In this post, we\u2019re going to provide an answer to \u201cWhat is WordPress used for?\u201d To do this, we\u2019ll walk through four types of websites you can build<\/a> easily using the WordPress software. Let\u2019s start from the top!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n So, what is WordPress used for? If you know anything about WordPress, you may know it started life as a blogging platform<\/a>. In fact, there\u2019s a common misconception that blogs are all WordPress is truly good at. While this isn\u2019t true \u2013 as you\u2019ll see throughout the next few sections \u2013 it’s still perfect for this type of site.<\/p>\n The fact that WordPress was originally built with blogs in mind means many of its basic features and structure lend themselves to this application. There\u2019s a built-in option for creating posts, for example, as well as a robust comments system. Plus, it would be hard to find a platform easier to pick up.<\/p>\n It\u2019s perfectly possible to create a WordPress blog<\/a> using only the platform\u2019s default features. However, there are a few things you may need if you want your blog to really stand out:<\/p>\n That\u2019s really all you need to run a successful blog on WordPress. Plus, you can expand it over time, adding new features and even maintaining it alongside one of the other website types covered below.<\/p>\n At this point, you may be wondering: \u201cWhat is WordPress used for besides blogs?\u201d While it\u2019s long been valuable for businesses to establish themselves online, there’s increasing importance for individuals to do this as well. Having a strong portfolio website<\/a> can be the key to getting jobs, finding clients, and building a reputation.<\/p>\n It may seem like WordPress would be less suited to this type of site. After all, blogs are dynamic and constantly changing, while a portfolio is a largely static resource. However, WordPress makes it just as simple to build normal web pages as it does blog posts.<\/p>\n You can use WordPress pages to set up everything required for your portfolio<\/a> \u2013 a contact page<\/a>, a services page<\/a>, and even a showcase of your work. More importantly, no portfolio is complete without plenty of images, both of you and of what you provide. That\u2019s where the WordPress Media Library<\/a> comes in very handy, enabling you to upload, edit, and manage your media files easily.<\/p>\n Like blogs, portfolio sites don\u2019t require a lot of extra features in order to shine, although you\u2019ll want to consider:<\/p>\n As we\u2019ve established, WordPress is an excellent choice for smaller, more personal projects. This is actually another common myth about the platform. People wondering \u201cWhat is WordPress used for?\u201d often assume it\u2019s only suited to small-scale sites.<\/p>\n In fact, WordPress is a frequent and smart choice for business websites of all sizes<\/a> (including the really big ones<\/a>). There are a number of reasons for this. It\u2019s highly customizable, which means it\u2019s easy to ensure your site reflects your company\u2019s branding<\/a>. You can also add just about any feature you need to the platform, whether via a plugin or custom coding. Plus, it\u2019s a very secure option for building your site.<\/p>\n Putting together a business site often requires extra functionality, given it will be an important part of establishing your company\u2019s reputation, and maybe even increasing conversions<\/a>. More specifically, you\u2019ll want:<\/p>\n Finally, instead of installing a number of smaller individual plugins, you may want to look for an all-in-one solution. Jetpack<\/a> is the perfect example \u2013 a WordPress plugin that helps your business out with design, marketing, and<\/em> security.<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s look at an even more ambitious answer to the question “What is WordPress used for?” What if you want to set up a fully-functioning online store? As you\u2019d expect, WordPress is an excellent option for e-commerce. In fact, it’s actually the most popular way to create an e-commerce store<\/a> (yes, even more popular than Shopify<\/a>!).<\/p>\n However, there’s a caveat \u2013 WordPress doesn\u2019t include built-in e-commerce functionality. This means you\u2019ll need at least one plugin to create your store.<\/p>\n You’ll find that WordPress-powered stores benefit from a lot of the platform\u2019s inherent advantages, such as its security and scalability. You can build a modestly-sized store with WordPress, and eventually grow it into a massive venture. Plus, it\u2019s easy to run a WordPress store alongside a blog or business site.<\/p>\n As we noted, you\u2019ll need a tool to add e-commerce functionality to WordPress, such as product pages, carts, and payment gateways<\/a>. There are a lot of options, but WooCommerce is the standout choice for most users. Installing this plugin will add much of what you need to build a store and sell products<\/a> through WordPress.<\/p>\n Along with WooCommerce, you\u2019ll want to look for:<\/p>\n You may also want to check out WooCommerce\u2019s comprehensive library of extensions<\/a>. While not required, these will add all sorts of features to your site, letting you shape it into whatever kind of store you want to build.<\/p>\n Despite how much WordPress has evolved since its beginning, some people still mistakenly believe it\u2019s just a blogging platform. This couldn\u2019t be further from the truth. As we’ve discussed, while it\u2019s still a fantastic option for blogs, it can do so much more<\/a>.<\/p>\n While the answer to \u201cWhat is WordPress used for?\u201d is \u201cNearly everything\u201d, it stands out particularly well when you\u2019re building:<\/p>\n1. Blogs<\/h2>\n
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2. Portfolios<\/h2>\n
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3. Business sites<\/h2>\n
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4. E-Commerce stores<\/h2>\n
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So what is WordPress used for? Everything!<\/h2>\n