WordPress
WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. Originally a blogging platform, it has evolved into a versatile content management system suitable for everything from simple blogs to complex enterprise websites.
Two Flavors
WordPress.com
Hosted solution managed by Automattic. Good for simple sites, limited customisation.
WordPress.org (Self-hosted)
Download and host yourself. Full control and unlimited customisation.
Key Concepts
- Themes: Control the look and feel of your site
- Plugins: Extend functionality (80,000+ available)
- Posts vs Pages: Time-based content vs static content
- Custom Post Types: Create structured content beyond posts/pages
- Gutenberg: Block-based editor for content creation
Why WordPress?
- Content editors love it: Intuitive interface for non-technical users
- SEO friendly: Great plugins like Yoast and RankMath
- E-commerce ready: WooCommerce powers millions of stores
- Multilingual: WPML, Polylang, and TranslatePress plugins
- Huge ecosystem: Themes, plugins, developers, and hosting options
Modern WordPress Development
Headless WordPress
Use WordPress as a backend with a modern frontend:
What We Like
- Client familiarity: Most clients already know WordPress
- Rapid development: Themes and plugins accelerate delivery
- Content modeling: Advanced Custom Fields makes complex content easy
- Hosting options: From cheap shared hosting to enterprise solutions
What We Don't Like
- Security concerns: Popular target for attacks; requires vigilant updates
- Performance: Can be slow without proper caching and optimisation
- Plugin quality: Varying quality and potential conflicts
- PHP: The underlying PHP codebase can be challenging
Best Practices
- Keep everything updated: Core, themes, and plugins
- Use quality hosting: Managed WordPress hosting prevents many issues
- Limit plugins: Only install what you need
- Implement caching: Use a caching plugin or CDN
- Regular backups: Automated, off-site backups are essential