WordPress was originally conceived by Matt Mullenweg as a personal publishing platform [1]. However, if you peek into the WordPress website examples in this post, you’ll see that WordPress is actually a full-fledged Content Management System. It’s capable of handling content for some of the most visited websites on the entire internet:
- broadcasting stations,
- celebrities,
- international corporations,
- music bands,
- magazines,
- fashion houses,
- software companies.
It’s easy to create a website with WordPress and it’s not too heavy on the wallet either. This list of WordPress website examples portrays the possibilities with WordPress:
Top WordPress website examples of 2017
We’ve divided this list into several categories:
Music bands / artists
Yes, music bands too have structured their websites on WordPress. The website of Rolling Stones mostly uses shades of blue. Fans and music lovers can access the menu both from the header and from the footer area. While on the website, they can listen to some of the band’s singles, as well as to the teasers of yet-to-be-released songs.
Katy Perry likes her site simple, yet featuring all the essential content right within your reach. The singer uses WordPress to showcase her live shows, music, news, and videos. The last section on the homepage is the online store, where the artist sells her brand’s merchandise. In the footer – as well as in the header – you will find the social media icons and a newsletter call-to-action.
Automobiles companies
WordPress is also home to the international website of the Renault Group. It’s easy for visitors to access relevant content on the website. They can choose their function from the narrow bar above the header. Though you can’t see it that much on the initial landing page, the overall website uses a contrasting combination of colors against a mostly white background. The fonts and boxes on the site are also quite distinctive and take advantage of the contrasting colors to induce a subconscious call to action.
Newspapers / magazines
TechCrunch is a technology magazine that covers present and future trends in technology. The minimalist setup with its prominent, bold display of post titles on the homepage makes it easy to navigate. Of course if none of those stories interest you, then you can also click on a category on the lefthand side menu and browse in a more intentional manner.
The Muscle and Fitness website relies on WordPress to power their clean and organized layout, with well-segmented categories for easy navigation. The site’s color scheme primarily uses black, white, and red, imparting a professional yet energetic vibe. The font is clear and legible, with varying sizes and boldness to denote headings and subheadings, enhancing the hierarchical structure of the information. Finally, the imagery and iconography are well-incorporated, enriching the user experience by providing visual aids and breaks in the text-heavy sections.
Fashion houses
Bata is a well-known shoe company with locations throughout the globe. As such, they have a number of regional subdomain websites that target specific markets. They really go the extra mile and don’t just swap out the language of the target country. They’ll do things like include photos from their brick-and-mortar stores that are in that location. Essentially, the entire subdomain for each country is catered to that country. The screenshot above is from their Slovakia subdomain, and is a must-include on this list of WordPress website examples.
Rocawear is a fashion retail website showcasing urban style apparel. It offers a simple layout with a neat menu for shopping, learning about the brand, and subscribing to their newsletter. It’s a perfect WordPress website example of how to make user navigation straightforward. The design embodies a blend of modern fashion with a touch of New York’s urban culture, aligning with its tagline “A New York Original.” For a more focused browsing, users can select from the menu options available.
Universities
In general, university websites are content heavy, and it’s the same with the website of Georgia State University. But students and faculty can access the relevant pages from the bar above the header. The predominant colors on the website are white and blue. How to apply, get a virtual tour, schedule a campus visit, and learn about the costs are featured prominently at the bottom of the screen, inside of a transparent blue bar.
Even a first time visitor will find it easy to navigate the website of The University of Washington. The visitor can browse the site as a student, parent or faculty right from the header. The Quick Links section that pulls out a slide-in list of helpful links, and the Search option also help in navigating the site.
Blogs
TED is the central for the most interesting talks and presentations on the web. The blog structure and design itself is very clean, with good background-to-font contrast and clear content presentation. You could say that TED’s using a rather standard blog look, but it does so in a very effective way.
The Official PlayStation Blog is the forum where the game creators meet the gaming community. The site features a broad header and a boxed layout. There is a sticky menu which is convenient if you get tired of scrolling and want to use the search feature to find something specific.
Movie websites
For a James Bond fan, this official website of the fictional British secret agent 007 is a delight. It carries vast amounts of interesting tit-bits about the movies and the cast. The stories are categorized by topic. There is a section for general 007 news, another one related more to interesting behind-the-scenes information, another about the James Bond style, and even one about the famous agent’s vehicles.
Government sites
WordPress is the choice of the Department of Communication to convey official information on Finland. This Is Finland packs a great deal of news about business, culture, lifestyle and more in the available space. I particularly liked the emoji box which gives you a fun overview of Finland in one screenshot.
Celebrities
You’d expect to see a load of photographs of celebrities on their websites. And so, it’s no surprise that the pictures of Usain Bolt occupy a great deal of space on his website. There’s even an entire section dedicated to his Instagram feed. Fans of the sports icon can keep track of the latest news and events concerning Bolt. The website sports a dark skin throughout.
Entertainment companies
The home of fun and entertainment has its online home on WordPress. The well known logo of The Walt Disney Company occupies the central spot in the header. You can access each menu item from that header, or from the individual boxes in the horizontal sections on the homepage. You can also keep track of the company’s stock price on the website.
Broadcasting stations
WGN TV is the broadcasting arm of the Tribune, Chicago. It caters to a broad range of interests. Weather watchers will like the detailed section on weather – it features an interactive radar. Commuters can look up the site for live traffic updates. And as for casual or regular visitors, they can quickly navigate to the TV Schedule or Live News using the bar at the top.
Software companies
NGINX is a robust website offering solutions for web servers, load balancing, and more. It leads the way as a WordPress website example for technical service providers. The organized layout, with distinct sections for products, solutions, and resources, facilitates easy navigation. The homepage dynamically presents featured products and latest insights, while the top menu allows for more targeted exploration of their offerings. The design reflects a blend of professionalism and modernity, making it a go-to platform for individuals and businesses seeking to optimize their web infrastructure.
That rounds off my list of WordPress website examples. Have you found any websites using WordPress in an interesting way? If yes, please share in the comments below.
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