If your company or nonprofit organization is using static HTML (hyper text markup language) or a program like Front Page to run your website, then you are missing out on the flexibility and power offered by WordPress.

Traditional Website vs Content Management System

The most important concept in understanding why WordPress is a superior system for website development for small businesses and nonprofits is the difference between a traditional website and a content management system (CMS).  A traditional website must be hardcoded in HTML in a text editor of some kind (FrontPage/Microsoft Expressions Web and DreamWeaver being two of the most popular.  Although these programs are somewhat user friendly, they still require a general knowledge of HTML coding and design principles.  Every time something on the website needs changed or updated, the page must be edited in the HTML coding program and then re-uploaded to the site.  If you have a consultant maintaining your website, this can get very expensive.

A content management system, such as WordPress, is designed to allow multiple users the ability to work on various parts of a website at the same time.  Typically, a content management system uses a template that standardizes the look, feel and operation of the website.  Once the template is established, the page content is entered into the system using an online form, allowing for easy page creation and maintenance.  Page content is stored in a database rather than hardcoded in HTML.

WordPress website development offers the following advantages over hardcoding HTML:

• Anyone who can use a word processing program can maintain and update a webpage (no need for an expensive web professional to update your page once it is created).
• Thousands of free, good-looking, customizable templates
• Blogging capability built into the CMS
• Numerous users can update their own areas of the website, with variable levels of oversight and review.  This is ideal for running a group blog, or for allowing certain users the responsibility of updating certain pages.  To use the example of a church, the secretary can keep the calendar up-to-date, the minister can blog and post his/her sermons and the youth minister can keep an updated schedule of events and a youth blog, all at the same time.

Take Control of Your Web Presence

I would love to help you put the power of WordPress to use in your church, nonprofit, or small business to take control of your own web presence.  Feel free to contact me using the contact form.  I can offer website creation using the WordPress platform and, more importantly, training in WordPress in how to maintain the site on your own once it is developed.