What is WordPress
Detailed WordPress guide with FAQ, Pros & Cons
- Last Update: May 3, 2025
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Definition Of WordPress
WordPress is a powerful and widely used open-source content management system (CMS) that allows users to create, manage, and publish digital content on the internet.
Initially launched in 2003 as a blogging platform, WordPress has evolved into a versatile system used to build a wide range of websites, from blogs and personal portfolios to e-commerce stores and corporate websites.
What Kind of Website Can WordPress Make?
WordPress is an incredibly versatile platform that can be used to create a wide variety of websites. Here are some examples of the types of websites that WordPress can help you build:
- Blogs: WordPress started as a blogging platform and is still a popular choice for personal and professional bloggers.
- Business Websites: From small businesses to large enterprises, WordPress offers tools to create professional websites to showcase products, services, and company information.
- E-commerce Stores: With plugins like WooCommerce, WordPress can be transformed into a powerful online store platform to sell products and services.
- Portfolios: Artists, photographers, designers, and other creative professionals can use WordPress to display their work in an organized and visually appealing manner.
- Online Magazines: WordPress’s content organization capabilities make it suitable for creating online magazines, news sites, and digital publications.
- Educational Websites: Schools, universities, and online course platforms can use WordPress to deliver educational content, course materials, and resources.
- Non-profit Websites: Non-profit organizations can utilize WordPress to share their missions, raise awareness, and gather support for their causes.
- Community Forums: WordPress can be used to create online communities and discussion forums using plugins like bbPress.
- Membership Sites: You can create membership-based websites with restricted access to certain content or resources for paid subscribers.
- Event Websites: WordPress is ideal for promoting and managing events, conferences, workshops, and seminars.
- Personal Websites: Whether it’s a personal blog, resume site, or digital portfolio, WordPress allows individuals to establish an online presence.
- Real Estate Websites: Real estate agents and agencies can showcase property listings, share market insights, and interact with potential clients.
- Restaurant Websites: Restaurants and cafes can use WordPress to display menus, showcase their ambiance, and even allow online reservations.
- Travel Blogs and Websites: Travel enthusiasts can create engaging blogs, share travel experiences, and provide travel tips and recommendations.
- Health and Wellness Sites: WordPress can be used to create health blogs, fitness websites, wellness centers’ sites, and more.
- Government and Municipal Websites: Some government agencies use WordPress to provide information and services to the public.
- Religious and Nonprofit Sites: Religious institutions and nonprofit organizations can create websites to connect with their communities and share their values.
This is just a snapshot of the possibilities. WordPress’s flexibility, extensive theme and plugin ecosystem, and user-friendly interface make it adaptable to virtually any type of website you can imagine.
Who Uses WordPress?
WordPress is embraced by bloggers, small businesses, developers, e-commerce owners, artists, educators, nonprofits, professionals, media outlets, event organizers, government agencies, real estate agents, travel enthusiasts or health practitioners.
The current website you’re viewing is driven by WordPress, and numerous other prominent entities also opt for WordPress.
Here Are Five Prominent Websites Built Using WordPress:
1. The Walt Disney Company: One of the world’s largest media and entertainment conglomerates utilizes WordPress for its official blog and news updates.
2. The New Yorker: This renowned magazine features articles, essays, and visual content, all managed through a WordPress-powered website.
3. Mercedes-Benz: The luxury automobile manufacturer employs WordPress to showcase its vehicles, innovations, and brand stories.
4. Sony Music: The global music label uses WordPress to connect with fans, promote artists, and share music-related content.
5. BBC America: This entertainment and news network relies on WordPress to deliver its engaging content, spanning TV shows, news, and events.
These examples highlight the flexibility and capabilities of WordPress in creating diverse and dynamic websites for various industries.
Why Should You Use WordPress?
WordPress is an ideal website solution for its user-friendly interface, adaptability, and extensive customization options.
With a vast library of themes and plugins, it caters to diverse needs, from blogs to e-commerce stores.
Its SEO-friendliness, responsive design, and regular updates enhance user experience and security.
Backed by a robust community, WordPress offers scalability, cost-effectiveness, and seamless integration with third-party tools.
That is why over 45% of all the websites on the Internet are using WordPress.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, WordPress empowers you to create, manage, and optimize your online presence with ease, making it a top choice for websites of all types and sizes.
features of WordPress
WordPress has lots of impressive features. The possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing a WordPress website.
There are literally thousands of plugins that extend what WordPress does. That is why it is the unquestionable leader in website development.
- Flexibility – You can use WordPress to build any type of website you want, including a personal blog, portfolio website, business website, e-commerce website, a government website, online community website, and so on. You can even create your own app.
- Simplicity – WordPress allows you to publish and build your website content quickly. Even as a beginner, you can easily use WordPress to build your website.
- SEO – WordPress is designed by keeping SEO in mind. SEO allows the website’s content to be found via common search engines such as Google. For more control on SEO, there is plenty of SEO plugin readily available in the WordPress directory. Yoast SEO plugin is one of them. More than 5 million website owner is using the Yoast SEO plugin.
- Speed – WordPress is a lean website framework that is constantly striving to remove bloated code which slows down the loading speed of a website. So performance speed isn’t a major concern while developing a website on the WordPress platform.
- Media file library – WordPress includes a built-in media library through which you can easily upload and insert media files to your Website. You can even insert an image gallery on your web page with a proper alt tag and captions.
- Easy to use – You don’t need to hire a web designer every time you want to make a small change to your website.
- No coding required – WordPress simplifies the concept of making a website. It has removed the requirement of needing to know how to code in order to build a website. However, if you know how to code then you can enhance the functionality of your website to the next level.
- Extendable with plugins and themes – The functionality and features of WordPress can be extended with plugins. A WordPress plugin is a software that you can install on your website to add additional features like e-commerce, SEO, contact forms, and more.
- Website security – None of the websites is 100% secure on the internet. However, WordPress security continues to improve with a keen-eyed security team of core developers and users.
- Highly active community of users and developers – You will be amazed to know the WordPress community has a reputation for being incredibly welcoming, helpful and innovative. You will get lots of help from the community regarding your website. you can also join the local WordPress meetups and more.
The features of WordPress are endless. You will get thousands of free or premium plugins and themes for your website. Just use them to meet your website’s needs.
Overall, WordPress has democratized website creation by providing a platform that empowers individuals and businesses of all sizes to establish a digital presence without extensive technical expertise.
It has played a significant role in shaping the modern internet landscape.
So what’s stopping you? Let’s start building a WordPress website.
How to start with WordPress
Starting with WordPress is easy and exciting! These are the basic steps to get started:
- Choose a Domain and Hosting: Decide on a name for your website (domain) and pick a hosting provider. This is where your website’s files will be stored online.
- Install WordPress: Most hosting providers offer a simple WordPress installation process. If not, you can manually install WordPress by downloading it from WordPress.org and following their installation guide.
- Access Your Dashboard: After installation, you can log in to your website’s dashboard. This is where you’ll manage everything about your site.
- Select a Theme: Choose a design (theme) for your website. There are many free and paid themes available. Pick one that matches your style or purpose.
- Customize Your Site: Personalize your website by changing colors, and fonts, and adding your logo. This makes your site unique.
- Add Content: Start creating pages and posts. Pages are for static content like “About” and “Contact,” while posts are for your regular updates.
- Explore Plugins: Plugins are like apps for your website. You can add extra features such as contact forms, social media buttons, and more.
- Optimize for SEO: Use plugins like Yoast SEO to make your site search-engine friendly. This helps people find your site on Google.
- Preview and Test: Before launching, preview your site to make sure everything looks good. Test different devices to ensure they are mobile-friendly.
- Launch Your Site: Once you’re satisfied, it’s time to make your site live! Tell your friends, and family, and share it on social media.
Remember, starting with WordPress is a journey. Don’t hesitate to explore, experiment, and have fun while creating your website!
Note: We have explained the above point in detail further in this course.
Also, In this context, I’d like to highlight a crucial point about WordPress.
When you search for the term “WordPress” you will find two results:
- WordPress.com
- WordPress.org
And you might think both are the same, but they’re not. In fact, they are very different.
- WordPress.com is a fully commercialized online platform.
- WordPress.org is open-source software.
So it’s important to understand how they are different and which version of WordPress will suit best to you.
Difference Between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
The main difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com is who is actually hosting your website.
With WordPress.org, you host your own site (web-expert / we recommend this).
Hosting companies like Fastcomet, Hostinger or A2 hosting are a great choice to start with WordPress.org. They have a one-click WordPress installation.
All major WordPress-powered website like blogs.microsoft.com or Whitehouse.gov uses WordPress.org, and so do we.
WordPress.com, on the other hand, it’s WordPress.com that take cares of all things to run a website (but with less freedom and limited resource).
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com
| wordpress.org | wordpress.com |
|---|---|
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Self-Hosted: With WordPress.org, you download the WordPress software and install it on your own web hosting server. |
Hosted Service: WordPress.com provides hosting for your website, so you don’t need to set up your own hosting. |
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Full Control: You have complete control over your website. You can customize it, use any theme or plugin, and even modify the code. |
Limited Customization: While there’s a degree of customization available, you’re restricted to the themes and plugins offered by WordPress.com. |
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Themes and Plugins: You can use any theme or plugin, whether free or premium, to customize your site’s design and functionality. |
Themes and Plugins: The selection of themes and plugins is more limited compared to self-hosted WordPress. Premium features require higher-tier plans. |
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Monetization: You can monetize your website through ads, selling products, or any other means without restrictions. |
Monetization Restrictions: Monetization options are limited on free plans. Some paid plans allow you to run ads, but WordPress.com may still display its own ads on free plans. |
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Cost: While the WordPress software is free, you’ll need to pay for your own domain name and web hosting. |
Cost: There are free plans with limited features and paid plans with more advanced features. Custom domains and advanced functionality often require subscription payments. |
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Maintenance: You are responsible for maintaining your website’s security, backups, and updates. |
Maintenance: WordPress.com takes care of backups, security, and updates, relieving you of most maintenance tasks. |
When To Use WordPress.com
With the .com version, you don’t really need to buy hosting or have to worry about the basic maintenance of your site.
You can literally start with the free plan, though there are paid plans as well.
However, the free plan limits you to 3GB of storage data and provides you with a subdomain (like yoursite.wordpress.com) for your website. It also includes WordPress.com’s own ads.
In order to use your own domain name, you will be asked to upgrade the plan.
Also, you won’t be able to install your own “plugins” or “themes” unless you pay for the expensive business plan which will cost you around $300.
Verdict: So, if you want your site to grow in the long term, plan to monetize your site, or looking for more flexibility then I would say the WordPress.com version will not be a great choice for you.
When To use WordPress.org
WordPress.org is open-source software and it needs to be installed on a web server (hosting) in order to work.
Best hosting companies provide simple one-click installation. Trust me the entire process is really easy.
In fact, you can start with as little as $2.95 per month with the WordPress.org version.
Plus, WordPress.org has much better customization options. You will be able to install plugins, use custom website themes, and do just about anything you want with your site. Above all, you can monetize your website however you want.
In summary, if you want full control, and flexibility, and plan to grow your website over time, WordPress.org is the way to go.
If you prefer a simpler setup, don’t want to deal with technical aspects, and are okay with some limitations, WordPress.com might be a better fit.
Choose the platform that aligns with your goals and level of involvement.
Want To Grow Your Website Into A Brand?
What is WordPress Theme
A WordPress theme is a pre-designed template that determines the overall look, layout, and style of your WordPress website.
It’s like the “skin” of your site, influencing how content is presented and how users interact with it.
Themes control elements such as colors, fonts, headers, footers, and more, allowing you to customize your site’s appearance without changing its underlying content.
It play a crucial role in shaping your website’s visual identity and user experience.
There are thousands of free and premium WordPress themes available for you to use.
In fact, When you first create a WordPress site, it will come with a default theme installed.
But, it’s very basic, and most probably it won’t meet your website requirements.
Choosing the right theme will make your website more attractive, easier to use, and improve visitor engagement.
The Top-Rated and Trending WordPress Themes
Out of thousands of themes, it’s really difficult to choose the best theme for your website.
But not to worry I have made things easier for you and recommend Astra – A customizable theme that comes with pre-designed templates so you can get started in minutes.
A few examples are:
All of these theme templates are easy to use, well-supported, and have dozens of beautiful layouts.
Some themes operate like page builders, allowing you to create your own page layouts without code. Astra is one of them – just get the pro version and you are all set to use the premium template.
- Themes can be added via the WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Themes
- Using the built-in search function, you can find a free/ premium theme available on the WordPress.org
- Themes can also be packaged as zip files that you upload through the Appearance > Themes menu uploader in your WordPress dashboard.
Don’t worry we will explore the WordPress dashboard in the next chapter. There you will get more details on installing the theme.
What is WordPress Plugin
Plugins are a piece of software containing a group of functions that provides extra functionality and features to your website.
Plugins can make everything from small tweaks to massive changes to your site.
For example, if you want to turn your WordPress website into an e-commerce platform then you can install the Woo-Commerce plugin to make an online store.
There are thousands of WordPress plugins available for free at the official WordPress plugin directory.
But be careful when choosing which ones you want to install on your site. To know more on the topic, must-read Things you should know about the WordPress plugin.
Must Have WordPress Plugins For All WordPress Website
As per your website requirement, you will install plugins on your website. It can be anything but here are the few must-have plugins that you should install in the first place.
💛 WordPress SEO Plugin – Yoast SEO
💛 WordPress Security Plugins – iThemes Security
💛 WordPress Backup Plugins – UpdraftPlus
💛 WordPress Cache Plugins – WP Rocket
💛 WordPress Forms Plugins – Contact Form 7
💛 WordPress e-commerce Plugin – Woocommerce
By now we have understood what is WordPress, how it works, and what is themes and plugins.
Now, it’s time to learn how WordPress is installed on web servers.
How to install WordPress
Installing WordPress is a straightforward process that can be accomplished in a few simple steps:
- Choose a Hosting Provider: Select a web hosting provider that meets your needs and supports WordPress installations. Some popular options include Fastcomet, Hostinger or A2 Hosting.
- Register a Domain Name: If you don’t already have a domain name, register one through your chosen hosting provider or a separate domain registrar.
- Access Hosting Control Panel: Log in to your hosting account’s control panel (cPanel or similar).
- Install WordPress: Many hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation through their control panel. Look for the “Install WordPress” or “One-Click Install” option.
- Choose Installation Settings: You’ll be prompted to choose the domain where you want to install WordPress. You can also set up an admin username and password for your WordPress site.
- Select Plugins and Themes (Optional): Some hosting providers allow you to select pre-installed plugins and themes during installation. You can skip this step and add them later if you prefer.
- Complete Installation: Click the “Install” or “Finish” button to initiate the installation process. This might take a few moments.
- Access Your WordPress Dashboard: Once the installation is complete, you’ll receive a notification. You can then access your WordPress dashboard by navigating to your domain followed by “/wp-admin” (e.g., yourdomain.com/wp-admin).
- Log In: Use the admin username and password you set during installation to log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Customize and Build: Explore your dashboard, choose a theme, add plugins, and start creating your website’s content. You can customize your site’s appearance, structure, and functionality according to your needs.
Remember that the specific steps might vary slightly depending on your hosting provider and control panel interface. If you encounter any difficulties, most hosting providers offer customer support that can guide you through the installation process.
Anyways you will need hosting to run your website. So choose a hosting provider who is equipped with one-click WordPress installation.
With that being mentioned, I’ve opted for Fastcomet hosting as an illustration to demonstrate the swift and uncomplicated procedure of installing WordPress on the web server.
Step :1
Go to Fastcomet and get hosting. Choose the Fastcloud Plan, which will cost you only $1.79 monthly*.
*the price may vary
On the next page, you will be asked to register a domain name (URL of your website).
Simply enter the new domain name for your website and proceed to create your account on Fastcomet. Fill in all the account details there and move to the “product information” section.
Recheck the hosting plan you have chosen select the data centre near your location and also select for how long you want to register your website and make the payment.
Once completed you will receive a confirmation email with login details of the cPanel of your hosting account, a place from where you will manage your account settings and install WordPress.
Step: 2
Log in to your Fastcomet hosting account and go to the control panel (cPanel).
Look for the “Softaculous Apps Installer” section and click on the “WordPress icon” followed by the “install” button.
Next, you will be asked to choose the domain name under which you would like to have your WordPress installed.
Be advised that you do not need to create a separate database for your script prior to installing it via Softaculous. The auto-installer will create a new database for you during the setup process.
Keep the directory field empty, i.e. remove “wp” from it.
Next, enter your website name, site description, and email address, and create a username & password (these login details will be used while logging into your backend of the WordPress site).
Tick all the checkboxes and hit the “install” button. WordPress installation will begin and it will take a couple of minutes.
Upon completion, you will get a success notification. That’s it!! You have successfully installed WordPress on your web server.
Now Test Your Website
To check if everything is working perfectly, type in your domain name (website address) into the web browser.
With WordPress correctly installed, the thing you’ll see is a very basic website like this:
If this doesn’t look too attractive, don’t worry, in our next lesson you’ll soon learn how to change the design to something more appealing.
Also, we will explore the WordPress dashboard in detail and see how to install themes, plugins, page builders, and much more.
Pros and Cons Of WordPress
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
User-Friendly: WordPress features an intuitive interface, making it accessible to beginners without coding knowledge. |
Maintenance: Self-hosted WordPress requires regular updates, security measures, and backups, which can be time-consuming. |
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Versatility: It’s adaptable for various website types, from blogs and portfolios to e-commerce and corporate sites. |
Learning Curve: While user-friendly, there can be a learning curve, especially when using more advanced features. |
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Customization: A vast selection of themes and plugins allows for extensive customization of design and functionality. |
Security: As a popular platform, WordPress can be susceptible to security vulnerabilities if not properly managed. |
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SEO-Friendly: Built-in SEO tools and plugins help improve your website’s visibility on search engines. |
Plugin Compatibility: Some plugins may not be well-coded or regularly updated, causing compatibility issues. |
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Responsive Design: Many themes are mobile-responsive, ensuring your site looks great on all devices. |
Performance: Poorly optimized themes and plugins can impact site speed and performance. |
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Scalability: WordPress can grow with your website’s needs, from a simple blog to a complex e-commerce platform. |
Overwhelming Choices: The vast number of themes and plugins can make it overwhelming to choose the right ones. |
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Open Source: As an open-source platform, WordPress is free to use, modify, and distribute. |
Customization Complexity: Advanced customization might require coding knowledge or the help of a developer. |
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Content Management: Easy management of posts, pages, and media in a hierarchical structure. |
Limited Support: While there’s a strong community, official support might be limited for free users. |
If this doesn’t look too attractive, don’t worry, in our next lesson you’ll soon learn how to change the design to something more appealing.
Also, we will explore the WordPress dashboard in detail and see how to install themes, plugins, page builders, and much more.
FAQs on WordPress Website
Can I Install WordPress On My Personal Computer?
Of course! There are many good reasons to install WordPress on your own computer.
Maybe you’re creating a completely new website, adding a new look or extra features, or you just want to try things out safely with your current website, without worrying about accidentally messing it up.
What Is the Difference Between WordPress and a Website?
WordPress is a platform that provides you with the tools to create a website. A website is a collection of web pages where you publish your content on a server.
Is WordPress Easier Than HTML?
Yes, WordPress is generally easier to work with than HTML, especially for individuals without coding experience. Here’s a breakdown:
WordPress:
Ease of Use: WordPress employs a user-friendly interface and a visual editor, enabling users to create and manage content without coding skills.
Templates: You can select from a variety of pre-designed themes and layouts, eliminating the need for manual HTML coding.
Plugins: WordPress offers plugins that add functionality without coding. You can add features like contact forms, e-commerce, SEO tools, and more.
Updates: WordPress handles updates for you, including security and functionality improvements.
HTML:
Coding Required: HTML involves writing code for each element of a webpage, which demands a learning curve for beginners.
Design: You need to manually create the design and layout of your website using HTML and CSS.
Functionality: You’ll need to write additional code or use JavaScript for interactive features and functionality.
Maintenance: You’re responsible for updating and maintaining your website’s code over time.
While WordPress offers simplicity and convenience, HTML provides more control and customization options. The choice depends on your goals, technical aptitude, and the level of customization you require.
Is WordPress Good for Freelancing?
Yes, WordPress is an excellent platform for freelancing. Here’s why:
Wide Demand: Many clients seek WordPress professionals due to its popularity and versatility.
Ease of Use: WordPress’s user-friendly interface allows freelancers to quickly create and manage websites without extensive coding knowledge.
Customization: Freelancers can offer clients highly customizable websites by using themes, plugins, and custom coding.
Diverse Projects: WordPress is used for various projects, from blogs and portfolios to e-commerce and corporate sites, providing freelancers with a range of opportunities.
E-commerce: With plugins like WooCommerce, freelancers can create online stores for clients.
Cost-Effective: Clients can benefit from WordPress’s cost-effectiveness, making it an appealing option for small businesses and startups.
Community and Resources: The WordPress community offers support, forums, tutorials, and resources for freelancers to enhance their skills.
Scalability: Freelancers can start with simple projects and gradually take on larger and more complex assignments.
Monetization: Freelancers can earn revenue by offering services such as theme customization, plugin development, website maintenance, and more.
Remote Work: WordPress freelancers have the flexibility to work from anywhere, catering to a global client base.
However, competition is high in the WordPress freelancing market. To stand out, freelancers should continuously upgrade their skills, build a strong portfolio, and offer exceptional client service.
Skillfull freelancers are using WordPress to earn $3,000 to $15,000 for every project they take.
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