WordPress has become the most popular blogging platform and content management system of all time. WordPress users are able to manage their blog without a background in computers and technology. On the surface WordPress is a simple solutions to running your own blog, but underneath and a rich and expansive platform which a savvy programmer can work wonders with. This brings us to what is often referred to as WordPress as CMS ( Content Management System), which allows developers to build complex websites on the WordPress platform. WordPress is very flexible and one of is not the most powerful content management systems available. Some of the web’s most popular sites are based on WordPress such as Wired.com and The New York Times.
One of the main reasons WordPress is so popular is because of how expandable it is. Because of the large user base of WordPress there are more programmer actively working on modules and plugins to expand functionality. The fact that their is such a large amount of add-ons available for WordPress saves programmers time and customers money. If a client wanted to customized contact form that involved validation of fields or advanced calculations I or any other programmer would have to bill the client for the time it takes to write out the code to make such an item. With WordPress I can save time by modifying code already create for the WordPress platform and can spend the time saved working on other elements of the site.
Another great advantage to designing around the WordPress platform is that once a site is finished I can hand it over to a client to make their own updates and changes. Once a site is finished a client can log into the WordPress Control Panel and easily administrate their own site, allowing them to make posts, create and edit pages, moderate comments and make other changes using a WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get) editor just as if they were editing a document in Word. This is invaluable when it comes to dynamic sites that require constant updates and changes or user interaction.
Although WordPress is a great solutions for most individuals and businesses it may not always be appropriate. When choosing a platform to build your website on there are a couple things to consider. One is, how often will I need to change my website. For websites which a termed Static, meaning that the content of pages rarely changes, WordPress may not be the best choice. A designer has a lot more leeway with placing elements and styling pages when working outside of WordPress since they do not have to worry about interacting with the database system that controls and governs WordPress. A simple site that doesn’t need the functionality and expandability of WordPress is often less expensive and easier to develop, but the tradeoff is that you will need some technical expertise or a web developer to make changes and updates. Another thing to consider is maintenance. A static site created using HTML or other web scripting languages can be uploaded to a server and run for years without user intervention, WordPress however may require routine maintenance. The maintenance required for WordPress usually includes updating plugins and WordPress it’s self. The updates are using to improve security and stability or to add new features but not staying on top of it could leave your site vulnerable.
Having created a great deal of both static and WordPress sites I can say for sure that WordPress is invaluable to both me and my clients. WordPress can be scaled to handle anything from a small blog to a vast and robust E-Commerce site or Magazine. To find out more about having WordPress sites created or any other web project feel free to Contact Me.
