When it comes to a website, the end-user is truly the end-result.  I know this may seem confusing right now, and most website developers don’t fully understand this concept.  However, here at IMPACT, we utilize the utter power of WordPress with the end-user in mind; we want to ensure that your website administrators as well are able to easily navigate the back-end of the website as well as give your site visitors the best experience available to enhance the image of your company.  Take a look at these statistics:

  • WordPress has been used to build over 13% of the world’s largest 1 million websites.
  • WordPress has over 8x’s the number of downloads than it’s next competitor.
  • WordPress is used in 54% of websites that use a content management system.
  • WordPress is used to build nearly 15% of the world’s websites; well over 4x’s that of it’s nearest competitor.

So, how do you get any better than the world’s best CMS platform?  Upgrade it!

That’s right, the open-source “code innovators” at WordPress have recently released their newest upgrade, and it focuses on increased userability for the front-end as well as back-end which means a better experience for everyone involved.  Here are some of the most notable improvements and why you should consider switching to or staying with WordPress as your business’ CMS:

  1. Speed It Up — A lighter, agile, and (consequently) faster platform walks hand-in-hand with this upgrade.  Not only does the front-end of the websites run by WP 3.2 feel faster, but the back-end has also undergone a bit of a speedy upgrade.  You can more-readily and quickly customize the back-end of the site for your comfort and experience.  Of course, faster is always better for your users as they aren’t waiting which means your business builds a better online (and consequently offline) reputation.
  2. New Theme Gets Renovated — With the release of 3.0 came the introduction of WordPress’ TwentyEleven theme.  While most of the premium themes available are more equipped with bells and whistles than WP’s, TwentyEleven now comes with theme options, lighter code weight, and more optimized for browser use.  In other words, this theme is great both the new user as well as the web developer looking for cross-browser compatibility (smartphones, large desktops and laptops, and smaller netbooks all display this theme correctly).  For you, this points to more access for your target audience, and an increased number of people satisfied with your business site.
  3.  Back-End on Botox — Without giving too much of a detailed analogy of the plastic surgery the back-end of WP went through, let’s just say that 3.2 has a tighter and more compact appearance.  The subtle differences of your site title being integrated into the back-end content starts the change.  All of the dashboard options are readily collapsed, better organized, and easier to make more screen real estate available.  All of this allowing you more (and quicker) access to your website control(s).
  4. Concentration on Content — We have all learned that the search engines are focusing on user-focused and high quality content.  The only way to truly get that accomplished is the concentrate solely on content that benefits your users.  WordPress 3.2 has now made it easier for you to get this accomplished as they have now introduced a “Distraction Free Writing” feature.  As you enter a new post or page, and you select the full screen mode, all the external options other than the text boxes disappear.  Even the outside margins of the editors vanish allowing you greater concentration on the content that you write.  Only when you hover over the top of the page do you see editor option.  So, for the people writing content for your business, this means a more streamlined approach to your website’s traffic-generating content!

Of course, there are other improvements and uplifts within the 3.2 release (in fact, more than 400 more).  However, the speed improvements, new theme, enhanced back-end, and distraction free writing feature are the four that will impact and influence the way you operate your business’ website today and in the future.

Stay tuned for any other WordPress updates as we’re sure their team is already hard at work on their next release that will further improve your experience.  With that said, if you have any questions or would like a consultation on how to integrate WP 3.2 with your business, don’t hesitate to contact us or leave a comment below.

Need Help?

If website design is something that you are interested in but don’t know how to get started, contact us today to schedule your free marketing analysis.

Sources:
“The Essential Step-by-Step Guide to Internet Marketing”-E-Book
SlideShare.net
Image Source: HubSpot, “The 2011 State of Inbound Marketing”, E-Marketer.com