is a breeze, and the payoff is substantial: You’ll expedite website construction. WordPress operates akin to a ready-made cake mix, mirroring how most cake recipes share common ingredients. In the same vein, websites often employ similar tools.
Like any other website platform, WordPress utilizes standard front-end languages and tools, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery. Its back-end functionalities rely on PHP. These four languages form a robust foundation for crafting diverse WordPress websites. Consequently, you must understand these languages, but there’s no need to create everything from scratch for each website.
Rather than taking small steps in launching any website project, WordPress enables you to make substantial strides, expediting your project development.
Reason #2: WordPress is very easy to use
Utilizing WordPress for client projects offers a primary advantage. Firstly, it boasts remarkable user-friendliness, catering to individuals possessing even minimal coding skills.
Moreover, your clients stand to gain significantly from the WordPress platform. Some clients aspire to maintain autonomy over their websites. They may seek to independently publish new blog posts or insert additional content into their home page, among other tasks.
As a freelancer, it’s impractical to field numerous daily emails from clients requesting minor website modifications. This not only proves inefficient but also increases the likelihood of websites remaining unattended.
WordPress, however, simplifies the process for both you and your clients. They can take charge of minor adjustments without needing to continually contact you. This, in turn, allows you to allocate your precious time to more productive endeavors.
Reason #3: WordPress is 100% free to use
Absolutely! You have the freedom to utilize WordPress and its impressive array of tools at no cost. It’s an open-source project continuously enhanced by thousands of developers.
While creating a website, you’ll naturally require both a domain name and a web hosting account. There’s a plethora of excellent providers to choose from, so it’s prudent to compare several options before committing.
The majority of web hosting providers, such as Bluehost, provide an automatic WordPress installation tool. When you subscribe to a hosting plan, they’ll set up the software for immediate use. However, you also have the option to download the WordPress software for free from WordPress.org. Afterward, simply connect your installation to a database, and you’re good to go.
Reason #4: WordPress is highly customizable
When tasked with developing a website for a client, ensuring the design is as impeccable as the flawless execution of technical functionalities is paramount. WordPress provides an extensive array of creative avenues, offering nearly boundless opportunities for imaginative expression and innovation.
Using WordPress themes to customize your design
You have the flexibility to personalize and fine-tune the aesthetics and ambiance of your website through either ready-to-use WordPress themes or crafting your unique one. This affords you the liberty to modify not just the page layout, menu structures, colors, fonts, backgrounds, but a multitude of other elements and features.
Within the vast WordPress theme repository, there are an abundance of striking and cost-free themes for you to choose from. These themes can be conveniently located and installed directly within your WordPress dashboard.
Furthermore, if you’re willing to invest a bit of your budget in a premium theme, you’ll gain access to an array of potent customization tools and capabilities.
Among the most sought-after premium themes that boast impressive capabilities, you’ll find:
My top choice is Divi, followed by Avada and the X Theme.
Using WordPress plugins to add new features
In addition to customizing your website’s design, WordPress offers the flexibility to enhance its features and functionalities. This is where the role of WordPress plugins becomes crucial. These plugins open up a wide range of options, allowing you to:
- Efficiently manage your SEO tasks.
- Easily integrate a contact form into your website.
- Establish an online shop for your clients.
- Oversee and moderate your blog comments.
- Enhance your website’s loading speed.
- Incorporate email opt-in forms.
- Bolster the security of your website.
- Create backups of your site.
It’s worth noting that there is an extensive selection of free plugins readily available for immediate use. Nowadays, the possibilities with WordPress plugins are nearly boundless. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these plugins are developed by third parties, and their compatibility with your WordPress theme or with one another may not be guaranteed.
Therefore, it’s essential to thoroughly assess whether a particular plugin is genuinely necessary and to conduct comprehensive testing before installation. To kickstart your exploration of powerful WordPress plugins, you can refer to this list.
Reason #5: WordPress makes SEO easy
When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), WordPress provides a range of tools to ensure your website is readily indexed by search engines and featured in their search results. When launching a website, it’s essential to draw in visitors and relevant traffic, making SEO a critical aspect of your focus. If you’re not yet well-versed in SEO, don’t be concerned. You have a multitude of free WordPress plugins at your disposal right from the start to assist you.
Reason #6: WordPress is responsive and mobile-friendly
WordPress websites are designed to be adaptive, ensuring they appear visually appealing on any device you choose to access them with. This adaptability guarantees that whether you’re at your desktop computer or using your smartphone to browse a webpage, the layout will automatically conform to your screen dimensions.
As indicated by Cisco’s Annual Internet Report, it’s projected that more than 70% of the global population will have access to mobile connectivity by 2023. Additionally, 50% of all web traffic is attributed to mobile devices. Consequently, the significance of responsiveness in web design and development cannot be overstated. This is precisely where robust WordPress themes come to your aid.
Reason #7: WordPress is scalable
My initial WordPress website started as a small project with limited global traffic.
But, what if you considered using WordPress for a large news website that receives millions of daily or at least weekly visitors?
Numerous high-profile websites, such as CNN, serve as excellent examples of platforms built on WordPress to handle this level of scale.
Additional prominent organizations, including Sony Music, MTV News, TechCrunch, and Fortune, also rely on WordPress for their online presence.
Reason #8: WordPress has a huge global, supportive community
Whenever you encounter issues with your website, individuals proficient in PHP and MySQL can assist you in resolving back-end functionality problems. For front-end challenges, a basic understanding of HTML and CSS can take you a long way. I recommend this excellent book to help you get started.
Given the widespread popularity of WordPress on a global scale, there is a vast community available to provide support when you face difficulties achieving your intended goals. Chances are, if you encounter a problem, someone else has likely faced it before and shared their solution on a forum. And if not, don’t hesitate to start a discussion yourself!
Reason #9: WordPress supports multiple content types
High-quality, user-friendly websites encompass a wide range of content types.
WordPress doesn’t confine you to just composing blog posts and incorporating images.
Instead, you can enhance your visitors’ engagement by including a variety of multimedia elements on your webpage.
Do you want to incorporate a video or some audio? That’s easily achievable!
Or perhaps you desire to embed content from other platforms, such as Instagram photos, Tweets, YouTube videos, or SoundCloud audio? WordPress can seamlessly handle it!
Final thoughts: Top reasons to use WordPress to build websites
In summary, WordPress provides an impressive array of tools for swiftly crafting professional websites. For those embarking on their web development journey, it’s an invaluable addition to your toolkit.
Depending on your aspirations in the realm of coding and web development, it’s worthwhile to experiment with WordPress. It empowers you to construct a diverse range of websites catering to various clients.
Moreover, since you can handle everything independently, WordPress stands as a prime choice for freelancers.
Eager to master the art of WordPress? Fantastic!
Here’s the course I employed to acquire proficiency in crafting WordPress websites:
After dedicating several months to honing my skills and constructing mockup projects for my portfolio, I reached a point where it seemed like the right move to resign from my job.
I embarked on small-scale projects progressively, eventually establishing a reliable client base. Just a few months later, I found myself in the position of having to decline freelance opportunities due to an overwhelming workload.
Needless to say, the return on investment for the course was swifter than I had anticipated, and I have consistently had an abundance of work.
Not only have I never regretted this decision, but I’ve also discovered that freelancing and working with WordPress have become my main source of income, bringing me more contentment with my career than ever before.
This transition has also afforded me the luxury of more time to spend with my loved ones and the flexibility to work remotely whenever I desire. Not too shabby, I must say!
What are your thoughts on WordPress? Can you envision yourself incorporating it into your future work? Please feel free to share your insights and ideas in the comments below!
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