WordPress was released in 2003 and since then has become the world’s most used CMS (content management system, or “website builder”). As a website designer with basic coding knowledge, WordPress is the perfect tool for my website creation process.

Top of the list of importance when I’m making a website is visual design and usability. So I need to use a CMS that aids this process, rather than hindering it. WordPress is something I have used a lot, so I know its strengths and limitations. Here are 5 reasons I build all my websites using WordPress:

1. It’s Powerful and Flexible

Whether I’m creating a 10-page website for a small business or an extensive ecommerce site, I know WordPress will be able to handle it. With the number of extensions and plugins available, WordPress is versatile enough to accomodate all my needs.

2. Customisable Themes

Although there are plenty of built-in themes at my disposal, I tend to use a well-supported, premium theme created by a third-party. This way, I can choose something that tailored for the type of site I’m creating. The functionality work is therefore already done for me and I can really focus on the design of the website.

3. Updates and Support

WordPress is such a widely used CMS, it is so easy to find support on the internet if I run into a problem. If I do a Google search for a problem, it is almost guaranteed someone has come across the same issue. According to Digital.com :

“WordPress powers 26% of all websites (yes ALL websites on the Internet). WordPress is used by 59.5% of all the websites that use a content management system (CMS). The second most used CMS, Joomla has a 5.9% market share. Closely followed by Drupal, with a 4.9% market share and Magento’s 2.8%.”

Due to this popularity, open source coding and innovative developers have made sure WordPress keeps improving as the years go by.

4. SEO Friendly

WordPress’s CMS framework makes it easy for the search engine “spiders” to “crawl” (those phrases are not great for someone with an irrational spider-phobia like me). This is why popular search engines, like Google and Bing, often rank websites that use WordPress higher than those that don’t. In fact, Matt Cutts of Google personally endorsed WordPress in 2009.

5. Big Brands Use WordPress

If it’s good enough for the likes of Mashable, Mozilla, NASA and Coca Cola, I trust it with my clients. WordPress is a powerful business website solution which not only works well from a web developers point of view, it is also easy for clients to manage and maintain themselves.