What WordPress means
WordPress powers a large share of the web, which means a huge pool of developers, themes, plugins and SEO tools. We recommend it for blogs and content-heavy sites where several editors publish often. The trade-off is upkeep: core, themes and plugins need regular updates and security attention, or the site becomes an easy target.
Why it matters for your website
WordPress gives you a huge choice of themes, plugins and developers, so you are not tied to one company. Because it is so popular, it is also a frequent target, so updates and good hosting are a must.
Example
A hypothetical accounting firm uses WordPress for its service pages and blog, letting staff publish tax tips while a developer handles updates.
Tips
- Keep WordPress core, themes and plugins updated.
- Use only plugins you need from trusted, active developers.
- Turn on two-factor authentication for every admin account.
Common mistakes
- Installing a new plugin for every small feature.
- Using pirated premium themes or plugins, which often carry malware.
Questions about WordPress
What is WordPress?
The most widely used open-source CMS, popular for blogs, content-heavy sites and sites that need lots of plugins.
What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
WordPress.org is the free software you install on your own hosting. WordPress.com is a hosted service that runs WordPress for you, with plans that set what you can customize.
Is WordPress secure?
The core software is actively maintained and can be secure. Most problems come from outdated plugins, weak passwords and poor hosting.
