WordPress is a monumental achievement in the world of web content management. On May 27, 2023, it gears up to celebrate its 20th year of existence, having powered approximately 43% of all websites over the years. This has made it the leading content management system in the world. In this article, we delve into why WordPress is the go-to source for web design agencies, enterprise publishers, search marketers, and ecommerce sites, among others. We spoke to the Executive Director of WordPress, Josepha Haden Chomphosy (LinkedIn), and various other people who partner with WordPress, to gain insights into the reasons behind its massive success.
WordPress Democratized the Internet
Before WordPress, individuals and businesses had to spend a small fortune to acquire an enterprise Content Management System (CMS) that would give them what WordPress provides for free. The alternative was to learn how to code or use software like Dreamweaver. However, the advent of WordPress democratized online publishing and became arguably the single most important innovation of the Internet era. A free open source software, WordPress, became an innovation that positively impacted millions of people around the world.
Secret to Success: Make it Easy to Use
What drove the success of WordPress is the fact that it’s purposely designed to be easy to install and get publishing fast. This is the guiding principle of virtually every decision made in the development of WordPress. To achieve this, WordPress believes in simplifying things greatly. This principle is laid out in an official statement of the WordPress philosophy: “Great software should work with little configuration and setup. WordPress is designed to get you up and running and fully functional in no longer than five minutes. You shouldn’t have to battle to use the standard functionality of WordPress. We work hard to make sure that every release is in keeping with this philosophy. We ask for as few technical details as possible during the setup process as well as providing full explanations of anything we do ask.”
Launched Millions of Businesses
The focus on simplicity, freedom and fostering an ecosystem of innovation has resulted in the launch of millions of websites and the success of millions of businesses worldwide. WordPress powerhouses like managed web hosting company, Kinsta, have praised WordPress for the way it benefits smaller merchants incredibly.
“Smaller merchants benefit tremendously from WordPress. WordPress gives them the software for free, including the free WooCommerce ecommerce plugin that unlocks ecommerce capabilities. Tens of thousands of plugins give the freedom and flexibility to merchants to tailor WordPress for their custom needs.”
WordPress Is Adaptable
One of the significant reasons why WordPress is so popular is that it’s highly adaptable for any use case, from simple blogging to ecommerce and even enterprise-level publishing. Its adaptability has seen some of the world’s leading websites using it; these include, but are not limited to, TechCrunch, Sony Music, Vogue, Southern Bancorp., and Harvard University’s Nieman Journalism Lab.
Managed WordPress Hosting Takes Care of the Technical Overhead
Managed WordPress hosting takes care of the technical overhead typically associated with using WordPress, allowing publishers and ecommerce stores to focus on publishing and selling products. Factors such as site speed, automatic backups, hacking defense, software updates, and maintenance are all done by the managed WordPress hosting provider.
Interview With Executive Director of WordPress
We interviewed Josepha Haden Chomphosy, the Executive Director of WordPress, to understand why WordPress is the first choice for so many publishers and developers worldwide:
WordPress was initially known as a blogging platform, but can it be a good platform for ecommerce, as simple or as complex as is needed?
Chomphosy: WordPress’ mission is to democratize publishing, meaning merchants of all sizes and types can benefit from creating with it. Whether they use WordPress to build their entire business—from stores and customer management to marketing and communications, or as part of a suite of tools, they get more control and ownership of their brand over time. However, if I were to choose a single group that benefits the most, it would have to be small to medium business owners. they can get high-quality sites and tools at costs that work for any business budget while ensuring that their software is here to stay.”
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