Which is Better, Developing a Website from Scratch or with WordPress?
Creating a website from scratch is a daunting task. You will have to learn a plethora of new skillset and tools to be able to pull off a website that is both practical and beautiful. For many, the learning curve can be a bit too high. That’s why many choose to go with a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress. Not only does it offer an easy-to-follow learning curve, it also comes with tons of pre-built functionality that can be easily adapted to your needs.
Why Build a Website From Scratch?
If you are new to the world of websites and web development, building one from scratch can seem like a daunting task. You will have to learn a new set of skills and tools to be able to complete a functional website. There are also plenty of tutorials out there that can help you along the way, but it’s always good to have a book to point you to.
The main benefit of building a website from scratch is that you can ensure that the code is completely yours. When you build a website from scratch, you are building it the way you want it to be built. There’s no template to follow, no fixed set of CSS, and absolutely no limits on what you can do with the code.
Is There a CMS That Can Replace WordPress?
WordPress is without a doubt the most popular and versatile open source CMS out there. It is extremely popular because it offers a ton of features and is extremely easy to use. But while it may be good for beginners, the fact is that WordPress can’t grow with you as a business and it can’t handle every scenario you may encounter.
This is why many choose to build their websites on a CMS such as Squarespace or Wix. Both of these platforms offer a blank canvas approach to website building. On one hand, you have a fully custom website with all the bells and whistles. On the other hand, you have a completely blank slate ready to be populated with content.
The main difference between these two platforms is how they present the building process. With a fully custom website, you have to fill in all the blanks and be mindful of every step along the way. This can be both exciting and overwhelming all at once. The great thing about Squarespace and Wix is that they make it very easy to get started and find your feet without too much thought or anxiety about what will happen next.
Learn WordPress For Free
WordPress is a free content management system that is both powerful and flexible. It is extremely popular because it is absolutely free. Anyone can download it and use it to build a website. This makes it incredibly accessible to anyone who might want to build a website. But what does this mean? It means that anyone can use WordPress to build a crappy website. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of great WordPress-powered websites out there, but you have to know how to spot them. Like everything else in life, there is a dark side to WordPress as well.
This is why it’s crucial to learn how to build a WordPress website from scratch. Not only will this teach you the fundamentals of creating a functional website, it will also provide you with the ability to fully customize the appearance of your site.
Scared of Going Rogue?
There’s always the chance that you might end up with something that you don’t intend to happen. When this occurs it’s often referred to as going rogue. Going rogue with a custom WordPress website is a dangerous game because it’s easy to make mistakes that could end up ruining your whole site. To prevent yourself from going rogue, you have to learn caution and learn how to correctly use WordPress. You have to be mindful of how much content you are allowing viewers to engage with and where this content is coming from. For example, if you have a blog post that you think will get more engagement than a typical tweet, you should probably put in on a blog. But if you want to keep your content organically linked throughout the web, you may want to consider using a different platform.
In short, never be afraid to try new things. Learn what you can from whatever happens and continue moving forward. You never know what might happen tomorrow.