ROBERT JACOBI

Industry Analyst & Strategist

WordPress as a Solution

WordPress has long been known as the most popular content management system around, and it is 100% open source, to boot. It is the force behind 27% of the web, including personal, business, and government websites.

As a platform for small-to-medium businesses, it continues to reign as the preferred choice. One of the main reasons for that is because it is often marketed as a DIY-friendly option for those on tighter budgets. It is presented as a platform with a plugin for anything. As such, many small businesses utilize it in just that way: a features bundle that they can tweak to their liking.

While this is not necessarily a misrepresentation of this content management system, it is a rigid undersell. At it’s baseline, WordPress is capable of getting a simple site up-and-running fairly easily — providing more nimble and budget-limited entities a shot at a decent web presence.

However, at it’s best, it truly provides a full-scale solution for business entities that extends far beyond simple plug-and-play functionality. Let’s breakdown the how and why.

Retain the Ability to Run Code

While many WordPress users are intrigued by the ease of use and availability of plugins for pretty much everything under the sun, they still have the option to run code. It is truly dealer’s choice. WordPress allows developers to drop in fully functional code in the form of a plugin or to tinker as they see fit. The bottom line is that functionality is not behind lock and key, but is truly open source to anyone who has an idea.

On the other end of the spectrum lies the proprietary platforms that do not afford users the same flexibility. These platforms lock away the ability to run code behind different pricing tiers, if they even offer them at all. WordPress and its community provides detailed documentation on every area of the platform. Whether you have a specific problem or just want to become more knowledgeable, there is a library out there with the answers you seek.

Open Source Community Support Yields Endless Options

One of the most valuable elements of WordPress is the community upon — and through — which it’s built. User groups, meetups, Facebook groups, and classes abound. The community is truly supportive in that the endgame is the same for all: to realize the full potential of WordPress and continue expanding its capabilities.

So while WordPress and plugin and theme creators may offer customer service and support, WordPress users are also afforded global support of the other users in the trenches. This is an integral asset for anyone using the WordPress platform. This spirit of generosity is what makes open source projects and platforms like WordPress thrive and improve.

It’s also what makes it a viable and preferable solution for business users. Because open source software is open to all, vulnerabilities are rare. The sheer number of developers with their hands in code means that any vulnerabilities and security threats that surface are detected and patched within hours. Not so with proprietary software solutions. The bureaucracy alone can significantly slow response times to days or weeks.

All Your Business Challenges — One Solution

We’ve established that WordPress is flexible and backed by an excellent community, but it’s important to not overlook the more granular ways that this platform works to bring one solution to the many challenges businesses face on the day-to-day.

  • Responsive – WordPress offers a library of themes and customizations, most of which are totally responsive and mobile-friendly, if not mobile-first designs. As mobile growth continues, an omnichannel approach is essential for businesses, which means providing an optimized user experience across all channels and devices.
  • Publishing-Friendly – As the original blogging platform, WordPress cut its teeth on enabling users to push out content efficiently and effectively. While its capabilities have extended farther, that core functionality is still the best-in-breed. Businesses that rely on inbound marketing have a treasure trove of functionality to help position their brand as professional publishers — and to increase conversions.
  • Search Engine-Friendly – This is a point that should not be taken for granted. Many of the proprietary platforms out there simply do not offer the ability to be competitive or findable in this area. A word to the wise: pre-packed, one-size-fits-all solutions can stifle your rankings in SERPs. WordPress, on the other hand, enables highly technical SEOs to get their hands dirty and affect real change for their rankings. Even beginners have access to an array of SEO plugins that can significantly bump up a site’s visibility in search engines.

WordPress is a content management system that truly offers a full-scale solution for business needs. From novice small business owners to enterprises with teams of developers, this open source solution is a fit for anyone. As an open source platform, it provides flexibility and customization that you just can’t come by with proprietary platforms or software. For those just dipping their toes into a new content management system, the community support and plugin library makes customization simple and straightforward. So while the appeal of simplicity may be the draw at first, don’t sell WordPress short. Get comfortable with the basics and then dive into the world of opportunity that this powerful content management solution offers.

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