If you’re thinking about building a website and wondering if WordPress is still relevant in 2023, let me assure you: it absolutely is! As someone who has been using WordPress for over a decade, I can confidently say that it has come a long way since its creation in 2003. Today, it remains one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) out there.
In this blog post, I’ll explain why WordPress is still a great choice in 2023 and why you should seriously consider it for your website. So, let’s dive in and discover the reasons why WordPress continues to shine!
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WordPress Trends in 2023
I have been following the latest trends in WordPress for 2023. The WordPress team has been working on exciting improvements and enhancements to an already powerful platform, making it more versatile and user-friendly than ever. Let’s take a look at some of the exciting developments for WordPress in 2023:
One of the significant developments is the introduction of more intuitive design options directly in WordPress. Back in 2018, WordPress added the Guttenberg editor a block style editor that allows users to create stunning layouts on pages and posts with minimal effort. The team continues to work on the editor that offers a more intuitive drag-and-drop style interface for creating pages and blog posts with WordPress.
At this point, I still think the Gutenberg blocks are best kept to simple layouts like the type that you might use in a blog post. Even though the WordPress team has been working on full site editing capabilities it’s still best to use a dedicated design plugin or theme to create your own WordPress designs. But blocks for posts are a massive improvement!
Easy of Use and Customization
WordPress is a fantastic choice for beginners! It has a small learning curve, but once you grasp the basics, it becomes incredibly user-friendly. You’ll love its intuitive interface and easy navigation when setting up your website. Plus, with a wide range of themes and plugins, you can customize your site to match your unique style and needs. Whether you’re dreaming of an online store, a blog, or a portfolio, WordPress has got you covered. It’s the go-to platform for just about any use case you can think of!
WordPress SEO Optimization
One of the greatest things about WordPress is its SEO-friendly design. It provides an optimal structure for web crawlers to index your website, making it easier for your blog to rank higher on search engines. WordPress is still the best platform to build your blog! I’ve tested dozens of other website builders and nothing comes close to the SEO structure that WordPress gives you for blogging. Plus, there are several plugins available to help you optimize your content for even better SEO results!
Here are some key factors to keep in mind when optimizing your WordPress site for SEO:
- Choose the right keywords. Before you start, take some time to research and select relevant keywords that users are searching for. By using these keywords in your content and metadata, you can increase your chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
- Create high-quality content: The content on your website should be informative, engaging, and relevant to your target audience. Ensure it is well-written, easy to read, and includes your target keywords without resorting to keyword stuffing.
- Optimize metadata: Metadata, such as meta titles and descriptions, provide search engines with information about your website. Optimize these elements with relevant keywords and compelling descriptions to entice users to click through to your site.
- Install an SEO plugin: There are several SEO plugins available for WordPress that can help optimize various aspects of your website, such as Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack. These plugins can offer suggestions for improving your site’s SEO and automate tasks such as creating XML sitemaps and optimizing metadata.
- Regularly update your content: Regularly updating your content signals to search engines that your site is active and relevant, improving your chances of ranking higher in search results.
By following these strategies and investing time into optimizing your WordPress site for SEO, you can improve your chances of ranking higher in search results and attract more traffic to your website.
WordPress Plugins for Enhanced Functionality
One of the biggest advantages of using WordPress as a website building platform is the vast selection of plugins available. In 2023, there are a plethora of WordPress plugins that can enhance functionality, add new features, and improve user experience on your website.
| Plugin Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Elementor | A drag-and-drop page builder with a live preview that enables website designers to create custom pages and posts with ease. |
| WPForms | A plugin that creates custom forms for contact pages, surveys, and more. WPForms offers simple drag-and-drop functionality and allows for integration with email marketing tools. |
| Yoast SEO | A plugin that helps improve website SEO by analyzing content and suggesting improvements. Yoast SEO helps optimize content for search engines and improves website ranking. |
| JetPack | Jetpack is another powerful plugin in the WordPress ecosystem that offers a suite of features designed to assist you as a blogger. JetPack Professional is also included as part of my favorite hosting package. |
These are just a few of the many WordPress plugins available in 2023. When selecting plugins, it’s important to consider the credibility and support of the plugin’s developer, as well as its compatibility with your website’s theme and other plugins. It’s also important to only use plugins that are regularly updated to ensure compatibility with new versions of WordPress.
By utilizing WordPress plugins, you can take your website’s functionality, design, and user experience to the next level.
Community support
When it comes to WordPress, you’ll never be alone. WordPress boasts a thriving community of users and developers who are always ready to lend a helping hand with any questions or concerns you may have. Whether you’re seeking assistance on forums, in groups, or through online resources, you’re bound to find answers to virtually any inquiry. Being part of such a vibrant community also offers a sense of inclusivity and support, making WordPress an ideal choice for anyone embarking on their website journey.
Scalability
No matter if you’re just getting started or aiming for significant growth, WordPress has got you covered! You can begin with a basic website and easily incorporate new features, functionality, and pages as your business or blog expands. The best part? WordPress is super scalable, which means it’s cost-effective too! No need to rebuild your site as your growth continues. Pretty awesome, isn’t it? ?
What Types of Websites is WordPress Not the Best Choice For?
Online Stores
In my experience, WordPress is not the best choice for building an online store. WooCommerce is the best plugin for creating an online store with WordPress, but I have found it complicated to set up, time-consuming to maintain and it doesn’t provide the best experience for your customers without lots of customization. Not to mention the security requirements to safeguard your website and protect your customer’s sensitive data.
For online stores, I have found Shopify to be a much better solution. Shopify specializes in online stores and by default, they create a great user experience for your staff and for your customers. They do a better job of helping me manage the security on my site than I would ever be able to do on my own.
Very Simple Websites
When it comes to blogging and more complex websites, WordPress stands out as one of the best options. However, if you only require a basic website with a few pages, there are simpler alternatives to consider, besides WordPress.
If all you need is a simple one-page website, Carrd is an excellent solution. Carrd offers a free starting point and only costs $19 per year for your basic website. Additionally, they provide a variety of well-designed templates to help you kickstart your website creation process.
Another option for an easy-to-use website builder is the Godaddy website builder. It’s easy to use and fast to set up. You don’t have very many design options, but you can have your entire website set up and ready to go in very little time.
Best Practices for WordPress Website Development
Developing a WordPress website can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it’s important to follow best practices to ensure your site is secure, optimized and provides a great user experience. Here are some key factors to consider:
1. Choose a reliable hosting provider
The hosting provider you choose can have a significant impact on the performance and security of your website. Look for a provider that offers strong security measures, regular backups, and reliable support.
2. Keep WordPress and plugins up to date
Regularly updating WordPress and plugins is crucial for security and functionality reasons. Make sure to stay on top of updates and test your site after each one to ensure everything is still functioning properly.
3. Implement a caching solution
Caching can dramatically improve the speed of your website by storing frequently accessed data in memory. Consider using a caching plugin to optimize your site’s performance.
4. Optimize images for the web
Large images can slow down your website’s loading time. Before uploading images to your site, make sure to resize and compress them for the web. There are several plugins that can help automate this process.
5. Implement strong security measures
WordPress sites are a frequent target of hackers, so it’s important to implement strong security measures to protect your site. This includes using strong passwords, limiting login attempts, and installing security plugins.
6. Pay attention to website accessibility
Website accessibility ensures that all users can access and use your site, regardless of disabilities. Ensure your site meets accessibility standards by choosing an accessible theme and using alt tags for images.
Following these best practices for WordPress website development can help ensure your site is secure, optimized, and provides a great user experience. By taking the time to implement these measures, you can create a website that meets your goals and exceeds your users’ expectations.
The JetPack plugin mentioned earlier can help you with many of these best practices! The professional version of JetPack is also included with some plans from my favorite hosting company!
Wraping Up
WordPress remains relevant even in 2023 and continues to be an excellent choice for both beginners and professionals. It’s still the top option if you’re looking to create a blog. Currently, there are no other platforms that outshine WordPress when it comes to making a professional blog.
With its ease of use and customization options, SEO-friendliness, security, community support, and scalability, WordPress remains one of the most popular CMS choices. By choosing WordPress, you can launch a beautiful website that attracts traffic, converts leads, and can adapt to your needs over time. With so many benefits, there’s no reason not to consider WordPress – it’s a tried-and-true platform that will continue to serve website owners for years to come.
