Your website is one of the first things many consumers will see about your business. If it isn’t easily navigable, it doesn’t load quickly, or doesn’t have a mobile version, consumers can easily move to the next company. Maybe you’ve noticed these things about your current website, or maybe you noticed it has just started looking dated. What is considered “cool” in web design is constantly changing. If you have not updated your website in the past 5-10 years, it may be time for a web redesign.
Maybe you want to add additional capabilities to your website but aren’t sure how or don’t think it’s possible. Many small to mid-sized businesses think that their websites can’t possibly compete with larger businesses. This does not have to be true and the reason is WordPress. If you are looking to improve your website, a web redesign using WordPress might be the best option.
So why should you use WordPress for your web redesign? This article will share ten of the most important WordPress benefits you should take into account before starting a redesign.
1. WordPress is free
WordPress is a free platform that is usually referred to as a content management system or CMS. A content management system provides the ability to edit and change the appearance and content of your website. You may have heard the name WordPress before when talking about blogs, but its capabilities go much further than that. You can easily create and organize every page and all the content you want to include on your website.
2. WordPress is an All-In-One Platform
Although many people still think only of blogs when they think of WordPress, it has come a long way since then. Perhaps you are looking for just a blog to expand your website’s reach. WordPress can do this. Or maybe you are looking for a full-service website with multiple pages of both static and dynamic content. WordPress can do this too. As your needs change, your WordPress website can change along with them.
3. WordPress is Mature
WordPress has been around for over 17 years and has gone through many reinventions and undergone many improvements since then. It has been tested by millions and then refined many times since its original launch to keep up with business’ changing needs. This can give you the peace of mind that it is a truly reliable platform to support all your website needs.
4. WordPress is Easy to Use
A web redesign can be a complicated process when you have a lot of moving parts to your website. However, an important WordPress benefit is that it is very easy to use. You do not need to be an experienced website developer to be able to use it effectively. WordPress is even known for its 5 Minute Install. Once you have installed it, everything you need to access or edit will be available directly from the dashboard. None of the changes you may want to make are going to require knowledge of coding. Even the most inexperienced user will be able to navigate their way through the process. In the event that you do need assistance, WordPress is known for its extensive online community. There are countless support forums where you can quickly find answers to your questions.
5. WordPress is Open Source
Almost all other website building tools and services have some restrictions on what you can and can’t do. You will not encounter these limitations on WordPress because it is open source. This means developers all over the world can contribute to its software, any time. This can be in the form of plugins, themes, and security and safety updates. But what does this mean for you and your web redesign? It means that the platform is constantly getting better and you will never have to pay for these changes.
6. WordPress is Constantly Updating
The best part about the changes that come because of WordPress’s open source structure is that they occur automatically. While it averages over 20 updates every year, you never have to worry about remembering to update it. As each update is available, the platform will automatically update itself. Plus, the updates mainly focus on safety and security. Having constant updates gives you the confidence that your website and all its data is always up to date. It will always be in line with the best, most current practices.
7. WordPress is SEO Friendly
If you want your web redesign to give you the most benefits, you need to make it SEO friendly. In fact, 70% of marketers say SEO is a more effective way to drive sales than PPC. A true SEO strategy can require a lot of time and effort, but WordPress can give you a great place to start. One of the biggest WordPress benefits is the fact that the platform itself is inherently SEO friendly. It has been designed so the framework is easy for search engines to crawl. You can rest assured that your WordPress redesign will not compromise on SEO. For additional help improve your site’s SEO, there are numerous plugins available. Yoast SEO is one of the most popular plugins. This app will give you step-by-step information showing you how your content ranks. It also gives you clear guides for how to improve your site’s readability for search engines and users.
8 – WordPress Has Inexpensive, Professional Themes
One of the best parts about a WordPress redesign is that you don’t have to spend a ton of time building it from scratch. Thousands of themes can be found from WordPress or from other third-party websites like Onewp and MOJO Marketplace. The price for a theme generally ranges from free to about $300, with the average being $40. This is significantly more affordable than a fully custom site.
If you are concerned about your site looking just like everyone else’s because you used a theme, don’t worry. Every theme can easily be further customized so it looks exactly the way you want. This will give your website the ability to reflect your branding and the overall personality of your business. Colors, text, fonts, and images are just some of the things that can be changed to customize your site. In addition, you can add additional features to your website using plugins. Plugins are like apps that you can add to a website to expand its features. As previously mentioned, there are SEO plugins that can assist you in improving your SEO ranking. Another popular type of plugin are security ones that can further the safety of all the data on your website. You can also find plugins for contact forms, payment gateways, foreign language translation, and social media integration.
Even with this ability, many people may still be overwhelmed at the prospect of designing their website. SEO Design Chicago has experienced WordPress developers and designers that can help you create a website that fits all your needs.
9 – WordPress is Mobile Friendly
More and more people are using their phones to search the internet every day. Your website needs to be attractive and easy to use on mobile devices to keep users there. Most consumers will not hesitate to leave a website that doesn’t load or doesn’t look attractive on their mobile device. With millions of results every time you search on Google, it is easy to simply look elsewhere for the same information. Most of the themes you will find for your WordPress redesign will be mobile friendly by design. Designers and developers know that websites need to be mobile optimized in order to stay relevant.
WordPress has also designed its dashboard to be mobile-friendly. This allows you to manage and update your website anywhere, whether it is on your phone or your desktop.
10 – WordPress is Trusted by Many
If you are still unsure about choosing WordPress for your web redesign, consider that it is the most commonly used CMS around. At last count, it powers over 35% of all websites today. Not only do small and mid-sized businesses like WordPress, but some of the largest companies in the world do as well. The New York Times, Microsoft, Vogue, and Disney are just some of the big, global businesses that utilize WordPress.
WordPress has everything your small business needs to create a visually appealing, fully functioning, scalable website. And clearly since it can support websites like Disney, it is also able to support growing traffic and budgets. WordPress will allow your website and its capabilities to grow just like your business does.
Redesign Your Site
If your business is looking to undergo a web redesign, WordPress should without a doubt be at the top of your list. A redesign can be very time consuming, with numerous moving parts. With WordPress, you can quickly take your website from unappealing and boring to attractive and engaging. It has the capabilities to satisfy your business’s needs, whether you are looking for a static website or a dynamic one. Whether you are at the beginning of the process or in the middle of it, reach out to the professionals to help guide you through your web redesign.
