Choosing the right platform and CMS for your business website is just as important as the design itself.

Before you make a decision, review this WordPress checklist to see if the popular software is what you need to take your business to the next level online.

Since all websites aren’t created equal, it’s important to understand what WordPress has to offer and if those features will help your business succeed.

Item #1. Cost And Setup

Unlike many other platforms and software, the WordPress software is completely free. You need a reliable host and a professional WordPress developer to help with the setup and design. Businesses can add in plug-ins and choose themes to change the functionality and design. Some themes and plugins are free while others are premium. For custom website needs, WordPress developers and designers can create a unique theme and/or plug-ins.

The bottom line is that you can get started with WordPress for a relatively low cost by finding a free or inexpensive theme. And you can work you way up from there by finding a developer to create a custom theme with custom functionality.

Takeaway: WordPress is the most popular website management software in the world. You can feel comfortable knowing that there is social proof that WordPress is a good way to manage your website. Finding a good developer and designer is important to get a good setup and for any ongoing needs. Not that you would leave your developer, but if something were to happen there is a large community of developers that work on WordPress at your disposal if you need work on your site. The overall cost of a WordPress can be range from low to high depending on features and design requirements. Using WordPress can cut down dramatically the cost of the project.

Item #2. Managing Your Content

WordPress is a complete content management system. For businesses wanting to have full control over content, WordPress provides an easy-to-use option. For most, it’s not necessary to contact a developer when you want to update content. You can upload text, images and videos quickly. Built-in scheduling means you can upload several posts at once to publish later.

Takeaway: Businesses that need control over content have found a solution with WordPress. That’s why the system is the most popular as we saw earlier. From uploading something new to making quick edits, WordPress provides everything a business needs to manage their site’s content.

Item #3. Customisation And Flexibility

Many sites seem identical with just a few colour changes. One point on this WordPress checklist every business should agree on is the need for customisation to help the site stand out from the rest. While you can make many changes yourself, including installing new plug-ins to add features or uploading a new theme to change the entire design, WordPress developers are always available to help you customise the site to match your business’s brand.

Takeaway: Many of the largest companies, such as CNN, use WordPress, but you’d never know it from the design. Customisation is one of the big reasons businesses often choose WordPress over other platforms.

Item #4. Mobile-Friendly

Millions are turning to their mobile devices to visit their favourite sites. If a site isn’t mobile-friendly, the visitor might move on to the competition. Many developers now focus on providing a responsive website using WordPress. This allows your website to automatically adjust to fit the device a visitors uses to visit your website. Some businesses and developers are even starting with the mobile design first and then designing the desktop version.

Takeaway: With so many people accessing the web with smartphones, responsive design is a must for a successful site. Find a developer that can setup a custom responsive WordPress theme for you.

Item #5. Security Features

WordPress puts security first and foremost. The software is constantly updated to ensure users have the most secure sites possible. Plus, numerous security plug-ins are available to add an extra level of protection for users. Software updates are easy to install, even for new users. Plus, the updates are always freely available.

Takeaway: If security is a concern, businesses should consider WordPress. Mix this with a secure host and your site and visitors will have a much safer experience. To ensure security settings are correct for your needs, use a WordPress developer to optimise security on your site.

Item #6. SEO-Friendly

Once your site is up and running, you want users to be able to find it easily. WordPress is designed to be SEO-friendly and even has numerous free SEO plug-ins to help your site be found on search engines like Google. The software does the basic on-page SEO work for you so you can focus on creating great content for visitors. Plus, it even has easy to use social media integration to help boost your site’s social popularity which affects how your site ranks.

Takeaway: Businesses can use WordPress, learn in-depth SEO techniques or hire an SEO expert to help their site rank better. The first is free and doesn’t require hours of study.

Conclusion

After reviewing this WordPress checklist, it’s easy to see why so many businesses use WordPress. The features are perfect for businesses in every industry and of all sizes. Support is always available from WordPress developers to fix any issues or help with customisation. If you want an affordable, secure, feature rich and SEO friendly site your visitors will love, then WordPress is right for your business.

Image: Oliver Tacke