WordPress powers more websites than any other platform—over 40% of the entire internet. But many business owners choose WordPress without fully understanding what it is or how it works. This guide explains WordPress fundamentals in plain language, helping you decide if it's right for your business.
What Is WordPress?
WordPress is a content management system (CMS)—software that lets you create, manage, and publish website content without writing code. Originally designed for blogging, WordPress evolved into a full website platform used by everyone from small businesses to major corporations.
Two Types of WordPress
Confusion often starts here. There are two different things called "WordPress":
WordPress.org (Self-Hosted): Free, open-source software you download and install on your own web hosting. You own everything and have complete control. This is what most businesses use.
WordPress.com: A commercial hosting service that runs WordPress for you. Easier to start but limited in customization. Better for simple blogs than business websites.
This guide focuses on WordPress.org—the self-hosted version that serious websites use.
How WordPress Works
The Basic Structure
WordPress uses three main components:
Core Software: The WordPress program itself, handling basic functionality like user management, content publishing, and security.
Themes: Templates controlling how your site looks—layout, colors, typography, and design. Thousands of free and premium themes exist for every style and industry.
Plugins: Add-ons extending WordPress functionality. Want a contact form? There's a plugin. Need SEO tools? There's a plugin. Over 60,000 plugins exist for virtually any feature imaginable.
The Dashboard
After logging in, you access the WordPress dashboard—your control center for managing everything:
- Posts: Create and manage blog content
- Pages: Create static pages (About, Contact, Services)
- Media: Upload and organize images, videos, documents
- Appearance: Control themes, menus, and widgets
- Plugins: Add, update, and manage functionality
- Users: Manage who can access your site
- Settings: Configure site options
Creating Content
WordPress uses a block editor (Gutenberg) for content creation. You build pages by adding blocks—paragraphs, headings, images, buttons, columns—and arranging them visually. No coding required for most tasks.
For more design control, page builders like Elementor or Divi provide drag-and-drop interfaces rivaling professional design tools.
What Is WordPress Used For?
WordPress handles virtually any website type:
Business Websites: Company information, services, team pages, contact forms—the bread and butter of WordPress usage.
E-Commerce Stores: WooCommerce, WordPress's e-commerce plugin, powers millions of online stores selling everything from handmade goods to enterprise software.
Blogs and Publications: WordPress's original purpose. Major publications like TechCrunch, The New Yorker, and BBC America run on WordPress.
Portfolios: Designers, photographers, and creatives showcase work with WordPress portfolio themes.
Membership Sites: Paid content, online courses, and community sites using membership plugins.
Forums and Communities: bbPress and BuddyPress extend WordPress into community platforms.
Is WordPress Free?
The WordPress software itself is 100% free. You can download it, use it, modify it, and distribute it without paying anything. This open-source nature is why WordPress became so popular.
However, running a WordPress website involves costs:
Web Hosting: $5-50/month for most small businesses. You need somewhere for WordPress to run.
Domain Name: $10-20/year for your website address (yourbusiness.com).
Premium Themes: $0-200 one-time. Many free themes work fine; premium themes offer more features and support.
Premium Plugins: $0-500/year depending on needs. Many essential plugins are free; some advanced features require payment.
Professional Help: Variable. Many businesses hire developers or agencies for setup, customization, or ongoing maintenance.
Total costs for a typical small business WordPress site: $200-1,000 first year, $100-500 annually ongoing.
How Does WordPress Make Money?
This question confuses people since WordPress.org is free. Here's the distinction:
WordPress.org (the software): Doesn't make money directly. It's maintained by a non-profit foundation and thousands of volunteer contributors. The ecosystem thrives because hosting companies, theme developers, plugin creators, and agencies all benefit from WordPress's popularity.
WordPress.com (the service): Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, charges for premium hosting plans, custom domains, and advanced features. This is a separate business from the free WordPress software.
WordPress Advantages
Ownership and Control
You own your website completely. Unlike website builders like Wix or Squarespace, you can move your WordPress site anywhere, modify anything, and never worry about a company raising prices or shutting down.
Flexibility
From simple blogs to complex e-commerce platforms, WordPress adapts to virtually any need. The combination of themes and plugins enables endless customization.
SEO-Friendly
WordPress is built with clean code and offers excellent SEO plugins. Many SEO professionals prefer WordPress for its optimization capabilities.
Large Community
With millions of users, finding help is easy. Tutorials, forums, documentation, and professionals experienced with WordPress abound.
Cost-Effective
Compared to custom development or enterprise platforms, WordPress provides professional capabilities at fraction of the cost.
WordPress Disadvantages
Maintenance Required
WordPress, themes, and plugins need regular updates. Without maintenance, security vulnerabilities develop and things can break.
Security Responsibility
WordPress's popularity makes it a target. You're responsible for security measures, though proper plugins and hosting mitigate risks.
Learning Curve
While basic use is straightforward, advanced customization requires learning or hiring help.
Performance Optimization
Poorly configured WordPress sites can be slow. Good hosting and optimization require attention.
Getting Started with WordPress
If WordPress seems right for your business:
- Choose hosting: Look for WordPress-specific hosts like SiteGround, WP Engine, or Kinsta for easier setup and better performance.
- Install WordPress: Most hosts offer one-click WordPress installation.
- Select a theme: Choose a theme matching your industry and style. Start simple—you can change later.
- Add essential plugins: Security, backup, SEO, and caching plugins form your foundation.
- Create content: Build your core pages and start publishing.
Many businesses hire professionals for initial setup, then manage day-to-day content themselves. This balances expert configuration with ongoing control and cost efficiency.
Is WordPress Right for You?
WordPress fits most businesses needing professional websites without enterprise budgets. Its flexibility, ownership model, and vast ecosystem make it the default choice for millions of organizations worldwide.
Alternatives may suit you better if you need the simplest possible setup (website builders), require enterprise-level support (enterprise CMS platforms), or have extremely specialized technical requirements (custom development).
For most small to medium businesses, WordPress offers the right balance of capability, cost, and control—which explains why it dominates the web.