I have come across quite a few rants on various forums about WordPress with the poster asking why there is such a love affair with WordPress. Well, I am going to lay down the reasons why WordPress is so good and why you, especially if you are an internet marketer should be using WordPress too.
This site, like most of mine is based on the WordPress platform. A few years ago I ran across WordPress while looking for another way to get a website online. I had been using FrontPage, but since I had chucked my PC and opted for a Mac, FrontPage was no longer a viable option. Luckily I found WordPress and although I have tip-toed into the waters of other platforms, I keep running back to WordPress. I am not going to disparage any other platform, but instead simply why I like WordPress.
- Quick Installation – WordPress was never that difficult to install (going back to the “Famous 5 Minute Install” days), but it has become more than a breeze. Someone with no experience installing a website (assuming they can simply log into their cpanel and click on Fantastico De Luxe) can have a WordPress site up in not time flat. I don’t know about you, but I like simple, especially when it comes to what is generally considered “technical stuff.” No need to be a techy to use WordPress.
- Easy Design Options – Themes, themes, themes. Sure regular html sites have tons of templates available, but the integration of themes with the WordPress back-end allows for such quick changes and easy editing. Want to switch from a single column to a no column – two column- three column – right column – left column – pink theme – silver theme – blue theme – no problem, just pick your theme, click activate and your theme is changed. With all of the free and paid themes out there, your design options are vast.
- Easy Editing and Publishing – With a simple visual and html editor, WordPress is so easy to use when creating and publishing content. No need to ftp it – just click publish and you are done. Easily change your page or post without having to open up additional software. This might be a minor point to many, but once again – I like easy. People who are not computer savvy like easy too, and this is why WordPress is ideal for many people.
- Pictures and Video – Wordpress makes it easy to a picture to a post and place it within the text, adjust the size, tag it, hyperlink it – all just very simple. Adding videos is a snap too. These functions do have their issues, but I notice a progression in usability as upgrades occur. Sooner or later, they will have all the options you need to fully customize images and videos from directly within your WordPress panel.
- Plugins! – Plugins are probably the single biggest reason why WordPress is so popular. The sheer number of plugins that give your website additional functionality is staggering. From super simple things like tag clouds to complex functions like pulling content from around the web there are plugins for just about every need. Can these things be accomplished with an html site? Sure, but they can’t be done from a single point platform. I can add plugins from within WordPress and not have to worry about uploading anything and wondering if I am going to have to create a new folder, or put it in an existing one – easy. (Yes, some plugins require you to add files to the root directory, but most don’t)
- SEO – You hear all the time that Google loves WordPress – I can’t say that is the case one way or another, but WordPress is easy to optimize for the search engines. There are plugins, and even some themes have functions to help you easily optimize your site for the search engines.
- The WordPress Community – The WordPress community is huge. If you need help with a WordPress problem, you will be able to find an answer. From the WordPress.org forum to a simple Google search, you will find people out there that can help you with your WordPress issues. While you might be able to find your answer for other platforms, you are likely to find your answer faster and find more up to date information when it is a WordPress issue.
- Future Development – The fine folks at WordPress seem to be committed to the long-term success of the WordPress platform. I don’t think it will be going away any time soon and if you want some corroboration, check out this video of Matt Mullenweg at WordCamp San Francisco earlier this month here.
I like WordPress and will continue to recommend to anyone interested in blogging. Is it perfect? No, but it is perfectly simple to use, looks good, functions good, and if you ever have a problem, there are people who can help you to fix it.
‘Nuff said.
