Why WordPress?

There are essentially two classes of websites… static and dynamic. Static websites are created one page at a time using a code editor. At first, all sites were static. As the web began to mature two big problems with static websites quickly became evident. First, modifying or changing a static website requires knowledge how sites are constructed. That means knowing HTML, CSS and likely some Javascript. In short, you need be able to perform the work of a web designer/developer. Secondly, as sites get larger and larger they quickly become unmanageable.

Due to the shortcomings of page-by-page built static websites, the majority of today’s websites are dynamic. Instead of being built one page at a time a web designer/developer creates themes that are used by a Content Management Systems (commonly referred to as a CMS). These themes are then used by the CMS to determine what the website will look like while the CMS provides a user interface for a non-technical editor to be able to edit the website content.

There are literally thousands of CMS’s currently powering websites on the net. Some are custom built proprietary systems build for specific websites. Then there are commercial CMS’s that can run anywhere from over 100k to just a few hundred bucks. There are hosted solutions that combine hosting and a proprietary CMS. Finally, there are the free open source systems.

Of all the CMSs, the free open source WordPress CMS is the most popular and for good reason. This powerful blog/CMS platform has a reputation for being easy to learn for the end user yet powerful enough for the typical small to medium sized business website. WordPress has a huge loyal following of designers/developers that build their websites using WordPress. (Not that you would ever need anyone other than Bradley & Company!)

Ultimately the choice of how a website needs to be constructed comes down to the type of site being constructed. A simple one-page website is likely the ideal candidate for a traditional static website. Most small to medium-sized business websites are well served by using a WordPress solution. That is not to say all websites should be constructed using WordPress. Sites that require advanced features, for example password protected user areas, may be better served using a more powerful CMS such as Drupal or Expression Engine. For a better understanding which solution is best for your website, as well as the pros and cons of each CMS, contact us for a free website consultation.