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On May 27, 2023, WordPress celebrates its 20th anniversary. We see together the history of WordPress and how it continues to position itself in the web world. WordPress, a name that is almost synonymous with website creation, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Since its birth in 2003, this tool has become one of the leading online publishing platforms, powering over 40% of websites worldwide. Let’s look at the history of WordPress, how it managed to stand out, its benefits, and how businesses can benefit from this technology.
A Look at the History of WordPress
It all started in 2003, when Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little decided to create a new blogging platform, improving an old platform called b2/catalog. Over the years, WordPress has gradually evolved from a simple blogging platform into a full-featured content management system (CMS) capable of handling websites of all sizes and types. For nearly 12 years, WordPress has been ranked number one among website design tools. Indeed, nowadays, almost 43% of websites use WordPress. And according to statistics from W3Techs, this percentage continues to grow. We’ll take a look at some key WordPress dates below.
Some WordPress Key Dates
2003: Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little launch WordPress. At its beginnings, it is a simple blog management system.
2004: The introduction of plugins with version 1.2. This allowed users to customize and extend the functionality of their WordPress site, a feature that has been a critical factor in WordPress’ success.
2005: Launch of version 2.0, which introduces themes. This made it easier for users to customize the look of their site. In version 2.0 of WordPress, we can also see a rich editor of the content editor.
2008: Version 2.7 features a new dashboard interface and automatic updates for minor releases.
2010: WordPress celebrates its 7th anniversary with version 3.0. This release brings features like custom post types, menus, and Multisite.
2013: With version 3.8, WordPress adopts a new, modern and responsive user interface.
2015: Version 4.3 improves the writing experience by adding formatting shortcuts.
2018: WordPress 5.0 rolls out with Block Editor, also known as Gutenberg, a significant editor overhaul allowing for more granular post and page customization.
2021: Version 5.8 further improves the block editor and introduces full-screen page templates.
2023: WordPress celebrates 20 years of existence, continuing to innovate and dominate the CMS landscape.
How did WordPress stand out?
WordPress stood out thanks to several key factors. First, its open-source nature has allowed many developers to contribute to its development, resulting in rapid and constant platform improvement. Then, the flexibility offered by WordPress is unmatched. WordPress can adapt to your needs to create a blog, an e-commerce site, a portfolio, or an information site! Finally, with a library of over 50,000 plugins, WordPress offers almost limitless extension possibilities, allowing users to customize their site to their liking.
WordPress Usage Growth Estimate
According to available sources, here is an estimate of the growth in WordPress usage:
2003 – WordPress is launched. There are few users, as the platform is still new and relatively unknown. 2005 – WordPress begins to gain popularity with new features. It is used by approximately 0.6% of websites worldwide.
2010 – WordPress‘ popularity explodes. It is used by about 8.5% of websites and 13.1% of the top 1 million websites.
2015 – WordPress continues to grow and is used by approximately 23.3% of websites and 58.7% of websites using a CMS.
2020 – WordPress reaches new heights and is used by over 35% of websites worldwide and over 60% with a top-tier content management system.
2021 – WordPress powered over 39% of all websites.
2023 – WordPress powers over 43.1% of all websites and 63.2% of websites using content managers. According to the W3Techs graph, we can see that the percentage of websites not using any tool is decreasing. And still, according to the chart, we can believe that this decrease gives way to WordPress. 
Advantages of WordPress
WordPress has several advantages that have contributed to its success. Below are some benefits.
- Foremost, it is a very easy-to-use content manager. Indeed, you do not need to be an expert to use WordPress.
- Next, it is scalable, which means it can handle sites ranging from personal blogs to full-scale corporate sites.
- Furthermore, It is optimized for SEO. This helps sites rank higher on search engines.
- Above all, WordPress is free. Although some themes and plugins may cost money, the CMS is free.
Some examples of large companies using WordPress
WordPress is, indeed, a popular platform. Numerous prominent companies around the world use WordPress. Here are some notable examples:
The Walt Disney Company
The official Walt Disney website uses WordPress to share information about the company, its various branches and its initiatives.
Microsoft News Center
Microsoft’s official blog, which shares company news and announcements, is built on WordPress.
The New Yorker
This well-respected magazine uses WordPress for its website, which publishes articles on politics, culture, books and more.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz’s international blog, where they share their vehicle news and driving stories, is powered by WordPress.
Beyoncé
Renowned singer Beyoncé uses WordPress for her official website. Indeed, she uses it to share the latest news, photos, and information about her tours.
Usain Bolt
The world’s fastest sprinter, Usain Bolt, also uses WordPress for his official website.
The Rolling Stones
The legendary rock band also chose WordPress for their website. It should be noted that these sites are not necessarily simple blogs. Indeed, many of them are complex websites with custom features. This demonstrates that WordPress can be flexible.
How Can Businesses Benefit From WordPress?
One of the main advantages of WordPress for businesses is its flexibility. Indeed, a company can create a website that meets its needs with WordPress. WordPress can be the solution, whether a small local business showcase site or a large company’s complex e-commerce site. Moreover, WordPress allows businesses to manage their content efficiently. With its powerful content editor and media management system, WordPress makes creating and editing content simple and intuitive. Finally, SEO built into WordPress can help businesses improve online visibility and attract more customers.
WordPress 6.2: An innovative strategy for a promising future
WordPress continues to evolve and improve, constantly striving to meet the changing needs of its users. Indeed, with the recent launch of version 6.2, WordPress has again shown its commitment to making website creation accessible to everyone while strengthening security and customization.
Strategic positioning of WordPress
The introduction of version 6.2 marks a significant strategic turning point for WordPress. WordPress dramatically reduces reliance on plugins and external resources by making creating blocks and fully block-powered designs easy. This decision positions WordPress as an available choice for beginners in web design. Plus, it’s a robust option for professionals looking to maximize the efficiency and security of their websites.
Benefits of version 6.2 and later versions
WordPress version 6.2 has several notable advantages.
- Increased Security: WordPress reduces security vulnerabilities associated with potentially insecure or malicious plugins by minimizing the need for third-party extensions. This increases the overall security of websites built with WordPress.
- Reduced Costs: WordPress 6.2’s block-centric approach eliminates the need to acquire multiple licenses for premium plugins or themes. These cost savings make WordPress even more appealing to small businesses and individuals on a budget.
- Easy customization: transforming an HTML design into a blog or website becomes more accessible with the new version. Users can now create fully customized websites without requiring web development expertise.
Towards a brighter future
By positioning itself as a platform that simultaneously promotes accessibility and sophistication, WordPress is setting itself up for an even more glorious future. The release of version 6.2 illustrates WordPress’ continued commitment to innovation. Indeed, it is a solution that will remain at the forefront of the web landscape. With its new strategy focused on:
- the simplicity,
- Security
- and customization,
WordPress is preferred by millions of users looking to build their online presence. Whether it’s small businesses, bloggers, or large corporations, WordPress 6.2+ promises ease of use, increased security, and greater creative freedom for everyone. My apologies for this omission. Here is the full conclusion:
Conclusion
For two decades, WordPress has revolutionized the landscape of the web. It is a solution that has, for example, offered an accessible and flexible platform for website creation. WordPress is a valuable tool whether you’re a small business looking to establish an online presence, an avid blogger wanting to share your ideas, or a large corporation needing a robust and secure platform. With the launch of version 6.2, WordPress reinforces its commitment to:
- accessibility,
- Security
- and customization,
In addition, it strives to remain the platform of choice for anyone looking to create and manage a website. By constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with a CMS, WordPress is positioning itself to remain an industry leader for decades.
