WordPress is undoubtedly the most popular content management system available today. However, it’s not the only choice. Before deciding on a website platform, it’s wise to write down what you need your website to do.
As a WordPress developer, I find it a versatile and powerful tool. But, like all content management systems, it has its drawbacks. I hope this article helps you decide which platform is best suited for you and your business.
Founded in 2003, WordPress now powers over 70 million websites globally. It was created by UK-based web developer Mike Little and American Matt Mullenweg.
Originally a blogging platform, WordPress has gained popularity due to its easy installation and quick setup.
In its early years, WordPress saw a flurry of updates and improvements, including:
These updates made the platform attractive to everyday web developers for custom builds. In 2010, WordPress introduced custom post types, allowing for the creation of websites with various content types.
Matt Mullenweg has stated that the future of WordPress will focus on social, mobile, and application platforms.
To get the most out of your website, you need to ensure it performs optimally at all times. Metrics such as page loading times, page size, and website caching should be considered.
The easiest way to improve WordPress performance is through plugins. However, this doesn’t mean you should install too many plugins—quite the opposite. Avoid relying on too many plugins; only use the ones that are necessary. Excessive plugins can slow your site down.
One plugin I use on all websites I build is WP Fastest Cache. It enables the minification and combination of CSS and JS files, ensuring the smallest possible file sizes and minimal server requests.
This plugin also enables browser caching, which ensures your website loads much faster than one without such a plugin.
Website performance is a key factor in ranking on search engines like Google and Bing, as poor website performance often leads to a poor user experience.
WordPress has earned a poor reputation for security, mainly due to developers being lax in setup and installation. However, if the proper steps are taken, WordPress can be a very secure and reliable platform on which to build and manage your website.
As a WordPress developer, I follow several security steps, such as changing the default “wp_” database table prefix to prevent hackers from guessing your database table names. Additionally, I use the Wordfence plugin, which includes many enhancements, such as limiting the number of password attempts to avoid brute-force attacks. I also ensure secure usernames and passwords—something many still overlook. If you’re one of those people, change your username and password immediately!
WordPress is very user-friendly. It comes with an admin dashboard that makes it easy to navigate between pages, posts, and settings. If you’ve never used the WordPress CMS before, it’s straightforward to learn.
Many of my clients want to be able to make changes to their websites themselves, and WordPress is great for this, even for those with little experience. You can easily:
These tasks, among many others, are simple and intuitive.
I often receive positive feedback when showing clients how to edit their websites. It’s often compared to editing a Word document. Not only does this make my clients’ lives easier, but it also helps me as a developer maintain sites efficiently, keeping costs down for my clients.
There are many other content management systems out there, such as:
All of these platforms require a much higher investment of time, cost, and usability. WordPress, on the other hand, has a super-quick installation process, a simple templating system, and an extensive library of plugins, themes, and documentation. All this reduces development time and makes it much less time-consuming compared to its competitors.
While WordPress is an excellent platform, there are some drawbacks. One of my main concerns with WordPress is pre-built theme websites like ThemeForest. They offer themes that are ready to buy and install, complete with a wide array of functionality and design options. At first glance, it seems like a great deal—”a website for £20? Amazing!”
In reality, these themes tend to clutter up the admin pages with unnecessary fields, making updates and maintenance a nightmare.
In contrast, the websites I build are fully bespoke, allowing me to display only the fields relevant to the website in the admin area. This leads to faster websites and saves time whenever updates are made.
Plugins are external software modules that extend your site’s functionality, such as adding booking systems, security features, or chatbots.
However, many plugins are vulnerable to bugs, hacking, and viruses. Since plugins are third-party applications, you have no control over their updates.
In my WordPress development, I use as few plugins as possible to avoid these issues. When I do use plugins, I ensure they’re trusted and have a solid reputation for security, so I don’t compromise my clients’ businesses.
Keeping your website up to date is crucial for its health, but it can be a hassle. Think of your website like a car—it needs to be regularly serviced and maintained. Most premium WordPress themes offer regular updates, which are essential for maintaining security.
However, these updates can sometimes cause issues with your site. To mitigate this, I always test updates before implementing them and closely monitor your site afterward. This is why, if you don’t have an in-house developer or IT team, it might be best to have a professional like me on hand to host and maintain your site.
For those concerned about website security, I offer a maintenance plan that includes monthly updates for WordPress, plugins, and themes—find out more information here.
While WordPress isn’t the only CMS on the market, it’s always been my personal preference over other content management systems. It may have its drawbacks, but if you know how to avoid the common pitfalls, WordPress can be an extremely useful platform.
I hope this article has provided you with valuable insights into the WordPress CMS. If you’d like to speak to someone who can offer professional and realistic advice about your website goals, feel free to get in touch with me today.
Looking for a freelance WordPress developer who understands your needs and delivers on time? Let’s make your website work harder for you.