WordPress is one of the most popular blogging solutions in the current market. With powerful features that focus on creating the perfect website and incorporating robust, third-party tools, users are given a platform to reach their creative potential. It started out as an easy blogging solution but quickly grew into a fully functional CMS system. Now it comes with a wide array of plugins, themes and widgets.
With WordPress, you can create your website within minutes. You also have the option of downloading and installing software scripts that further customize how your site functions and looks. Additionally, if you’re looking to build a strong and modern web presence, then this solution is one of the best options to have. It has extremely customizable functionalities and a large interactive community in which you can ask support from.
The types of websites that can be created using WordPress include:
Blogs – allows you to create a powerful blog with your own domain name, automatic software updates and secure hosting. It also comes with a built-in SEO, sharing capabilities and social media integration. Additional tools include website statistics and responsive mobile themes.
Websites – like the blogs, users can create websites within minutes through the features WordPress offers such as several available themes and an intuitive editor with HTML and Markdown support.
Domains – having your own domain makes you stand out more and solidifies your identity online. Depending on your pricing plan, you can benefit in using a domain for one year.
eCommerce – if you’re looking to sell products online, having a powerful and profitable website is the best way to start. WordPress allows you to make use of several functionalities online. This includes processing payments, creating an online store and selling anything to anyone across the globe.
Self-hosted solutions – people think that once they use WordPress, it’s all they need. However, you can make use of other solutions. This includes bluehost.com and DreamHost. The first custom installation is designed to give users proven performance, reliability and functionality. The second one has benefits such as automatic security and backups and up to 20x daily traffic scaling.
While it’s true you can benefit from several powerful tools in this solution, it still poses a few problems with newcomers. You need technical background and coding expertise if you want to create your ideal website. For new users, they can have trouble in hosting, troubleshooting and customizing. However, WordPress has a bevy of features that are designed to make the experience as user-friendly as possible. These are discussed below.
WordPress Features
Here’s an overview of WordPress’s most notable features:
Variety of themes
If you’re don’t know how to code or if you want a design to spark your creative juices, then WordPress offers several themes for you to choose from. You can pick from hundreds of customizable themes and enjoy several weekly additions.
In-depth statistics and analytics
Knowing more about the people who visit your website is a critical factor in knowing what your audience wants from your business. WordPress’s in-depth statistics and analytics help you learn more about what your visitors are searching for. You can find out where they’re from, what they’re reading and when they’re visiting.
Upload and embed media
If you want your website to catch your audience’s attention, then you need strong visuals and attractive pictures. WordPress lets you upload and embed media from your desktop. They can be managed and arranged through drag-and-drop features. You can even embed them in your posts and on your pages.
Mobile and desktop apps
Since WordPress is available on both mobile and desktop apps, you can update your site from anywhere at any time. Desktop apps include iOS, Mac, Android, Linux and Windows.
Built-in social sharing
For businesses and companies selling products, it’s best to keep up with your audience. WordPress automates daily operations such as sending new posts on your social media platforms and adding social tools to keep your readers engaged.
WordPress Benefits
WordPress powers 35% of the internet and is generally considered as one of the top blogging software products. Due to its popularity, several platforms can be integrated with the solution. This includes Facebook, MailChimp and Google Analytics.
Customization
WordPress is a 100% customizable due to its open code access. It also has one of the largest plugin libraries in the world. This lets you build new features and use custom tools to make your website work the way you want it to.
Large professional community
Since many people and businesses use WordPress daily, you can expect support from its large professional community. If you’re having trouble with certain features, it’s possible somebody else has already experienced the same thing. You are given access to plenty of online classes and tutorials to navigate WordPress.
WordPress Pricing
Users can start creating their websites with WordPress’s free version. This helps you create beautiful and simple websites within minutes. While it does have a bevy of basic features, it doesn’t offer more advanced features such as marketing and monetization tools and advanced eCommerce capabilities. Instead, users are only given Jetpack Essential features, pre-installed SSL certificates and 3GB worth of storage space.
Asides from the free plan, WordPress offers the following pricing plans:
Personal
The second pricing plan is priced at $4 per month. It has all the features the free version offers but with additional ones such as a free domain for one year, email and live chat support and 6 GB worth of storage space. It also has basic design customization features with no ads from WordPress.
Premium
Considered as one of the most popular packages people use, Premium costs $8 per month. Other than all the features found in Personal, you can also benefit from unlimited premium themes and an increased 13 GB of storage space. However, what makes this pricing plan stand out is its marketing and monetization tools, which are:
- Advanced social media
- Simple payments
- Site monetization
- VideoPress support
- Google Analytics integration
With these robust tools, it’s clear Premium is geared for people who want to use their website for eCommerce strategies.
Business
Business is priced at $25 per month. You can find everything Premium offers here with an increased storage space of 200 GB. However, the main reason why Business is different from the previous plans is its business-class features, which include the following:
- Personalized support
- The ability to install plugins and themes
- WordPress.com branding removed
The previously mentioned features push you to create a website that’s your own. With customization functionalities, it helps set your business apart from others and attract the attention of your audience.
eCommerce
This pricing package is catered to organizations and companies that deal with marketing and eCommerce daily. It lets you open an online store with powerful and flexible features designed to grow with you. All previously mentioned features are made available in this plan. But its eCommerce tools are what make it perfect for large enterprises.
The tools include:
- Accepting payments in more than 60 countries
- Integrating with top shipping carriers
- The ability to add and sell unlimited products and services
- Marketing tools that includes integration with social media sites
- Premium customizable starter themes
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a platform to hone your creativity, then WordPress is the software solution for you. It offers a place for users to code to their heart’s content and the ability to install necessary plugins to add essential features to your website. It also offers more ways for you to edit and control your content, eliminating limitations.