Ruby McKenzie
For tech-age businesses, it is essential to understand how WordPress sites work. WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that enables businesses to create a website or blog without coding it from scratch. WordPress is used by millions of people worldwide, and it powers over 30% of all websites on the internet.
While WordPress is a powerful tool, it can be challenging to understand how it works if you are not familiar with coding or web development. This article will provide six practical tips for tech-age businesses on how WordPress sites work.
1. WordPress is Powered by PHP and MySQL
PHP is a scripting language that was created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf. It stands for “PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor,” and it is used to create dynamic websites. A website is considered “dynamic” when it displays different content each time it is loaded, as opposed to a website that displays the same content each time it is loaded (this would be considered a “static” website).
PHP code can be inserted into HTML pages, allowing web developers to create dynamic websites without learning additional coding languages. When a user visits a PHP-powered website, the PHP code runs on the server and generates the HTML output, which is then sent to the user’s web browser.
MySQL is a database management system (DBMS) that stores the data for WordPress websites. A database is a collection of data that computers can access. MySQL is a “relational” database, which means that it stores data in tables. Tables are like folders that contain information about a specific topic.
Keeping regular backups of your PHP code and MySQL database is important. Additionally, you should check out wordpress maintenance plans from WP SitePlan that include regular backups as part of the package. This will ensure that you can restore your website if something goes wrong.
2. WordPress is Open Source Software
Open source software is available for anyone to use, examine, and modify. The source code for open-source software is typically made publicly available so that anyone can contribute to the development of the software.
One of the advantages of open source software is that it is usually developed by a community of volunteers, which means that many people are often working on improving the software. This can result in faster development and bug fixes than closed-source (proprietary) software.
Another advantage of open source software is that it is often free to use. This is because the developers of open source software typically release it under a license that allows anyone to use, distribute, and modify the software without paying for it.
WordPress is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL), a widely used open-source license. This means that WordPress is free to download and use, and anyone can contribute to the development of WordPress.
3. WordPress Sites are Built Using Themes
If you want to create a WordPress site, one of the first things you will need to do is choose a theme. A theme is a collection of files that determine the look and feel of your website. There are thousands of themes available for WordPress, so it can be difficult to choose the right one for your website. When selecting a theme, it is crucial to consider factors such as the overall design, layout, and functionality.
Once you have selected a theme, you can install it on your WordPress site. Most themes can be installed directly from the WordPress admin panel. Once the theme is installed, you can activate it and start customizing it to meet your needs.
4. Plugins power WordPress Sites
As we mentioned earlier, WordPress is open-source software. This means that anyone can create plugins and themes for WordPress. There are tens of thousands of different plugins available, allowing you to extend your website’s functionality in any way you want.
For example, if you want to add a contact form to your site, there’s a plugin. Or, if you want to add an eCommerce store to your site, there’s a plugin for that too. Whatever you want to do with your website, there’s probably a plugin that will allow you to do it.
And like themes, most plugins are also free. However, some premium plugins cost money. But even the free plugins are often high quality and provide many features and options.
5. WordPress Sites are Easy to Use
One of the best things about WordPress is that it’s very easy to use. Even if you’ve never built a website before, you’ll be able to create a beautiful site with WordPress. And if you do run into any problems, there are thousands of resources available online that can help you out.
Because WordPress is open source, a large community of developers always creates new themes and plugins. This means that if you want to do something with your site that you can’t figure out how to do, chances are there’s already a plugin or theme that will do it for you.
6. WordPress Sites are Search Engine Friendly
If you want your tech-based business to be successful, you need to ensure your site is visible in search engines like Google. And fortunately, WordPress is very search engine friendly. Many features that make WordPress sites so easy to use also make them more visible in search engines.
For example, WordPress automatically generates clean and well-structured URLs for all of your pages and posts. This makes it easier for search engines to index your site and helps improve your ranking in the search results.
WordPress allows you to add tags and categories to your posts easily. This helps search engines understand your site and makes it more likely that your site will appear in the search results for relevant keywords.
WordPress is a powerful content management system that can be used to create all kinds of websites. If you’re running a tech-based business, then you could benefit from using WordPress. And fortunately, WordPress is very easy to use, even if you’ve never built a website. Plus, it’s also search engine friendly, which will help you get more visibility for your site. So if you’re looking for a CMS that can help take your tech business to the next level, look no further than WordPress.
