What is WordPress?
WordPress is one of the most popular web design tools that lets you create and manage websites without any coding knowledge. Specifically, WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS), which, in simple terms, means it is a platform that can be anything from a blog or an online cookbook to a fully developed business website or e-commerce platform. In other words, WordPress can be used for blogging purposes, business websites, online stores, personal portfolios, community sites, and discussion forums. Most agree that WordPress is an easy-to-use and flexible platform that offers tons of themes, plugins, and tools that allow for additional customization. Moreover, WordPress is search engine optimization (SEO) friendly and has plugins to help optimize the site even further. In short, WordPress is a useful web design tool that offers support, versatility, and ease of use.
In 2003, WordPress emerged as an improvement of a blogging tool (called b2/cafelog) and quickly became a flexible, open-source web design tool. Over the course of a decade, WordPress introduced plugins, theme systems, admin dashboard redesigns, and multisite features. Plus, within this time, WordPress would become the most popular CMS across the world, accounting for a large portion of all websites. Today, however, WordPress powers nearly half of all the Internet’s websites and continues to help users create personalized, organized, and functional websites that are secure, interactive, and effective.
Why Learn WordPress?
Many learn WordPress while in pursuit of a professional endeavor, such as a career in web development and design, content management, SEO, e-commerce, or various freelance specialties. The platform is popular among businesses of all sizes and is a foundational skill for many who work behind the scenes to support a business's success. Learning WordPress truly broadens your career possibilities as it is used by millions of businesses around the world. Anyone looking to enter the web industry should learn how WordPress works because it opens up a wide range of career paths.
Not to mention the skills you acquire while in a WordPress course are useful across different fields and industries. This means that with the right training, you could work in many professions including web development, UX design, or digital marketing, to name a few. If you learn how to customize WordPress themes, it gives you a better understanding and foundation of web design principles that can apply to various platforms. Likewise, WordPress is built on PHP, so learning this platform will give you a better understanding of this programming language.
Furthermore, you could easily learn WordPress for personal reasons too. If you have a hobby that you want to eventually turn into a side hustle, WordPress is a great way to get the word out about your services or products. For instance, if you are an avid candle maker, you could eventually design and build a site to sell your products. WordPress can help you set up a unique and professional website, whether as a blog, e-commerce store, or landing page.
What Will You Learn in a WordPress Course?
WordPress is genuinely everywhere -- from personal blogs to big business sites. As such, learning WordPress will give you a professional advantage. In any given WordPress course, you may learn how to add custom designs and visual content or implement SEO techniques. In addition, you will likely study the importance of security and maintenance and learn how to track conversions and perform data analytics. WordPress is a unique and versatile skill that can be useful in various fields and positions, so you may have decided it is advantageous to find a professional training method. Read below to discover what specific skills you will likely learn while enrolled in a WordPress course.
Navigating the Interface
Beginners will enroll in a course that gets them started from the very beginning. The instructor will take them through the installation process. Once WordPress has been installed and set up, you will likely learn all about the dashboard and learn how to navigate the interface. In a short course or beginner bootcamp, you will get a step-by-step guide on how to create posts, customize elements, and choose themes for your WordPress sites. You will also explore the admin panel which allows you to manage everything from content to the site settings. This is the most essential skill and will be foundational for you to continue using the more advanced features.
Design and Content
You’ve created the website and are now ready to add visual elements. In that case, you’ll have to learn design and content strategies in a WordPress class. You will learn how to customize themes and use the Block Editor, which is WordPress’s powerful feature for creating layouts. Moreover, some advanced sections of the course will cover plugins, widgets, and menus as well as ways to handle media like images, videos, icons, and graphics. You will even learn how to organize your content with categories and tags, which makes it even easier for your visitors to find what they are looking for. In this portion of the WordPress class, you are not only learning visual design but how to make pages more intuitive in their design.
Search Engine Optimization
If you want people to find your website with ease, you will want to implement SEO techniques. In many WordPress classes, you’ll learn foundational SEO principles that help your site rank higher in search engine results, like Google. In addition, using SEO plugins (as will be discussed in the next section) offers the easiest way to improve SEO on your WordPress website. Overall, following SEO principles is useful because many Internet users don’t bother going past the first page on Google so this will ensure more people view your site and interact with the content. Overall, the skills you learn related to SEO help get your website noticed and continuously visited.
Plugins
One of the best parts of using WordPress is the vast amount of plugins that make this application so powerful. Plugins are a helpful part of using WordPress because they offer advanced functionality and versatility. They unlock the full potential of WordPress and allow users to perform functions beyond the basics. They can add advanced features and improve site performance while making a great design. You will learn how to install plugins for SEO, such as Yoast or RankMath. In addition, you can use security plugins to keep your website even safer. Likewise, you can use the social sharing button so visitors can easily share content on social media or set up an e-commerce store that makes it easy for users to shop.
Security and Maintenance
Like any website, you want one that is secure and well-maintained. In many WordPress classes, you’ll learn how to set up backups so your site is protected. In addition, you’ll learn the importance of regularly updating WordPress as well as the themes and plugins so you keep everything moving smoothly. In addition, you will learn how to handle your role whether it be as the site admin or simply a contributor. With these skills and tools, you will keep your site safe, secure, and updated.
Analytics and Tracking Conversions
If you want to keep up with how your site is performing, you will want to find a course that focuses on data analytics and tracking conversions. This will typically consist of studying Google Analytics and connecting it to your site so you can track things like the number of visitors, the specific pages they check out, and the way that they interact with your content. Plus, tracking conversions, like those on product purchases, helps you understand how well your site is doing and make improvements as needed.
What Industries use WordPress?
WordPress is a versatile platform that is used across companies of all kinds for creating websites, blogs, business pages, e-commerce platforms, and other digital spaces. It is a popular and user-friendly tool for people who work in a variety of fields ranging from finance and education to technology and retail. Whether you’re designing a blog, corporate site, online store, or portfolio, WordPress offers a solution for nearly any company in any industry. Consider how you may want to use your WordPress training in the future. Below are a few industries and how WordPress plays a role in each.
Media and Entertainment
If you want to enter the media and entertainment industry, learning WordPress may be beneficial depending on your role. WordPress is a useful platform for anyone wanting to create blogs, online magazines, news websites, music and art portfolios, cookbooks, and promotional sites for events. For example, the Walt Disney Company may hire WordPress experts to create blogs, news updates, and special announcements about their movies, theme parks, and content. It is an ideal way to showcase upcoming material and provide an engaging space for audiences to view behind-the-scenes content. You could also use WordPress to sell your products like videos, albums, art galleries, digital files, and visual art.
Retail
WordPress is an ideal platform for the retail industry because it makes setting up an online store simple. Whether you work for a small startup or a large-scale e-commerce business, WordPress offers tons of versatility and flexibility. You can use plugins to turn online stores into sophisticated sites where you can sell products, manage inventory, and process payments. For example, top retailers like Target use WordPress to showcase their products, develop content that aligns with their brand, and encourage customer engagement through reviews, chat boxes, and social media. Likewise, it is useful for subscription-based businesses, like those that offer meal kits or beauty boxes. WordPress offers features to manage subscriptions, payments, and customer interactions with ease. In addition, WordPress is ideal for smaller businesses that will need simple yet effective and professional websites to sell products, showcase services, or set up appointments.
Education
The education industry uses WordPress in several ways. For example, it can be used to support course websites and offer interactive learning content. WordPress can also help teachers create websites that are suited to their course and offer resources, scheduling information, announcements, and syllabi. The interactive content like quizzes, tests, and other learning tools make WordPress a great option for a simple yet effective learning platform. For example, companies like Coursera, Khan Academy, and Udemy may use WordPress to create instructor portfolios, develop content hubs, write blogs, and add student resources. As a platform, it is ideal for educators and students alike.
Hospitality and Travel
For businesses in the hospitality and travel industries, WordPress is a helpful platform that can help attract potential visitors, promote services, and manage bookings. For example, hotels and resorts, such as Hilton Hotels and Resorts or Marriott International, may use WordPress to create visually appealing and functional websites that showcase rooms, amenities, services, and customer reviews. Plus, there is also the ability to integrate a booking system into the website which means increased functionality for a traveler. In addition, WordPress is an ideal platform for creating a travel blog. Influencers can create a blog that discusses tips, tricks, itineraries, and experiences that help others plan their next adventure.
Technology
The technology industry embraces WordPress as a standard web design platform that helps with everything from setting up an online presence to creating a landing page, product page, or knowledge base. For instance, major tech companies such as Apple may use WordPress to develop a website that offers blogs, product FAQs, and community forums. Likewise, a tech startup may use WordPress to create product pages and company blogs to get the word out about their brand. In addition, IT support can create a support forum for customers who need quick and easy troubleshooting advice. They can offer FAQs, tips, and product manuals that make using the tech product easier. All in all, WordPress is a good way for tech companies to educate their consumers as well as build a relationship with them.
Finance
Trust is everything in the finance industry and as a result, many financial professionals and companies use WordPress sites to build their credibility and share their achievements with others. For instance, Financial Advisors may use WordPress to showcase their services, provide resources, and build rapport with clients by sharing insights and money management tips. Likewise, investment firms can use WordPress to create a website that offers resources that offer clients more insights into the market and recent trends. Through these sites, financial institutions can build trust by sharing client success stories, testimonials, and case studies. Whether it is an educational resource or an e-commerce platform, finance industries use WordPress frequently to establish themselves and build an online presence.
Careers That Use WordPress
WordPress is a versatile, industry-standard platform that is used in various industries, but it’s also used widely across different job titles. Whether you work in a design position or as a marketing professional, it may be worthwhile to learn WordPress. This skill opens new professional opportunities that can help you with web development, e-commerce, content management, and digital marketing. The following roles use WordPress rather frequently and help ensure businesses have a strong online presence. Read ahead to get inspired and learn more about the roles that would align with your wants and needs.
Web Designer
Web Designers commonly use WordPress to create websites that are beautiful and easy to use. They focus on picking the right design, adjusting the colors, fonts, and layouts, and making sure everything works smoothly on both the computer and the phone. They will also install WordPress themes and plugins to make the site more visually appealing and functional. Moreover, they are concerned with the site being user-friendly so they will test the site to make sure the visitor would have a pleasant experience. According to Indeed, the average Web Designer in the United States earns $53,000. However, location makes a difference in salary expectations. For instance, a Web Designer in Atlanta earns closer to $95,000 on average whereas those living in Chicago earn closer to $63,000.
Marketing Manager
A Marketing Manager may use WordPress to improve a company’s online presence. This platform allows Marketing Managers to create and manage content like blogs, landing pages, and e-commerce pages. Plus, WordPress can help with the implementation of digital marketing campaigns such as helping with SEO, email marketing, and social media integration. WordPress also allows plugins and has analytics tools, which means marketing professionals can track the website’s performance and conduct A/B tests to improve user engagement. The goal is to increase viewership, engagement, and traffic while providing the consumer with an easy-to-navigate website that aligns with the brand’s needs and ideals. Indeed estimates that a Marketing Manager in the US earns an average salary close to $78,000. Some cities surpass this average, however, like San Francisco, where Marketing Managers earn an average of $115,000.
Digital Strategist
Those working as Digital Strategists will use WordPress to develop plans for a business's online presence. They determine what messaging would work best for the plan and decide what kind of website design, content, and marketing strategy will be best. Digital Strategists will also use WordPress to track how well a website is doing and change it as necessary to improve the user experience and conversion rates. Likewise, they work towards a successful online marketing campaign that boosts the brand's overall success and growth. Data from Glassdoor indicates a Digital Strategist in the United States can expect to earn anywhere between $62,000 to $112,000, or an average salary of $82,000.
Web Optimization Specialist
As a Web Optimization Specialist, you would use WordPress to make websites faster and more efficient. They will work towards improving load times, ensure the site looks visually appealing across different platforms like desktops, mobile, or tablet, and implement the best SEO practices to make sure the site appears higher on the list of search results. Overall, a Web Optimization Specialist uses the tools and techniques to make sure the site loads quickly and ranks well in search engines like Google. Salaries reported to Indeed indicate the average salary for Web Optimization Specialists in the U.S. is roughly $77,000. Dallas-based Web Optimization Specialists may earn closer to $93,000 whereas those in Miami could expect closer to $62,000.
Business Consultant
Business Consultants use WordPress to help companies grow and improve their online presence. They may suggest ways to improve a website and align more with the business’s goals. They help companies decide how to use WordPress to increase sales, attract new consumers, and improve their engagement levels. It’s all about using WordPress to keep the business relevant and circulating in the online space. Glassdoor shares that a Business Consultant anywhere in the country could earn somewhere between $65,000 to $115,000 on average. The estimated average salary is close to $87,000.
Project Manager
A Project Manager may need to use WordPress or know how WordPress works. If they are in charge of projects that require a website to be built, they will need to manage teams of designers, developers, and digital creators who can help meet the client’s needs and provide a well-organized and visually appealing product for the user. These Project Managers also communicate with clients, track progress, and solve problems as they arise, which means they must have strong communication, collaboration, and time management skills. Indeed reports that Project Managers in the U.S. earn an average base salary of $90,000. Depending on location, this expectation could vary. Project Managers in New York City earn nearly $101,000 and those in Houston earn an average of $96,000.
What WordPress Courses are Available?
If you want to learn WordPress, you can find programs and courses that vary in depth and length. For instance, Noble Desktop has a Web Design Certificate where you will learn to design, create, and edit websites for mobile and desktop. You will learn UI principles and build the front end of webpages by coding with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You will also learn how to use JavaScript for animation and added interaction. Some of the projects include websites for retailers, informational websites for organizations, event pages, and other websites. By learning skills like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, WordPress, and Figma, you’ll gain all the skills needed to become a proficient Web Designer. Plus, you’ll have the certificate of completion to show for all your hard work.
There is also a Front End Web Development Certificate that teaches web development with HTML and CSS, JavaScript for front end development, and advanced WordPress skills. Throughout the course and all the various projects, you will practice building the front end of a webpage, markup content, code fluid-width layouts, and add animations with JavaScript. You will also learn how to use Flexbox, Grid, and Bootstrap in CSS to make the webpage even more aligned, responsive, and organized. You’ll build websites with WordPress and even learn how to code HTML email messages that make it easy to connect with clients, consumers, and colleagues. Once the course ends, you will feel competent developing the front end of a website and will leave with a certificate to serve as proof of your accomplishments and skills.
In the WordPress Bootcamp, students will listen to lectures and complete projects that are rooted in a realistic, professional situation. Specifically, you will learn how to build websites by installing and customizing themes, formatting images, and using plugins for added functionality. In addition, you will study how WordPress code works behind the scenes so you can then code to customize and control it. In addition, you’ll learn how to test your site to make sure it is operational and visually appealing.
Ledet Training has a two-day WordPress Intro course that teaches students the fundamentals of creating and managing a WordPress site. Students will practice installing WordPress plugins, adding themes, using widgets, and monitoring traffic. Likewise, students will learn how to create a reliable hyperlink. The skills taught in this class are the first step in ensuring that students will be able to create content in WordPress.
The WordPress Search Engine Optimization course from Ledet Training is also a valuable option. This one-day course offers instruction on the best SEO strategies, practices, and executions. Students will use third-party plugins, integrated resources, and WordPress features as well as conducting analytics and connecting to social media. Through group and individual projects, students will gain first-hand experience with the tools and feel more in control of their website design.
At Certstaffix Training, students in the WordPress for End Users course will spend two days learning how to create, host, and manage a website. Students will learn how to install themes and plugins that make their work more expansive. Likewise, students will learn how to moderate comments and use the WordPress WYSIWYG editor to develop blogs, status pages, and interactive widgets.
The Introduction to WordPress course by Softek Services, Inc. teaches students how to design and personalize their websites with titles, headers, pages, icons, tags, and other elements. In addition, students will practice SEO techniques and skills that make the web page stand out even more. Over two days, students will learn the best practices for designing a refined and professional page and leave feeling far more comfortable with the platform.
From Sonic Training comes the WordPress Fundamentals course, where students develop a blog with high-quality content, pages, media libraries, and design elements. Throughout the course, students will practice using plugins and explore all their extended functions. They will also keep the courseware to refer back to in the future and have a free retake within six months.
WordPress Level I, offered by headTrix, Inc.,makes building a website go from impossible to feasible. Students start from the very beginning by installing WordPress and learning how to start a new project. Then, they’ll learn to add content, work with themes, and install plugins. Students are also able to manage comments, add menus, and use widgets.
The Learn WordPress: The Basics and Beyond Course from Tampa SEO Training Academy offers two days of comprehensive studies in WordPress site creation and management. Students will practice designing and updating websites through various lectures, projects, and activities. Plus, students will have one month of free access to a WordPress website and two months of free mentoring once the course ends.
Advantages of Taking a WordPress Course?
Taking a WordPress course is advantageous for numerous reasons that go beyond the skills that you’ll acquire. First, taking a course increases the chances that you retain the material due to the structured and immersive learning style. You’ll follow along with a curriculum that is meant to provide you with scaffolded lectures and projects and make direct connections with the instructors who can provide assistance or feedback as needed. Likewise, you will learn at a reasonable pace as opposed to a self-taught method which may prompt you to cram too much information into a short period or to draw out the learning process far too long.
In addition, you learn practical skills in a course that you simply can’t acquire by reading an article or watching a tutorial. Courses give you the chance to take a hands-on approach to learning WordPress by building real projects, learning through practice, and working with the features directly. First, you’ll learn how to create projects and enhance them as you go. This includes learning from mistakes and getting directly acquainted with the interface. Plus, you’ll work with additional features and functions like themes, plugins, and customization tools that make your WordPress site even more professional and polished.
Overall, the main benefit of taking a WordPress course is that you get out of it what you put into it. If you want to use WordPress at the professional level, you will benefit greatly from taking a course, bootcamp, or certificate program. You’ll be more experienced and therefore more likely to be employed. Likewise, you have the skills that enable you to start a freelance career or a side hustle. Whether you want to work for a company or use your WordPress skills to design, create, and manage a website for your own business, you will benefit most from enrolling in a structured course that focuses on hands-on experience, professional development, and educational growth.
About the Author
Tess Robinson is an experienced writing professor and content writer for Noble Desktop. She has a background in various genres and mediums and specializes in technology topics, including WordPress. Tess is passionate about expanding her expertise and guiding others as they learn more about the design and technology landscape.