WordPress - The Most Popular Website Builder

WordPress - The Most Popular Website Builder

October 25, 2021CategoriesTags

If you're looking to create your own website, you can't go wrong with WordPress - The Most Popular Website Builder. This versatile Content Management System (CMS) is a prominent platform powering over 40% of all websites on the internet. 

WordPress is a free website builder and open-source content management system licensed under the GPLv2 (or later) license, which implies that anybody can use or modify the WordPress software. A CMS is a tool that allows you to manage key components of your website, such as content, without having to know anything about programming. The software is written in the PHP scripting language. A database stores all website content, including settings, blog articles and pages.

If this all looks a little technical, don't worry. Your hosting firm will take care of the technical aspects of running WordPress, allowing you to concentrate on content development and marketing your site.

WordPress.org vs WordPress.com

What if I told you that WordPress.org and WordPress.com are two separate and distinct platforms website builder?

Beginners frequently mix up WordPress.org website builder and WordPress.com, resulting in them choosing the incorrect blogging platform for their goals. Even people who are aware that they are two separate platforms are unaware of the differences.

First, we have WordPress.org, also known as "the real WordPress". It's open-source software, which anyone can use for free. You only need a domain name and web hosting to get started. Because of this, it's also known as self-hosted WordPress.

Next, we have WordPress.com website builder which is easier to use than WordPress.org. For starters, WordPress.com does not have a drag-and-drop function to assist users to create websites rapidly. That's where the bigger contrast comes into play: while it may appear to be one, WordPress.com isn't a site builder in the traditional sense, so users shouldn't anticipate the same level of simplicity of use or functionality.

What Does WordPress Have to offer? 

WordPress website builder will always be known as an excellent blogging platform, and this is still the case today. The WordPress editor is at the heart of the platform. The editor, Gutenberg, lets you create and design pages with simple formatting toolbars and a drag-and-drop page builder.

Whether you're writing daily blog articles or using WordPress website builder to create static sites, you'll appreciate how simple the WordPress editor is to use.

While the default WordPress wesbite builder theme Twenty Twenty can be used to create a website, the great majority of website owners prefer a more complex WordPress design. Plugins are also installed to bring more features and functionality.

You can expand what you can do with WordPress website builder by using themes and plugins. WordPress can be used to create a wide range of websites. It can be used to build nearly any kind of website. All you need to do now is choose the best WordPress theme or plugin to assist you.

What Types Of Websites Does WordPress Support?

WordPress website builder started out as a small blogging platform. This means it offers a lot of features that make it ideal for blogs, and it's arguably the best website builder for that type of website.

However, WordPress website builder is no longer just for your personal blog. It can be used to create practically any type of website you can imagine. Here's a quick rundown of some of the types of websites that WordPress is best suited for:

  • E-commerce stores: If you're running an online store, you can use WordPress plugins like the WooCommerce to simplify the process.
  • Online portfolios: Setting up an online portfolio to promote your achievements and expertise. You can showcase your works, and attract new clients is easy with the correct WordPress theme.
  • Affiliate websites: The WordPress community has many dedicated solutions for creating affiliate marketing websites.
  • Business websites: Regardless of how big or small your company is, you can use a website to communicate information, offer contact information, including your branding, and establish a strong online presence.

You can always start small and scale up over time if you’re unsure of what type of site you want to build. It's easy to start with a simple blog and convert it into a news or affiliate site as needed. You can also make a site that serves many purposes, such as a business website with a company blog and a connected storefront to sell your products or services.

What are WordPress Plugins and Themes? 

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Plugins

WordPress plugins are written in PHP. They work in tandem with WordPress and are built on top of the core platform. Plugins are significant and valuable because they allow us to create almost any type of website. Plugins are fundamentally WordPress extensions. They modify, enhance, add, or remove functionality from the core WordPress software.

Hundreds of great free plugins are listed in the official WordPress Plugin Directory, which you may download and use on your website. On the other hand, there are a plethora of third-party premium plugins that provide the same or similar functionality. Naturally, the question arises as to whether you should use free plugins or pay for premium ones. While the answer is largely determined by your budget, there are additional factors to consider.

Premium plugins, in particular, are more likely to have advanced functionality, such as features that aren't available in free versions. Also, premium plugins frequently come with superior support and a dedicated team that works full time to ensure that the plugin is compatible with the latest versions of WordPress. 

There are also plugins that are available in both free and paid versions. The free version usually only has basic functions. The premium editions include more technical functionality. Users can start with the free version and upgrade to the premium version later if they feel they would benefit from more sophisticated capabilities.

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Themes

A WordPress Theme is a combination of files that work together to provide a graphical interface for a website with a cohesive layout. The theme organizes and displays all of the information on your site (posts, pages, sidebars, and so on) for your visitors. This type of file is referred to as a template. A theme alters the appearance of a website without altering the software that powers it. 

The official website for WordPress themes is the WordPress Theme Directory. Every theme in this directory is assessed by experienced professionals and subjected to a series of tests to ensure that the user has a safe and enjoyable experience.

Similar to the plugins on WordPress.org and WordPress.com, you can find thousands of free WordPress themes to help you create the perfect website. A free WordPress theme will get you started, but if you’re willing to spend a few bucks, a premium WordPress theme may be a better alternative. 

Is WordPress a Good Fit for Your Business?

You get to choose the ideal website platform for you and your project. There are various factors to take into account, such as personal experience, your budget, and the result you want to attain.

WordPress is a comprehensive platform that has earned its place as the most popular website platform on the internet. WordPress has a sizable user base all across the globe. Some developers prefer to work on different platforms, although this is usually due to the fact that they are learning new coding languages and working in less user-friendly environments. It is the best choice for bloggers, business owners, developers with clients, and eCommerce specialists. You get excellent benefits like plugins, themes, free tools, and full media support, in addition, to complete control over your site.

Even though the WordPress software is free, you will almost certainly wind up spending a bit of money. Because WordPress is self-hosted, it necessitates the use of a web hosting server. Themes and plugins are usually available for free, although premium versions often include more features and better support, as we have established earlier. Most WordPress users pay for additional services, whether they are provided by freelancers or agencies. However, you may minimize your WordPress charges to a bare minimum in general. Many webmasters merely pay for hosting and nothing else.

A guide on how to get started

Step 1. Have a domain name picked out

You probably already have a domain name picked out but if not, there are plenty of articles you can read that can help you find the right one. It will appear in the address bar of your visitors’ browsers when they visit your WordPress site. Make sure that your domain name is memorable and easy to type out, that it’s relatively short, and that it is in line with your brand. Ours is klbsolutionsllc.com.

There are two parts to a domain name — the name itself (e.g. ‘klbsolutionsllc’) and the domain name extension (e.g. ‘.com’) There is a wide list of extensions that exist, while ‘.com’ is very common, using a different extension is becoming more and more accepted. 

Step 2. Get your Hosting service set up 

You need web hosting to power your WordPress site and to make it accessible to visitors. It’s basically renting space on a computer to power your site. This process varries depending on the hosting service that you choose but the process is usually very straightforward once you’ve chosen. 

You have the option to either set up your own server and install WordPress on your computer or to subscribe to a service that already has servers set up and is ready to host a WordPress site. Some services are free, while others are paid; we encourage opting for a premium service because it will provide higher quality services and features. You can find hosting for as little as a few dollars per month or as much as hundreds of dollars per month. 

Step 3. Install WordPress

Once you have your hosting, you will need to install the WordPress software.

Once you install WordPress, you can access your WordPress dashboard by visiting yoursite.com/wp-admin and logging in with the username and password that you entered in the WordPress installer wizard.

Step 4. Customize your site’s theme

WordPress comes pre-installed with a theme that you may use as-is, alter, or replace with a different theme of your choice. 

You can check out the WordPress directory to view the available themes by clicking on Appearance > Themes. If you click the Add New button you’ll see a list of free WordPress themes from the WordPress.org directory along with details about the themes, and the option preview or install them. You can also choose to install a theme developed by a third party. Many reputable sites offer free and premium WordPress themes. 

Step 5. Install Plugins

While themes control your website’s appearance, plugins control its functionality.

Seemingly small features such as a contact form or bigger features, such as turning your site into a fully functioning eCommerce store, are all made possible with plugins. To install free plugins, visit the plugin directory by clicking on Plugins > Add New and browsing for a plugin, or you can install plugins you’ve purchased from other sites by clicking on the Upload Plugin button.

Step 6. Add your Content

Now that you’ve built the foundation of your site, you are now ready to add your content. A good place to start is your website’s ‘core’ pages such as your homepage. 

There are two ways to go about this, depending on what type of content you want to add. 

First, we have the native WordPress editor. You can access this by clicking on Pages > Add New. The native editor employs a ‘block’ concept that allows you to add multimedia content and basic layout settings. This is a great option if your design is not necessarily complicated. 

Second, you can opt to use a WordPress page builder plugin to create a more sophisticated layout. A page builder plugin gives you a visual interface that offers you more design power by using a simple drag-and-drop system to build more complicated layouts. 

Step 7. Add more plugins 

You’ll definitely need to add other plugins. Ones that are tailored specifically to the needs of your website. Explore and do research to find plugins that can add helpful functionalities to your site.

While it’s perfectly fine to add new plugins, you should be careful about just installing plugins that you truly require. Installing too many unnecessary plugins, especially if they’re not optimized, will bloat your site and make loading slower. 

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Final Thoughts

There is a reason why WordPress is the most widely used platform for creating websites. WordPress is an excellent platform for building any type of website. 

It's important to note that self-hosted WordPress.org and WordPress.com are two different platforms. In most cases, you'll want to use self-hosted WordPress.org to create your website. WordPress.org which is self-hosted allows you more control and access to all of the WordPress community's benefits and advantages. You can also opt to use the free tools, or you can choose to pay for the premium ones. It's entirely up to what you see best fits the needs of your website.
Do you need help in the building or in the upkeep of your WP site? Hire us.

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