What is WordPress? Beginner’s Guide

If you want to start a blog, then you must have heard the WordPress somewhere. Beginners might be confused about WordPress, and that’s why we are here today. I am going to share detail about WordPress for beginners, so they can use this information to start attractive blogs online.

What is WordPress?

In simple words, it is the most popular way to start a blog or website. Let us say, over 39 percent of websites on the internet are powered by WordPress. That is more than one-fourth of the websites on the internet.

It is licensed under GPLv2 and has open-source content management. So, anyone can use it to adjust their website for free. They have a content management tool that can change the website format easily. Hence, it is one of the most desirable platforms for blogging or creating a web.

One of the best parts about using WordPress is that you don’t have to be a developer to manage websites. You can alter it any way you please if you have access to WordPress templates and plugin.

Can WordPress make any kind of website?

At first, WordPress was mainly used for blogging. Later, as it developed and the main code was changed, it was also used to e-stores. Additionally, there are so many plugins and themes, it can be used to make any type of website at present.

Here is a list of website that you can make with WordPress;

• Blogs
• Portfolios
• Business websites
• E-commerce stores
• Social Network
• Membership sites

You can use WordPress to make any type of website you can imagine.

The difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org

The difference between the two can be covered in details, but in small words;

WordPress.org is a website that is 100 percent yours. It is self-hosted, open-source, and free.

WordPress.com is a website that is a paid service used from WordPress.org This one is also a self-hosted WordPress that is simple but not flexible to users.

Recently, there have been some changes in WordPress.com which made it more difficult to differentiate between the two. However, here are the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.

If you are using WordPress.org you can download it and use it any way you like. At first, you need to buy the domain name, then you can start formating and give it a personal touch.

WordPress.com is built on WordPress.org, they will host the site and take care of everything related to running the site. But here you don’t have the freedom to change your website as you want.

The WordPress.org is made by a non-profit organization. It is open-source software management. WordPress.com is made by Automattic company, they built the website on WordPress.org for a profit.

In the software world, the two are completely separate. Although it is extremely difficult to find a difference between them. Matt Mullenweg is the owner of both. Hence there is a very thin line between the two.

You can use both platforms to edit and change your website. However, if you compare the two, you will probably find WordPress.com much easier to use than WordPress.org.

How to create websites using WordPress.com?

Thanks to WordPress.com, creating a website is as simple as registering an account on the platform. You don’t have to mess around with domains and hosts. It can be done within few minutes.

How much do you have to pay to WordPress.com?

As you know, WordPress.com comes with a price. You can get the service for free or pay $24.92 per month. In the free version, you will get;

• subdomain of your website
• Limited storage space
• Lots of ads display

Now if you take the paid account, you can have your own domain name. You can remove ads in the paid version, but the space remains limited.

How to create websites with WordPress.org?

As we said before, WordPress.org is a bit tougher to use than WordPress.com. But it is still user-friendly. These are self-hosted, and you have to get your own domain name and web host through the platform.

You have to install WordPress.org software on your web host. There is no need of coding to get your host.

Most platforms make it possible with simple clicks. You may find hosts that pre-install WordPress.org for you. So, you don’t have to go through the trouble.

What is the cost of WordPress.org?

Generally, there is a free version of WordPress.org, but you can pay to get certain features for benefits. For example, if you want a personal domain name, it comes with $10 a year.

Similarly, depending on the web hosting management, you can pay from $3 to $5 per month to as high as $100 per month. In the beginning, you can pay $50 a year to get your website.

Which one is more flexible? WordPress.com or WordPress.org.

One of the best parts about WordPress.org is that you can install any plugins on the website. It allows you to create a variety of color combinations and themes from a third party which the WordPress.com Do not allow. Hence WordPress.org gives you more options to format your website.

Is a third party installation possible with WordPress.com?

For a long time, WordPress.com did not allow third-party plugins. Recently, it updated and allows some external plugins.

However, if you are paying WordPress.com $300 a year business plan, then you will probably have access to many extensions just like WordPress.org.

The free plans and other paid plans do not have these privileges. This is why WordPress.com is not preferred by many.

Can you install a third-party extension in WordPress.org?

Yes, you can install third-party extensions in WordPress.org and have much flexibility while making your website.

How secure is WordPress.com?

One of the best parts about WordPress.com is that it is secure. If you are using this platform, you don’t have to worry about security. The system is locked-down, even if you want to make your site vulnerable you can’t.

WordPress.org manages security

Although it is not as secure as WordPress.com, you have the flexibility to make it secure. Here you have to put some work to make your website secure enough.

Let us just say, the security is a trade for flexibility you get on the website. So, it is your pick if you want to use WordPress.com or WordPress.org.

Where did WordPress come from?

WordPress came to the surface thanks to Matt Mullenweg, and Mike Little. Later, many people had their contribution to WordPress development.

Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little are the faces of WordPress ever since it began. They are also the originator of Automattic, which is the profit company of WordPress.com.

WordPress started its journey back in 2003. As time passed it developed tremendously because of contributors. Now you can easily use WordPress to manage and enhance traffic to a website.

It has developed a lot over the years, as it has a large community. Now you can create any type of website using WordPress.

Who can use WordPress?

WordPress can be used by anyone, as it can be used to make any type of website. If you want to make a personal blog, WordPress tools are there to help you out.

Similarly, if you are a businessman and want to make a website for your brand, WordPress is once again your best friend. Everyone can use WordPress for their benefits. Here are some well-known names who are using WordPress services;

Microsoft

You must have heard about Microsoft. They are using WordPress for their official blogs. Additionally, they also use WordPress to power their software like skype and Windows.

Whitehouse.gov

The official website of the Whitehouse.gov is another website that is powered by WordPress.

The Rolling Stones

Some popular bands like to keep their own website. One such band is the Rolling Stones. They used WordPress to run their website for their fans and visitors.

Why choose WordPress and not anything else?

Until now, you know some information about WordPress. You know that many well-reputed companies, bands, and others use WordPress to run their website.

So, you can tell WordPress is good. But is it the right choice for your website? You have other options for your website, then WordPress. So, what makes WordPress a suitable choice?

There are many reasons why WordPress is the right pick for you.

It is free and open-source

You may want to find alternatives to WordPress, but they are not free and open source like WordPress. Most people choose WordPress solely due to this reason.

However, you may need to make a small payment at first for hosting. But the rest of the service is free.

You can use it to make your website any way you please. However, if you are using an alternative, you will need to pay for the service they give you.

WordPress is Extensible

You need a developer to run any type of website. The same cannot be said if you are using other platforms.

It is easy enough to make changes and modify your website yourself. This way, you can make your website with your favorite theme. You don’t have to rely on a developer to do that for you.

When you are using WordPress, you will find many plugins and tools that will help you change portions of your website. You can get creative and design your website any way you like.

You can use the following options for presenting the website;

Theme

There are many available themes on WordPress for you. Select one of them to change how the website looks. If you don’t like anything about a theme, you can edit and change its appearance again.

Additional plugins

When you are making a website for a particular purpose, you need to add functions to the site. This is where the plugins come in. They will help you to build your site and make it operative.

You need to find the right plugin for your website, depending on the main purpose of your website. Once again, there are small are extensive plugin to use and update your website.

A small plugin can help you make a form on your webpage. However, you can build an online store with a plugin as well.

There are a lot of plugins to select from. Choose one that helps you to make your website interesting. Use your creativity in this process. Then your audience will love it.

How many plugins and themes are available on WordPress?

As you can see, plugins and themes are the best way to organize your webpage. So, if you want to design an amazing website, you will need many plugins and themes.

Good for you that WordPress consists of 50000 plugins and 5000 themes. Moreover, you will have tonnes of premium options to choose from. So, rest assured that you can create a unique and interesting website by using WordPress.

WordPress is easier to install than its alternatives

If you want to use the amazing features of WordPress, you need to install it on your website. Once again, WordPress has the upper hand with its competitors as it is easy to install.

It is only a few clicks away from your site. Once you install WordPress, you can get started with the templates and formatting.

If you are getting a new web host, most of them will contain WordPress on them right from the start. As it is user-friendly, and beginners understand them well, it is the right option to start with a web page. You can use the tools to make a webpage you like.

Final words

Now you know what is WordPress and how you can use it to modify your website. Keep in mind that Workpress.org gives you more flexibility in formatting the site than WordPress.com. Hence, many prefer WordPress.org.

If you understand how the two works, you know that they are similar but different. Usually, it is best to use a self-hosted platform for our website. That way, we can build the website as we want. Then we can use all the benefits needed to design a good website.