WORDPRESS FREE CMS

WordPress is CMS software. CMS stands for content management system.

It was first released in 2003 and immediately enjoyed massive popularity and has been growing strongly year-after-year.

When it first arrived on the market, it was originally intended to provide an easy platform for non-technical people to create and public their own blog online.

This is why you see WordPress referred to as a "blogging" platform online. Over the years it has grown exponentially and is very capable of powering any type of website. In reality, it's much more than a blogging platform.

If you're interested to see why we (and so many other individuals and businesses around the world) love WordPress so much, check out Why We Use and Recommend WordPress.

When we talk about WordPress, we're referring to the version found at wordpress.org.

The WordPress software is built by Automattic. They release 2 different versions of the same software.

WordPress.com

One version is found at wordpress.com. Essentially, this is the commercial arm of WordPress - it's how they make their money.

This service is very simple & reliable, but you lose a lot of features and functionally as a tradeoff. It's very easy to start a blog using wordpress.com, but it's hard (and expensive) to do anything beyond this.

Their service includes managed hosting, but the drawback is that you're not allowed to install the wide selection of WordPress themes and plugins available online.

WordPress.org

The second version is found at wordpress.org. This version is the same software, but it's released for free in all of its unrestricted glory. It's available for anyone to download, install and use as they wish.

This version of WordPress is available at WordPress.org - and it's this version that we use at SMEspree.

Because this version is self-hosted (ie, you organise your own web hosting, that's where we come in), you're able to do whatever you want without any restrictions.

Easy Analogy

Think of wordpress.com as renting your house, while wordpress.org is like owning your house.

If you're renting, you have to live within the limits set out by your landlord. You're not allowed to make any modifications and you don't really own anything.

If you own, you don't have anyone to answer to and you're allowed to make any modifications you want.

WordPress is very capable of powering simple blog websites, brochure websites and general business websites.

It's also able to provide eCommerce capability with the free plugin WooCommerce.

One of the key reasons why WordPress is so popular is that it's very flexible.

You can browse the official WordPress repository, which contains a huge collection of free (and paid) themes and plugins.

• WordPress Theme Repository
• WordPress Plugin Repository

There are also 3rd party marketplaces which offer a huge range of premium paid themes and plugins.

• View ThemeForest

WordPress is available to download and use for free. The core software offers a lot of out-of-the-box functionality, and there are thousands of free themes and plugins available.

There are also paid themes and plugins available too - but it's entirely possible to build a complete website (even with eCommerce) without having to pay.

However, you will still need a service to host your website (ie, store and deliver your website files). That's where we come in - we'll host your WordPress on our leading infrastructure. Pricing starts at $9.90/m.

You can either use our 1-click WordPress installer. Check our knowledgebase for instructions.

Alternatively, you can use our free WordPress installation and configuration service. This is a popular option because it also includes the setup of your matching business email accounts too (if needed).

Absolutely. Download the free WooCommerce plugin. This provides the entire eCommerce foundation you'll require to sell online.

It facilitates online ordering and supports multiple payment gateways so that you can facilitate payments through your website.

If you're just getting started, or you anticipate low website traffic then we recommend you choose our Lite hosting plan.

If you would rather prioritise high performance, or you're anticipation that your site will be reasonable busy then we recommend one of our Optimised WordPress hosting plans.

If you're not sure, please contact us to tell us about your situation and we can help you.