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Reasons why I love WordPress to maintain websites:

  1. Plugins
    • when a a new social media sharing option arises, like Google+, it is easy to make a site-wide change.
    • customize and tweak functionality of your website without messing up your design
    • ease of use for posting updates
  2. Updates
    • Just like your computer needs an update, your website content management system needs an update too.  WordPress security updates are released to protect your site and in newer versions of the system are easy to update
    • As technology evolves, WordPress continues to update the layout and user experience of the back-office dashboard.
  3. Themes
    • There are a variety of looks for a website.  Many themes are rather pre-built, while others are a blank skeleton system.  Whether you want something that is already done or something that can be highly customized, you’ll have a thorough system that you can change your look and layout without loosing your content.
    • Mobile themes can make your website look good on small devices without pinching and zooming.  A combination of a theme and a plugin will help your site look right and work.
  4. Community
    • The WordPress community is strong.  There are many developers that can create or modify existing plugins, themes, and other customizations for your website.  There are events around the globe for less than $25 to attend during which you’ll have a chance to meet even Matt Mullenweg (founder of Automattic, parent company behind WordPress.com).  See a complete listing of WordCamp events and find one near you.
    • Many WordPress consultants share valuable content freely on their own websites or via podcasts.  If you are ready to learn more about managing your site, check out my favorite WordPress training community.
If your website is built on any other CMS, it can be updated though not as easily as WordPress.  If you are still on HTML, simple updates like adding a Google+ share button to your site are going to take a bit longer.  And finally, if you are still using a flash-based site or a splash page, your site is likely getting no traffic.  Sites on flash really won’t display nicely on mobile devices, if at all.
It is vital to keep your website functioning and standing out in search rankings.  Updating your website with current information is key to ranking higher on search results pages. Maintaining your website with system updates and fresh content will help your site be discovered.
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Author

  • Courtney Robertson

    From high school business education to the WordPress Training team, Courtney helps people of all skill levels get their message out. She lives in south-central Pennsylvania, loves coffee, plays the mandolin, and has a very large vegetable garden.

    View all posts Open Source Sr. Web Design & Developer Advocate