Chapter 1: Introduction to WordPress

Imagine you’re starting from zero—no tech background, just wanting to build something online. That’s where most of my students begin, and WordPress is perfect for that.

What Exactly is WordPress?

WordPress is free, open-source software that lets you create and manage a website easily, without writing code for every little thing.

Think of it like this: Building a website from scratch is like constructing a house brick by brick—you need to know architecture, plumbing, electrical wiring. WordPress is like getting a pre-built modular home: the foundation, walls, roof are already there (the core software), and you can customize it by adding rooms (pages/posts), decorating (themes), installing appliances (plugins), and even turning it into a shop (WooCommerce).

• It started in 2003 as a simple tool for blogging (created by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little because they wanted something better than existing options).
• Over 20+ years, it grew into a full content management system (CMS) — meaning you log in to a dashboard (like Gmail or Facebook), type content, upload photos, arrange layouts, and publish — all without touching HTML/CSS much.
• Today (early 2026), the latest versions (WordPress 6.x) use the block editor (Gutenberg): everything is made of “blocks” — text block, image block, button block, etc. You drag, drop, stack them like Lego. Super intuitive.

Real example: A friend in Secunderabad started a food blog. He writes recipes, adds photos of biryani or dosa, categorizes them (Veg, Non-Veg), and publishes. WordPress handles formatting, mobile responsiveness, comments — he just focuses on cooking and writing.

It’s open-source (anyone can see/improve the code), free to download/use, and runs on standard web hosting (PHP + MySQL database).

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – Which One Should You Choose? (With Clear Examples)

This is the biggest confusion for beginners — the names are almost identical, but they’re completely different experiences.

Use this analogy:

• WordPress.org = You buy land, build your own house (full freedom, but you maintain it).
• WordPress.com = You rent an apartment in a fancy building (easy, managed, but rules and limits apply).

WordPress.org (Self-Hosted – My Strong Recommendation for Most People)

• You download the free software from wordpress.org.
• Install it on hosting you pay for (e.g., Hostinger, SiteGround, Bluehost — in India, often ₹200–800/month).
• Buy your own domain (e.g., webliance.com — ₹500–1000/year).
• Full control: Install any plugin (60,000+ free ones), any theme, edit code, add ads (Google AdSense, affiliates), sell products, membership sites — no restrictions.
• You handle (or plugins automate) backups, updates, security.
• Example: A Hyderabad-based freelance graphic designer uses WordPress.org. He has a portfolio site with custom contact forms (via plugins), client login area, integrates WhatsApp chat, runs Google Ads, sells digital templates — total freedom. If he wants to switch hosts later, he can export everything easily. No one can limit his earnings or shut him down.

WordPress.com (Hosted Platform – Easier for Absolute Beginners or Hobbyists)

• Run by Automattic (the company that contributes most to WordPress).
• They host everything — sign up, pick a plan, start writing.
• Managed: Automatic updates, backups, basic security, speed optimizations.
• Limits: Free plan has wordpress.com subdomain (yourname.wordpress.com), shows their ads, limited themes/plugins. Paid plans (₹300–₹3000+/month) unlock custom domain, more storage, some plugins. But no full custom plugins or code edits on lower plans; monetization restricted (only their ad network on higher plans).
• Example: Someone just wants to blog about Hyderabad street food for fun. They sign up on WordPress.com free, write posts, add photos — zero setup hassle. But if they later want to add a custom booking form for food tours or heavy ads, they hit walls and may need to upgrade or migrate.

2026 Quick Verdict for You:

• Choose WordPress.org if you want to build something serious (blog that earns, business site, portfolio, online shop) — especially in India where hosting is cheap and you want no limits.
• Go WordPress.com only if you’re testing ideas, super non-technical, or want zero maintenance (e.g., personal diary or family site). Most pros/teachers (including me) start people on .org because migrating from .com to .org later is painful.

Why Does WordPress Power ~43% of the Web? (Latest 2026 Numbers)

As of late January 2026 (from reliable sources like W3Techs and Kinsta reports):

• WordPress powers 42.8–43.5% of ALL websites on the internet (around 43% average).
• Among sites using any known CMS, it’s ~60% (more than all competitors combined).

That’s massive — over 500–600 million sites!

Why so dominant?

• Free + open-source → No license fees; huge community fixes bugs, adds features.
• One-click install on almost every host — 5-minute setup.
• Endless extensions → Themes for design, plugins for anything (SEO, speed, forms, shops).
• Scalable → From a student’s blog to big brands.
• SEO built-in → Clean URLs, fast with good hosting, mobile-friendly.
• Community & ecosystem → Millions of developers, tutorials (in English + regional languages), agencies in India building on it.
• Constant updates → Full Site Editing, better performance, AI helpers emerging.

Example comparison: Shopify (~4–5%), Wix (~4%), Squarespace (~2–3%) — WordPress is 8–10x bigger. Big names like Microsoft blogs, BBC America sections, Sony Music sites, even parts of NBA or MIT use it.

It’s not perfect (needs maintenance), but the network effect keeps it winning.

Who is WordPress Really For? (Real-Life Examples)

WordPress fits tons of people because it’s flexible:

• Bloggers/Content Creators — Write articles, recipes, travel stories. Example: A Telangana food blogger shares millet recipes, gets traffic via SEO, earns from affiliates/ads.
• Small/Medium Businesses — Service pages, contact forms, testimonials. Example: Hyderabad interior designer shows portfolios, books consultations.
• Freelancers/Professionals — Portfolios, case studies. Example: Web developer like you showcases projects, adds client login.
• Online Stores — With WooCommerce (free plugin). Example: Local boutique sells kurtas online, integrates Razorpay for payments.
• Non-Profits/Schools/Churches — Events, donations. Example: NGO in Hyderabad shares updates, collects funds.
• Big Brands/Enterprises — Custom setups. Example: News sites, corporate blogs.
• Even Developers — Build complex apps, headless sites.

Basically, if you want ownership (your data, no platform can delete your site or take big cuts), growth potential, and low cost, WordPress is ideal.