Last Updated on June 4, 2022 by Sunny Staff
WordPress is one of the most popular web platforms and Content Management Systems in the world. Nearly one out of every three websites, including Time.com, USA Today and Spotify are powered by WordPress. Its CMS system is the most popular of all, owning 50 to 60 percent of the market share for CMS. The keyword “WordPress” gets googled around 2.8 million times every month. Its versatility, security features, open source, customization capabilities and ease of use are cited as the top reasons that business owners use WordPress. But what exactly does “ease of use” mean?
Is it hard to learn WordPress?
The short answer is: it depends. While a novice webmaster may be able to get their website online without deep technical expertise, the truth is to become a WordPress developer requires a much deeper skill set. With some patience, you can learn basic WordPress skills and have your website online in very little time.
However, being able to order lunch in Hong Kong is quite different from running a business meeting in Cantonese. Similarly, being a WordPress user is very different from becoming a WordPress developer.
Here are some basic timeframes that industry professionals agree upon:
- Basic-level WordPress user: 10 hours or less. This entails getting a basic website online. WordPress has an intuitive interface and plugins that fill in the gaps of any capabilities that WordPress itself lacks. Basic users can upload blog posts, install plugins and make simple edits to the website.
- Entry-level WordPress developer: 6 months to a year of active learning. These users are quite familiar with plugins such as various Google Analytics applications and know some basic code to make edits to the website.
- Expert WordPress developer: 2 years, plus ongoing learning. This type of developer has confidence in both frontend and backend WordPress capabilities, and is quite adept at the code. They handle various edits including site migrations, bug fixes and e-commerce optimizations with ease.
Why does it take so long to become an expert user?
Learning the various competencies to become an expert WordPress developer takes a great deal of time, mostly because there are so many of them. Expert-level developers consistently solve problems that novice developers struggle with. They also must be proficient in a variety of areas, including CSS, HTML, PHP, JavaScript, Web design including UI and UX, digital security, responsive design, SEO, digital marketing and more. In addition, digital competencies such as these are constantly evolving. It’s important to have the latest and greatest information.
Why should you use WordPress?
Other than its ubiquitousness, WordPress is an open-source platform, meaning it’s free to use and distribute. This is why you can easily view the page source. Also, web hosting companies generally offer one-click installation of WordPress.
Today’s WordPress capabilities go much further than simply a blog platform. WordPress offers great flexibility, no matter what your website needs to do. From ecommerce to blogs to membership websites to classified listings, WordPress can do it all. It’s also very SEO-friendly.
Where should you begin if you want to learn WordPress?
All that said, if you do decide to take it on, you’ll first need to decide where to start and how deep to go. Basic WordPress training will get you up and running, and there are many free resources online. To go deeper, you’ll need to take classes, starting with one similar to the one offered by WP Beginner. While you’re getting up to speed, be sure to check out our WordPress management and WordPress maintenance services.
For more useful tips and tricks, be sure to check out our other blog posts.
