Here we are in 2024 and WordPress is still a thing. You can still find WordPress everywhere, including whitehouse.gov. Years ago I used to help people install WordPress, fix WordPress, migrate WordPress, remove malicious code from hacked WordPress sites, and update WordPressw to the latest release. I thought I had seen my fill of WordPress, but this popular software is something that keeps popping up.
So I am open to the idea of hosting WordPress sites on my platform, and not just custom Django sites. My real goal is to help other small businesses succeed. And if hosting a WordPress site is what is required, then I would be open to these opportunities.
The first place that WordPress recently popped back up for me was in Clay Clark's book BOOM: 14 Proven Steps to Business Success. He specifically recommends using WordPress:
Build your website on the WordPress platform.
"WordPress offers the best out-of-the-box search engine optimization imaginable." - Tim Ferriss
Don't use any other website building platform than WordPress. If you hire coders to custom build your website on PHP or .NET you end up hating your life as a result of having a website that nobody can update other than the entitled, nefarious employees who now have the ability to hold you hostage. (BOOM)
Now, one caveat here, I am a Django developer, so I can't fully support his statement. :-) But I do agree with him, it is important that a business has an easy way to access their website in order to update it. I would never want a business to be trapped by a development team because they chose the wrong software.
HOWEVER, I need to plug for Django for a moment. A website built in Django provides a little something called the Django Admin. This is an administrative login available on all Django websites that allows an admin user to add/remove/edit content. It is for this reason that Django has stuck with, because it does empower the user.
ANOTHER note, there are some custom situations when WordPress doesn't make the cut. This does not mean that WordPress needs to be axed. Rather, additional software (such as Django) can be added.
In any case, my suspicion is that WordPress is advantaged for two reasons:
If you go to just about any shared hosting company you can get a cPanel login and some sort of installer to get WordPress up and running. I've walked many many customers through the process when I worked at one of these companies.
Besides that, there is WordPress.com, where you can just get access to WordPress directly from the makers themselves. Interestingly, years ago, the company behind WordPress, Automattic, even had a deal to offer support to Bluehost.com's tech support so they could help their own customers.
Despite the ease of access, which option is the best web host for wordpress sites?
It's hard to say. But I have a saying: Where do you want the cash, power, and influence, to go? If you want your cash to go to a big tech company, or to a large hosting company, then that's your right to do so. However, if you are a small business, and you would like to send your cash to another small business, then Super Server Hero may be for you. :-)
Also, another thing you need to consider, is your web host going to provide the support you need? I try to keep my clients happy by keeping a website up, and answering their questions intelligently.
I think Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is still a big deal. And there is a number of important things to consider when it comes to SEO. If you are going to have a custom site built, and if SEO is important, you need to ensure your developer has a checklist of things to include to ensure that SEO is covered. Here is just a few things to keep in mind:
There are companies that specialize in this, and I've done a bit myself. I had to ensure that my own site (which is built in Django) is utilizing all this stuff.
If you are looking into using WordPress, lets talk. My goal is to help small businesses succeed. Although building custom software using Django is part of the services I offer, it's more important that a customer find the tools they need for their situation. If WordPress fits that need, awesome. If you need further services, such as a custom database and an API on top of that, then I would love to look into that project as well.
Til next time
BOOM. Page 131. Boom: 14 Proven Steps to Business Success. Clay Clark. Copyright 2021.
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