In the ever-evolving landscape of content management systems (CMS), WordPress continues to lead the charge as the most popular platform, a trend that shows no signs of slowing down in 2024. Here at OSKY, we have seen firsthand the benefits that WordPress offers to our clients, particularly in the non-profit sector, where flexibility, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness are paramount. Let’s delve into some key statistics and insights that highlight why WordPress remains the CMS of choice for so many, and how it compares to other platforms like Drupal and Joomla.
Market Share and Usage
WordPress currently powers over 43% of all websites globally, maintaining its position as the dominant CMS with a staggering 64.2% market share among all CMS platforms. In comparison, Joomla holds a 2.5% market share, while Drupal accounts for 1.6%. These numbers highlight the overwhelming preference for WordPress among website creators, driven by its user-friendly interface, extensive plugin ecosystem, and strong community support.
WordPress usage is consistently up over the years.
Plugin and Theme Ecosystem
One of the strongest selling points of WordPress is its vast ecosystem of plugins and themes. As of June 2024, the WordPress Plugin Directory boasts over 56,000 plugins, with 47,350 of these actively maintained and widely used. Popular plugins like Yoast SEO and WooCommerce continue to lead with millions of active installations, enhancing site functionality and user experience without the need for extensive custom development.
The theme landscape is equally impressive, with nearly 12,000 free themes available, allowing users to customise their sites to meet their specific needs. Premium themes, often available through third-party vendors like ThemeForest, offer even more options, making it easy to create visually stunning and highly functional websites.
E-commerce Integration
WooCommerce, the leading e-commerce plugin for WordPress, powers 21% of WordPress sites and accounts for 9.1% of all e-commerce websites globally. This makes it the most popular e-commerce platform, with over 4.6 million online stores relying on it for their digital storefronts. The extensive feature set and flexibility of WooCommerce make it a preferred choice for businesses ranging from small startups to large enterprises.
Security and Performance
Security remains a critical concern for WordPress users. While the platform itself is secure, vulnerabilities often arise from outdated plugins and themes. It’s essential to keep all components updated to mitigate risks. Regular security audits and the use of security plugins like Wordfence can help protect against threats. Despite the challenges, the WordPress community and its developers continuously work on enhancing security measures.
SEO and Accessibility
WordPress excels in search engine optimisation (SEO), with many built-in features and plugins that help websites rank higher in search engine results. According to Google’s Matt Cutts, WordPress covers 80-90% of the mechanics of SEO, making it a powerful tool for improving online visibility. Additionally, WordPress is available in 57 languages, reflecting its global reach and commitment to accessibility.
Community and Support
The WordPress community is one of its greatest strengths. With thousands of developers, designers, and users contributing to forums, meetups, and WordCamps, there is a wealth of knowledge and support available. This collaborative environment helps ensure that WordPress continues to evolve and improve, meeting the needs of its diverse user base.
Comparison with Drupal and Joomla
While WordPress leads the market, it’s important to consider how it stacks up against other CMS options like Drupal and Joomla:
Drupal: Known for its robustness and scalability, Drupal is a preferred choice for complex, large-scale websites that require intricate customisation and higher security. However, its steeper learning curve and more developer-centric approach limit its adoption among less technical users. Drupal holds a 1.6% market share among CMS platforms.
Joomla: Striking a balance between user-friendliness and flexibility, Joomla is favoured for its strong developer community and extensive out-of-the-box features. Despite these advantages, Joomla’s market share stands at 2.5%, indicating a smaller but dedicated user base compared to WordPress.
Salesforce Integration with WordPress
A noteworthy trend in 2024 is the integration of WordPress with Salesforce, a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform. This integration allows businesses to leverage Salesforce’s powerful data management and automation tools directly within their WordPress sites, facilitating seamless lead capture, enhanced customer engagement, and real-time data synchronisation.
According to recent reports, there are thousands of WordPress websites integrated with Salesforce, utilising plugins like Gravity Forms with Zapier to streamline their CRM processes. This integration significantly boosts operational efficiency by automating data transfer from WordPress forms to Salesforce, ensuring that customer information is always up-to-date and readily accessible for sales and marketing activities.
Conclusion
As we move through 2024, WordPress remains the go-to CMS for millions of websites worldwide. Its extensive plugin and theme ecosystem, robust e-commerce capabilities, and strong community support make it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes. At OSKY, we are committed to leveraging the power of WordPress to deliver exceptional web solutions to our clients. Whether you are looking to build a new website or enhance an existing one, WordPress offers the tools and flexibility to bring your vision to life.
For more detailed insights and up-to-date statistics on WordPress usage, you can visit the BuiltWith WordPress Trends and other relevant sources.
At OSKY, we specialise in creating custom WordPress solutions tailored to your unique needs. Contact us today to learn how we can help your organisation thrive online.
