WordPress continues to be the leading software for building websites, with over 43% of all websites using it and comprising nearly 62% of the entire CMS market share, according to the latest data from W3Techs. However, WordPress is encountering significant headwinds. In the rapidly evolving world of technology, it’s important to carefully examine the current state of WordPress to determine if there are indications of its decline.
Why The Cause For Concern?
It is important to note that there is currently no evidence to suggest that WordPress is dying. However, it is worth acknowledging that WordPress is experiencing a significant decline in its dominance. The percentage of new projects being initiated with WordPress has notably decreased compared to previous levels. Furthermore, there has been a substantial drop in search interest for WordPress, and a significant 74% decrease in the number of articles being published about the platform. In the realm of technology, attaining dominance can sometimes lead to complacency, and it is crucial for leading companies to maintain a healthy level of vigilance due to the constant emergence of new software threats.
A Look At The Past
When I first started using WordPress, creating websites using WordPress required a significant investment into creating and building themes. For updates or new feature requests from clients, each customization required custom billing from a developer. The introduction of drag and drop builders revolutionized website development on WordPress, reducing the need for advanced developer involvement and opening new opportunities for novice site builders. During the initial surge of new WordPress page builders, there was a lack of understanding within the WordPress community regarding the preference for page builders over the classic editor. Due to the absence of a native WordPress page builder, Elementor emerged as the most popular page builder in the WordPress ecosystem. Over time, even Elementor reached a plateau, prompting its team to recognize the need for redevelopment and improvement.
Eventually in December of 2018 WordPress released its own native editor, the Gutenberg block editor, as part of the WordPress core. From my perspective, WordPress seems to have remained somewhat stagnant, which is especially evident in the latest WordPress 6.6 release, which lacks any groundbreaking features and mainly comprises of functionalities already available in other plugins or themes. While WordPress is progressing, it’s not doing so at a rate that would enable it to catch up to any of the advanced page builders currently available. By the time WordPress reaches that level, existing page builders will likely have advanced another 5 years ahead.
If you don’t have the capital for licenses or third-party page builders, it is likely that you will opt for the WordPress classic editor or Gutenberg. On the other hand, if you are striving for excellence, you will likely choose to invest in more advanced plugins and page builders. If you do choose Gutenberg, you will find yourself working in multiple development environments, managing complex languages and syntaxes, as well as dealing with challenging architectural decisions. The approval rating for Gutenberg is currently at its lowest and is undermining the overall approval of the platform. According to the 2023 WordPress annual survey, less than 50% of WordPress users believe that the Site Editor effectively meets their needs for building websites. Interestingly, the second most installed WordPress plugin happens to be the Classic Editor. There is a pressing need for continued innovation in the content management system to address these challenges.
A Look At The Future
WordPress offers a wide variety of themes, block systems, and page builders, among other tools, catering to different user needs and preferences. However, most of these tools are primarily designed for individuals who are new to website development and design. They often lack essential features needed for professional work, such as a class-first workflow, support for variables, native framework integration, components, clean code output, powerful loops, logic functions, version control, exposed code, adherence to accessibility standards, elimination of magic areas, data liberation, or even a unified development environment. This can result in aspiring professionals feeling that these tools are not tailored for their specific requirements. The approach of appealing to the lowest skilled users first and then to professionals is seen as a backward strategy, as it does not prioritize the needs of experienced developers and designers.
Many web designers of this generation are being taught proprietary workflows and poor practices. These methods are marketed as more accessible, but they result in users with less knowledge and empowerment, as well as more restrictions and a shift away from professional standards to industry disarray. In terms of marketing and establishing a culture, WordPress is losing its appeal to a younger audience even though it was once considered a trendy and modern platform. Meanwhile, platforms such as Webflow and Frames are gaining recognition for being associated with web talent.
WordPress’s relevance is based on two crucial factors: data ownership and extensibility, which set it apart from platforms like Webflow, Squarespace, and Wix. For WordPress to thrive, it needs to focus on:
- Innovation at the core of its product. It’s worth noting that WordPress gained its dominance without a native page editor, emphasizing the importance of core product development.
- A freeze on major new Gutenberg features is necessary to prioritize user experience and ensure a seamless transition for users.
- The unification of WordPress and Gutenberg into a modernized and unified admin UI is a crucial step, as the current experience can be confusing and lacks proper onboarding. This project is already in progress and needs to be completed in a timely manner.
- Developers working in WordPress should recommit to higher standards and craftsmanship in their work, emphasizing excellence in design talent, best practices, social media influence, and public opinion.