“I’m new to websites. What is WordPress, and is it right for me?”
So glad you asked. WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that lets you build, edit, and maintain websites without needing to code everything from scratch. Originally created as blog software, WordPress has evolved into a full platform that powers a huge variety of sites, from portfolios and blogs to ecommerce shops and membership sites.
There are two flavors to keep in mind:
- WordPress.org (self-hosted): You download the software, host it on your own web server (or with a hosting provider), and control themes, plugins, updates, and functionality.
- WordPress.com (hosted service): Automattic runs hosting and infrastructure for you, handling backups, security, and core updates (though with less flexibility in some plans).
For small businesses, the choice between WordPress.org and WordPress.com often comes down to how much control you want versus how much technical work you’d like handled for you. WordPress.org gives you full ownership and flexibility, while WordPress.com takes care of the behind-the-scenes updates and security so you don’t have to.
The good news? Both options still give you access to the same powerful web design tool, and both largely share the same design features. So, no matter which option you choose, your WordPress website will be customizable, scalable, and designed to grow with your business.
Overview
- A Short History of WordPress
- Why Choose WordPress Over Other Website Builders?
- What Is WordPress Good For?
- Who Uses WordPress?
- Core Features of WordPress
- Sign Up & Set Up: How to Get Started with WordPress
- What’s the Catch?
- Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress
A Short History of WordPress
WordPress was first launched in 2003, when developers Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little forked an existing blogging tool called b2/cafelog to create something better: a publishing platform that anyone could use.
What started as a simple blogging engine quickly evolved into a robust CMS trusted by millions. Today, WordPress is maintained by a massive global community, with thousands of developers contributing themes, plugins, and improvements that make the platform more powerful every year.
WordPress Milestones
- 2003: Created as a fork of b2/cafelog.
- 2005–2010: Evolved from a blog tool into a full CMS.
- 2018: Introduced the modern block editor (Gutenberg).
- Today: Powers more than 40% of all websites worldwide.
Fun Fact: WordPress’s name was coined by Matt’s friend Christine Selleck Tremoulet, who combined “word” and “press” to reflect the platform’s publishing roots.
Why Choose WordPress Over Other Website Builders?
There are plenty of website builders out there that make it easy to throw a site together quickly. And while they’re fine for very basic pages, they often limit what your site can do in the long run. But WordPress is a powerful, flexible, and widely trusted content management framework, offering a variety of perks that can help you build more and achieve more.
| WordPress | Other Builders | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | WordPress is a powerful, flexible, and widely trusted content management framework that gives you full ownership of your site. | Many drag-and-drop website builders offer little to no site ownership. Instead, you rent space on a proprietary platform. |
| Scalability | WordPress is designed to grow with your business. Want to add a blog, an online store, a booking system, or even a membership area? There are free plugins for all of that! | Basic site builders offer basic starting points. If you want to update your website with new offerings and features, you’ll have to purchase the next package or tier before you can start building. |
| Flexibility | WordPress offers thousands of plugins and website themes, many of which are completely free. From the simple to the extravagant, WordPress makes it easy to build it all. | When you go with other web builders, you’ll be restricted by templates and pricey add-ons. Worst of all, if you want to redesign your site, you’ll have to start completely from scratch. |
| SEO Tools | WordPress offers built-in tools to help you rank higher on Google and get found online. From clean code and customizable permalinks to powerful SEO plugins like Yoast and Rank Math, WordPress makes it easy to optimize your site. | Most basic web builders offer little to no SEO tools. Not only that, but many are actually bad for SEO. If your web builder has sloppy code or slow page speeds, your Google rank and visibility will suffer. |
What Is WordPress Good For?
WordPress isn’t just for bloggers anymore. With a user-friendly dashboard and a wide range of plugins, it’s used to power everything from personal portfolios to complex business sites.
But what is WordPress best used for? To list just a few:
- Business or Brand Websites — Whether you’re running a small shop, consulting service, or agency, WordPress gives you a professional online presence. With customizable templates and built-in SEO tools, you can showcase your brand, highlight what you do best, and make it easier for new customers to find you.
- Blogs & Content-Driven Sites — WordPress was born as a blogging platform, so it’s still one of the easiest ways to share your voice. Organize posts with categories and tags, keep readers coming back, and manage everything from one simple dashboard.
- E-commerce / Online Stores — Want to sell online? Add the WooCommerce plugin, and suddenly your site becomes a full online store. From product listings and payments to shipping integrations, it’s all built right in.
- Membership or Subscription Sites — Running a course, community, or resource hub? WordPress can gate content, manage subscribers, and handle recurring payments with the right plugins. Perfect if you’ve got premium content to share.
- Portfolio / Showcase Sites — For designers, photographers, and other creatives, WordPress makes your work shine. Choose a template, set up galleries, and give clients or fans a professional way to browse your projects.
- Local Businesses & Service Providers — If you’re a restaurant, salon, or repair service, WordPress helps you get practical. Share menus, services, and testimonials. You can even add booking options or maps so customers can connect with you easily.
- Hybrid sites — Maybe you want a blog and a store. Or a portfolio with a members-only section. WordPress makes mixing and matching simple, so your site can grow with your ideas.
- Small Businesses — WordPress is budget-friendly to start, with low-cost hosting and plenty of free themes and plugins. As your business grows, your site can grow too — from a simple page to a full e-commerce store. Best of all, you can customize your site easily without needing to dive into code.
Who Uses WordPress?
Want to know how powerful WordPress really is? It’s trusted by some of the biggest brands and organizations in the world.
Here are a few real examples of sites built on WordPress:
- WhiteHouse.gov — the official U.S. government site.
- Microsoft News — hosts many of Microsoft’s product blogs.
- The Rolling Stones — yes, the legendary rock band runs on WordPress.
- Sony Music — a massive entertainment brand powered by WordPress.
You can explore even more at the WordPress Showcase, where hundreds of incredible websites across industries highlight what’s possible with WordPress.
Core Features of WordPress
So, what makes WordPress so popular? It all comes down to the features. From customizable design to built-in SEO tools, WordPress offers a full, easy-to-use toolkit for coders and non-coders alike.
Themes & Design
WordPress “themes” are templates that determine how your site will look. You can install free or premium themes, switch designs without touching content, and often customize via theme settings or child themes.
Plugins & Extensibility
Plugins are small applications that add or change features. Want an online store? Use the WooCommerce plugin and voila — a fully customizable digital storefront. Need contact forms, SEO tools, caching, backups, analytics? Do a quick plugin search and pick your favorite. There’s a plugin for nearly every online need you can think of.
Block Editor (Gutenberg)
By default, WordPress comes with a block-based editor (Gutenberg), which lets you build pages by adding “blocks” (paragraphs, images, columns, buttons, and more). It’s more visual and modular compared to older edit-code approaches.
Content Management
WordPress is great for organizing content, including posts, pages, categories, tags, media, menus, and taxonomies. You manage content in an all-in-one dashboard, and best of all, it’s designed with non-coders in mind.
User & Role Management
You can grant different permissions to users (administrator, editor, author, and subscriber), making it easier to share responsibilities without letting anyone break the site.
SEO & Clean Structure
WordPress produces clean, SEO-friendly permalinks, metadata, category/tag organization, and more. Combined with SEO plugins (like Yoast or RankMath), you can easily optimize your site for search engines.
Updates, Security & Backups
Because WordPress is so popular, there’s a large community of experts who are constantly working to keep security tight. That said, you’ll need to stay on top of regular updates, especially for your core, themes, and plugins. If you’d rather not worry about it, many hosting providers offer managed WordPress hosting, which includes automatic updates, backups, and built-in security features to keep your site safe behind the scenes.
Sign Up & Set Up: How to Get Started with WordPress
Getting started with WordPress might sound intimidating, but the process is actually pretty straightforward, even if you’re not a tech pro. Think of the setup more as just answering questions rather than having to figure out the “right” options.
| Choose hosting & a domain | Your website hosting platform is where your site lives, and your domain is your web address (like yourbusiness.com). Many WordPress hosting providers make this step super simple with “one-click installs.” |
| Install WordPress | Good news: most hosting providers will walk you through this in just a few clicks. You’ll fill in basics like your site name, and WordPress does the rest. |
| Pick a theme | Choose a design you like (there are thousands of free and paid ones), and know that you can always switch it up later. |
| Add a few key plugins | Plugins are like apps for your site. At the start, keep it simple: an SEO plugin (for search engines), a contact form (so people can reach you), and a backup plugin (just in case). You can always add more later. |
| Create your main pages | Most small businesses start with a Home page, an About page, a Services page, and a Contact page. Use WordPress’s block editor to drop in text, images, and buttons. No coding required. |
| Customize your look | Add your logo, pick your colors, and choose fonts that fit your brand. Always check your site on mobile, since most visitors will see it there first. |
| Publish your site | Once you’re happy, hit “Publish” and share your site with the world! Don’t worry about getting it perfect. You can update and tweak as you go. |
What’s the Catch?
Of course, no platform is perfect — and WordPress is no exception. While it’s powerful and flexible, there are a few things to keep in mind if you’re planning to manage a site on your own.
Maintenance & Updates
WordPress needs regular attention. Core software, plugins, and themes all release updates, and staying on top of them keeps your site secure and running smoothly.
Keep your site healthy by:
- Updating your plugins and themes regularly
- Installing new versions of WordPress core when prompted
- Scheduling automatic backups
Learning Curve
WordPress is beginner-friendly, but deeper customization takes practice. You may need to spend time experimenting (or Googling) to learn advanced features and design tweaks.
Learning WordPress is a lot like:
- Learning Canva or Google Docs: Once you get familiar with the menus and tools, everything starts to click.
- Setting up a new phone or computer: There’s an initial setup process, but after that, it’s all customization and preference.
- Using a drag-and-drop builder: You’ll start by moving blocks and elements around, and before long, you’ll realize how much control you have over the design.
Performance & Growth
As your site grows, you’ll want to think about:
- Speed: Use caching plugins or image-compression tools
- Traffic: Upgrade hosting if your audience expands
- Optimization: Review analytics and remove unused plugins.
Should You Manage It Yourself?
For small business owners short on time, maintenance can feel overwhelming. Ask yourself:
“Is my time better spent growing my business, or troubleshooting my website?”
Sometimes the smartest move is letting WordPress experts handle the technical side so you can stay focused on what you do best.
Let Us Manage Your WordPress Website for You
WordPress is one of the most powerful and flexible platforms out there — perfect for small businesses that want room to grow without being locked into a single provider. But making the most of it takes more than just picking a style and hitting publish.
At Succeeding Small, we’re experts in all things WordPress. Whether you need a fully custom site, a templatized starter site to launch quickly and affordably, or ongoing maintenance to keep things running smoothly, we’ve got you covered. Our team specializes in WordPress web design, SEO optimization, secure hosting, and long-term website support — so your site stays fast, functional, and built for growth.
Let us take WordPress off your plate. Learn more about our web design services today, or reach out to us for a free strategy session!
Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress
What is WordPress best used for?
WordPress is best for creating flexible websites that can grow with your needs. It started as a blogging tool, but now it’s used for business websites, ecommerce shops, portfolios, memberships, and more. Its strength lies in versatility — whether you want a simple site today or a complex one tomorrow, WordPress can handle it.
Is WordPress free to use?
Yes! WordPress itself is free, open-source software. Your main costs come from web hosting, your domain name, and any premium themes or plugins you choose to add.
What’s the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
WordPress.com is a hosted service where the technical side (like security and updates) is managed for you, but customization is more limited. WordPress.org is self-hosted, giving you complete control, flexibility, and ownership — but it requires more setup and maintenance.
Do I need to know how to code to use WordPress?
Nope! WordPress is designed to be user-friendly. You can build and edit your site using website themes, plugins, and the block editor without touching a line of code. Of course, coding can unlock more advanced customizations if you want them.
Is it hard to learn WordPress?
Not really. There’s a bit of a learning curve at first, but most beginners can get comfortable quickly thanks to its visual editor and huge library of tutorials. Many people compare it to learning a new app — tricky at first, but much easier once you practice.
Is WordPress good for small businesses?
Absolutely. WordPress is cost-effective, scalable, and SEO-friendly, making it a strong choice for small businesses that want long-term growth and flexibility without being tied to a single vendor.
How secure is WordPress?
WordPress can be very secure as long as you keep it updated and use reputable plugins and themes. Many businesses also choose managed WordPress hosting for extra layers of security, backups, and support.
What are the disadvantages of WordPress?
The biggest downsides are the need for regular updates, the risk of poorly made plugins causing issues, and the time it takes to learn the basics. For small businesses that don’t want to deal with maintenance, hiring a WordPress expert can solve these problems.
How much does WordPress cost?
The software is free, but you’ll pay for hosting ($5–$30 per month on average), a domain name (around $10–$20 per year), and any premium themes or plugins. The total cost depends on how simple or advanced you want your site to be.
Do you own your content on WordPress?
Yes, especially if you use WordPress.org. Unlike some other website builders, you fully own your site and content, which means you can move it to another host anytime. With WordPress.com, you own your content too, but you’re more limited in how you can move or customize it.
Can I sell stuff on a WordPress website?
Definitely! WordPress powers many online stores through the WooCommerce plugin. You can sell physical products, digital downloads, services, and even subscriptions or memberships — all from your WordPress site.
