Here’s some of the pros and cons of working with WordPress from my experience setting up nuaveu.com and working on client sites.
Cons
- So many plug-ins
- Layering plug-ins doesn’t make the problems go away
- Performance
- WP isn’t the fastest CMS out there and part of the problem is the numerous plug-ins most sites use to achieve their desired outcome
- Some of the page load performance plug-ins actually do more harm than good, at least for smaller pages/sites
- Thankfully best practices and free tools help
- Isn’t the most modern and even as a non-designer the design limitations seem obvious
- It would be really helpful if WP let you use an embedded video for cover blocks by default without plug-ins or extensive development efforts
- Maintenance
- All the plug-ins and themes require updates and things can break
Pros
- Free
- WP is free or at least free(ish) considering most will need to make some sort of investment into the platform (via development work or paid plug-ins)
- So many plug-ins
- Yes, this is a major negative, but it’s also a positive in the sense that beginners can easily download what they need 99% of the time
- Built for blogging
- It’s arguably the best option for setting up a blog; this is what WordPress was designed for and it does it well
- Familiarity & compatibility
Conclusion
WordPress is by far the most popular CMS, commanding over 63% market share, but it can still take some getting use to. Knowing when and where to use plug-ins could mean the difference between a great site and an unusable one. As of this writing WordPress boasts nearly 60,000 free plug-ins so choose wisely.
Overall, I’ve had a great experience working with WordPress to build Nuaveu.com. With 80% of bloggers saying it drives results, it’s no wonder a CMS built for blogging is a favorite for business owners and marketers looking to tap into a $500 billion dollar industry.