What is WordPress, the first platform that comes to mind regarding a Website? What Does It Do?
WordPress is the most popular content management system of recent years. It allows users who have never designed a website and those who do not know any programming language to make their website. Let’s take a closer look at what WordPress is, what it does, and how to use it.
Launched in 2003 as a simple blogging platform, WordPress has developed itself with many new features and has become one of the world’s most important content management systems. Even users who do not know the software, have not designed a website, and do not know any programming language can easily create a custom website on WordPress.
Although everyone knows the answer to the question of what WordPress is, they are a little confused about what it does or how it is used. This is normal because it is surprising that it allows you to do something as laborious as designing a website for free and easily. Let’s examine what WordPress is, how to use it, what it does, and who can use it in detail.
What is WordPress?
Published in 2003, WordPress started its life as a simple blogging platform. In the following years, the services offered by the platform evolved and became a content management system (CMS) written in PHP using a MySQL database. Today, 35% of the websites you encounter in the internet world are created with WordPress.
You may not know MySQL or PHP, but you don’t need to. WordPress allows you to build your website just like creating a simple blog. For standard users, it offers a domain name with the extension name.wordpress.com. However, you can get your domain name to professionalize your website in the future.
What does WordPress do?
The most important feature that distinguishes the WordPress platform from similar services is endless customization options. There is no end. Thanks to plugins, themes, and other additions, you can publish in many different areas with the free websites you will prepare. Here are some types of websites you can design with WordPress;
- A blog where you can publish your content.
- A shopping site where you can sell online with a WordPress e-commerce plugin.
- A corporate website for companies, organizations, and businesses.
- A website that you can customize with WordPress plugins and receive membership payments.
- A website consisting of your portfolio where you can present your work.
- A forum site where thousands of users can talk to each other.
- A website where you can announce special events and sell tickets through plugins.
- A website where you can present your online training videos and other course materials.
These are just some websites you can create with WordPress’s most well-known plugins and themes. As we said, the customizations are endless. You can develop your website by focusing on your goal and the service you want to provide through the site.
Advantages of using WordPress:
The primary use is entirely free. This makes it an ideal platform for beginners.
It has a straightforward interface, so even users with no previous experience can easily create their websites.
It is suitable for everyone as it offers a flexible usage area.
Since it has the GNU General Public License, that is, it is open source, and it is available for improvements at any time.
Creating your website without writing a single line of code is possible.
Since it has thousands of free plugins, you can create your dream website as you wish.
Thanks to thousands of customizable themes, you can ensure that the site you create is truly unique.
WordPress provides security for every website created on WordPress.
Thanks to the developer community of WordPress users, you will feel like you are getting help from thousands of experts while creating your site.
If you use paid services to develop your website, you can be sure that the payment system is entirely secure.
At first glance, these are the prominent advantages of creating a website with WordPress. It is possible to summarize it in a single sentence; WordPress allows users to design a unique website with thousands of free plugins and themes.
Features that WordPress websites have:
- The SEO-compliant content you publish on the website you create is recognized by search engines thanks to the WordPress code base.
- WordPress has a framework that removes bloat code and reduces website loading speed.
- All the websites you create also have a mobile-friendly design.
- WordPress offers its users a particular media library.
- Thanks to its simple interface, you can quickly realize even the most complex designs.
- You can prepare a user flow for your visitors with pages.
- Thanks to the built-in blog system, publishing articles is easier than ever.
- You can apply WordPress updates to your website instantly.
- WordPress allows you to create a website and perform editorial operations on the site after you make the website and start your publishing life. New features are being added to the platform every day.
Differences between wordpress.com and wordpress.org:
For first-time WordPress users, the .com and .org extensions can be confusing. In fact, at this point, we are talking about two different service areas. Because both extensions have been developed to provide different services
on wordpress.com;
- You create a WordPress account.
- You create sites with the .wordpress.com extension.
- There is a Google Analytics integration.
- It has private storage space.
- You can create your plugins and themes.
at wordpress.org;
- You download the WordPress software for your server.
- Since this is open-source software, you can use it for free.
- You need your domain name when using this software.
- You can make a quick installation with WordPress software.
Everything is good; how do we start?
The first step you need to take to set up your website with WordPress is to open the WordPress website via the link here. Then create a WordPress account and start building your site right away. Don’t worry; the platform will guide you every step of the way.
Start with a simple design and customize it step by step. It is possible to check the preview of your changes and edit them again. After an effective design process that may take days, your website will be ready to go live. Just make sure you know what you want.
We answered the questions of what WordPress is, how to use it, and what it does, which allows even users with no experience to make their websites, and we talked about some of the details you need to know about this platform. You can prepare a free website for yourself to stay up to date with the world of the future.