If you are interested in web development and web design or are looking for the right system or provider for your website, you have most likely heard of WordPress or have been using it yourself for several years.

WordPress was brought to life in 2003 by Matthew Mullenweg and has long been one of the most popular content management systems in the world. It has a strong PHP-based foundation that can be easily installed on any instance. The entire system is open-source software that is freely accessible to everyone and is constantly being developed and strengthened by a large community and the WordPress Foundation.

Did you know?
Currently, approximately 43% of all websites are based on WordPress, with WordPress's market share in the CMS sector standing at an unbeatable 61%.

The customer is king – A framework & CMS as the perfect all-rounder for all use cases

As a developer or web design agency, your client's wishes should always come first. Based on our nearly 10 years of experience in web development as an IT service provider, the following three areas are at the top of most client requests.

1. Maintain content independently and easily

The customer is usually not a developer, but wants to be able to maintain the content on their website or blog independently and easily. A content management system developed specifically for this purpose is indispensable here.

All too often, this is where the first major mistake is made when choosing the right website system. Customers want to be able to change their content themselves, and they want this to be as simple and user-friendly as possible. Nowadays, this should be a basic requirement for every website project. There should be no dependence on development teams who first have to manually adjust content in the HTML code. A website or framework based purely on HTML/CSS/JS is not suitable here.

WordPress offers all the advantages of a content management system and can be used by any customer base after just a short introduction.

2. Target group-oriented & customized web design

In second place, individualization is key. Business websites in particular should not look like one of many from a template. Here, an individual web design tailored to the target group is required. No matter what ideas the customer comes up with, they should be feasible and not blocked by barriers such as a lack of access to the source code on the part of the system.

WordPress is optimally configurable and modular in every way. There is virtually no web design that cannot be implemented on the basis of WordPress. This, coupled with the powerful and user-friendly CMS, is unbeatable.

3. Functional diversity, modulation, and customization

Every company has its own flows, its own operational processes, and its own requirements. There is a great demand for customized functions, whether it be smart contact forms, proprietary booking processes, internal user or document management, and much more. The entire WordPress customer dashboard can be built and expanded to meet these needs. A framework with endless possibilities.

Are you looking for professional WordPress developers?
We know the system like no other agency and have been working for years in Germany's largest WordPress support team. Feel free to contact us—we look forward to hearing from you!

When does it not make sense to use WordPress for websites?

If you decide to use open-source software such as WordPress, you should be aware that installing it on your system also means that you will be responsible for everything related to it. This includes maintenance, development, and expansion. This is a decision that most users and companies underestimate. Developing a professional website with WordPress is much more difficult and time-consuming than most people realize before they start. The wide variety of ready-made themes, plugins, and "smart" content builders give the impression that success can be achieved quickly and cheaply. This is a fallacy.

If you don't have any programming skills yourself or know someone who can help you with this project, it's better to use one of the following systems:

Recommendations for CMS systems that do not require programming knowledge

If you don't have the knowledge to handle hosting, installation, modification, and regular system maintenance, it's better to choose a product that already automates or simplifies these areas. Sure, it costs money, but there's no way around it.

Reasonable providers for websites and blogs currently include Squarespace, Wix, Joomla, and Webflow. Depending on the package, you pay a small fee and get a lot of useful tools for building your site and benefit from the service these providers offer. You don't need any programming skills here. With the help of templates and simple content blocks, you will quickly achieve your goal, at least for simple website structures.

Tip: Shopify is the No. 1 shop system and has now become unbeatable compared to WordPress WooCommerce.

The major disadvantage of these providers is the limitation in terms of modification and customization. Your website will quickly look like one of many, and even the smallest of your own ideas or concepts will have to be left behind because you cannot make any further changes.

All advantages and disadvantages of WordPress development at a glance

If you are still unsure whether WordPress is the right system for your development, here is a brief overview of all the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

  • Easy installation and migration
  • user-friendly interface
  • endless possibilities for customization
  • Huge pool of existing plugins and tools
  • lightweight and high-performance
  • perfectly designed for search engines
  • Expansion possible in all directions
  • Suitable for any website size and traffic
  • Continuous and progressive development
  • Ever-improving onboard functionality (see Gutenberg, etc.)
  • large pool of knowledge on the web (a solution for every problem)

Disadvantages:

  • Less suitable for beginners on the web
  • Due to its size and popularity, there are many false reports and fallacies.
  • Vulnerable to hacker attacks and bots if poorly configured
  • Vulnerable to security breaches due to the installation of third-party plugins and tools
  • Update & High maintenance (daily to weekly)

I hope this article helps you decide on the right system for your website or project.

If you want to learn more about best practices for web agencies, feel free to check out the linked article. You can find out everything you need to know about performance and loading speeds with WordPress here.

If you are interested in working with us, please contact us for an initial consultation.