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Wondering if WordPress is worth the hype?

With our first-hand experience working across 500+ websites, we can confidently say there are benefits of WordPress that are still unmatched by other platforms. (And we’ve been making sites since 1997.) To us, it’s like the Apple of smartphones. The Microsoft of software. The Amazon of online shopping.

That said, the goal here is to help you figure out if WordPress is right for you.

So in this blog we’ll share:

The top 7 reasons so many professionals recommend it.
How it compares against other options like Wix, Squarespace, etc.
Common FAQs we hear about WordPress.
Criteria you can use to judge if it’s a good fit for you.

Why Use WordPress?

The short version of the history of WordPress is that it started as a simple tool for blogging in 2003. Since then, it’s grown into a robust tool and is one of the most well-recognized CMS platforms. WordPress is currently used by 43.7% of all websites, according to 2024 research from Web Technology Surveys. (And they update that report daily.)

A visual showing the top 6 most used content management systems in 2024 with stats.

Let’s look at the key reasons so many professionals recommend it as the platform of choice for websites.

1. It’s Easy To Modify

WordPress is like getting a set of Legos®. You can build whatever you want, whether that’s a simple building or a more complex city. And you can accomplish either using WordPress themes.
There are both free and paid themes to choose from in various styles. It’s also easy to migrate to a different theme if you like having that flexibility available.

If you have access to a developer, WordPress offers a lot of customizations too. Within themes, you can change the underlying code or add complex functionality. This is notable because many other popular CMS tools (Squarespace, Wix, etc.) limit your ability to customize themes in this way.

2. It’s Easy To Integrate

Another one of the top reasons to use WordPress is that it plays nicely with almost everything. Because it’s such a popular platform, there are many integrations and plugins (which are software components you can add to your site to increase functionality) for almost anything you can think of.

There are lots of WordPress SEO plugins to do anything ranging from fundamentals to more complex tasks, all helping your website do better in search. (And you can do technical SEO work in the back end of your site, which is a big win with WordPress — not all CMS options support that.) There are also WordPress integrations for eCommerce to make selling online easier.

3. It’s Easy With Hosting

Unlike some of the other leading CMS tools, you’re not locked into one ecosystem when it comes to hosting. With WordPress, you have the flexibility to shop around to find hosting support that fits your needs and budget. Many hosts also offer a one-click WordPress installation option, making it simple to set up or transfer between providers.

4. It’s Easy For Developers

While developers like doing custom WordPress development work for several reasons, the primary one is that it has a well-documented codebase. It’s also built on PHP, which is a popular programming language.

Additionally, WordPress is an open-source software. This means that developers can access and modify the code to achieve advanced functionality where it’s needed. And, having so many plugin options can also save time and help them skip inefficient, complex development work.

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5. It’s Easy For Updates

The WordPress dashboard is extremely user-friendly. You get more out of this CMS when you work with a developer to set it up, but the biggest pro is that you can easily update your site without needing to code.

At Tower, we set up WordPress sites with the Gutenberg Editor so that you can drag, drop, and go. This tool gives you the ability to easily create new pages or make edits with no coding necessary.

An example of Gutenberg Editor in WordPress between the back end editor and the front end. — *What Gutenberg looks like when you’re making changes (left) vs. how it looks on your website (right).*

6. It’s Easy For Partners

Every website is an investment that needs to serve you well. If you want a CMS that can grow alongside you, WordPress is a strong choice.

Troubleshooting functionality is a lot easier because of the open-source code and the volume of community resources. Plus, because of its popularity lots of professionals have experience working in it.
This is a plus if you’re partnering with an agency or bringing on new talent to improve the website. Having a system all stakeholders are familiar with will help you avoid the costly and frustrating learning curve of niche or proprietary platforms.

7. It’s Easy To Price

WordPress cost is akin to a choose-your-own-adventure story. The software itself is free to download and use. Then from there, you’re responsible for paying for:

Hosting
Domain name
Themes/plugins (if you used paid options instead of free ones)

If you want a package that bundles features together, you can also choose a WordPress plan ranging from $4-$45+ depending on what you need.

Compared to competing systems, WordPress gives you a lot more flexibility and control over price. Because you can shop hosting providers and other features, you can ensure you’re only paying for what you need instead of being locked into one pricing ecosystem.

03 PennB Case Image 01 1 Why Use WordPress: Advice To Consider First Before You Pick A CMS

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Pennian Bank needed a website that made it easy for users to gather valuable information. But they also needed a site that was easy for their team to update without needing to know code or require a developer…

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What Are The Benefits Of WordPress Over Other Platforms?

Still wondering why use WordPress over other platforms? Here are some comparisons with other top CMS tools that can help you decide which is the best fit for you.

Common FAQs About WordPress

How Much Does WordPress Cost?

WordPress is free to download. You are responsible for the cost of hosting, your domain name, and any paid plugins or themes. (Although there are free plugins and themes to choose from.) And if you are looking for a convenient bundling of support, WordPress offers tiers from $4-$45+.

Is WordPress Easy To Use?

Is WordPress Secure?

Where Can I Host My WordPress Website?

Can I Create An eCommerce Website With WordPress?

How Many WordPress Themes Are There?

How Many Plugins Are There?

What About WordPress vs. Building A Proprietary CMS?

Should You Use WordPress?

While we are fans of the unlimited potential a WordPress site has, we also understand there are reasons it may or may not make sense for a business. Here are some helpful questions you can use to determine what’s right for you:

Do I need a site with complex functionality?
Would I like to be able to do a lot of customization to my site?
Am I planning to scale the business or the website in the future?
Do I have the budget to hire a developer/and or designer to customize the site?
Are SEO and online marketing important to me?
Do I need to integrate my website with other platforms? (Email marketing, eCommerce software, etc.)

If you’re answering yes to a lot of these, then WordPress could be a comfortable solution for your new website.

Have more questions about using WordPress?

An Overview of WordPress Features

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) that lets anyone easily build and manage websites. Since it was launched in 2003, it’s become one of the most popular CMS, powering over 43.5% of all websites on the Internet.

Whether you have extensive coding knowledge or are learning how to code, WordPress has options to help you create and customize your site.

An Overview of Squarespace

Squarespace is a different website builder that, like WordPress, provides everything you need to build a website. It allows people who have little to no technical knowledge to quickly build and launch a custom site without worrying about day-to-day management.

Shopify vs Wordpress Tower blog callout image Squarespace vs WordPress: Which is Best for Your Business?

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Both sites have many of the same security features. If you’re someone who isn’t afraid of getting into your site and keeping things updated then WordPress will work for you. However, if you would rather let someone else assume that responsibility, then Squarespace has you covered.

TWR LocationPages Images 01 jpg Squarespace vs WordPress: Which is Best for Your Business?

So Which is Better?

Squarespace is a great option for creating your website. It’s a user-friendly platform that offers basic SEO features and strong security.

However, for a more flexible and powerful solution, we recommend WordPress. It provides greater customization options, advanced SEO capabilities, and a wider range of e-commerce features to cater to your business needs.

Your website should help grow your business—not cause problems.

Still unsure about Squarespace vs WordPress? No worries—our team is here to help answer your questions and find the perfect solution for your business.

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Choosing a platform for your website is difficult — especially if you’re not sure what factors should be considered. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. Continue reading to see what it looks like to compare Shopify vs WordPress for your business’s website.

WordPress Features At A Glance

Before we dive into the details of Shopify vs WordPress, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with the basic WordPress features and functions. As an open-source platform, WordPress makes creating, customizing, and managing content easy. It does this by offering various internet marketing tools and resources including, but not limited to:

Advanced SEO and blogging functionality
Seamless social media integration
Custom content types
Extensive plugin systems
eCommerce functionality
User and media management

Shopify Features At A Glance

An online platform designed for selling products, Shopify has become increasingly popular for building and managing eCommerce websites. Similarly to WordPress, you can find an assortment of Shopify features to support your business and create an accessible online storefront for users. Some of these features include:

Basic SEO and blogging functionality
Easy-to-use online store editors
Built-in functions for handling eCommerce needs
Customizable templates and themes

Shopify vs Wordpress Tower blog callout image Shopify vs WordPress: Which Is Best For Your Business?

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Shopify vs WordPress: Which Is Better?

Ease Of Everyday Use: WordPress

When comparing Shopify vs WordPress, the first thing to consider is the ease of use. In some cases, WordPress user experience depends on your background knowledge of web design and coding.

It may take more time to learn the ins and outs of WordPress, but once you do, you’ll find it’s easy to use and provides opportunities for you to improve your website’s design, search visibility, and overall performance.

WordPress Pros:

WordPress Cons:

Ease of Everyday Use: Shopify

The Shopify interface is simple and clean, making it easy to use whether you have web design experience or not. Its comprehensive guides provide you with the tools and direction you need to create and launch your site quickly and effortlessly.

Shopify Pros:

Shopify Cons:

Winner: Both*

Since both platforms provide user-friendly features and tools, it’s hard to choose a clear winner.

It may take beginners a bit longer to learn the ins and outs of WordPress, but once you familiarize yourself, it’s straightforward and allows you to do more with your site. Shopify is ideal for beginners because of its setup guide, and you don’t need any background knowledge in coding or web design.

Customization: WordPress

When comparing Shopify vs. WordPress, a key element is each platform’s ability to adapt to your needs. As we mentioned in the section above, WordPress is highly customizable.

With countless WordPress themes and plugins available, you can customize even the smallest details of your website. This makes it an ideal choice if you want more control over its look and functionality.

WordPress Pros:

WordPress Cons:

Customization: Shopify

For beginners who are building a site for the first time and prioritize scalability over customization, Shopify may be the right choice for you because of its user-friendly tools and ready-to-use templates for eCommerce businesses of all sizes.

While it doesn’t have as many design options available as WordPress, Shopify still provides an assortment of themes, layouts, and editing features that will ensure your site looks professional and runs smoothly on any device.

Shopify Pros:

Shopify Cons:

Marketing specialist designing a new website on laptop.

WordPress and Shopify both provide users with the tools they need to keep their sites secure and up-to-date. When it comes down to it, choosing the best platform for security and site maintenance is about personal preference.

If you want more control over your site and responsibility for maintenance and security, WordPress is the best choice. However, if you’re new to running a website and would rather take a backseat to the technical details security, and maintenance required, Shopify may be a better fit.

Who Wins The Fight Of Shopify vs WordPress?

When it comes down to choosing between Shopify vs WordPress, the answer is clear. While Shopify may be the easy choice for beginners, we recommend using a platform that allows you and your site to grow.

WordPress offers the opportunity to create a website that’s uniquely yours. By leveraging the advanced WordPress features, you can ensure your brand’s name is not only being seen by your target audience, but when they visit your site, they have a positive experience.

Don’t settle for a site that blends in when you can build a site that stands out — let us help you navigate the complexities of WordPress. Talk to one of our developers to see what we’re capable of today.

Set Your Website Apart

Exploring your options for a content management system (CMS) and stuck between Wix vs WordPress? Here’s everything you need to know to pick which is the best fit for your business.

WordPress Features At A Glance

WordPress is an open-source content management system that’s used by 43% of businesses and individuals on the web. It’s a popular choice as it allows people to create and manage their websites without needing extensive coding knowledge.

That said, if you have coding experience or access to a developer, it’s also a powerful tool as there is a lot of customization you can do with it. (More on that to come.)

WordPress features include:

Themes to choose from with a variety of artistic styles
Security features like DDoS, WAF, 2FA, and more
Flexible hosting options
Simple-to-use interfaces for publishing content and creating new pages
Custom content types
Access to a huge WordPress plugin ecosystem to support a variety of tasks (eCommerce, SEO, security, spam filtering, etc.)
An active developer community with lots of rich resources

service image SEO 1 Wix vs WordPress: Which Is Best For Your Business?

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Wix Features At A Glance

Wix is another content management system that’s become popular over the years. Its original founders were frustrated with how difficult building a site was in the mid-2000s. So they had the idea to create a platform that’d make it easy to create a website without coding or design skills.

Wix features include:

Access to 800+ designed templates for various subject matters
A simple drag-and-drop editor for content
Starter SEO tools to optimize your site
eCommerce functionality
Code development platform
An app market for third-party integrations
Options for automation, custom forms, and a built-in CRM

Wix vs WordPress: Which Is Better?

Ease Of Everyday Use: WordPress

The WordPress user experience is top-quality, if you have access to developer support to set up your site. However, if built with the Gutenberg editor, it’s easy for anyone to make site changes without requiring code. There are also 60K+ plugins to choose from to boost the functionality of your website. Plus, you’ve got endless options of free and paid themes to pick from.

WordPress Pros: Ease Of Use

WordPress Cons: Ease Of Use

Ease Of Everyday Use: Wix

When it comes to the WIX user experience, it’s designed with a beginner in mind. The drag-and-drop interface lets you customize elements intuitively. It also offers plenty of pre-designed templates to choose from.

Wix Pros: Ease Of Use

Wix Cons: Ease Of Use

Winner: Both*

Wix is the perfect solution if you’re a small business or just need to have a presence online. It doesn’t require extensive coding knowledge, and it’s easy to get started on. But if you’ve got plans to scale your business over time, it’s not a long-term solution.

WordPress is ideal if you want a CMS that can grow and evolve alongside your business. It offers a lot more customization, better performance for digital marketing, and robust eCommerce capabilities. And if your developer sets it up using Gutenberg in the back end, editing your site can be as easy as using Wix.

Customization: WordPress

With this CMS, what you want is what you can get. WordPress, with the help of a knowledgeable dev team, can deliver a site that’s unique to you. Plus, you can shop around your hosting and work with a partner that best fits your needs and budget.

WordPress Pros: Customization

WordPress Cons: Customization

Customization: Wix

Wix offers some opportunities to tailor a site to fit your brand. Once you pick your theme, you will be able to make some key design adjustments to it. However, there are a lot more limitations in place, so you won’t be able to modify it as much as a WordPress site.

Wix Pros: Customization

Wix Cons: Customization

Winner For Customization: WordPress

shutterstock 1688525080 Wix vs WordPress: Which Is Best For Your Business?

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Pricing: WordPress

WordPress has fewer upfront costs and ongoing hosting and domain fees to consider. If you need advanced functionality like custom domains, extra space, or eCommerce capabilities, you can choose from plans ranging from $4 to $45+ a month.

WordPress Pros: Pricing

WordPress Cons: Pricing

Pricing: Wix

Wix offers straightforward plan pricing so you can pick what fits your needs and budget. Because of this, it will have higher costs up front.

Wix Pros: Pricing

Wix Cons: Pricing

Winner For Pricing: WordPress

SEO And Internet Marketing: WordPress

SEO and ongoing content generation are key in helping increase your site’s visibility online. WordPress has all the tools you need now and tomorrow to be successful and keep up with internet marketing trends.

WordPress Pros: SEO / Internet Marketing

WordPress Cons: SEO / Internet Marketing

SEO And Internet Marketing: Wix

Wix offers some tools to help you cover some SEO basics that will help your site’s performance in search. But you won’t be able to implement more critical technical SEO tactics, which could ultimately hinder your potential online.

Wix Pros: SEO / Internet Marketing

Wix Cons: SEO / Internet Marketing

Winner For SEO: WordPress

Security And Site Maintenance: WordPress

With WordPress, you’re ultimately accountable to keep up with security. However, you have more control in doing so, which is a benefit if you have the right resources in place to manage your site.

WordPress Pros: Security And Maintenance

WordPress Cons: Security And Maintenance

Security And Site Maintenance: Wix

Wix assumes a lot of the responsibility in keeping your site safe. They automatically make updates and changes, but the tradeoff is that it’s out of your hands. You’re relying on them keeping everything up to date and patching vulnerabilities.

Wix Pros: Security And Maintenance

Wix Cons: Security And Maintenance

Winner For Security: Both*

Both approach security differently, so there isn’t a clear winner. It’s all about which approach better serves you and the resources you have in house.

If you have the know-how to manage your site, WordPress will give you better control. But if you don’t have the resources in-house, then Wix will ensure you stay safe without requiring more work from your team.

Final Verdict: Is Wix or WordPress Better for Your Business?

The main difference between Wix and WordPress for businesses lies in their ease of use, customization, pricing, and SEO capabilities.

Ease of Use: Wix is user-friendly with drag-and-drop functionality, ideal for beginners. WordPress, especially with the Gutenberg editor, allows more customization but may require developer support for setup.
Customization: WordPress offers extensive customization options with over 60,000 plugins and flexible hosting. Wix limits template customization and requires hosting within its ecosystem.
Pricing: WordPress has flexible pricing, allowing users to choose hosting options, while Wix has all-inclusive plans with less flexibility.
SEO and Marketing: WordPress provides powerful SEO tools and control over technical SEO, suitable for long-term growth. Wix has basic SEO tools but limits technical SEO features.

Overall Verdict: WordPress is the better long-term choice for scalability, customization, and SEO, while Wix is a quick, accessible option for small business needs and beginners

Still on the fence about Wix vs WordPress? We’re here to help you learn more and find the CMS that’s right for you.

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We all know that a bad website leaves a bad impression. In this day and age, the quality of your site is a reflection of your brand, and the last thing you want to do is drive people away. So let’s take it back to the beginning and answer the question: which content management system is best for your business? Today we’re going to analyze Duda vs WordPress.

Basic WordPress Features

Back in the day, WordPress was known for blogging, but it can do so much more. Used by over 40% of websites, WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS), meaning that anyone can access and edit the source code. It gets regular updates and is constantly improving as developers collaborate to customize the experience.

WordPress can support any type of website, from eCommerce to portfolios. However, you are responsible for finding a hosting provider. One of the biggest perks is the WordPress plugin ecosystem. Because it’s open source, there are thousands of plugins made by outside developers that can integrate with WordPress and add new functionality to your site.

Basic Duda Features

Duda is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that allows you to build a website in your own browser. It uses basic drag-and-drop content and design techniques to create each page, with no coding required. This may be a good option if you have zero experience in web development.

Unlike WordPress, Duda is not open source, meaning the source code is not publicly available. Some of the most useful Duda features include basic SEO tools, blogging capabilities, a widget builder, and designed templates. Any Duda site also includes hosting with Amazon Web Services.

service image SEO 1 Duda vs WordPress: Which Is Best For Your Business?

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Duda vs WordPress: Which Is Better?

Ease Of Use: WordPress

One of the biggest ways Duda and WordPress differ is their editors. While neither requires coding, they each have a unique user experience.

Modern WordPress sites use the Gutenberg block editor to create pages and posts. Each block represents a different element, such as text, images, galleries, buttons, or even custom HTML.

This gives you complete control over how your content is structured. WordPress also integrates with page builders like Elementor, and its editor can be expanded with thousands of plugins to add new functionality.

WordPress Pros: Ease Of Use

WordPress Cons: Ease Of Use

Ease Of Use: Duda

Designed for ease of use, the Duda interface allows you to create a website by simply dragging pre-designed elements—such as text, images, and buttons—onto a page. It uses a visual editor, so no coding is required. Customizable templates and a user-friendly interface help you quickly build a site with limited experience, balancing flexibility and simplicity.

Duda Pros: Ease Of Use

Duda Cons: Ease Of Use

Winner: Duda

Customization: WordPress

A good website needs to be fully customized to your brand and that is where WordPress shines. You have complete control over the functionality and design of your site. Plus there are thousands of WordPress themes and plugins. These allow you to adjust the basics like layout and typography, along with more advanced features like eCommerce or membership portals.

WordPress also lets you add custom code. Overall, this CMS can adapt to any vision, making it a top choice for personalized websites.

WordPress Pros: Customization

WordPress Cons: Customization

Customization: Duda

With Duda’s streamlined approach to web design, it’s clear they prioritize ease of use over customization. You can edit pre-designed templates by arranging and resizing elements. You can also adjust key design features like fonts, colors, and layouts, but that’s where the flexibility ends. Overall, Duda offers basic customization options, but it’s not as adaptable as WordPress.

Duda Pros: Customization

Duda Cons: Customization

Winner: WordPress

shutterstock 1688525080 Duda vs WordPress: Which Is Best For Your Business?

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Pricing: WordPress

When deciding between Duda vs WordPress, price is a significant factor. WordPress itself is free, but the total cost of using it varies depending on your specific needs.

First, you need to purchase hosting from a provider such as WP Engine or InMotion. WordPress hosting fees typically range from $5-$30 a month. Additional costs can include premium themes and plugins. For advanced features like custom domains, more storage, and eCommerce support, you can opt into monthly price plans that range from $4 to $45 a month.

WordPress Pros: Pricing

WordPress Cons: Pricing

Pricing: Duda

Similar to WordPress, Duda offers a tiered pricing structure based on your website needs. The basic plan starts at $25 a month and includes their drag-and-drop editor, hosting SSL certificates, and responsive website templates. If you’re looking for advanced features like team collaboration, client management tools, and custom widget building, pricing can go up to $39, $69, or $199 a month.

Duda Pros: Pricing

Duda Cons: Pricing

Winner: WordPress

SEO And Internet Marketing: WordPress

The internet marketing capabilities of Duda vs WordPress differ greatly. With the vast array of WordPress SEO plugins like Yoast and Rank Math, you can access advanced sitemaps, keyword tracking, and in-depth optimization.

For an eCommerce site, WordPress integrates with WooCommerce and CRM platforms like HubSpot to help advance your marketing efforts. Its open-source nature and the WordPress plugin ecosystem make it a powerhouse for internet marketing, offering more flexibility and advanced features than Duda.

WordPress Pros: SEO And Internet Marketing

WordPress Cons: SEO And Internet Marketing

SEO And Internet Marketing: Duda

Unlike WordPress, Duda marketing integrations are limited. Any Duda site will include built-in SEO tools like customizable meta tags, alt text, and automatic Google Page Speed optimization. It can integrate with Google Analytics and most social media platforms. However, the lack of plugins makes Duda eCommerce marketing more limited.

Duda Pros: SEO And Internet Marketing

Duda Cons: SEO And Internet Marketing

Winner: WordPress

Scalability: WordPress

When it comes to scalability between Duda vs WordPress, it’s obvious who takes the cake. The WordPress plugin ecosystem gives it a significant advantage. As your business grows, WordPress can easily accommodate complex websites, high traffic, and custom features. You have virtually unlimited options with a WordPress site, making it a strategic choice for someone looking to expand their online presence.

WordPress Pros: Scalability

WordPress Cons: Scalability

Scalability: Duda

As we’ve mentioned previously, Duda’s growth potential is limited. While it supports multi-site management and basic eCommerce features, it lacks the extensive customization and third-party integrations needed for serious growth. In our opinion, Duda is well-suited for smaller businesses managing simple sites, but not for someone looking for long-term growth.

Duda Pros: Scalability

Duda Cons: Scalability

Winner: WordPress

a person logs into their laptop, holding their phone

Security And Maintenance: WordPress

Looking for robust security and maintenance control? WordPress has you covered. However, it will require more active involvement on your end. You can install various security plugins which allows you to implement measures like firewalls, malware scanning, and login protection. Regular updates to the core WordPress software are crucial to maintaining security and functionality.

WordPress Pros: Security And Maintenance

WordPress Cons: Security And Maintenance

Security And Maintenance: Duda

Because they provide a fully managed hosting environment, Duda site maintenance is quite simple. You benefit from automatic backups, security updates, and protection against common vulnerabilities without needing to worry about managing the server.

Duda’s system includes SSL certification for secure data transmission and built-in security measures to safeguard user information. While Duda simplifies maintenance for you, it also limits control over specific security configurations, which isn’t ideal for everyone.

Duda Pros: Security And Maintenance

Duda Cons: Security And Maintenance

Winner: Depends On Your Goals*

*If you have the resources and skills to stay up to date with maintenance, then WordPress offers much more control and security over your site. If you’re looking for something easy and simple, Duda is a good place to start.

Who Wins The Fight Of Duda vs WordPress?

The answer is simple: WordPress.

There is certainly a time and place for Duda. If you’re a beginner with a small site, Duda will feel less overwhelming. However, it will be harder to customize and scale your business with their reduced capabilities.

For most clients, we would recommend WordPress. You can’t beat its customization options, internet marketing features, advanced security controls, and the ability for unlimited growth.

Your website should help you expand, not restrict you. If you’re looking for maximum flexibility and scalability (especially for larger and more complex websites) it’s a no-brainer—WordPress is the way to go.

WordPress can be overwhelming—we get it. That’s why you have us. Reach out to our developers for a website that keeps your customers coming back for more.

Make Your Website Unforgettable

Around-the-clock support. No wait time. Letting AI do the hard work. What’s not to love about live chat on websites? It may seem like an easy solution for an overwhelmed customer service team, but is it really beneficial to your business? We’re going to break down the advantages and disadvantages of online chat so you can decide for yourself!

What Is Live Chat?

Live chat on websites is a way for customers to communicate with a company representative via real-time online messaging. This can be easily installed on your site, typically as a pop-up window where users can start a chat.

Most live chat features rely on AI to answer frequently asked questions and only give you a real person if requested. Online chat can support sales, customer service, and many other departments.

Customer service online chat began in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but it was slow to gain popularity. Now with the rise of AI, chatbots have become much more complex. As the industry evolves, so do the advantages and disadvantages of online chat.

Pros & Cons: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Chat

While there are many benefits of having live chat on your website, it’s not all sunshine and roses. There are also significant disadvantages of live chat that need to be considered before deciding if it’s right for you.

Live Chat Pros

#1. Real-Time Support

One of the biggest pros of online chat is that people can find answers to their questions quickly. With the boom in AI, this is even more prevalent. The instant gratification of getting an immediate response leaves your customers feeling more satisfied. According to one survey, 63% of users choose live chat as their preferred method of contacting a business.

#2. Easier For Your Customer Service Reps

Installing a website chat software on your site lets your customer service representatives (CSRs) field more questions and juggle multiple chats at once. They also get a live preview of what the user is typing, even before they hit send. Lastly, angry complaints are much easier to handle. It is less taxing to deal with a frustrated customer over chat than it is over the phone.

#3. Increases Conversions

If implemented and staffed correctly, live chat functions have the potential to increase conversion rates and sales for your business. When a real person walks someone through a purchase, it’s more likely they will spend money or come back a second time.

#4. Not Disruptive

Online chat allows customers to get support without it disrupting their entire day. They don’t have to stay on the line for hours, waiting to talk to someone. They can get easy help while at work, home, or out and about. Agents can even send links, files, and other documents without needing to change communication channels.

#5. Builds Relationships

Live chat on websites is inherently more casual than other forms of communication. This opens the door for more personalization in agent’s responses, making it easier to build a relationship with customers. If they have a positive experience, they are more likely to come back again, increasing user engagement.

#6. Everything Is In Writing

Another pro of online chat is that it leaves a digital paper trail. Your conversation is all documented, so you can refer back and keep the receipts if needed. With everything in writing, it is easier to understand the customer’s issue and pass it on to another member of your team without them having to repeat themselves over the phone.

#7. Customer Feedback

Another major benefit of having live chat on your website is that most software allows the user to rate the experience as soon as it ends. This gives your team more insights into the effectiveness of your chat program.

Live Chat Cons

#1. Not Good For Every Demographic

Gen X and Baby Boomers prefer more traditional methods of communication, such as phone or email. To them, online chat may feel impersonal. Depending on your target audience, live chat may not be the right choice for your business.

#2. Bothersome Pop-Ups

A lot of people find the chat box pop-up window to be bothersome. Sometimes it even blocks content on a page! If the pop-up window distracts from the website or negatively impacts the user experience, it may turn people away from your site. They can often come across as intrusive and gimmicky, so be careful when installing them.

#3. Limits to AI

Another disadvantage of live chat is the limitations of AI. For simple FAQs, chatbots can be beneficial, but any complex questions require a real person. In fact, many people immediately skip the chatbot and request a live agent from the start. It can be frustrating and a waste of time to work with an AI that you know can’t help you.

#4. Requires Someone to Monitor

While the idea of passing on simple questions to an AI seems great, it’s not that easy. For online chat to be effective, someone always needs to be monitoring it so they can handle issues too involved for the bot. Users have high expectations for response time, and you don’t want to disappoint them.

#5. Timely Set Up

A common misconception about live chat is that it’s quick and easy to set up. Unfortunately, that’s not true. To set up software that will be beneficial, you need to write automated responses for every potential question. This content should be customized to your business goals, and it can take a lot of time and effort to set those pathways up.

#6. Can Be Costly

With the price of the software, plus the cost of having someone monitoring, online chat can become quite expensive. If it’s not driving sales for your business, it may not be worth it in the long run.

#7. Privacy Concerns

CSRs are able to see a user’s location, what pages they’ve visited, what’s in their shopping cart, and even what they are typing in real time before they hit send. Plus if you’re sharing confidential information over chat, all this can lead to privacy concerns.

#8. More Channels to Monitor

With the addition of live chat, your customer service team is now responsible for monitoring multiple channels. During peak hours, this can be a lot to handle, especially if they are getting many requests at once.

Implementing Live Chat Functions

When it’s time to implement website chat software, you first need to set it up. This process involves developing a chatbot decision tree.

A decision tree maps out conversations in a logical way. Each interaction will have many “branches” and every topic the chatbot covers will need its own flow. As you can imagine, all this content really adds up! The more complex your chatbot, the more branches you’ll need—and the more helpful it will be to your customers.

Remember: your chatbot is only as good as your decision tree.

Some common chatbot mistakes we see:

They only provide general information that cannot answer people’s specific queries.
They take users on too long of a journey to get the answer they need.
They don’t recognize certain keywords, so they are unable to provide customers with useful responses.

Now let’s get to the set-up.

#1. Choose and Install Your Software

There are many website chat softwares available at varying price points. The more you pay, the more options you have for customization. Our dev team will provide you with a few software options to pick from, depending on your business goals.

Once it’s installed, be aware that it is going to affect your core web vitals. Since the script has to run on almost every page of your site, that will lead to longer page loads and an overall dip in vitals.

#2. Customize It To Your Brand

The customization options will depend on the software you choose. In our experience, these options tend to be limited and often don’t work well. They can be finicky to implement.

#3. Develop The Decision Tree

Creating your automated responses will take the most time. First, you need to decide what queries it must be able to answer—the most common FAQs you receive about your product or service. If you’re not sure, ask your customer service or sales team. You’ll also need to decide on a personality for the bot to match your overall brand voice.

Next, create the flow. Guide your customers through a smooth journey from start to finish. Begin by grouping potential queries into categories and then branching out from there. Every possible response needs a branch, but remember to make it natural and conversational, not robotic.

Newer live chat features are keyword based. Make sure your system can recognize relevant keywords and answer accordingly. At the point your chatbot doesn’t know the answer (which will happen), always have the option for someone to contact a live agent.

How to Decide If It’s Right For You

Now that you understand the advantages and disadvantages of online chat, it’s time to decide if it’s right for you. Just like any of our customized web solutions, live chat is not for everyone. Before installing any software, ask yourself:

What problem am I trying to solve with online chat, and do I have the resources to monitor it?

You need to have a specific reason for wanting a chatbot, besides just jumping on the bandwagon. Be intentional and ask: What problems will it be addressing? Do you think your client base will really use it? And why do you think a chatbot is the best answer?

Sometimes, your desire for a live chat feature points to another problem—maybe you need better site content or an updated FAQ page instead. At the end of the day, it all comes down to cost. Is it going to save you money or generate sales? Is the investment worth it? If not, it’s just going to cost you.

Live Chat Best Practices

With the advantages and disadvantages of online chat fresh in your mind, let’s dive into some best practices.

Always have a clear purpose for installing it.
Put the necessary resources behind it. This includes the time to set it up correctly and the manpower to monitor it.
Respond quickly—don’t make people wait. When your response time lags, people get frustrated.
Make sure the placement is not intrusive. Most people put the chat box in the bottom right corner so it won’t cover any site content.
Content loads first. Your chat software should be the last thing to load on a page, giving the website content priority.
Keep it human. Even if you’re using AI, always incorporate a human touch.
Have an offline plan. Figure out a system for after hours when you don’t have an agent online.

Not sure if live chat is right for you? Get expert advice from our dev team to find a customized solution for all your website needs!

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Planning a website redesign and launch can be overwhelming, especially if you haven’t had the experience of planning one in the past. In this blog, we’ll provide a website launch checklist you can use to get a better understanding of what the journey ahead will look like.

How Long Does A Website Redesign Take?

Every website redesign project is unique and involves many moving parts from start to finish. There’s no telling what obstacles or unforeseen circumstances will emerge during the process. However, typically a website launch timeline will consist of 6 main stages:

Planning and discovery (2-10 weeks)
Content and SEO (5-15 weeks)
UI/UX design (4-12 weeks)
Developing and coding (6-15 weeks)
Testing and review (2-7 weeks)
Official launch (1 day-3 weeks)

Remember, the timing of these stages will vary depending on your goals for the project and the scale of work required to reach them. Another component that will influence your website launch timeline is the number of stakeholders involved in the redesign process. For example, if every service team’s lead needs to review each piece of the project, it will take longer to finalize.

Pre-Website Launch Checklist

A lot of hard work goes into a website before it can be pushed live, and it can’t all be completed by one person. A successful website launch depends on the work of skilled individuals who all have a different role to play.

In the following sections, we’ll break down some of the main steps and roles that should be included in your pre-website launch checklist.

Web development stage of a website redesign project.

Website Relaunch Developers & Web Designers Checklist

The first part of a website relaunch checklist is dedicated to developers and web designers. These individuals will work to ensure the site functions smoothly on the back end as well as the front.

1. Check site speed.

Not only does a faster page load speed provide users with a better experience, but it also is an important Google ranking factor. Faster loading times mean higher rankings for your site in search engine result pages. Therefore, it’s important to check your site’s speed before launching to make sure it’s loading at a quick rate.

2. Create a custom 404 page.

404 error warnings are shown when a server can’t find what was requested by the user. This could be from typing the wrong URL into the search bar or clicking on a dead link. Setting up custom 404 pages for your site ensures visitors are made aware of the error, but don’t have to see the generic warning message.

3. Check your site’s compatibility on different devices and web browsers.

Before launching your site, take the time to see what each page looks like on different devices and when searched in different browsers. Doing this will help you identify and fix areas that could negatively impact user experience like text and buttons being too small or content falling off the page.

4. Validate code and CSS.

Validating code and CSS ensures each page on your site looks and functions the way it should. Before launching, developers can check for things like syntax errors, typos, missing tags, and other issues to confirm the site is compatible with all browsers, accessible for all devices, and complies with web standards.

5. Check that your site serves HTTPS.

Hypertext transfer protocol secure (or HTTPS), is used to keep information sent from a device to a website private. Once it’s set up visitors will know their sensitive information like IP addresses or credit card numbers won’t be accessed by unauthorized individuals.

6. Ensure your site complies with privacy laws.

It’s no secret that visitors are more likely to trust your site when they know you follow privacy laws. There are different privacy laws around the world such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

7. Review third-party tools and integrations.

Before launching, review all your third-party tools and remove any integrations that aren’t necessary or fix any that aren’t working properly. Doing this will improve UX, boost site speed, and lead to better search engine rankings.

SEO specialist checking Google Analytics.

Website Relaunch SEO Checklist

Next in our website launch checklist, we’ll introduce SEO specialists. These individuals work to keep your site relevant and showing up in search results for users to see.

1. Check for possible indexation and crawling issues.

Search engines collect data by crawling your site and then store it through a process called indexing. This affects what results appear when a user searches for something online. SEO specialists can identify indexing issues and manage crawler traffic before a site is launched, making it easier for search engines to identify and display your content.

2. Make sure URLs & redirects are search engine friendly.

We talked about 404 errors earlier, and one of the ways these can occur is if a link is broken. Before launching, all old site pages should be redirected to the new ones. Creating permanent redirects (known as 301s) will automatically send users to the new pages if they accidentally visit the old URL.

3. Install Google Analytics.

Analytics software, like Google Analytics, allows you to retrieve valuable insight into what your users are doing on your site. It’s important to set up analytic tools before your site goes live because you’ll want to begin gathering data from the moment you launch. If your old site had analytics set up, verify that they are still working properly with the new site.

4. Use keyword mapping.

Keywords will play an essential role in the performance of your site. Keyword mapping is an SEO strategy that helps assign target keywords to specific pages on your site. With the help of an SEO specialist, these keywords can assist in performing goals, driving traffic, and improving search rankings.

5. Optimize meta tags, titles, descriptions, and content.

As we mentioned above, your site needs keywords to gain visibility. Optimizing meta tags, titles, descriptions, and site content will help search engines index your page efficiently. Each page on your site should have a unique title and description in addition to the keywords SEO specialists provide.

6. Use schema to mark up content.

Schema is what tells search engines what your data means and helps represent it in a more user-friendly way. Using special microdata language, SEO specialists can tell search engines more about the content on your site and control how it appears in search results.

7. Check UX.

User experience (UX) is how a visitor interacts with your site. Having a good UX depends on a variety of factors. You want to make sure your site is easy to navigate and accessible to everyone, regardless of possible impairments or technological limitations. Adding alt text to images, captions to videos, and choosing the typography and font size are only a few of the ways you can improve your site’s UX.

Content marketing specialist editing website content.

Website Relaunch Content Checklist

The last few steps of our website launch checklist belong to content marketing specialists. These individuals take care of all the content that will be seen by users when they visit your site.

1. Make sure content adds value.

The content on your site should be valuable to any user who visits. This means not focusing purely on self-promotion, but also including expert advice, actionable takeaways, and resourceful information. There are many distractions online and offering valuable content is one of the best ways to keep users engaged and coming back to your site.

2. Proofread content.

It may seem obvious, but grammar errors happen more often than we realize, and while everyone makes mistakes, there’s no doubt that these errors will hurt a brand’s credibility. Proofreading content is a way to show visitors that you care about your brand’s image and their user experience.

3. Use proper formatting.

Proper formatting is an essential part of any content specialist’s writing and publishing process. Using SEO content writing techniques like headlines, lists, and high-quality images improves readability and makes your site more visually appealing.

4. Ensure content is factual.

As we mentioned before, your content needs to be valuable to your readers. In the same respect, it needs to be factual. If search engines find your content to be fake or misleading they won’t display it on result pages. Additionally, if a user notices misinformation on your site, they are less likely to return.

5. Keep content style concise.

Your content style will speak to who your brand is and how you should be perceived by others. Keeping the tone and voice in your writing consistent will make you stand out among competitors. Every piece of content, from blogs to videos to downloadable files, should reflect your brand’s message and personality.

Remember, this website launch checklist is only the beginning, many more pieces contribute to a successful site launch, fortunately, you can get help from digital marketing experts to ensure your site turns out exactly how you envisioned.

Interested in a website redesign for your company? Take a look at some of our website projects and see what we can do.

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Interested in learning more about the different types of hosting methods because you are ready to launch a new site, or make upgrades to your existing one? Maybe your site is, more often than you would like, creating problems for your organization, and you don’t quite understand how to fix them.

This blog will take a high-level overview of the key differences between shared vs. dedicated vs. cloud hosting. We will dive into the pros and cons of dedicated hosting, shared hosting, and cloud hosting.

Before we get into all that you may ask yourself, what is shared hosting? Or cloud hosting? Or dedicated hosting? And why may one be better for my organization? Don’t worry, we will cover that too.

Factors to Consider

Before you decipher through the different hosting options, ask yourself the following questions:

How many visitors come to my site monthly? The amount of traffic coming to your site helps determine the number of resources you need to run a successful site. If you have a smaller amount of traffic, shared hosting probably has enough resources.

What is your budget? With each hosting service, there will be differing costs based on whether you have a single server just for you or share a server with other organizations. There is also an option to pay an additional fee for managed hosting, which is like AAA Car insurance but for your website.

What are your website needs? Consider what your website’s purposes are. Users could be coming to your site to read blogs, get information, make payments, purchase a product or service, or fill out a form and request more information about your company.

What is Shared Hosting?

The main difference between shared vs dedicated hosting is the allocation of resources. In shared hosting, you “share” resources of one server with multiple companies. You’ll often see this referred to as “multi-tenant hosting.” This type of hosting benefits small businesses with low traffic, blogs, and personal websites.

Think of shared hosting as living in an apartment building. The building itself is shared by multiple people, and you may hear your neighbors through the walls or experience power outages all at once, but you are in your own space.

Advantages

Since you are sharing your resources, this type of hosting is the most economical. Also, since you do not own the server, there’s usually a web hosting company that can help you when there are issues with your website. This will depend on whether you decide to pursue managed vs unmanaged hosting, which is explained later in this blog.

Another benefit of shared hosting is simplicity. You’re not expected to manage the server yourself and many tools are often available to get your site up and running quickly. You’ll not require a dedicated person to operate and maintain the web server.

For smaller businesses that feel they don’t need a ton of resources to run a successful website, shared hosting may be your best option. This allows you to save some money and still get enough assets required for your site.

Disadvantages

While shared hosting does provide an economical solution, it isn’t without some drawbacks. Because shared hosting relies on a shared pool of resources, one site could affect other sites on the server. This could range from slow performance to being impacted by server crashes due to resource exhaustion.

If you become a repeat offender, you may end up in violation of a Terms of Service clause and may be evicted from the platform.

The simplicity of shared hosting may not be best for those who need something more complex. For example, if your website requires special software to be installed, your hosting provider may not be able to comply.

A special software could include an older version of PHP that is necessary for your site to run. In this case, because older versions of PHP may no longer be supported, your hosting provider may refuse your request, and you’d be unable to run the code that would need that version of PHP.

Just like living in an apartment building, sometimes a problem arises that affects the whole building. For example, a pipe bursts and floods a floor. The same applies to shared hosting. Sometimes your website may be impacted by an issue from another website on the same server.

A close up of a dedicated hosting server

What is Dedicated Hosting?

This type of hosting dedicates a server to a single business customer, meaning you have the most control of your physical hosting resources. Since all the resources are allocated to your server, and you have full control, dedicated hosting is the most expensive option.

If your website brings in high levels of traffic (300,000 or more page views monthly), and you’ll need all the resources, you may consider spending the extra money to provide dedicated hosting to your company.

Also, if you’re looking to build an e-commerce site where users need to make payments, dedicated hosting is the most secure option. Since credit card and personal information will be inputted into these types of sites, a more secure hosting option would be best.

Advantages

When comparing dedicated vs shared hosting, dedicated hosting allows you to have the most resources as well as the most control. You will not compete with other websites on your server for resources, since the server is strictly for you.

As your resources are only yours, so are your issues. With other hosting options, you have the potential to be affected by other websites’ problems. Dedicated hosting keeps everything isolated, so this not only makes your website more secure, but it keeps your website performing smoothly.

Disadvantages

Although having all the resources for yourself can be a dedicated hosting benefit, it may be the most expensive option. Additionally, dedicated hosting requires very skilled and technical management. Maintaining a server is an art unto itself and ensuring reliable and stable operation requires specialized knowledge and training.

VPS Hosting

VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting is a hybrid solution between shared hosting and dedicated hosting. It has a similar foundation to shared hosting, but the resources are specifically allocated to you. Because of this, VPS hosting is arguably the most popular type of hosting.

Advantages

This type of hosting runs on its own operating system and offers flexibility and a high level of performance. Having a VPS will give you full control of your allocated resources and what you want to do on the server. For many, a VPS may be the solution for cost and benefit.

Disadvantages

Since VPS is a blend of the best of both worlds, it may have those same drawbacks, but to a lesser degree. For example, a VPS may require technical expertise, as you may need to manage the server instance yourself, but you won’t have to worry as much about hardware issues.

Similar to shared hosting, you still have issues with rowdy neighbors, as hosting providers will frequently have many VPS instances sharing a server. This is comparable to living in a city, you have your own space, but you’ll still be able to hear what your neighbors are doing from time to time.

What is Cloud Hosting?

A completely virtual hosting service, cloud hosting uses distributed computing resources. You’ll often see this referred to as PaaS (Platform-as-a-service), SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), or IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-service). With the ability to move between regions relatively easily and quickly, cloud hosting is an effective solution for servers that need to be elastic and resilient.

Advantages

Cloud hosting allows you to pick and choose services you need without having to deal with resources that aren’t relevant to your needs. Your cloud vendor may also provide the means of easily scaling your resource needs on demand.

A good scenario would be planning for a surge in traffic and employing load-balancers to manage traffic load, spinning up additional servers to cover the surge, and then decommissioning those resources when the surge has subsided. Many times, a hosting company will partner with a Cloud Hosting provider to provide a solution for end-users.

Disadvantages

While cloud hosting has a lot of technological benefits, it can also be very complex and very costly. Many cloud services operate on an “à la carte” style price model, where your bill is based on the number of resources you use.

This structure may be affordable for low-resource sites, but you need to be aware of your usage so you don’t end up with a massive bill at the end of your term. It’s not uncommon to hear of a story where a company ran up a several thousand dollar invoice on Amazon Web Service because of some technical issue.

In the same vein as the high-tech aspect of cloud hosting, setting up a site on a cloud hosting platform can be complex and may require more professional knowledge. In some cases, cloud hosting providers take a hands-off approach to your server and will only cover support for the infrastructure surrounding it, leaving you to fend for yourself if an issue occurs.

Unmanaged vs. Managed Hosting

Now that we’ve determined the differences between shared vs. dedicated vs. cloud hosting, you have to decide whether your company will benefit from unmanaged or managed hosting. When comparing unmanaged vs managed hosting, consider the ability and goals of your organization.

Managed hosting means paying extra but gaining support services. So, when your site goes down, or you run out of resources, you won’t have to worry about how to fix it. You’ll simply call your web development team to help you out. With unmanaged hosting, you’ll be tasked with performing these issues yourself with minimal support from your vendor.

Managed hosting allows you to focus on your organizational goals and achievements rather than the technical management of your website. Here are some services that could be included in your managed hosting.

Automated Backups
Performance Monitoring
Malware Scanning and Removal
Hardware and Software Maintenance

Partnering with a Web Hosting Service

Once you compare shared vs cloud vs dedicated hosting and decide what’s best for you, your next step will be partnering with a web hosting service. Investing in a group of web developers and a marketing agency can help you focus on your organization’s success, with the assurance your site is taken care of.

At Tower Marketing, you have the opportunity to work with a full-service, innovative marketing agency with real people on the other side of the phone. Our development team works with WPEngine as a hosting solution provider for the majority of our WordPress clients.

Our developers also have the flexibility to utilize AWS (Amazon Web Services) for clients that require cloud computing solutions and use Linode and Digital Ocean for clients that need non-WordPress solutions.

Allow your organization to focus on what matters – your growth, your goals, and your future. Contact us today to learn more about our managed hosting and maintenance services.

With 50,000+ free and paid WordPress plugins available, it can be time-consuming and overwhelming to choose the best ones for your website. There’s a plugin for every need or problem, but this wealth of options can complicate your decision-making, especially if you don’t have web development experience.

If you’re asking yourself, “what are the best plugins for WordPress?” or “what WordPress plugins do I need?”, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we’ll review ten of the best WordPress plugins in alphabetical order, including their main features, cost(s), and pros and cons.

You can also use the index to the left (or above if you’re on mobile) to jump to any of the most popular WordPress plugins based on the capabilities you’re looking for.

1. Advanced Custom Fields

This WordPress tool allows you to easily add extra content fields (known as Custom Fields) to your WordPress edit screens without writing any code. This means you can build your website more quickly, regardless of your theme template or web development skills. You can use Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) on any of the following WordPress edit screens:

Attachments
Categories
Comments
Custom Posts
Custom Taxonomies
Menus
Options
Pages
Posts
Taxonomies
Users
Widgets

Advanced Custom Fields comes standard with 30+ field types, and there are also hundreds of user-created fields available. These field types include basic, choice, content, jQuery, layout, and relational, among others. The plugin also provides PHP functions that developers can use to display stored field information in their front-end templates.

Advanced Custom Fields The 10 Best WordPress Plugins for Your Website

What It Costs

Advanced Custom Fields is a free plugin. However, there is also a paid version (ACF PRO) that includes five premium features: repeater field, gallery field, flexible content field, clone field, and options pages. You can find ACF PRO pricing below:

ACF PRO Personal (1 website): $49/year
ACF PRO Freelancer (10 websites): $149/year
ACF PRO Agency (unlimited websites): $249/year

Pros & Cons

Advanced Custom Fields make it easy to create and manage custom fields for WordPress, making it one of the best WordPress plugins for blogs. However, it may require some web development knowledge to implement your custom fields into WordPress themes and plugins.

2. Bulk Page Creator

Bulk Page Creator allows you to generate multiple pages in bulk batches, which can save you time when you create your WordPress site. Once you’ve added all of your pages, you can create them with a click of a button. This plugin also offers backwards capability, which means the full length of the short description will be used and the markdown parsed if a section is missing.

Bulk Page Creator The 10 Best WordPress Plugins for Your Website

What It Costs

Bulk Page Creator is a free, open-source plugin that you can download from the WordPress plugin library.

Pros & Cons

If you already know the structure of your new website, Bulk Page Creator is a great way to quickly generate all of your pages. However, you can only bulk create pages – not posts or custom post types. That means it’s more useful for setting up new sites with existing content than building out established ones.

3. Gravity Forms

This plugin allows you to quickly create and build WordPress forms using an intuitive visual editor tool. You can easily select fields, configure options, and embed forms on your website to create a superior, streamlined user experience.

Gravity Forms comes standard with 30+ ready-to-use form fields, allowing you to create customized forms that facilitate your marketing goals. Plus, built-in conditional logic means you can configure your form to show or hide fields, sections, pages, and the “submit” button based on your needs.

Additional Gravity Forms features include:

Advanced calculations
Email autoresponders
Entry limitations
Form scheduling
File upload fields
reCAPTCHA, Really Simple CAPTCHA, and Akismet
Responsive design
Save partially-completed forms
WordPress Post creation

Depending on the license you choose, Gravity Forms includes a variety of add-ons and integrations. These include ActiveCampaign, Constant Contact, HubSpot, Mailchimp, PayPal, Square, Zapier, and many more.

Gravity Forms The 10 Best WordPress Plugins for Your Website

What It Costs

Gravity Forms is a paid plugin with three license tiers: Basic, Pro, and Elite. You can find pricing below:

Basic License (1 website): $59/year
Pro License (3 websites): $159/year
Elite License (unlimited websites): $259/year

Pros & Cons

As one of the best WordPress form plugins, Gravity Forms offers easy form creation and is highly customizable to meet any need. However, it’s a paid plugin, and the Pro and Elite licenses offer many more useful features than the Basic one.

4. Intuitive Custom Post Order

Intuitive Custom Post Order allows you to arrange Custom Post Types, Custom Taxonomies, Pages, Posts, and Sites using drag-and-drop, sortable JavaScript. You can use the parameters included in your WordPress theme and override auto-converted parameters for additional customization.

Intuitive Custom Post Order The 10 Best WordPress Plugins for Your Website

What It Costs

Intuitive Custom Post Order is a free, open-source plugin that you can download from the WordPress plugin library.

Pros & Cons

One of the best free WordPress plugins, this tool is great for rearranging the order of your Pages and Posts, even if they’re customized. It also allows for custom sorting and is useful if you need to order items anachronistically. However, it’s important to realize that your designated order will remain the same even if you remove the plugin. And depending on your page build, Intuitive Custom Post Order may not be helpful since posts are naturally ordered by descending date.

5. Query Monitor

This essential WordPress plugin is geared towards web developers and allows you to inspect and debug many aspects of your website. These include database queries, PHP errors, theme template files, rewrite rules, and more. Query Monitor presents information in a logical, organized manner, allowing you to efficiently determine which plugins, themes, and functions are underperforming.

Query Monitor The 10 Best WordPress Plugins for Your Website

What It Costs

Query Monitor is a free, open-source plugin that you can download from the WordPress plugin library. It’s also included in some of the most popular WordPress platforms, including Altis and WordPress.com VIP.

Pros & Cons

This plugin is great for checking theme template file errors and inspecting and debugging your website. However, if you don’t have a web development background, you may need to consult a developer to fully utilize its capabilities.

6. Regenerate Thumbnails

Regenerate Thumbnails allows you to recreate all thumbnail sizes for any images you’ve uploaded to your WordPress Media Library. You can also delete old thumbnails to free up space on your server, making it one of the best WordPress gallery plugins. This plugin is particularly useful if you want to:

Update the thumbnail size of past uploads
Change the dimensions of existing thumbnails
Update thumbnail sizes to match a new WordPress theme

Regenerate Thumbnails The 10 Best WordPress Plugins for Your Website

What It Costs

Regenerate Thumbnails is a free, open-source plugin that you can download from the WordPress plugin library.

Pros & Cons

This plugin is ideal for resizing images if you’ve changed the dimensions of the three default WordPress image sizes (thumbnail, medium, and large) in your Media Library settings. It’s also useful if you’ve created a custom image size after already uploading images. Plus, it can fix issues with image sizes, especially if new ones have been uploaded. However, it doesn’t work with WebP image formats or upscale images to fit sizes larger than the original.

7. Safe SVG

This plugin for your WordPress website allows you to safely upload scalable vector graphic (SVG) files to your Media Library. Safe SVG includes features like SVGO optimization, Gutenberg block compatibility, previous file upload scans, and restricted upload capabilities.

Scalable vector graphics are used to render two-dimensional images and are optimized for search engines, programmable, and capable of dynamic interactions. However, they’re also inherently insecure because they open your server up to XML-based attacks.

What It Costs

Safe SVG is a free, open-source plugin that you can download from the WordPress plugin library. There’s also a paid version (called WP SVG), but it’s currently unavailable from the third-party developer.

Pros & Cons

Another one of the best WordPress plugins, Safe SVG provides a secure, convenient way to upload SVGs to your Media Library and embed them via code. However, it hasn’t been tested in WordPress 5.5 yet, so it may be unsafe in newer versions until it’s updated by the developer. It’s also somewhat hampered by how WordPress incorporates SVGs and may be inaccessible to users who are unfamiliar with this file type.

8. The Events Calendar

The Events Calendar allows you to manage your organization’s events in one place, making it one of the best calendar plugins for WordPress. You can share important dates with users while keeping details organized using categories and tags. It’s also fully responsive, developer-friendly, and designed for use on the go.

There are two versions of The Events Calendar: free and Pro. With the free version, you can choose from day, month, and list calendar views, all of which integrate seamlessly with your WordPress theme. You can also promote featured events to boost user engagement and attendance.

The Pro version offers all of the capabilities of the free one, along with the following additional features:

Photo grid, map, week, and summary calendar views
Monthly, weekly, and custom recurring events
Shortcodes for easy embedding
Advanced widgets
Premium support
Elementor integration
Custom fields
Location search

The Events Calendar The 10 Best WordPress Plugins for Your Website

What It Costs

If you upgrade from the free version, The Events Calendar Pro costs $99/ year for one website.

Pros & Cons

While this WordPress tool makes it easy to manage and create or edit events, the free version is rather limited in comparison to The Events Calendar Pro.

9. WooCommerce

With everything you need to start selling merchandise online, WooCommerce is WordPress’s premier eCommerce plugin. It’s developer-friendly and built with a REST API, and you can add extensions from the WooCommerce Marketplace to extend your store’s functionality. These range from customer relationship management and product types to shipping and subscriptions, among many others.

WooCommerce allows you to customize your homepage, site structure, menus, and payment and shipping options. Plus, it comes bundled with the ability to accept major credit cards, bank transfers, checks, and cash on delivery. Best of all, there are no fees on transactions beyond that of the payment service provider, making it the most affordable way to sell your products online.

You can also take advantage of WooCommerce Payments, WooCommerce Marketing, and WooCommerce Shipping, all of which help make it the best eCommerce plugin for WordPress.

WooCommerce The 10 Best WordPress Plugins for Your Website

What It Costs

WooCommerce is a free plugin that you can download from the WordPress plugin library. Some of the extensions you may choose to add cost extra, though.

Pros & Cons

Because it’s a free plugin, WooCommerce is very popular among users who are new to eCommerce. However, it’s important to understand that it requires additional plugins for enhanced functionality, which often vary in cost and quality.

10. Wordfence Premium

Wordfence Premium is an endpoint firewall and malware scanner plugin that’s specifically designed for WordPress. It pairs a firewall and security scanner and is armed with the newest firewall rules, malicious IP addresses, and malware signatures. Because it runs at the endpoint (your server), Wordfence Premium provides superior protection than cloud alternatives.

This plugin also includes the following standard features:

Two-factor authentication (2FA)
Source code verification
Country blocking
Malicious network blocking
Live traffic monitoring
Leaked password protection

Wordfence Premium The 10 Best WordPress Plugins for Your Website

What It Costs

Wordfence Premium is a paid plugin that costs $99/year for one license. However, there are percentage discounts available if you purchase additional licenses or extend your license span.

Pros & Cons

Arguably the best WordPress security plugin, Wordfence Premium is customized to protect your WordPress website. However, it costs money and requires knowledge to properly secure your WordPress installation.

The smartest way to select the best WordPress plugins for your website is by partnering with a digital marketing agency like Tower Marketing. Contact us today and connect with our web developers to outfit your WordPress website with the right plugins.