Look, I get it. You’re out here trying to build a website, and the internet is throwing options at you like a toddler flinging spaghetti. Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, Webflow, maybe even a LinkedIn profile you’re hoping magically transforms into a website. But if you’ve spent more than half a minute researching how to build a site, you’ve definitely come across WordPress.
And you might be wondering: “Should I really use WordPress? Isn’t that just for bloggers in 2009 or conspiracy theorists who love Comic Sans?”
Certainly not. In fact, WordPress is still the king of website platforms, and I’m about to break down exactly why. Whether you’re starting a side gig, launching a small biz, or just need a home for your super obscure yet strangely compelling cat photography, here are 10 Reasons to Use WordPress.
1. It’s Free (Like, Actually Free)
Let’s start with everyone’s favorite four-letter word: FREE.
WordPress.org (not to be confused with WordPress.com—we’ll get to that later) is open-source software. That means you can download it, install it, tweak it, break it, fix it, and build your digital empire with it without paying a cent for the actual software.
Now, yes, you’ll still need to pay for hosting and a domain (unless you’re a wizard who knows how to host on your own server in your closet—more power to you). But the base platform? Totally free.
Budget-friendly and bootstrappable. We love to see it.
2. You Own Everything You Create
Unlike some drag-and-drop website builders (cough Wix cough), WordPress gives you full ownership of your content.
Using WordPress your site is yours. Your content, your design, your rules. Nobody’s going to suddenly change their terms of service and lock you out of your own website or slap ads on your homepage like it’s Times Square.
This is a big deal if you’re building a business, blog, or brand that you actually want to control.
3. It’s Insanely Customizable
WordPress is like a pizza with unlimited toppings. You want a blog? Done. An online store? Easy. A portfolio, event calendar, online course hub, membership site, or something weird like a fan site for Victorian-era tax codes? All doable.
With over 60,000 plugins and 10,000+ themes, WordPress lets you customize everything from your homepage layout to your checkout process. Want to accept Bitcoin and snail-mail orders on the same page? Go wild.
You can start basic and scale up without rebuilding from scratch every time your side gig has a growth spurt.
4. Plugins Are Like Superpowers Websites
Speaking of plugins, WordPress plugins are like little digital gremlins that do your bidding.
Want to add a contact form? Boom. Install Contact Form 7 or WPForms.
Need to boost your SEO game? Yoast SEO or RankMath is your new best friend.
Looking to turn your blog into a full-fledged ecommerce site? Hello, WooCommerce.
There’s a plugin for just about everything, and most of them have free versions that work great for small businesses, freelancers, and overachieving bloggers alike.
5. SEO-Friendly Out of the Box
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): the mystical art of making Google like you. If you want your website to actually show up when someone Googles “best gluten-free dog treats in Tulsa,” SEO matters (we make our dog’s food, anyway).
And guess what? WordPress is built with SEO in mind.
Clean code, fast loading times (depending on your setup), and mobile-friendly themes mean your site won’t get penalized for looking like it was coded in 1998. Plus, with the help of SEO plugins, you can easily add metadata, generate sitemaps, and optimize every page without learning HTML in the dark.
6. It’s Mobile-Responsive (Or at Least, It Can Be)
If your website looks great on a laptop but breaks into a digital trainwreck on someone’s phone, you’re losing visitors — and probably sales.
Luckily, most modern WordPress themes are mobile responsive (Ex: Check FiscalMeans.com on your phone), which means they adjust automatically to different screen sizes. You don’t have to code a second website for smartphones. Just install a responsive theme, check it on your phone, and you’re good to go.
Pro tip: test your site on your phone, your grandma’s iPad, and that weird off-brand Android tablet from 2014 — just in case.
7. Perfect for Blogging and Content Marketing
Remember when people thought blogs were just online diaries full of angst and glittery GIFs? Yeah, those days are long over. Today, blogging is used as a full-blown marketing strategy to get customers to your store, and WordPress is the reigning champ of blogging platforms.
Whether you’re blogging to tell your tale, promote your business, or just rant about the price of eggs, WordPress has all the tools you need: categories, tags, scheduling, comments, and built-in media tools.
Plus, with a little finesse, you can connect your blog to email marketing platforms like Mailchimp or MailPoet and start building that precious email list.
8. It Plays Nice With Other Tools
Your website is only one part of your digital empire. You’ve got social media, email newsletters, ecommerce tools, maybe even a podcast. WordPress is like the charismatic diplomat that plays nice with (almost) all of them.
You can integrate:
- Mailchimp for email marketing
- Google Analytics for tracking your traffic
- Stripe or PayPal for payments
- Zapier to automate literally anything
- Amazon, eBay, or Etsy for product listings
- Facebook Pixel for ad tracking
- And so much more
No more juggling 20 platforms that refuse to talk to each other. WordPress can be the central hub of it all.
9. Massive Community and Support
One of the best things about WordPress is you’re never alone. You’ve got millions of users, developers, designers, and caffeine-fueled bloggers out there who’ve already solved 99% of the problems you’ll run into.
Got an error message? Google it — there’s a forum thread.
Need a specific tutorial? YouTube is drowning in them.
Want a Facebook group to cry in during plugin conflicts? Plenty of those too.
From official documentation to Stack Overflow to Reddit rants, you have a global support system available 24/7.
10. You Can Start Small and Grow Big
WordPress is great whether you’re starting a humble blog or plotting world domination.
You can start a basic blog with an ~ $3-5/month hosting plan. Then, over time, you can:
- Add an online store
- Sell memberships or courses
- Launch a podcast or YouTube channel
- Monetize with ads and affiliate links
- Rebrand with a shiny new theme
- Scale up your hosting
The point is, WordPress grows with you. It’s like a bonsai tree for your business: small, flexible, and way cooler than it looks at first glance.
Quick Clarification: WordPress.org vs WordPress.com
Before we wrap this up, let’s clear up the confusion that has plagued everyone since the dawn of blogging, being the difference(s) between WordPress.org and WordPress.com:
| WordPress.org | WordPress.com |
|---|---|
| Self-hosted | Hosted by WordPress |
| You have full control | You have limited control |
| Install any theme/plugin | Limited unless you pay |
| Great for businesses | Great for personal blogs |
| Requires hosting/domain | Comes with hosting |
Verdict: If you’re running a business or want full control of your site, go with WordPress.org. WordPress.com is fine for hobby bloggers or anyone who fears code more than tax season.
So, Should You Use WordPress?
If you’re building a website for your business, side hustle, blog, or brand—and you want full control, flexibility, and the power to grow over time—then yes, WordPress is the move.
Sure, it has a learning curve. And yes, you might get a few “white screen of death” errors along the way (so always make backups with a plugin like UpdraftPlus. But in exchange, you get a powerful, customizable, SEO-friendly, future-proof platform that doesn’t hold your website hostage.
Plus, when your biz blows up and people ask how you built such an awesome site, you can casually say, “Oh, it’s WordPress,” and they’ll nod like you just told them your favorite indie band that they haven’t even heard of yet.
TL;DR – 10 Quick Reasons to Use WordPress
- It’s free and open-source.
- You own your content.
- Insanely customizable with themes and plugins.
- Plugins give you superpowers.
- SEO-friendly out of the box.
- Mobile-responsive themes.
- Perfect for blogging and content marketing.
- Integrates with all your other tools.
- Massive community and support.
- Scales with your business.
Got questions about getting started? Drop a comment below or email me—I’ll even help you figure out which plugins you don’t need (because I’ve also gone a little install-happy in the beginning).
R. A. Goldston, CPA at Large
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