Why should you consider using WordPress to host your website?

There are other CMS (Content Management Systems) out there that will run your website and blog.  Depending on your needs one of them might work better than WordPress.  Everyone’s situation is different.  WordPress may or may not be the right choice for you.

Here are some reasons I suggest WordPress – specifically using WordPress.org with a hosting company of your choice.

1. WordPress is open source and lots of people know WordPress.  If you have a problem with your site there are likely a hundred people a short distance from you who can help plus the help resources online are pretty much unlimited.  WordPress is “free” not only in the sense that it cost no money but it’s free in the sense that anyone can examine the code.  Anyone can modify it.  Anyone can write a plugin or theme that works with WordPress.  This gives you a lot of freedom to do what you want to do with WordPress.

When using any proprietary CMS you are at the mercy of the developers if it is closed source.  And if it’s proprietary, it’s gonna be closed source.

A disadvantage of WordPress is that since so many people use it that makes WordPress a prime target for hackers.  Malicious plugins exist and people will try to trick you into installing them.  That’s why you never install plugins from untrusted sources.  People will try to hack your WordPress site with botnet attacks.  It’s very important to keep WordPress up to date.  When an upgrade is released back up your database in case something goes wrong and upgrade right away.

Also you should install some plugins to provide security for your site.  WordFence is one that I currently use on most of the sites I build.  See my WordPress Plugins page for a comprehensive list of plugins I use and recommend.

2.  WordPress is very flexible.  It can do more than power a blog.  You can use it for a static website, a social website modelled on the idea of Facebook, as a bulletin board, or you can use WordPress to sell merchandise or other such things.

3.  With WordPress you have total control over your content and the look of your site.  You or someone who knows what he’s doing can customize WordPress in nearly any way you desire.  You can export and save your content and theme and all the related files.  You can easily transfer your WordPress site from one hosting company to another or even host it yourself if necessary.

If you are using something like Wix or Squarespace you are at their mercy in many respects while also gaining some advantages.  Everything is a trade-off.  If you choose to make that trade off be sure you can live with any consequences.  WordPress isn’t you only option but it is one of the best.