Everyone has one. Your best friend, your dog walker, every customer sitting at Starbuck's with a lap top... maybe even your mother. We're talking about blogs.

At the start of the new millennium, "blogging" had not become a part of the mainstream vernacular. In 2003 the world (via the Web) was introduced to a new tool that would bring the art of web logging to a whole new level. Enter WordPress. This tool gave users the ability to use a simple line of code to bring their words to life. By 2004, blogging began to boom, finding use in places like news, politics and business. Coincidence? We don't think so. In 2014, there are over 150 million active blogs on the Internet, and no two are alike.

WordPress has come a long way since its start as a humble blogging platform. Used on millions of sites, from restaurants to law firms, WordPress has expanded to become a user-friendly tool for optimizing the look and functionality of a website. With countless ways to customize, no two WordPress sites are alike. Below are six tips to getting the most out of your WordPress website creation experience:

1. Do Your Research.
Your theme determines the look of your site, as well as the functionality. There are thousands of WordPress themes available, some of them free, all with different features. When picking a theme, keep these things in mind: Who is my audience? What options do I need? What style am I looking for?

2. Master Your Theme.
WordPress users have full command over their themes' techniques. Before getting started, familiarize yourself with your dashboard and the limitations and capabilities of your theme.

3. Plug in to Plug-ins.
Plug-ins are the equivalent of apps for your cell phone. Need to add Twitter? There's a plug-in for that. Need a slider show on your homepage? There's a plug-in for that. Don't go scouring the Internet for what you need; WordPress has a plug-in library available directly from your control panel.

4. Be Widget-Wise.
Requiring no coding knowledge, widgets are the perfect tool for content organization and structure. Customizable widgets range from images, forms, social media links and more. Through a few simple clicks they can be added, removed, and rearranged.

5. Open a Library.
All WordPress templates come with a Media Library; a place to store the images, documents and other uploaded components on your website. You can go to Settings > Media and uncheck the button next to "Organize my uploads into month- and year-based folders." Directing all of your media files into one folder makes them easier to search for later. Simply type in a keyword to file what you are looking for.

6. Find a Support Group.
Utilize WordPress forums. WordPress was created for users by users, with a lot of trial and error. Most themes and plug-ins already have support blogs in place with hundreds of questions and answers. If you have an issue, someone in the community has probably encountered it and has a solution.

For blogging and a customizable publishing platform that makes it easy for anyone to publish online, WordPress will elevate your efforts to be seen and heard, whether you're advertising hand-made bracelets, sharing homeowners' tips or selling condo lots on the moon.