I use WordPress for various purposes, depending on my clients' needs. Some clients request hospital websites, while others opt for e-commerce shops using Shopify or WordPress. Additionally, clients approach me for school or office websites. In essence, WordPress is versatile and can be employed to create websites for a wide range of purposes, making it suitable for almost any project my clients bring to me.
Wordpress on Ubuntu 20.04
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Versatile and can be employed to create websites for a wide range of purposes
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The best feature of WordPress is its flexibility. I can utilize free plugins and builders, easily access my website's backend with admin access, and work with SQL databases as a base. While Shopify may have similar features, my experience with WordPress makes it easier for me to have complete control over everything in the website-building process.
What needs improvement?
WordPress could use improvement in terms of optimization, especially for large websites with extensive databases and many images. When clients want to build projects like Amazon on WordPress, it tends to slow down and becomes challenging to manage when they have thousands of products. WordPress needs to become more flexible and efficient to better handle such significant projects and provide a smoother experience for users.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using WordPress for seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of WordPress can vary depending on the hosting provider used. For instance, with Bluehost, it often experiences frequent breakdowns and scheduled maintenance, leading to interruptions. On the other hand, hosting services like Cloudways and Namecheap offer better stability and are preferred options. GoDaddy is good as well but not my first choice.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In my company, the majority of our clients use WordPress, which accounts for more than 80% of the projects. This translates to over 100 people, as I have built around 50 websites on WordPress so far, with only about 10% opting for Shopify.
How are customer service and support?
I haven't contacted the WordPress support team directly. Instead, I usually interact with the customer service of my server host when I need assistance, as WordPress is a program that can be set up without requiring direct support. For certain issues, I might also reach out to domain support for help when necessary.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very simple.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The cost of a project using WordPress varies widely and depends on the specific requirements. It can range from as low as $500 to as high as $3,000 or more, depending on the complexity and scope of the project.
What other advice do I have?
My advice for new users is to first define their project requirements. Understand the type of website you need, whether it is e-commerce or informational. Consider factors like the number of products you plan to feature and any specific design or functionality preferences. Be prepared to answer questions from professionals to help them recommend the most suitable platform, whether it is WordPress or something else, for your specific project needs. Overall, I would rate WordPress as a nine out of ten.
You can add various plugins and use the built-in configurations or implement custom solutions
What is our primary use case?
WordPress is a blogging platform used for various purposes. It maintains website content. Three clients use WordPress because of the VPN environment. These clients have major websites and also engage in webcasting. My clients belong to different industries, including travel and software, ranging from small businesses to independent entities. WordPress can help to build websites and works well with other web browsers. It can also be used to create microsites.
What is most valuable?
WordPress offers great flexibility. You can add various plugins and use the built-in configurations or implement custom solutions. It provides flexibility in the design and functionality of websites. I use WordPress for all my clients, and based on my experience, they consistently enhance their WordPress sites with a wide range of features.
What needs improvement?
One area of improvement is hosting. It should have its file manager regardless of where you host your website. You'll need access to all the backend files. You can usually find this in the hosting console.
For instance, if you want to change your website's backend, you might use a service like Cloudflare or GoDaddy. You'll need to log into their websites and make the necessary adjustments, like managing files and other resources. It's important to remember that if you're hosting a live website and making changes, there's a risk involved. Even minor errors like a single dot or comma in your code can significantly impact your website's functions. These errors can lead to issues with CSP and the site's functionality. This is especially crucial when dealing with live websites and monitoring ongoing business operations. If you need to test specific functionalities, consider doing so in a testing version of your website before making changes on the live site.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using WordPress since 2018. We are using the latest version of the solution.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
When a company installs WordPress, they'll notice an extensive range of features. WordPress is known for its stability and versatility. It's a reliable software platform that offers security features as well.
Some hosting options for WordPress may require payment, but self-financed hosting can also be a viable choice to maintain stability.
Based on my experience, one critical factor is hosting. If your hosting server cannot handle a sudden surge of users, it can lead to downtime for your website. I've encountered a situation where our WordPress website was hosted on AWS and experienced downtime due to a sudden increase in users.
Additionally, the UI of a website is vital. If it's not responsive or well-designed, it can negatively impact user experience, regardless of the hosting server's capabilities. So, while hosting is crucial, it's just one aspect, and other factors like UI and functionality also matter for a successful WordPress site.
I rate the solution’s stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Many clients use WordPress for managing microsites because of the ease of administration. WordPress is used for microsites because of the plugin ecosystem.
I rate the solution’s scalability a seven-point five out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
We experienced an issue because our team relies on support for our WordPress site. It took us three hours to resolve, and during that time, the website was down. To address the problem, we increased the server load and explored alternative solutions. The issue was that the operating system had trouble communicating with the server on the backend. It can impact and result in notifications or, in some cases, server incapacity.
Since our server is hosted in the cloud, similar to how Google occasionally faces downtime with its cloud services, it can lead to a slowdown. In these instances, it's crucial to have a system that notifies users visiting the site, ideally through a user-friendly UI, to ensure they are aware of the situation.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of WordPress is easy. I haven’t dealt with database connections. Everything is functioning correctly. It has a user-friendly interface with options for adding domain names.
What other advice do I have?
While making code changes, an additional function caused an error when loading the database. One challenge with our virtual team setup is that when a critical issue arises, we might not have dedicated infrastructure support. We can't rely on immediate assistance, especially if the system crashes unexpectedly. In such situations, the solution is straightforward. I could log into the server, modify the necessary file, and then send it. The coding errors could sometimes prevent even the login process from working correctly.
Many other CMS platforms are out there, such as Peer, Citrix, and Shopify. These CMS platforms offer a user-friendly UI. If you’re seeking greater flexibility and the ability to work with custom code templates, then WordPress is the preferred choice. Other CMS options might offer a more visually appealing interface, but WordPress excels in handling various coding languages and customization, making it a popular choice for many.
Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
User-friendly product with good scalability
What is our primary use case?
We use WordPress for building small e-commerce websites.
How has it helped my organization?
The product provides capabilities to build modern websites and can be used for various aspects of services. We can create panels for the HR team as well. ,
What is most valuable?
The product is user-friendly. Anyone can easily create a website using it.
What needs improvement?
The backend development process needs improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using WordPress for ten years. At present, we are using the latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable. It gets updated automatically.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have more than ten WordPress users. The product is scalable.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I previously used Joomla, but it is difficult for users to use it so I switched to WordPress
How was the initial setup?
It is easy to set up a WordPress website. It costs around $10 for a sharing host. It takes ten minutes to half an hour.
What about the implementation team?
We take the help of an infrastructure engineer if we have to deploy the product on VPS. In the case of shared hosting, we can deploy it ourselves.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is an open-source platform. It doesn't need any license.
What other advice do I have?
I rate WordPress an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
The flexibility of incorporating plugins into the backend allows us to swiftly implement various functionalities
What is our primary use case?
My primary focus is on developing and assisting clients from various business sectors, including small-scale e-commerce businesses and large enterprise-level enterprises. WordPress is our primary platform for achieving this goal, and we make the most of its capabilities. In my company, we exclusively utilize WordPress and Shopify as our content management systems. We extend two primary options to our clients: for standard enterprise-level websites, we offer WordPress, while for e-commerce solutions, we provide a choice between Shopify and WordPress. The selection between the two depends entirely on the client's preferences.
How has it helped my organization?
Everything we use is geared towards providing solutions, but there's a caveat. It's crucial to ensure that your work is optimized because updates can pose challenges. Some plugins and themes may not be compatible with the latest updates, and certain functionalities may not work seamlessly with the most current versions. This is why many developers feel like they are taking a step back in web development. It might improve in the future, but currently, around fifty to sixty percent of us face setbacks due to this issue.
What is most valuable?
The standout feature is its high degree of customization. Creating user-friendly, easily maintainable websites is a breeze, especially with the convenient admin access. Moreover, the flexibility of incorporating plugins into the backend allows us to swiftly implement various functionalities like payment methods, third-party reviews, or integrating external services onto our website.
What needs improvement?
When a new developer builds a website using WordPress, we often encounter a challenge. WordPress doesn't automatically scan the website, so we need to install paid plugins for this purpose. Unfortunately, this can lead to slower performance, which is a notable drawback.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with WordPress for the past three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Workforce performance relies on the server's capabilities, particularly its strength. If your server lacks sufficient workspace or experiences certain limitations, it can significantly impact performance. So, whether a website faces issues or remains stable hinges entirely on the quality and strength of its server.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In the coming two to three decades, there is a growing sense of scalability, and this trend is expected to continue and even expand. However, as AI and automation become more prevalent, there is a possibility that new competitors may enter the market and redefine what is considered "the best." Nevertheless, over the next two to three decades, significant growth is anticipated. But for the present moment, it's essential to assess the current level of scalability.
How are customer service and support?
We assist the client effectively in the initial two months, and we offer support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
While I've experimented with many and found them to be effective, it's worth noting that we used to operate without any such tools in the past.
How was the initial setup?
There are two methods for setting up WordPress. Currently, the first option involves directly installing WordPress through the cPanel or a similar control panel, allowing us to quickly install it on our domain. However, this method lacks flexibility. The second approach is to download the latest WordPress setup directly from the official WordPress website, migrate it to our servers, configure it along with the database, and then use it. The choice depends on the client's needs and the project's timeline. While one person can manage our personal website in most cases, when clients have tight deadlines and extensive requirements, we may need to allocate three or four individuals to work on it simultaneously, and takes a maximum of two weeks.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Regarding pricing, we have the flexibility to utilize certain themes and plugins across multiple websites for a single one-time cost. However, there are instances where themes come with only one activation key, limiting their use to a single website. Certain plugins and themes come with a significant cost, with the least expensive theme priced at around $120. Additionally, plugins typically range from $80 to $90 per year for a subscription. Consequently, it can be considered somewhat costly in this regard. Conversely, when it comes to WordPress, there is no expenditure involved.
This can make it more cost-effective for developers, as they can manage multiple websites with a single payment. On the client's end, though, it may be seen as relatively expensive. I would rate it a nine out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend that you first assess your server environment before initiating the web test setup. Once you've done that, you'll be able to utilize WordPress effectively, regardless of the circumstances or expenses involved.
I would rate it an eight out of ten.