WordPress is the world’s most popular website and blog creation tool. Learn what it can do for you, its features, and how to use it today. Check out also updates, versions, and trends on WordPress below.
Top Reasons Why Small Businesses Are Choosing Custom WordPress in 2025
For small businesses today, a strong online presence is not just an option; it’s a necessity. While website builders offer a quick way to get online, many entrepreneurs are discovering the long-term advantages of a custom WordPress site. A custom approach provides the flexibility, power, and professional edge needed to stand out in a crowded digital marketplace. If you’re wondering why so many small businesses are moving beyond basic builders, here are the top reasons they are choosing custom WordPress.
1. Complete Customization and a Unique Brand Identity
Website builders often rely on pre-made templates, which can make it difficult for a business to truly stand out. A custom WordPress site, on the other hand, is built from the ground up to reflect your unique brand. From the layout and color scheme to the specific features and user experience, every element can be tailored to your business needs. This level of customization ensures that your website is not just another template but a powerful branding tool that resonates with your target audience.
2. A Website That Grows with Your Business
A common challenge for small businesses is that their website can’t keep up with their growth. What works for a brand new business may not be sufficient a few years down the line. Custom WordPress sites are inherently scalable. Whether you need to add an e-commerce store, a booking system, a membership portal, or handle a significant increase in traffic, WordPress can be expanded and adapted to meet your evolving needs. This scalability means your website can remain a valuable asset for the long term.
3. Unmatched Control Over SEO
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for attracting new customers, and WordPress offers a level of control that most website builders can’t match. With a custom WordPress site, you have the power to fine-tune every aspect of your SEO strategy, from creating clean, optimized code to customizing URL structures and meta descriptions. With access to powerful SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, you can implement advanced SEO tactics that help you rank higher in search results and drive more organic traffic to your site.
4. Long-Term Cost-Effectiveness
While a custom WordPress site may have a higher initial investment than a simple website builder, it is often more cost-effective in the long run. WordPress is open-source software, which means it’s free to use, and you have complete control over your hosting and maintenance costs. You only pay for the specific features and functionality you need, without being tied to a monthly subscription that can increase in price. This allows for more predictable budgeting and a better return on your investment over time.
5. Full Ownership of Your Content and Data
When you use a website builder, you are often subject to the platform’s terms and conditions, and migrating your site to another platform can be difficult, if not impossible. With a custom WordPress site, you have 100% ownership of your website, your content, and all your data. This gives you the freedom to move your site to any hosting provider, make any changes you want, and ensure that your online asset remains yours, no matter what.
6. Limitless Functionality with Plugins
One of the greatest strengths of WordPress is its extensive ecosystem of plugins. With over 59,000 free and premium plugins available, you can add almost any feature imaginable to your website. Whether you need to integrate with a specific payment gateway, add a live chat feature, or create a custom contact form, there’s likely a plugin for it. This vast library of plugins allows you to create a highly functional and interactive website without the need for custom coding.
7. A Strong and Supportive Community
Because WordPress is so popular, it has a massive global community of users, developers, and experts. This means that if you ever run into an issue or have a question, there are countless forums, tutorials, and resources available to help you. This strong community support network provides peace of mind and makes it easier to manage and maintain your website over the long term.
Latest WordPress News, Trends, and Updates
WordPress plugin developers take on AI-powered tech in their plugins
Developers have been warned that code submitted to the WordPress.org directory must be GPL-compatible, including AI-generated code. Developers should use AI-generated code for inspiration and give credit where they can. In this new era of AI-assisted creation, the GPL is one of the principles that guide the WordPress community, enabling its growth and success.
Source: https://wptavern.com/navigating-the-new-era-of-ai-assisted-code-generation-in-wordpress
How to improve the performance of large WordPress sites
The article provides tips and strategies for improving the performance of large WordPress sites. It suggests optimizing database queries, using caching and content delivery networks (CDNs), compressing and minifying files, optimizing images, using a content delivery network (CDN), and implementing a content distribution network (CDN) for media files. It also recommends choosing a reliable hosting provider, regularly cleaning up and optimizing the site’s database, and minimizing the use of plugins and external scripts. Additionally, the article suggests using a tool like GTmetrix to monitor site performance and identify areas for improvement.
Source: https://wpmudev.com/blog/improve-performance-large-wordpress-sites/
WordPress 6.2 integrates with Openverse to let users insert openly-licensed media into their content easily
However, since the images are considered hot-linked, users are advised to use the Upload tool to avoid negatively impacting their sites.
Over 60,000 sites were affected by a popular WordPress anti-spam plugin
The vulnerability discovered in “Stop Spammers Security | Block Spam Users, Comments, Forms WordPress plugin” reportedly arose from improper sanitization of inputs. Sanitization is a process wherein the plugin filters out unwanted inputs.
The vulnerability has been fixed in version 2022.6.
WordPress 6.1.1 is available for update
2022 December 5
WP 6.1.1 was released to the public on the 15th of November, 2022.
A blog for WordPress.org developers to begin soon
2022 December 2
The blog will concentrate on updates for theme and plugin creators, developers working at agencies, programming content, case studies, and more.
Source: https://wptavern.com/wordpress-launches-developer-blog-in-beta
WordPress 6.1 is coming this November with massive enhancements
2022 October 20
The performance upgrades include improvements to database performance, caching, post and post types, media handling, health checks, and more.
Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-6-1-performance/467877/
WordPress 6.1, the last major release of the year, is set to be released this November
2022 October 14
The new version will come with many new features and improvements. These include a new default minimalist theme called Twenty Twenty-Three; block editor improvements; dimensions in blocks like Paragraph, List, Columns, and Table; more border options; featured image for a cover block; and many more.
Source: https://www.wpbeginner.com/news/whats-coming-in-wordpress-6-1-features-and-screenshots/
WordPress 6.1: You may now download and test the Beta
2022 September 30
Users are, however, asked to test Beta 1 on a test server and not on production or mission-critical sites.
Source: https://wordpress.org/news/2022/09/wordpress-6-1-beta-1-now-available/
WordPress 6.0 is coming
WordPress 6.0 can be considered a major release. This is a huge effort to fulfilling Gutenberg’s promise to make WordPress easy to create websites and publish content.
WordPress 6.0 will be released on May 24, 2022.
Important updates:
- WordPress Gutenberg Blocks
- Page Creation Patterns In WordPress 6.0
- Global Styles Switcher
- Code Improvements For Image, Quote, List And Group Blocks
Check this out for details: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/new-details-of-wordpress-6-0-reveal-major-changes/448508/
WordPress 5.9 Development Cycle
WordPress 5.9 will be the third major release of 2021 and will focus on blocks and intrinsic web design, navigation menus, interface for theme.json, refining editing flows for block themes, additional design tools, and a new default theme.
Additionally, it’s possible that the release will also include pattern insertion and creation, unzip/rollback failsafe, and PHPUnit tests.
It is also aimed to improve compatibility with PHP 8.0 and 8.1.
Source: https://make.wordpress.org/core/5-9/
WordPress 5.8.1 Has Been Released to Address Several Security Flaws
WordPress has released version 5.8.1, which is a security and maintenance update. However, to fix three security concerns, it is critical to update WordPress, particularly versions 5.4 to 5.8.
Following a major version update, it’s typical for WordPress, or any software for that matter, to release a bug fix update to address unforeseen issues. And to provide enhancements that didn’t make it into the major release.
Three vulnerabilities have been addressed in WordPress 5.8.1:
- Data exposure risk within the REST API.
- The Gutenberg block editor has a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability.
- The Lodash JavaScript Library has multiple critical to high severity vulnerabilities.
Because all three of the above vulnerabilities are so severe, WordPress advises that all WordPress installations be updated right away.
Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-multiple-vulnerabilities/419167/