If you are looking to create a website, you've probably heard of WordPress.
You might have even heard that over 43% of websites run on the WordPress platform.
But what is WordPress?
At its most basic level, WordPress is a website building tool.
At a deeper level, it's an open-source content management system (CMS).
Because it is open-source, anyone can download, use or modify it for free.
Sound complicated? It's simpler than it looks.
Let's take a closer look at WordPress, how it works and what it's capable of.
WordPress Basics
WordPress is a tool designed for individuals and businesses to create their own websites.
No coding is required and the software itself is free.
Many people confuse WordPress with a regular website builder.
A traditional website builder isn't very flexible, though.
You may have several models to choose from, but not much else.
These tools are suitable for personal websites or local clubs.
But if you want a more polished website, you'll need more flexible software.
This is where a CMS comes in.
A CMS provides more powerful tools and more customization options.
In addition to images and text, you can integrate plugins, e-commerce tools, forums, etc.
This makes the software more complex, with a bit more of a learning curve.
Either way, WordPress has made even the most basic functions easy for beginners to master.
Even a novice can create a basic blog in minutes.
Due to its flexibility, you can use WordPress to create any type of website.
Lots of people use it for blogging, but it can also build e-commerce sites, news websites, and anything else you can think of.
Le New York TimesThe magazine Time and the White House use WordPress.
If you visit any of these sites, they definitely don't look like they were built with a free tool!
Keep in mind that there are two WordPress websites.
WordPress.org is the WordPress project site. This is where you download the software, and it has developer support and user forum sections.
WordPress.com, on the other hand, is the official WordPress hosting website.
It is a paid service that provides hosting and management, as well as website creation.
Key Features of WordPress
So how does WordPress work?
Let's take a look at its basic features and how you can use them.
WordPress Dashboard
When you log in to WordPress, you come to the dashboard screen.
This screen contains links to all the tools and functions of your website.
At first, it may seem confusing. But it's pretty simple once you get the hang of it.
Keep an eye out for the following items.
- The dashboard menu – This is the vertical menu on the left side of your screen.
It consists of a series of quick links, so you can access your posts, pages, media files, and user comments. - Screen Options – These are from a large menu at the top of the page.
Here you can choose to hide other on-screen elements, or even customize them. - Welcome– This is the main part of the screen, where you can create posts and pages.
You can also customize your theme, install plugins and manipulate your website widgets.
You will also find links to basic help files. - In one look – Below and to the left of the welcome panel, there is a section “ In one look ».
This area displays basic statistics for your website, including the number of posts, pages, and comments. - Fast draft – At the bottom right of the Welcome panel is the Quick Draft panel.
This area allows you to rate a draft version of an article. It's not a full-featured editor, but it's a way to get your thoughts across quickly. - Activity – This area, at the bottom left of the screen, is similar to a social media feed.
You will see all the latest comments.
You can reply to them, approve them, deny them or delete them completely. - wordpressnews – Bottom right of the screen has a small news section with updates on the status of the WordPress software.
You will receive alerts for any new updates, as well as all official WordPress blog posts.
Content Management
As we discussed, WordPress is a content management system.
Beyond just editing your website, you'll have full access to all your files.
You can update photos and videos and organize them in a file structure.
You can also distribute new articles via an RSS feed.
In this way, your WordPress site serves as a distribution system.
Editor Gutenberg
WordPress recently released a new interface called Gutenberg Editor.
It is a revamped editor designed for modern web pages.
Instead of being built entirely around text, WordPress designed it to allow easy embedding of multimedia content.
You can draw blocks of space on your page and insert content into them.
You can then resize individual blocks or even rearrange them.
This system is much simpler and more intuitive than most web page editors.
Themes:
WordPress themes are packages that modify theappearance of your website.
You'll have access to a handful of themes straight out of the installation box.
But there are thousands of other free options in the WordPress.org repository.
Some themes include two or more page templates.
For example, let's say you run an e-commerce website with a blog attached.
Your e-commerce pages might have one layout, while your blog posts might have another.
We should note that you can dig deep into the code if you want.
Advanced users can create custom style sheets and customize individual pages.
But themes are a useful shortcut for anyone who doesn't want to build a page from scratch.
Plugins
Plugins are tools that add additional functionality to your website.
They let you do things that you can't do with regular HTML or PHP.
E-commerce is a prime example.
By using a plugin, you can accept secure payments without building a secure portal from scratch.
Social media plugins are also popular.
Those little Facebook and Twitter share buttons at the bottom of your favorite website are plugins.
Another common use of plugins is creating forms.
If your website has a forum or memberships, you'll want people to be able to create accounts and log in.
You can achieve this by using a plugin.
WordPress user
In WordPress, you can set different permission levels, or “roles,” for individual users.
This allows you to work with a team of content creators while maintaining overall control.
Here is an overview of the available roles:
- Subscriber – Subscribers can log in to your website and change their profiles and passwords.
They can also leave comments.
This role is useful for any subscription website, whether it's an e-commerce site or a forum. - Contributor – Contributors can create new posts and edit posts they have written.
They can assign their articles to categories and apply tags to them.
However, they cannot upload files; Someone else will have to add images to their posts.
Contributors can also read pending comments, but not approve or reject them. - Author – Authors can do everything contributors can do, but they can also publish their own articles.
Additionally, they are allowed to upload files.
Accordingly, they can add images and other media to their posts. - Publisher – Editors have full control over the posts and pages on your website.
They can publish pending articles from authors and contributors, as well as their own content.
They can also approve or deny comments and delete offensive comments. - Administrator – An administrator controls not only the content of the website, but also the background software. They can install, remove or update plugins and themes.
Additionally, they can assign roles to other users.
For example, they can make a subscriber an author, or an author a publisher.
Be careful not to grant admin privileges to anyone else.
You give them the option to take down your website. - Super Admin – The Super Admin role is a specialized role available on multi-site WordPress networks.
A user with this role has administrator privileges on all sites in the network.
Basic WordPress Definitions
To understand how WordPress works, we'll need to define a few basic terms.
Here is an overview of WordPress terminology.
What is a WordPress post?
A WordPress post is text-based, although it can also incorporate images.
Articles can be simple blog posts, or they can be news or informational articles.
By default, posts will appear on your site in reverse chronological order, like a social media newsfeed.
However, you can sort articles by categories, display them on separate pages, and tag them for easy searching.
If you run a blog, your articles are the part of the website that goes into your RSS feed.
When someone subscribes to your site, they automatically receive updates on these articles.
Articles are great for news, updates, and informational articles.
This is a bad way to list products or content that changes over time.
What is a WordPress page?
Pages are similar to articles in some ways.
It's a single page on your screen, with text, images, and other elements.
However, there are also some differences.
For starters, you can nest pages in a hierarchy.
A good example is the home page that you will find on just about any website.
This page is full of links to other pages on the website.
There may even be menus on the main page, with listings of several subpages.
Many pages are static, such as your website's "About" or "Contact" page.
These pages will rarely, if ever, require updating. Other pages can be dynamic.
Your home page, for example, may contain a list of your latest blog posts and change as you add new posts.
Pages won't appear in your subscribers' RSS feeds, so you can add them without alerting all your subscribers.
However, you can't categorize or label them either, so it's harder to find them.
What is WordPress Hosting?
WordPress is great for create a website.
But to put your site on the Internet, you will need to subscribe to a host.
A web host is a service that stores your website on a server and makes it available to the public.
WordPress hosting comes in two varieties: self-hosted (unmanaged) and managed.
Each method has its merits, and both are worth considering.
Self-hosted WordPress
Self-hosting is a more bare-bones hosting plan.
In most cases, you simply rent space on a server with an operating system.
To create your site, you will need to install more software.
This doesn't just mean installing WordPress.
It also means the installation of any other software necessary for the operation of your website.
Most websites these days are going to use PHP, which you will need to install.
If you're using Apache or other server-based software, you'll need to configure all of this.
The reason people call this hosting “unmanaged” is that there are no other services.
If you want to make any changes or updates to your server, you must do so yourself.
Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed hosting is a hosting plan with additional services.
It starts with the server itself.
In addition to the operating system, the hosting service will usually install additional back-end software such as PHP.
Beyond that, managed hosting companies often provide malware protection, intrusion detection, and automated backups.
This has a few advantages.
For starters, you don't have to spend time or money on security.
Additionally, security can be difficult for beginners to manage.
If your host takes care of it, great.
That said, managed hosting tends to cost more than unmanaged hosting.
This is quite natural, considering all the added value.
What is a WordPress Plugin?
A WordPress plugin is additional software that integrates with your website.
A secure payment system is a good example. It's something you wouldn't want to program yourself, but you might still need it.
As of June 2022, WordPress offers over 50 free plugins on its website.
If that's not enough, you can purchase thousands of additional plugins from third-party developers.
Be careful, however. Some third-party plugins are nothing more than malware disguised as legitimate software.
What is a WordPress theme?
A WordPress theme is a set of files that defines theappearance of your website.
These files can include style sheets, graphics, or code to control more complex website behaviors.
Your theme can make big or small changes.
It can be as simple as changing your font size for H2 headings or as complex as rearranging your entire website.
Free Themes vs Premium Themes
Just like plugins, WordPress.org hosts thousands of free themes.
To be hosted in the WordPress directory, themes must pass a strict review process.
They must demonstrate that they are stable, functional and that they do not create any security problems.
The downside of free themes is that the support is generally poor.
If you're lucky, the developer will have a website with documentation.
If you're unlucky, you can get stuck looking for help on user forums.
To make matters worse, developers may not keep good release notes.
Your theme can update and break your site, and you will have no support on the back-end.
Premium WordPress themes cost money, but they offer better support.
You also have access to more complex themes with more advanced features.
If you can't find what you need in a free theme, it pays to find a premium option.
Premium themes may cost a one-time fee or a subscription.
With a subscription model, the fee covers the cost of ongoing development.
As a result, premium themes tend to be more up to date.
You don't have to worry about a developer suddenly dropping support and leaving you in the lurch.
Neither type of theme is objectively "better" than the other.
It depends on what you need as well as your website budget.
WordPress vs other platforms
WordPress has the most recognition of all website building suites.
But there are other services available, each with their own unique benefits.
Here are some of the most popular options.
WordPress vs. Wix
Wix is a WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) website builder.
When you build a page, it looks like WordPress, at least in general terms.
Unlike WordPress, Wix isn't free, but it includes hosting and domain registration.
On the other hand, it does not support as many plugins or features as WordPress.
WordPress vs. Shopify
Shopify is a platform specially designed for e-commerce sites.
It is designed from the ground up to support online sales and transactions.
Security is their top priority, to prevent fraud and maintain the good reputation of their customers.
If e-commerce is your sole focus, Shopify is an efficient hosting service.
That said, even their “basic” level of service is expensive.
And if you want to use a third-party payment platform, you'll have to pay Shopify a 2% fee.
WordPress vs. Ghost
Ghost is a fast platform for creating blogs.
It's like a lite version of WordPress, designed specifically for the blogging community.
It is easy to use even if you are a beginner.
On the other hand, there are not many customization options and monetization is limited.
How much does WordPress cost?
The cost of WordPress depends on what you do with it.
Theoretically, it can be 100% free.
In practice, you will end up paying at least some fees.
Is WordPress free?
Le wordpress software itself is open-source.
It's free at WordPress.org, where you can download it anytime.
If you are good at coding, you can even modify it to suit your personal needs.
That said, this is just the cost for WordPress itself.
To create a website functional, you will still need to register a domain name and pay for hosting.
Are there any fees associated with using WordPress?
Depending on what you want to do, you may pay additional WordPress costs.
For example, suppose you want to purchase a premium theme.
In this case, you can spend anywhere from $29 to over $80.
If you are a business, it can easily be worth the investment.
You want a professional looking design that lends credibility to your business.
You may also want third-party plugins that are not available for free.
Advantages and disadvantages of using WordPress
Like any other software, WordPress has its pros and cons.
Let's talk about these pros and cons.
Benefits of using WordPress
open source
WordPress is open-source software.
First, it means it's free to use and download.
But it is also free to modify and redistribute it.
Many third-party modifications have even made their way into the official software.
You won't find this kind of community involvement with commercially developed software.
Scalable
WordPress users can create and manage any website, big or small.
With the right server and infrastructure, a WordPress site can support tens of thousands of concurrent users.
You'll also get super-fast search results, even if you're looking for loads of pages.
Easy to install and use
A lot of CMS software is too complicated.
You might be able to create an impressive website, but you'll need a degree in computer science to do so.
WordPress makes things easy.
The interface is simple, with a shallow learning curve.
Meanwhile, customizing your site is a breeze.
If you want to change the look, you can install a new theme.
If you want to add new functions, you can download a plugin.
And because everything is designed with WordPress in mind, you spend less time troubleshooting.
Huge community of developers and support
WordPress.org has an entire section devoted to user support.
It is full of tutorials, overviews and all kinds of technical documents.
If you can't figure something out, the answer is probably here.
But what if there is nothing in the support documentation to solve your problem?
In this case, you can visit the Forums, where website owners like you can share tips and help each other.
Disadvantages of WordPress
Changes can take a long time on large sites
When you propagate a change to a large website, it may take some time to implement.
Let's say you are installing a new theme. It may take several minutes to affect all pages of your website.
In the meantime, different pages will have different themes, spoiling the unified aesthetic.
Plugins and themes should be updated constantly
WordPress plugins and themes are subject to the same risks as other software.
They should be updated periodically to address security threats and fix bugs.
When you log in to manage your site, you may find yourself running 20 minutes of updates.
Not only that, but updates can change the look of your site.
If this happens, you may need to downgrade, which comes with its own risks.
Slow page speeds can be frustrating
Many WordPress themes contain way too much code.
There are a lot of useless fluff that does nothing for your site, but makes it slower to load.
Unless you're an experienced web developer, it's hard to tell what code is disposable and what isn't.
Our recommendation: Sign up for WP Engine
A good web host can mean the difference between a frustrating WordPress experience and a satisfying one.
There are many hosting sites and most web hosts support WordPress.
But if you want a perfectly optimized host for your WordPress site, look no further than WP Engine.
WP Engine is a managed hosting service specifically designed for managing WordPress sites.
Benefits of using WP Engine for WordPress
Ultra-fast hosting
WP Engine is optimized to deliver super-fast loading speeds.
They guarantee load times of three seconds or less, regardless of the size of your site.
This includes remote locations like New Zealand, where loading times are generally longer.
How do they proceed?
They begin by using solid-state drives, which read and write faster than older hard drives.
They also use more advanced networking technology to boost speeds.
For example, WP Engine can detect if a user is a real person or a bot.
It prioritizes requests from real people and responds to bots when it has enough free resources.
Great support when you need help
When your business website goes down, it's more than a minor frustration.
You are actively losing money, especially if it is an e-commerce site.
In this case, it is correct to say that your whole business is out of order.
Fortunately, WP Engine provides 24/24 customer support.
First, you'll connect to a chatbot that can fix the most common issues.
If the chatbot cannot solve your problem, the system will hand you over to a human agent.
There is a queuing system, so you can wait for your agent in line.
Or, you can ask the agent to call you on the phone when your number appears.
Fast and easy installation
Setting up a website with WP Engine is fast.
There is a simple workflow, where a page goes through three stages of development.
These are labeled " Production "," Staging " and " Development ».
Instead of all your drafts being in one place, they are stored according to their place in the process.
At the same time, professionals will still find many useful features.
There are plenty of menus and sidebar controls for power users to take full control of their website.
Secure, safe and efficient
WP Engine offers many safety and security features.
For starters, even the base package includes an SSL certificate.
An SSL certificate is required for any website that collects personal information.
And in many cases hosting services charge extra for one.
Also, WP Engine has an enterprise-grade firewall that can block almost any threat.
If for some reason your site gets attacked anyway, they provide a free hack fix service.
They also back up your site automatically every 24 hours.
Even if the hack cannot be fixed in the conventional way, WP Engine can bring you back to yesterday's site version.
WP Engine runs additional backups whenever they upgrade their internal software or the software on your server.
This way they can immediately revert the changes if something goes wrong.
Their attention to detail allows WP Engine to guarantee an impressive 99,95% uptime.
With their improved SLA, you can improve that uptime rate to 99,99%, on par with the best business hosts on the web.
Tons of time-saving tools
WordPress is already easy to use.
But WP Engine makes it easy by providing a range of additional management tools.
For example, it automatically checks your plugins for updates every day.
You don't have to update them yourself, and your site won't crash because you forgot to run an update.
To do this, install your plugins via the Smart Plugin Manager.
It takes a few extra seconds to complete the initial setup.
But once you set it up, you can forget about managing your plugins.
WP Engine does it for you.
You can even configure automatic updates from private repositories!
Along the same lines, WP Engine does not update to the latest version of WordPress right away.
They thoroughly test each new version to ensure that it is stable.
This shouldn't be necessary, as WordPress has a solid track record when it comes to stability.
But it never hurts to have a second layer of protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WordPress good for a beginner?
WordPress is designed to be accessible to beginners.
That said, some of the more advanced features have a steeper learning curve.
It all depends on what you are trying to do.
And even the most complicated features are easy to master over time.
What is the best course to take to learn WordPress?
WordPress for beginners is a great way for new users WordPress to learn the basics.
Conclusion
WordPress is a powerful CMS for building websites.
Beginners can have a basic site online in minutes, and advanced users can create even more impressive sites.
You can run the site yourself or host it on a managed platform like WP Engine.
Have you used WordPress?
What do you think?
Let us know in the comments!
WordPress is a great way to create all kinds of sites, from blogs to e-commerce.
And since it's free, there's no risk in trying it out.
