We love WordPress. Our website is built on the WordPress platform. We build custom websites for lots of our clients using WordPress as the CMS. It’s open source which means the source is free, there are tons of useful plug-ins and lots of support and documentation.
So, WordPress is a great CMS option. Does this mean that WordPress is going to solve all of your web marketing woes? Nope. Does this mean you will never need help from a designer, developer or SEO professional? That depends, but generally the answer here is no.
Let’s dig a bit deeper into this last idea…
Isn’t Content King? Does Design Even Matter?
There are lots of popular blogs and websites that were built using a pre-designed template on the WordPress platform. Some folks have been able to use their basic knowledge of coding to enhance their web presence with plugins, upgraded design elements, pictures, etc.
The problem with templates is that you start looking and feeling like every other out-of-the-box WordPress site out there. Sure, some of these templates are decent, but you really need to tweak them quite a bit to achieve any sort of unique look and feel. Plus, as many will attest, unless you know code, these template solutions can be pretty difficult.
Other companies will hire a web designer to modify a template for them. This is definitely a step in the right direction. But if you want to really stand out, a completely custom look is the way to go.
Design, as it relates to user interface and user experience, is incredibly important. The quality of your design interface and its ease of use can directly affect the following:
- Easy access to information
- Conversion numbers and quality
- Bounce rate and time on site
- Brand awareness and consistency
So, yes, design matters. User experience matters. Perceived level of trust and experience matters. It is more difficult to be successful in these areas if your site looks like a free WordPress template. (see our previous post on the importance of web design)
And What about Content Management?
WordPress has been a viable and popular Content Management System (CMS) solution for years now. A CMS is a tool enabling content managers at companies with the ability to edit the content on a web site using a WYSWYG editor – similar to what you would see in most desktop publishing apps like Word.
WordPress is much more robust than it was in the past. It’s easier than ever to extend the functionality of your WordPress website with plugins and custom development.
This has been great for our clients. They love the control they have over their content and the fact that they don’t need us for every single update and edit. We love it because our clients stay engaged with their content strategies and their websites enjoy greater success. This means happy clients and happy clients give referrals.
Successful web sites that convert visitors to clients use things like call outs, dynamically posted content, social media integration, forms, etc. A well built custom WordPress website will make it possible for you to quickly and easily update just about every aspect of your website.
With SEO Plug-ins, Optimization is a Snap! Right?
Sure. With plug-ins like Yoast, wpSEO and others you can now manage your Meta descriptions, page titles, etc. You can even do a quick review of your content for keyword density and check its readability.
These tools are fantastic and really allow the client to be able to manage their SEO on an ongoing basis to achieve maximum results.
But this doesn’t paint the entire picture of SEO. Any SEO expert will tell you that it isn’t just about the keywords. It is about testing, analysis, retesting, more analysis, and more testing.
You need to have a link building strategy, add schema data, an internal link strategy, content strategy, I could go on.
Plugging a bunch of keywords into your code and content without some data to back it up is just a bad idea. If you are going to take the reins of your SEO efforts, you need to do some research first and acquaint yourself with the practices of proper SEO.
We recommend the following SEO resources if this is a path you want to take:
So, Is WordPress a Bad Idea or a Good Idea?
It’s a great idea. WordPress is a viable CMS and blogging platform for many businesses and organizations. However, WordPress implementation is by no means a plug and play affair. With any successful marketing and communications endeavor, it takes planning, the right tools, strategic implementation and lots of testing/trial and error.
The greatest thing about the internet is the wealth of information available at our fingertips. Use it to do some research on WordPress, and I think you will find that it could just be an option for you.
What do you think about WordPress? Let us know in the comments below.