Why Malaysian SMEs Should Use WordPress for Their Business Website (Even if You are Hiring an Agency)
If you’re a Malaysian business owner planning to get a website, you’re probably thinking about what platform to use. You might’ve heard of services like EasyStore or Newpages — both popular among local SMEs. But there’s also a platform called WordPress, used by 43.5% of the websites globally, as of April 2025. This includes many big and small businesses.
The thing is, many business owners in Malaysia aren’t sure what WordPress is, or whether it’s better than these other options.
Here’s the truth: whether you’re building the website yourself or getting an agency to do it for you, WordPress is one of the best long-term choices. It gives you flexibility, control, and a lot more room to grow compared to closed platforms.
In this post, we’ll explain what WordPress is, how it compares to local platforms like EasyStore and Newpages, and why it might be the smarter move if you want a business website that can grow with you.
What Is WordPress (and Why Is It So Popular)?
WordPress is a free, open-source Content Management System (CMS) that powers everything from personal blogs to major company websites. As, as of 2025, WordPress has a global market share of 61.3%.
But why is it so popular?
It’s Free and Open-Source
WordPress itself is free to use. You only pay for your domain name and hosting. Because it’s open-source, developers from around the world constantly improve it, and there’s a huge library of plugins and themes — many of which are also free.
Full Control and Ownership
Unlike platforms like EasyStore or NewPages, where your website is hosted within their system, WordPress gives you full control over your site. You can move it, back it up, or even change an agency without being tied to a single provider. This is especially important for Malaysian businesses that want to avoid being stuck with one platform forever.
Trusted by Big Brands and Small Businesses Alike
WordPress isn’t just for hobby bloggers. Companies like Sony Music, Angry Birds, and even The White House use WordPress. It’s trusted by major players — and that says a lot about its reliability.
Scalable for Any Business Size
Whether you’re a startup, a growing SME, or planning to expand internationally, WordPress can scale with you. It works just as well for a simple one-page site as it does for a complex eCommerce platform with thousands of products.
Huge Community and Resources
Because WordPress is so widely used, there’s a massive community of developers, agencies (like Solbright Digital Services), tutorials, and support forums. That means if you need help — whether technical, design, or marketing — it’s easy to find.
Why should You Consider WordPress instead of Other Technology?
1. It’s Cost-Effective (Great for Budget-Conscious SMEs)
WordPress itself is free. You’ll still need to pay for hosting and a domain, but you avoid monthly or annual platform fees like what you’d get with EasyStore, NewPages or Shopify.
There are thousands of free themes and plugins available — and even premium options are reasonably priced. Whether you’re building it yourself or hiring someone, WordPress helps keep costs low without sacrificing quality.
2. It’s Beginner-Friendly
You don’t need to be a tech expert to use WordPress. The dashboard is designed to be simple and user-friendly. Want to change your phone number? Upload a photo? Post an update?
You can do all that easily without knowing a single line of code.
There’s also a massive global community offering support, tutorials, and answers to almost any question you’ll face.
3. It’s Flexible — From Simple Sites to Online Stores
WordPress can grow with your business. Want to start with a basic company profile and later turn it into an ecommerce site? No problem.
From restaurant menus, to appointment booking, to online payments, there’s likely a plugin already built for that — just install, tweak, and go.
4. It’s SEO-Friendly by Default
Being online is not enough — people need to find your site when they search.
WordPress is built with SEO in mind. It has
- Clean, fast-loading code
- Mobile-responsive themes
- Easy meta tag editing
- SEO plugins like Yoast or RankMath
This gives your business a better shot at ranking on Google or Bing, especially when paired with a solid local SEO strategy.
5. You’re Not Locked In — You Own the Website
When you build your site with WordPress, you truly own everything — from the domain name to the content and the database. This is a major difference compared to many other platforms, especially some popular options in Malaysia.
For example, Newpages may give you a working website, but it’s locked within their ecosystem. If you ever want to move your site elsewhere — whether for better pricing, new features, or better service — you’ll likely need to rebuild your entire website from scratch. We’ve had clients come to us stuck in this exact situation.
The same issue applies to platforms like Hostinger’s AI Website Builder. While it might look affordable and easy at first, you have very limited control. If the provider increases the subscription cost or limits what features you can use, you have no choice but to pay more — or start all over again.
With WordPress, you’re never trapped. You can change hosting providers, upgrade your site’s functionality, or switch web developers — all without losing your content, structure, or features.
6. Built for Scalability — Grow Without Limits
A website should grow with your business, not hold you back. One of WordPress’s biggest strengths is how scalable it is — whether you want a simple business profile site today or a full-fledged eCommerce platform tomorrow.
Compare this to platforms like Hostinger AI Website Builder or other rigid systems. You may quickly find that you can’t integrate third-party plugins like Google Reviews or page redirect without going through the hassle, or paying subscription for 3rd party services.
Thinking about selling on Shopee or Lazada in the future? WordPress can be integrated with local marketplaces, CRM systems, inventory tools, and more. These options are not always available on other platforms.
7. Most Web Agencies Use It (And That’s a Good Thing)
When you engage a web design agency in Malaysia, chances are they’ll recommend WordPress — for good reason. It’s efficient, widely supported, and lets you retain control.
At Solbright Digital Services, we use WordPress to design all our client sites because:
- It’s future-proof
- It’s easy for business owners to update
- It integrates well with SEO and analytics tools
- It allows us to build high-quality, mobile-friendly websites fast
Final Thoughts
For many SME business owners in Malaysia, building a website is a long-term investment — not just a one-time task. While it’s tempting to go for the fastest or cheapest option available, it’s important to think about what happens after your website is live.
If your site is built on a closed platform, you’re tied to that service provider. You’ll have limited flexibility, and if prices go up or support quality drops, you’re stuck. Rebuilding from scratch later can be both costly and time-consuming.
That’s why WordPress is worth serious consideration, whether you want to DIY your own site or get an agency to do it for you. It gives you full control, ownership, and most importantly, the freedom to switch providers whenever you want — without losing your website or starting over. If long-term flexibility, scalability, and ownership matter to your business, WordPress is a smart and future-ready choice.
