WordPress is the world’s most popular website creation platform and has been for a while now. What makes WordPress so wildly popular and successful isn’t the fact that there are no alternatives; it’s the fact that WordPress by itself is by far the simplest to use, one of the most sophisticated, and a top-tier website creation tool.
There have been many platforms diligently working to dethrone WordPress, but none have even come close. These days, WordPress powers 40% of all websites available, which is a massive number.
A platform of the size of WordPress is a monolithic one, and it has a whole community centered around it. Just like anything else in the digital sphere, it’s chock-full of trends, and the trends in twenty twenty-one dictate the future of how people will go on using the platform.
Below, we’ll outline five of the most buzzing WordPress trends you need to keep an eye out for if you want to make your WordPress website stand out among the crowd.
Securing Your Website
The global pandemic is a worldwide tragedy. Many lives and livelihoods were lost, which has made people very worried and anxious. People these days are all about safety and security. Providing them with a guarantee that your website is as safe as possible is a fantastic way to prove that you’re running a legitimate website.
Since more and more people spend time at home on the internet than ever, cybercrime is running rampant. People are taking the time to choose a reliable antivirus program and a VPN app. All these measures are taken to reassure that they are protected, and their identity is not abused. Thus, make sure to secure your website as much as possible and provide the necessary proof. HTTPS always beats HTTP, stating that you have safety standards to protect your users and go a long way. As a web owner, you should also use appropriate security solutions to ensure that your data and all business operations are safe.
Recommended reading: 5 Things to Check to Ensure Your WordPress is Secure
UI/UX Optimization
UI/UX has always been a fickle thing. Trends dictate how these two fundamental aspects any given website should follow, and in 2021, it’s all about simplicity. No longer are people willing to transverse a website for ages on end just to find something they’re looking for – they want it fast, and they want it simple.
What you need to do is invest in UI/UX optimization for your website. Minimalism is very modern at the moment, and reflecting that on your website can be fantastic. WordPress is a very UI-friendly platform, so you can craft your website towards the needs and wants of your prospects and visitors with ease.
Community Plugins
Since people are locked in most of the time due to the pandemic, they’re looking for alternative ways to connect with other human beings. Now, there isn’t a lack of forums, messengers, and social media platforms floating around the internet – but what WordPress websites are starting to do is integrate a sense of community into their existing websites.
Now, if you’re using WordPress as a platform for your website, you’ll be delighted to find out that the heavy lifting has already been done for you.
The only thing that you’ll need to care about is installing a community plugin, setting it up, and putting it out to the world to see.
Landing Pages
Now, landing pages aren’t anything new, and they have been an essential part of most websites for a while, but only recently have we fully embraced them as the industry standard. A landing page is the first page the user stumbles upon when visiting your website from a referral or hyperlink.
A landing page should be slick, simple, and contain as many visuals and bite-sized information as possible.
Direct Responses/Bots
Customer service is one of the pillars of any service website that engages with people in every way. Now, there would be nothing better than having a professional ready to answer any question your potential buyer might have to ask, but that’s usually not a possibility.
A good alternative, at least for WordPress websites, is to use a bot to handle a part of your customer services. Bots and AI are getting more sophisticated, meaning that they can help your customer and visitor without appearing as brainless, aimless, and unhelpful bots.
Recommended reading: Best WordPress Hosting Providers
Final Thoughts
WordPress is one of the most important platforms in the digital world, and as time goes on, it gets more and more sophisticated and user-friendly. Since it’s open-source, there are more themes, plugins, and items than you can imagine, all of which allow you to make your WordPress-based website that much better!