Are you intrigued by the prospects of WordPress in the future?
With the first two decades of WordPress history now written, the platform has already been instrumental in powering 43% of websites. Throughout the years, WordPress has consistently expanded and adapted to meet the evolving needs of website proprietors. What transformations are on the horizon? In this article, we delve into the future of WordPress and outline what we can anticipate.
Anticipated Enhancements in WordPress:
WordPress made its debut in 2003, founded by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little. With over two decades of WordPress history in our rearview, curiosity about its forthcoming developments is natural. The future of WordPress holds significance as it remains the backbone, serving as the Content Management System (CMS) for 43% of all websites, including renowned entities like Sony, CNN, Time Magazine, and Disney. Expectations for WordPress include its sustained modernity, relevance, and enhanced user-friendliness. The platform is designed to maintain simplicity and adaptability, and WordPress developers already have a well-defined roadmap, envisioning its trajectory far into the future. In a recent WordCamp event, WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg shared his expectation that WordPress will continue to thrive even a century from now.
1、Sustained Popularity of WordPress:
WordPress enjoys immense popularity, currently fueling 43% of all websites, accounting for a staggering total of 810 million websites. This figure signifies substantial growth, considering that WordPress was the foundation for only 29% of websites in 2018. Additionally, WordPress commands an impressive share of nearly 65% in the global CMS market. The chart below illustrates the usage of various content management systems, emphasizing WordPress’s unrivaled position.
These statistics have not escaped notice. WordPress stands as the choice of many of the world’s most successful enterprises. Notably, 38% of the top 10,000 websites are powered by WordPress, boasting prominent names such as Disney, Sony, Facebook, and more.
Evidently, WordPress presently dominates the website market, and this dominance is poised to persist in the future. The market share of WordPress has remained consistently robust, and other CMS options have also maintained stability without experiencing significant growth spikes. Our expectation is that WordPress will continue to maintain its popularity well into the future.
Our confidence in this projection stems from the fact that WordPress is a community-driven platform and does not hinge on the success of a single company. The WordPress community comprises developers, designers, and enthusiasts who actively contribute to its core development, plugin creation, and theme design.
As WordPress evolves, so does the supporting community, ensuring the platform remains a potent and user-friendly tool for individuals, businesses, and organizations. Why not join the vibrant WordPress community? You can start by participating in WordCamp events or local meetups. For more information, refer to our comprehensive guide on how you can actively engage with the WordPress project.
2、The Growth of WordPress in eCommerce:
The eCommerce sector is experiencing rapid growth, and the wide array of WordPress eCommerce plugins positions WordPress as an excellent choice for those embarking on an online store venture.
At present, the WooCommerce plugin powers over 5 million websites. It commands a significant market share of approximately 39% among eCommerce solutions, surpassing alternatives like Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix.
This solidifies WooCommerce’s position as the leading eCommerce platform presently, and its market share continues to show an upward trajectory over time. This suggests a sustained preference for its usage well into the future.
However, WooCommerce is not the sole eCommerce solution available for WordPress. For those not seeking a comprehensive online store setup, alternative eCommerce plugins like Easy Digital Downloads or WP Simple Pay offer viable choices.
3、The Growing Role of Artificial Intelligence in WordPress:
During the Ask Me Anything (AMA) session at WordCamp Asia 2023, Matt Mullenweg shed light on the potential of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies within WordPress. He advocates for embracing AI to develop software, websites, and web content, recognizing its transformative possibilities.
However, Mullenweg also acknowledges the current limitations of AI, emphasizing that it is still in its nascent stage with ample room for improvement. Moreover, the long-term economic implications of AI remain uncertain.
While AI integration into the WordPress core is on the horizon, its implementation will only occur once it reaches a state of readiness.
In the interim, users can leverage WordPress plugins that harness AI capabilities. For instance, All in One SEO (AIOSEO) offers a ChatGPT integration facilitating the creation of SEO-friendly post titles and meta descriptions.
4、Enhanced Collaboration for Multi-Author Blogs on WordPress:
WordPress is poised to enhance its collaborative capabilities by incorporating features essential for multi-author blogs and eLearning platforms. This development is part of Phase 3 of the Gutenberg project, currently in the planning phase as of the time of this writing.
5、Integration of Multilingual Support into the WordPress Core:
Given that WordPress powers 43% of the world’s websites, ensuring accessibility to a global audience is paramount. Consequently, WordPress must offer robust support for multiple languages to facilitate this accessibility.
6、Preservation of WordPress Legacy Websites, Products, and Enterprises:
As emphasized at the outset of this article, WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg is envisioning WordPress’s trajectory a century ahead. He anticipates that website owners may harbor long-term visions for their online projects.
This foresight will enable users to maintain their online legacies without concerns about posthumous handling. Furthermore, legacy plans can motivate businesses to adopt an extended-term perspective, extending beyond the typical 5 or 10-year strategic horizon.