I have been creating websites since 2008, and I have worked on everything from simple brochure sites to more complex websites. I also do responsive web design and some HTML/CSS work. While I’ve worked with other content management systems like Joomla, Drupal and Squarespace, I prefer WordPress and only create WordPress websites using WordPress.org rather than the blogging site WordPress.com.

While it’s often used as a blogging platform, WordPress comes with a ton of functionality that makes it ideal for website design. So why use WordPress? Here are five reasons why I only use WordPress to create websites.

Why use WordPress?

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As a business, you have many options for selecting the CMS platform for your website design. A WordPress website is a popular choice for many different types of businesses. Some of the most popular uses of WordPress include:
• Blogs
• Business websites
• Small e-commerce stores
• Portfolios
It is an excellent solution for those requiring a more robust solution, including high security, user management, e-commerce and a great choice of plugins and themes. New versions of WordPress are constantly released. These upgrades help to keep WordPress secure and up-to-date with the latest features.

WordPress Content Management System

WordPress launched in 2003 and is now the most popular CMS worldwide. It is free and open-source and is used by many of the biggest brands in the world. WordPress has become so popular because you can generally update your website’s looks and functions without knowing how to code. You can update your website quite easily with a user-friendly interface.

Community

I love WordPress because it’s a fantastic platform for creating websites and blogs, and it is accessible to everyone. There are so many free resources to help you learn how to use WordPress, and there is a massive community of people who can help you if you get stuck. The WordPress community also take part in user outreach, including hosting WordPress events globally.

Themes and Templates

There is an extensive WordPress theme market with many options to choose from with a massive library of themes. When designing a WordPress website, you can use a free theme as it is, or customise it further, so it bears no resemblance to the original theme, or you can get a completely custom design for your site.

Plugins and add-ons

Plugins can add functionality to your WordPress website or create new features that WordPress’s core does not provide. There are around 50,000 plugins to choose from, ranging from simple functions like contact forms to more advanced features like e-commerce, search engine optimisation and more. Plugins are also frequently updated, so you always have the latest features and functionality. I will install the plugins that you need; however, later on, if you find that you need extra functionality on your WordPress website, you can always install a plugin that will fit your needs.

With plugins, you can easily add:
– E-commerce functionality.
– Social networking features.
– Galleries and slideshows.
– Photo and video galleries.
– Disqus commenting system.
– And many more.

Some of the best free WordPress plugins are:
WPForms
Elementor
WooCommerce
Yoast SEO
Redirection
WordFence.

For more plugins, check out www.wordpress.org.

Websites by Kofo is a Brentwood web design specialist creating beautiful and functional websites for clients and providing services such as web design, digital communications, content creation, search engine optimisation and more.