Table of contents
- A little WordPress history
- WordPress Benefits in 2023
- The Open-Source Advantage
- Cost-effectiveness over time
- WordPress visual page builders have gone a long way in terms of usability.
- Customization and adaptability
- You have complete control over your WordPress website.
- SEO plugins that are extremely powerful, analytics, and mobile-friendliness
- Security and backups: there are effective methods for mitigating hazards.
- Woocommerce is an excellent WordPress add-on for creating a professional eCommerce store.
- **What about alternative platforms in web development trends?
- Shopify
- Squarespace and Wix
- Webflow
- So, in conclusion, will WordPress still be useful in 2023?
- References
You may be wondering if WordPress will still be useful for web creation in 2023 with so many site-building possibilities available. To help you make your own decision, consider reading the thoughts of a web design firm on this popular website platform.
A little WordPress history
WordPress is a popular website creation platform used by millions of people around the world. It began as a simple blogging platform in 2003, but has since evolved into a comprehensive Content Management System (CMS). It has gained a reputation for revolutionizing website building, particularly for non-technical users, by allowing them to create websites without any coding knowledge. Users can easily customize their sites using built-in widgets, plugins, and themes with just a few clicks.
According to W3Techs, WordPress powers 43% of all websites on the internet, indicating that it runs millions of websites and its usage is growing each year. This impressive success may be due to its user-friendly interface, a large library of themes and plugins, and a strong community support network. As we move towards 2023, the website building industry is becoming increasingly crowded. Many people are wondering if WordPress, which is now over 17 years old, will still be a viable choice in the future. Are other options like Wix, Shopify, Squarespace, and Webflow better?
WordPress Benefits in 2023
Before discussing the benefits, it's important to note that there are two ways to use WordPress: option A is a WordPress.com-hosted site, and option B is a self-hosted WordPress.org site with a different hosting provider. With WordPress.com, you can easily start a blank WordPress website without having to install anything, and they offer affordable pricing (starting at $4 per month) for your own domain.
For a self-hosted WordPress website, you can use your own hosting as long as it supports the WordPress platform. Most hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation, but getting started may require a little more technical knowledge. Once installed, the user interfaces of the two options are nearly identical. While the benefits discussed below apply to both WordPress-hosted and self-hosted sites, the self-hosted option gives you complete control and flexibility. Therefore, we will focus on the self-hosted option below.
The Open-Source Advantage
The use of open-source technologies has transformed the way websites are built. Because of the power of open-source, WordPress continues to evolve as developers from all over the world contribute to its codebase. New plugins and themes are always being published to improve the core WordPress functionality, allowing website owners to stay current with the newest trends. WordPress is able to produce an immensely strong platform for websites and blogs because of a large community of developers, designers, and users. WordPress can be customized to match your needs regardless of the size or complexity of your website. The community is always adding new features and themes, making it easier to create a website that looks exactly as you want it to.
Cost-effectiveness over time
The WordPress platform is free to download and use! You will need to acquire a domain and a WordPress hosting package, but because you have control over these options, you may spend as much or as little as you like. You could install a theme and start creating your site for free using YouTube tutorials…or you could engage a professional web developer to work with. Because you are creating your site using WordPress, it may take a bit longer, but you will get precisely what you want. Other solutions, such as Wix and Squarespace, allow you to build up a site fast and cheaply at first, but capabilities are restricted and memberships can get costly over time.
WordPress visual page builders have gone a long way in terms of usability.
WordPress page builders have gone a long way since their first introduction. Previously, certain themes contained their own unique page editor, the quality of which varied depending on the theme. Visual page editors grew in popularity over time. WordPress even includes its own drag-and-drop interface by default, which helps users to create more graphically. But it’s in the newer generation of third-party page editors that WordPress really shines, which most developers will install via a simple plugin.
The Elementor editor, a ‘drag-and-drop’ interface with a simple learning curve, is a fantastic example. Once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be able to create a new page in no time. Even if the website was created by a professional, if it was built with Elementor, the user may simply make their own changes. WP Bakery is another popular page editor, and some of the most recent premium themes feature excellent built-in editors.
Customization and adaptability
WordPress is well-known for being a user-friendly website platform that can be quickly changed for a variety of applications. If users want more functionality on their site, they can install a WordPress plugin or theme created by a third-party developer. Depending on the add-ons you select, your site can become a basic blog, an e-commerce business, or a listing website for real estate or vehicles. Hello, Elementor is a lightweight free theme created for the Elementor editor. Other popular free themes are Astra, OceanWP, and Neve. There are many premium WordPress themes available, each with a unique purpose in mind.
There will be a learning curve if this is your first time constructing a website, but there are numerous tutorials and tools available online. If you have a large WordPress project but are not a developer, you may hire someone to assist you. Because WordPress is so well-known, it is simple to locate a web development specialist to personalize your website’s functionality, after which you may take control and change it yourself using the page builders.
You have complete control over your WordPress website.
Our major selling point for choosing WordPress as a web design service is that clients control their websites. While this may seem apparent, it is not the case with many other popular website builders. You can only host directly with Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify, and the website you spent hours building and polishing will only operate on that platform.
With WordPress, you may select your own hosting provider and install it in a matter of minutes if they have a one-click installation option. If you become dissatisfied with that provider, the entire website can be relocated – it’s similar to moving your mobile home and parking it someplace else. Most other website alternatives are either totally custom-developed HTML or require you to stay with one provider in order to continue utilizing the website you created using their tool.
SEO plugins that are extremely powerful, analytics, and mobile-friendliness
Search Engine Optimization (SEO), analytics, and mobile responsiveness are all strong tools for helping you realize the full potential of your website. WordPress can handle all of these. SEO plugins such as Yoast or Rankmatch may be used in conjunction with Google services to optimize your content for search engines, while analytics can help you analyze your website’s performance and make modifications as needed. Mobile responsiveness is particularly vital since it guarantees that consumers have a positive experience regardless of the device they use to access your site. If you select an appropriate theme and page editor, It will already be mobile-optimized. You’ll be able to maximize your online presence and get the most out of your website by using these tools.
Security and backups: there are effective methods for mitigating hazards.
Website security and backups are critical components of website ownership. WordPress is a strong and adaptable platform, but it, like any other website, is vulnerable to hackers and harmful code if not properly protected. WordPress regularly rolls out important security improvements, Maintaining your WordPress site regularly by upgrading the core and plugins, and having a solid backup strategy, can ensure its safety and security.If you make frequent backups and have access to the backup files, any website developer could assist you in restoring your website in a matter of minutes. Most hosting providers include a free SSL certificate, which you may install on your WordPress site.
Woocommerce is an excellent WordPress add-on for creating a professional eCommerce store.
WooCommerce is a WordPress-powered free eCommerce solution. WooCommerce is a popular choice for developing an online store owing to its simplicity of use and vast feature set. It offers businesses a simple, customizable internet store. It includes a number of features and plugins that are intended to help you get the most out of your online store. Payment channels such as PayPal and Stripe can be integrated. WooCommerce can help you construct a profitable online store whether you’re just starting out or have an established business.
**What about alternative platforms in web development trends?
Option for custom-built code**
A custom code website is one that is built from scratch using code specifically written for your website by a developer, similar to how websites were built in the early days of the internet. This type of website does not use pre-existing frameworks or templates, but rather relies on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create a unique website. While it may look attractive and load quickly, it is an expensive solution and maintaining and upgrading it can be challenging in the long term. Unless you need a very unique solution, such as a bank or an app, we don't recommend a fully custom-built website. For most standard web pages, using one of the many available platforms is a better option.
Below are some software-as-a-service (SaaS) design tools that operate in a web browser and require a monthly fee to use. Because they only run on certain platforms, the site cannot be moved to a different hosting provider. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Shopify
Shopify is an excellent choice for organizations wishing to create an online store. It might be a terrific alternative for you if you want a robust eCommerce solution that is simple to set up and are willing to spend a bit more for that ease. In addition to the monthly costs, they charge a commission on each sale. It is simple to use because your workspace is pre-installed, and they offer excellent customer service. You can quickly manage inventory, handle payments, offer discounts and promotions, and analyse sales data using Shopify. Consider this option if you want to conduct everything on the website yourself and it will primarily be an online store.
Squarespace and Wix
Wix and Squarespace are wonderful options if you need a simple website quickly and don’t have web design knowledge. They are adequate solutions for individuals who only need to set up a few pages. Both systems include simple drag-and-drop capabilities for customizing your site with photos, text, and other features. They handle all of the back-end maintenance and hosting, so you don’t have to worry about finding a place to host your website or any of the technicalities.
They do have a free domain option in which you use their domain extension, but if you want a custom domain (your own URL) to seem more professional or if you want more of their capabilities, you must pay their monthly membership price. They don’t have as many add-ons, but they do have some extra features that you may pay for. If you don’t want to pay for a web designer and are okay with certain limits, these are viable solutions. Just bear in mind that once you join up with them, you must stay with them if you want to maintain your website. And once your site is built, it is difficult to make significant changes to it.
Webflow
Webflow is one of the newer platforms that we believe will gain traction in the next years. It provides a variety of capabilities ranging from hosting services to integrated eCommerce solutions, making it popular among both web developers and businesses. It’s an intriguing platform marketed as a “no-code” solution, but many honest reviews claim you’ll need some HTML and CSS knowledge and that the learning curve is higher. The interface is not as user-friendly as that of rivals; it resembles an Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop canvas rather than a drag-and-drop editor.
Webflow is not our first choice for someone without web design knowledge, but because it is very adaptable and takes a unique approach, it is worth noting whether you are hiring a web design agency or developing your own website. The price strategy is more complicated than some of the others, and you may need to switch to a higher pricing plan. You may host the completed website with Webflow or export it as HTML and host it elsewhere, albeit the latter is more complex. We believe they are doing something novel with their product, and there are many Webflow fans in online design groups. As a result, we shall be watching their success with interest in the future.
So, in conclusion, will WordPress still be useful in 2023?
As a web design firm, we believe that WordPress is an excellent choice for most websites and use cases. It is user-friendly and has a wide range of features, making it suitable for both beginner and professional developers. Cost efficiency is an important consideration when choosing a platform, and WordPress is well-known for its low maintenance costs. This makes it a great option for individuals who want to save money while creating a powerful website. With a large user and developer community, you can always get help when you need it. Additionally, WordPress is constantly evolving to keep up with changing trends. Ultimately, whether or not WordPress is the right choice for you depends on your personal preference.