WordPress powers over a third of the web and more than 38% of the top 10,000 websites. What started as a blogging platform has evolved into the most widely-used content management, learning management, and membership systems in the world.
WordPress is capable of running the most eminent websites on the internet. The likes of Sony, TechCrunch, Microsoft, and Facebook all run sites using the CMS. Its size in the market makes WordPress a leader in innovative digital experiences, and its ecosystem of experts continues to drive this forward. Developers, designers, and WordPress specialised agencies, like Elementary, all share knowledge and collaborate, meaning there is endless scope to evolve your website.
Owing to its proven flexibility, robust security of the core CMS and speed of deployment, WordPress is a wise choice for website owners looking to scale for years to come.
Ongoing support via WordPress Open Source
The world is moving away from proprietary, closed-off systems in favour of open and connected tools and services. As an open-source platform, WordPress offers complete freedom, flexibility, and customisability.
Increased freedom
Proprietary solutions often complicate updates and integrations, while open source solutions eliminate the risk of being ‘locked’ in with a vendor. Closed systems come with risks, including the possibility of rebuilding systems from scratch if you decide to part ways with the developer. With open-source, you’re no longer at the mercy of a vendor’s roadmap, pricing structure, or business decisions.
Heightened Flexibility
Open source solutions like WordPress allow you to innovate at your own pace. You can react to market trends and handle issues instantly – without having to rely on the input and availability of a vendor. What’s more, you’re never stuck with WordPress; if you ever decide to switch solutions, you’re not locked in and it’s easy to get your data out.
Easy Customisation
Need customisation? No problem – there is likely a plugin to fit your needs. If not, WordPress freely offers a robust set of APIs that can be used to develop custom plugins for just about any use case. The core philosophy behind WordPress development, alongside being designed for the majority, is an emphasis on simplicity and efficiency. You can take the software and tweak it to suit your needs.
Extensive Content Capabilities
WordPress was built with the content editor in mind. Offering a user-friendly interface, you can effortlessly add and edit content to create a beautiful, high-impact website. WordPress has a best-in-class content editing experience and is one of the primary reasons why it is the most popular open-source platforms. What’s more, WordPress Gutenberg continues to enhance the editing experience. With a range of innovative new features, it enables editors to make better decisions regarding layout, UX, SEO, and calls to action.
Accessibility Standards
WordPress’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion means your message is sure to reach the widest audience possible. Using a CMS that works “regardless of device or ability”, you can focus on optimising the user experience without worrying about updating a proprietary system.
Enterprise-Level Security
Running 37% of the web makes WordPress a natural target for security exploits, but it also means it is the most vetted and tested CMS available. WordPress core is so secure that an updated version has never had a major exploit. The real risk lies in plugins in themes, but this is easily remedied by doing your research, using a professional like Elementary, and having a hardened environment to protect yourself from common threats.
Unlimited Scalability on WordPress
Scalable infrastructure is all about handling or eliminating variables and unknowns. With WordPress, there are endless theme frameworks and plugins that are proven to support large, taxing operations. As a site owner, you must be prepared for whatever may come, and a reliable platform is critical to scaling your site effectively. With the right infrastructure and development practices in place, WordPress can push hundreds of millions, even billions, of pageviews a month.
WordPress is Built for Longevity
When choosing a CMS, it’s important to keep longevity in mind. Don’t create headaches down the road by choosing a solution that can’t grow with you. WordPress is an ideal choice for enterprise organisations because it’s here to stay; the core team is proactive in improving WordPress, and the CMS will continue to be a viable framework for years to come.
Backward Compatibility
Dedicated to ensuring backward compatibility, WordPress is going to make sure you aren’t backtracking with each update. You can rest assured that the code you implement today isn’t going to break tomorrow, making it an incredibly future-proof platform. The vision for WordPress is that, much like many browsers and mobile apps, you shouldn’t have to think about which version you’re running – you’re just using WordPress.
Growing Talent Pool
The large and growing community of WordPress professionals is another sign the CMS is here to stay. You have a community to rely on and can attend a WordCamp near you to meet members of the core team and take advantage of the community’s knowledge.
If you have any questions about creating a WordPress website for your organisation, get in touch and we’d be happy to help.
The post Why WordPress? The Power of Ownership and Flexibility with Open Source appeared first on Elementary Digital.