WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system (CMS), powering over 40% of all the websites on the internet. While many of us are familiar with its basic functions, there’s a lot more to WordPress than meets the eye.
Whether you’re a seasoned user or just starting out, here are 10 cool facts and tips to help you get the most out of your WordPress website.
1. It’s Not Just for Blogging
While WordPress started as a blogging platform in 2003, it has since evolved into a full-fledged CMS capable of handling any type of website. Whether you’re building an eCommerce site, a portfolio, a forum, or a membership site, WordPress has the tools and plugins to make it happen. This versatility is one of the key reasons why WordPress has become and remains so popular.
2. WordPress Powers Some of the Biggest Websites in the World
Did you know that major brands and organisations use WordPress to power their websites? From The New York Times to Forbes and even The Walt Disney Company, WordPress is trusted by some of the biggest names in the world. Its flexibility, scalability, and robust community make it a top choice for businesses of all sizes.
3. WordPress is Open Source
One of the coolest things about WordPress is that it’s open-source software. This means that it’s free to use, modify, and distribute. The open-source nature of WordPress has fostered a massive community of developers who contribute to its ongoing development and create thousands of plugins and themes, many of which are also free.
4. There Are Over 55,000 Plugins Available
Speaking of plugins, WordPress has an extensive repository of over 55,000 plugins that can add virtually any feature or functionality to your site. Whether you need to improve your SEO, enhance security, sell products, manage subscriptions, or add social media sharing buttons, there’s a plugin for that. Just be sure to choose reputable plugins that are regularly updated to avoid any potential security issues.
5. You Can Schedule Posts in Advance
WordPress allows you to schedule posts in advance, making content management a breeze. Whether you’re planning a vacation, business trip, or simply want to maintain a consistent posting schedule, you can write your posts ahead of time and schedule
them to go live at a specific date and time. This feature is particularly useful for businesses that want to ensure a steady flow of content.
6. WordPress is Multilingual
WordPress is available in more than 70 languages, making it accessible to a global audience. But did you know that you can also create a multilingual website with WordPress? Plugins like WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin) or Polylang make it easy to translate your content into multiple languages, helping you reach a broader audience.
7. Built-In Image Editing Tools
You don’t need to be a Photoshop expert to edit images in WordPress. The platform comes with built-in image editing tools that allow you to crop, rotate, flip, and resize images directly from the media library. This feature is incredibly convenient for quick adjustments and helps ensure that your images are optimised for your site.
8. Auto-Updates for Security
Security is a top priority for WordPress, and the platform offers automatic updates for minor releases. This means that your WordPress site will automatically update to the latest minor version without you having to lift a finger, ensuring that you have the latest security patches. For major updates, you’ll still need to initiate the update manually, but the auto-update feature is a big help when it comes to keeping your site secure with minimal effort.
9. You Can Create Custom Post Types
Most WordPress users are familiar with posts and pages, but did you know you can create custom post types? Custom post types allow you to create different types of content that aren’t necessarily blog posts or static pages. For example, if you run a product review site, you can create a custom post type specifically for reviews, with custom fields for things like ratings and release dates. This adds a layer of organisation and functionality to your content.
10. WordPress Can Be Used as a Headless CMS
A lesser known but powerful feature of WordPress is its ability to function as a headless CMS. This means you can use WordPress to manage your content while using a different front-end technology to display it. This decoupled architecture allows for greater flexibility in design and performance, making WordPress an excellent choice for developers who want to create modern, dynamic web applications.
Ultimately WordPress is far more than just a simple website builder, it’s a powerful, flexible platform that can be customised to meet almost any need. From its humble beginnings as a blogging tool to its status serving as the backbone of some of the world’s most popular websites, WordPress continues to evolve and surprise users with its capabilities.
If you would like some help on building a WordPress website, making some changes or updates or need some ad hoc maintenance and support, we can help!
We offer a comprehensive WordPress website support and maintenance service, and can structure our services based on your requirements and budget, whether it be to work on an ad hoc basis at an affordable hourly rate, a retainer with a fixed number of hours per month, or you need a custom plan, our team can partner with you to keep your site updated and online.