What is WordPress, and is it right for your business?

WordPress in one sentence

WordPress is free software that lets you run a website without knowing how to code. You log in to a panel, write text much like in a word processor, add photos and click "Publish".

It started in 2003 as a blogging tool. Today it runs company websites, online shops, news portals and government sites.

How it works in practice

A WordPress website has three parts, each with its own job:

• The admin panel: where you or a colleague change the content.
• The theme: how the website looks, meaning colours, layout and fonts.
• Plugins: add-ons that extend what it can do, such as a contact form, a shop or backups.

The advantages that really matter

The biggest advantage is freedom. You do not need to call a developer to change your opening hours or add a photo of a new project. Many people know the panel, so help is easy to find.

The second advantage is independence. The website belongs to you, and you can move it to another host or another developer at any time.

What nobody mentions during the sale

WordPress needs regular care. The system and plugins get security updates every few weeks. A website nobody updates for a year becomes an easy target for attackers.

The second problem is too many plugins. Each one adds code that slows the site down. I have seen websites with 40 plugins that took 8 seconds to load on a phone. Visitors from Google do not wait that long. If speed matters and you want to keep a familiar panel, the answer is headless WordPress.

When WordPress is a good choice

I recommend a WordPress website when:

• You change your content often or publish news.
• More than one person looks after the content.
• You want a familiar tool and do not want to depend on a single developer.
• You have someone to handle updates, or you sign up for technical care.