Nowadays, many people all over the world have a website to promote their business. However, building a website from scratch can be a very costly and time-consuming exercise. WordPress, is a content management system, is currently the most popular platform used for designing websites and blogs. The beauty of this platform, is that once your design has been created by a professional, you can update the written content, add images and blog posts yourself.

Here are some of the benefits of using WordPress for your web design.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

SEO is a very important factor for the Google Search ranking of any website. WordPress comes with a wide range of SEO capabilities. One of the features that play a key role in search engine optimisation are links. Both internal and external. Every web page of a website has a unique URL, also referred to as a link. The great thing about WordPress is that you can insert keywords of your choice into the links (usually associated with the Page Title). These keywords will enable you to rank higher in search engines, thus making it easier for people to find you. You might want to install Yoast SEO which is a Plugin for Search Engine Optimisation. This enables you (or a professional!) to enter the Meta Descriptions for the Pages and website.

Compatibility

In this day and age, people are browsing the internet using gadgets such as laptops, smart phones, tablets and iPads. People using any of these devices can access a site designed using WordPress. This means that you don’t have to build a separate site for a laptop or computer, and a different one for mobile devices. In addition, a site designed using WordPress is compatible with all the major browsers out there.

Easy to Manage Content System

WordPress offers a wide variety of layout options that can be used to design a website. All you need to do is focus on creating content for your site, which can then be uploaded to the site design by your Website Designer.

Please also make sure that you are using, or that WordPress.org is being used – As that is the ‘proper’ version. The .com version will cost you more money and is limited in its features, but there is lots of marketing around to get you to sign up.

I’ll explain the differences between WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org.

WordPress.com

  • Limited to themes
  • No custom plugins
  • Storage space limit
  • Limited control of content
  • Other people can advertise on your site
  • You cannot use custom code
  • No FTP access to your files for security reasons – this means you can’t actually get at the files which are making up the website
  • Website is hosted on WordPress.com – so your domain name will be something like letmeorganiseu.wordpress.com (instead of your own classy name!)
  • WordPress.com get all of your traffic
  • WordPress.com is a business, they want to make money by providing you with a website and so there are restrictions
  • THEY own the copyright to ALL content you post on there
  • Content can be taken offline without your permission – Because well, they own it…

 

WordPress.org

  • Use any free or commercial plugin you want – and trust me the sky is the limit on what you can get your WordPress site to do for your business
  • It uses your own domain name
  • Add and edit files via FTP / Use code and PHP / CSS – The list goes on!
  • Tweak WordPress and server settings to improve performance
  • Full control of your content – no ads
  • Videos, audios – You can embed content, the lot
  • Your maintenance and hosting responsibilities, which gives you more control
  • Full monetisation to sell your stuff, sell other peoples stuff, charge to view content!
  • Full blown e-commerce site if you want it
  • Bespoke design options
  • You ‘own’ the traffic
  • You own the copyright to YOUR content

 

The Biggie Between WordPress.com and WordPres.org for Business Owners is control, control, control, control.

You must have control of your online real estate (just like any aspect of your business) if your business is to be your own and grow. Your online real estate represents your brand and I’m afraid that WordPress.com because of the limitations for theme options, fonts, content restrictions and plugins just screams amateur.

 

Are you still confused about whether to pick WordPress.org or WordPress.com?

Here’s the bottom line  – if you are serious about your business, then it’s WordPress.org hands down!

 

If you like what you have read, or are abit confused, or now need some tea and cake – Then get in touch! Use the Contact Me form on this website and I’ll get right back to you!