Is WordPress a good choice for a small business website?
It can be, if someone will look after it. WordPress is free, open-source software. From WordPress.org you download it and install it on hosting you choose; WordPress.com is a hosted service run by Automattic on the same software, which handles hosting, updates and backups. Self-hosted WordPress gives the most control and asks the most upkeep, so the real question is who will do that work.
Two things called WordPress
WordPress.com's support guide sets out the difference this way (it is WordPress.com's own comparison):
| WordPress.org (self-hosted) | WordPress.com (hosted) | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | You find and pay for a hosting provider | Managed hosting is built in |
| Updates, backups, security | Depend on your host and hosting package | Handled automatically |
| Plugins | Custom plugins can be installed, though some could compromise the site | On paid plans, with updates managed for you |
| Help | Support forums or your host | WordPress.com support |
What WordPress gives you
WordPress.org says the software is licensed under the GPL, version 2 or later, which gives everyone the freedom to run it for any purpose, study and change it, and share copies, including changed ones. WordPress.com's guide says any WordPress site can be moved to or from WordPress.com, and that with either version you own your own content.
In practice, many designers know WordPress, and a self-hosted site can usually move to a new host without a rebuild.
What it asks of you
WordPress.com's guide says the self-hosted route means installing WordPress on your host's server, then building and maintaining the site on your own, including the theme and plugins. WordPress's plugin documentation adds that plugins need updates and that a backup should come first. The related answer on what a CMS is covers plugins in plain words.
Who it usually suits
- A business with a designer or provider who will keep it updated, in writing.
- A site that needs many pages, regular articles or a feature a simpler builder lacks.
- An owner who wants full control over hosting, code and add-ons.
- Less suited: an owner who wants to edit occasionally and never think about updates, with nobody to apply them. A hosted builder is often the calmer choice there.
It is about upkeep more than Google
The platform usually matters less to being found than what the pages say. The related answer on whether a Wix or Squarespace site is bad for Google covers what Google's guide says. A neglected WordPress site with old plugins can be easier to break into, so whoever owns the updates matters more than the brand.
Sources
- WordPress.org, "About"
- WordPress.com Support, "WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org"
- WordPress.org Documentation, "Manage Plugins"
Related answers
- Is a Wix or Squarespace website bad for showing up on Google?
- How do you choose a website platform for a small business?
- What is a CMS, and what are plugins on a website?
Websites, upgraded or built
Most businesses do not need a new website. They need the one they have to load fast, say clearly what they do and ask the visitor to take one step.