Looking to build a website? You’ll be in good company if you choose WordPress. Over 43 percent of websites are WordPress sites and there are very good reasons why this platform is so popular. But if you’re new to all this, you’ll want to understand what WordPress is and get an introduction to a few bits of terminology you’re bound to encounter along the way. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is an open source content management system and you don’t have to pay anything to use it. It allows you to manage your website’s content easily without having to learn coding. However, for a really professional look you’ll need your own domain name, and that means buying one – and you’ll pay for hosting too. However, no matter what route you take, these charges apply – they aren’t unique to WordPress.
What is WordPress Used For?
WordPress is used to build any and all types of websites. Its flexibility makes it possible to use it for blogging or business. You can create forums here, build social networks, use it for ecommerce, or display your portfolio. In fact, just about any kind of website you can imagine can be built using WordPress. With so much flexibility, it’s not surprising that so many people choose WordPress for their websites, but that’s not where its benefits end.
What is a WordPress Theme?
One of the advantages of WordPress is that you can use themes to save you the effort of building everything from scratch. They consist of templates, code files, and stylesheets that you can either use as is or customise to suit your needs. They come with colour palettes, backgrounds and page layouts and there are so many to choose from that you’re sure to find one that very closely matches what you want to achieve.
What is a Plugin In WordPress?
Want to add extra functionality to your website? Plugins are extra pieces of software that you can add to your WordPress website. Once again, that means having a ready-made solution that helps you to achieve more things faster. Popular plugins include Yoast for SEO, and WooCommerce for ecommerce websites. There are also plugins that block spam, improve site security, or are used to customise pages in ways the theme doesn’t allow for on its own. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. If a website can do it, there’s probably a plugin to help you do it more easily.
What is a Slug in WordPress?
As you’ll have guessed, this isn’t the garden variety slug. Instead, it’s the part of the URL (page address) that you can edit. Your choice of slug can help your SEO a lot. Use it for placing keywords, product names, product categories, or whatever is most important about the page you’re publishing.
What are The Benefits of WordPress?
Now that we’ve gone through the terminology, you may already have a good idea as to why so many people prefer WordPress, but let’s focus on the top benefits of choosing WordPress next.
- The basic software is free to use
- Hosting is easy
- Themes help you to create a professional-looking website quickly
- It’s fully customisable, so you don’t have to stick to templates
- Adding new pages and content is easy
- Plugins add functionality the easy way
- There’s lots of info out there if you get stuck
Sounds good? Now you know why so many websites are WordPress websites. In essence, WordPress can do almost anything you can imagine a website being capable of.
Who Uses WordPress?
Looking for famous WordPress websites? Check out the US Whitehouse website. Something more tech-oriented? Microsoft’s blog is powered by WordPress too – and you can be sure they wouldn’t have chosen it if it wasn’t the best option. Something closer to home? The Times, The Economist, and New Scientist are just a few of the many famous UK-based websites that run on WordPress. Your website can rub shoulders with these websites too.
Why Choose Professional WordPress Website Designers?
We’ve just told you how easy it is to use WordPress. So, why choose a professional website designer? Here’s what you need to know. WordPress basics aren’t particularly complex, but given the huge amount of things you can do with websites, WordPress website design can get pretty complicated if you don’t already know your way around.
If you’re serious about getting a website that looks just as you would like it to and that does all the things you want, getting professional designers to do it means that you don’t have to compromise on a single thing. You’ll get the perfect match for your brand, and your website will be as user-friendly as any of its visitors could wish.
Yellowball has an award-winning team of WordPress website designers to get your ideal WordPress website up and running. Visit our portfolio to see some of the amazing things we’ve been able to achieve with WordPress. Have a vision for your website? Talk to us! We’ll make it a reality.
Further Reading: SEO Expert Approach to SEO Friendly Websites That Google Loves and The Benefits of Using WordPress
