Why Use WordPress?

First of all, what is WordPress? WordPress is a CMS (Content Management System) or, in other words, a platform on which users can create, edit and publish content. Believe it or not, WordPress actually started off as a tool for publishing blogs and was initially more akin to blogging platforms like Tumblr.

Fast forward to today, WordPress is the largest CMS in the world! Its exponential growth has led to it being the go-to choice for millions of business owners and developers alike. In fact, it currently makes up over 43.6% of all websites (that’s a lot of websites) and 62.4% of those using a CMS (1). To provide some context, Shopify is in second place, covering 6.2% of the CMS market and 4.2% of all websites, as of 2024 (2).

So Why Use It?

Good question! If WordPress wasn’t originally created to build websites, is it still fit for purpose? The answer is a resounding yes, and here are just a handful of the reasons why:

It’s User-Friendly

Once a theme has been created or added, not much technical knowledge is required to manage content. This means that even if you’ve had a bespoke theme built by a web developer, you can manage the content independently once the website is up and running through an intuitive dashboard, which also allows access for multiple users.

It’s Easy to Customise

As well as being easy to use, WordPress is extremely customisable. Developers can make bespoke themes with layouts and features tailored to your exact requirements, or users can buy pre-built themes. Even then, both approaches can be modified further still! If you want a specific feature for your website out of the box, such as an animation, a contact form or even an entire booking system, there are plugins for all sorts of things! From image optimisation and SEO management to dancing llamas, the possibilities are endless.

It Has Regular Updates and Solid Support

Frequent updates are carried out automatically by default on the vast majority of sites. This assures us that WordPress is well-maintained, keeping it at the forefront of when it comes to features and security. Since WordPress used by both technical and non-technical users and at such scale, there is an enormous community of support in terms of tutorials, forums and documentation. In other words, help is always close at hand.

Scalability

It isn’t just small businesses using WordPress. WordPress is brilliantly flexible, making it an ideal option for websites of all sizes, from simple brochure sites right up to large-scale e-commerce. You might be surprised by the size of some of their users, too (I’m talking about the likes of Microsoft, Ebay, Mozilla (3)…) – it’s safe to say that there are some huge players who entrust WordPress with their online presence.

So, now you’re armed with a whole host of reasons why WordPress is an excellent choice for building your website. It’s easy to use, provides great support, it’s customisable and it’s scalable. Plus, with a massive majority market share, it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon!

Sources
(1) https://w3techs.com/technologies/details/cm-wordpress
(2) https://themeisle.com/blog/cms-market-share/#gref
(3) https://w3techs.com/technologies/details/cm-wordpress