Entrepreneur Mike Gamache discusses why WordPress is the best CMS for startups
This is the last part of the series by Mike Gamache discussing the best content management systems (CMS) and website options for those intrepid entrepreneurs that want to build and manage their own websites. In this post, the Fleetfoot Marketing co-founder takes an in-depth look at WordPress as a CMS and how WordPress’s SEO tools can boost traffic to your website.
There are several reasons that WordPress is the best choice for entrepreneurs. The first is SEO. WordPress is the most powerful turnkey CMS for SEO today. When I was working at an established internet marketing company, I watched them shift from custom web development to WordPress. Initially, they were developing custom websites using Dream Weaver and installing a WordPress blog, but by the time I left, they were developing websites using WordPress, then adding custom functionality and design using Dream Weaver. They did this because WordPress had proven to be extremely effective for SEO.
Search Engine Optimization
Two of the most respected authorities in the Internet Marketing Industry are Dan Thies and Leslie Roadie who are the founders of SEO Braintrust. I have used their training when I was an employee and continue to do so as an independent business owner. Their SEO training is based on WordPress because of its effectiveness in SEO.
For those who are new to the SEO world, there are two basic elements of SEO. Onsite SEO, and Offsite SEO. Offsite SEO is too complex to explain in this post. It is the most significant element of SEO, but there is enough to this skill set that I would recommend purchasing an online training module such as White Hat Blackbelt from SEO Braintrust, one of Wordtracker’s training programs, or do some research and reply to this post if you find a program that you would recommend.
As far as onsite SEO, it is very important but much easier when using the correct tools. Fortunately, there is a great plugin that will guide anyone at any skill level to onsite SEO success. The plugin is called WordPress SEO by Yoast.
WordPress SEO by Yoast
This plugin assesses each blog post by a keyword you determine, then tells you exactly what is needed to optimize for that specific keyword. This has to be the single most efficient and valuable tool I have found for onsite SEO. This plugin will produce 90% of the results that more detailed softwares will, and it does it in real-time, which dramatically increases efficiency.
There are still some minor modifications and settings that need to be adjusted in WordPress to fix some of the initial settings. WordPress SEO by Yoast automatically fixes some of these issues. I recommend hiring a freelancer for 1-3 hours to make the rest of the modifications. They are all explained in this webinar, Advanced WordPress SEO: Actionable Advice for Ensuring Your WordPress Content is Found, from my favorite SEO software provider, SEOmoz.
iBusiness Promoter’s Top-Ten Optimizer
If you really want to dial in your onsite SEO, the best tool I have found is a software called iBusiness Promoter, but use caution as it can get you into a lot of trouble if you don’t know what you are doing. The only tool I use with IBP is the Top-Ten Optimizer. I have read warnings that Google may penalize your use for some of the other tools such as the directory submission tool. I do not claim to be an expert on this aspect of the software or Google’s algorithms, so do some research if you do start using the other tools.
The Top-Ten Optimizer is a great analysis tool. All you have to do is provide the URL of the page you want to analyze, along with the targeted keyword that you want to rank in the top-ten for. It then analyzes your page against the top ten ranked pages for that keyword and compares every specific element of your page versus theirs.
The other issue I have with IBP is that it is a Windows-only software. It is valuable enough that I purchased Parallels and Windows 7 software so I can run IBP on my Mac. This does increase the investment quite a bit for Mac users. There is also a $35.00 quarterly search engine update that IBP will automatically install and charge you. These updates are important, but they are also an additional $140.00 annual expense, so I don’t recommend using IBP until you are pretty advanced using WordPress SEO by Yoast.
IBP’s optimizer is very advanced, and you should expect the report to range from 40 to 70 pages. There will be several graphs, charts, tables, and explanations for each chapter of the report.
Accessibility of WordPress
Accessibility is another vital aspect of WordPress. It is an amazing open-source solution that has millions of cheap and free templates, plugins and widgets. The plugins and widgets can add thousands of dollars worth of functionality with a few simple clicks.
An important item to consider is that each plugin and widget will slow down your site, so don’t add a bunch of plugins without assessing each one’s benefit. Using WordPress can be fairly easy for those of us who understand the basics of blogging and content creation. It is also easy to learn for anyone with word processing or social media experience, and the learning curve is extremely fast.
Advanced WordPress Development
If you need a little help with a WordPress website, an established developer should be able to add the necessary functionality or design with little trouble. I have personally hired a contractor that I know and trust to pick up the slack when my development needs are beyond my capabilities. This can be a very economical and an effective tactic if you know an established developer that you trust.
There are turnkey hosting options for WordPress websites all over the internet. These options will install the WordPress CMS so you don’t have to be a developer to get started. Many of these options cost $5.00 – $10.00 a month and can sustain more traffic than many sites will ever receive. I am not suggesting you do or don’ t use Godaddy, but they do have a $5.00 turnkey WordPress option that I have used.
WordPress is much easier to migrate than most websites, so when the time comes to upgrade from the economic, shared server you will start out on, a competent professional should be capable of moving the website without breaking its functionality. I have had wonderful success with a company called Website Movers. I have no affiliation with them, but they have proven to be proficient and trustworthy when it comes to migrating and fixing a website that someone else broke.
Mobile Compatibility
WordPress offers several options, plugins, and themes that are mobile friendly. This is important because you don’t want to spend hundreds or thousands of hours developing a website and creating content independently, while needing to hire an outside company to develop a mobile version of your website.
FREEDOM!
The most appealing aspect of WordPress for an entrepreneur is independence. If you can approach your WordPress website with the necessary time, dedication, and persistence, you can remove the liability that outside developers cause to your company’s success.
Take it from an entrepreneur who has learned the hard way; the value of your independence in web development and internet marketing is priceless. WordPress provides an amazing solution for those of us who are not developers, but cannot afford to depend on someone else for this vital element of our business’s success. As an entrepreneur, when you become proficient with WordPress, you can sleep very well at night knowing your website is working for you.
