“People ignore design that ignores people.”
— Frank Chimero, Designer
WordPress remains the most powerful force on the web when it comes to content management systems (CMS). Known for its flexibility, ease of use, and vibrant community, WordPress continues to evolve and grow in usage. Here’s an updated version of the WordPress impact and facts article you provided, with new data from 2023:
The Dominance and Evolution of WordPress
As of 2023, WordPress underlies a significant portion of the web, showcasing its prevalence and the trust millions place in its platform.
- WordPress’s Market Grips Tightens WordPress now powers over 455 million websites, solidifying their robust position in the CMS market with a 64.1% share.
- Accelerated Growth of WordPress Domains The number of new WordPress domains does not show signs of slowing down; every six months, more than 1.1 million new WordPress domains emerge.
- WordPress’s Global Reach WordPress is no longer a service known and used only in English-speaking countries. It has expanded its presence significantly, offering translated versions in numerous languages, and its platform hosts content in over 120 languages, reflecting its global influence.
- Impressive Traffic Volumes WordPress.org alone sees around 155 million unique visits each month, placing it among the top visited sites in the US behind giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon.
- Soaring Views for WordPress.com Monthly views have skyrocketed to more than 409 million, indicating the high engagement level of the WordPress community.
- Content Creation at Its Peak An astounding 41.7 million new posts and over 60.5 million new comments are published each month on WordPress, evidencing the vibrancy and activity of the WordPress ecosystem.
- WordPress’s Internet Presence Approximately 43% of the web users interact with WordPress in some form, reinforcing the platform’s significance in the digital landscape.
- Powering Leading Websites A whopping 14.7% of the world’s top websites are powered by WordPress, including names like TechCrunch, The New Yorker, and CNN.
- Unwavering Open-Source Commitment True to its founding principles, WordPress remains 100% free, with the WordPress Foundation ensuring that it stays open-source and accessible for all.
- Boosting SEO Capabilities WordPress’s structure provides substantial SEO benefits, which is essential for visibility and success in today’s digital marketplace.
- Understanding WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com The differentiation between WordPress.org and WordPress.com is clearer than ever, with WordPress.org offering a free, self-hosted experience, and WordPress.com providing various paid hosting options.
- Expansive Plugin Ecosystem The platform boasts an arsenal of 58,250 plugins, serving as a testament to WordPress’s adaptability and its community’s innovation.
- Managed by a Small but Mighty Team Despite its massive footprint, WordPress is managed by a relatively small team, emphasizing the efficiency and dedication of those involved in the project.
- Valuing WordPress Expertise The market for WordPress developers is healthy, with an annual average salary sitting around $53,000, reflecting the ongoing demand for skilled professionals in this space.
- A Strong, United Community The WordPress community is more significant and more cohesive than ever, with over 1,074 WordCamps having taken place, fostering collaboration and learning among users across the globe.
WordPress’s impact and diverse use cases:
1. Media Powerhouses:
- CNN’s Blogs: CNN uses WordPress for its numerous blogs, leveraging the platform’s ease of content publishing and management.
- Forbes: This global media company utilizes WordPress to deliver its content, benefiting from the CMS’s scalability and robust performance.
2. Music and Artists:
- The Rolling Stones: The iconic rock band’s official website is powered by WordPress, showcasing the CMS’s ability to handle media-rich content.
- Beyoncé: The website for the world-renowned artist Beyoncé is built with WordPress, highlighting the platform’s flexibility and design capabilities.
3. Tech Industry Leaders:
- Microsoft News: Microsoft runs its news center on WordPress, capitalizing on its user-friendly administrative interface.
- Facebook Newsroom: WordPress supports Facebook’s newsroom, facilitating the company’s communication with media and the public.
4. Educational Institutions:
- University of Washington: The university uses WordPress for its main website, taking advantage of its extensive plugin system and themes.
- MIT Sloan School of Management: MIT Sloan’s blog platform utilizes WordPress, demonstrating its appeal to academia for sharing knowledge.
5. Non-Profit Organizations:
- Amnesty International: The international human rights organization uses WordPress to reach a global audience with its messages and campaigns.
- Greenpeace UK: The environmental organization’s UK arm leverages WordPress for its website, benefiting from the platform’s strong community support.
6. Government Entities:
- The White House: The White House has employed WordPress for various projects, valuing its secure and customizable environment.
- Sweden’s Official Website: The country’s official website runs on WordPress, highlighting the CMS’s ability to meet diverse and specific governmental needs.
7. E-Commerce Giants:
- WooCommerce: This WordPress plugin has turned the platform into a powerful e-commerce system, and it powers numerous online stores.
- Bata: The international shoe brand uses WordPress coupled with WooCommerce to sell its products online, blending content and commerce effectively.
8. Creative Agencies:
- Vogue: The fashion magazine’s website demonstrates WordPress’s capabilities in handling high traffic and rich visual content.
- Boingo: The wireless internet provider’s WordPress site exemplifies the CMS’s capacity to integrate various service platforms.
9. WordPress Plugin Success Stories:
- Yoast SEO: This essential plugin for search engine optimization exemplifies the community’s contribution to WordPress’s success.
- Akismet: Developed by Automattic, Akismet helps millions of WordPress sites reduce spam, showcasing the platform’s extensibility.
These examples represent a fraction of the myriad ways WordPress is utilized across sectors, illustrating its versatility and the confidence that large organizations place in its technology.
Closing Thoughts
WordPress continues to shape the web, promoting accessibility, community-driven growth, and a shared goal of an open and free internet. It stands testament to the philosophy that technology should facilitate expression and connection, not restrict it. With millions employing WordPress worldwide, it’s not just a tool for website creation; it’s become a digital home to a diverse and expressive global populace—a modern marvel of both technology and human cooperation.
