WordPress vs. Custom: Which Is Right for Your Business?

Let me tell you about my buddy's boat.

He loves that boat. He also spends more weekends fixing that boat than floating in it. Every time I talk to him he's got something going on with that thing, ordering a part, watching a how to YouTube video, or complaining about something that worked fine last summer and is acting up now. He loves that boat, but you know what, he doesn't have a boat hobby. He has a boat MAINTENANCE hobby. 

You are probably like, ok Tom, where are you going with this?  Well, keep that boat in mind because we're about to talk about WordPress.

What is WordPress, exactly?

WordPress is a CMS (content management system). You start with the core WP software, add a theme for the look, then bolt on plugins for features like forms, special effects, galleries, etc. It's flexible, it's everywhere, and there are a ton of people who know how to work in it.

Now I'm not here to bash it because it is a real tool with real strengths and runs huge chunk of the internet. But it's not the right fit for every business.  Our job is getting you found so I'll just be straight up and let you decide.

What's WordPress good at?

Power and popularity. If you've got a developer on staff and a specific need for a well-known plugin that already solves a problem (plugins are the bolt ons), WordPress can be just fine.  Plus the WP community is HUGE so there's a plugin or a tutorial for pretty much everything.

That sounds great!  So where does it get tricky for a small business?

That same flexibility that makes it powerful makes it a chore. Here's the boat part:

• Updates, forever and I mean forever. The core, the theme, and every single plugin need regular updates. Miss one and things break, or even worse becomes a security hole. Or the plugin developer gets hit by a bus and no more updates.  Basically, think of it as whack-a-mole, forever.
• Security is a Huge Issue. Because it's so popular, WordPress is THE biggest target on the internet. Out-of-date plugins are one of the most common ways sites get hacked.
• Speed. Stack up enough plugins and the site gets heavy and slow.  Open one up in Code View and it's endless lines of code! Slow sites lose people, and Google and the AI engines will kill you for that too.
• The upkeep is on YOU or your staff. Unless somebody's actively watching it, a WordPress site will mindlessly drift into trouble all by itself. 

But none of that is a deal-breaker IF you or you've got someone to take care of it.

The real question is whether you want to be in the boat-fixing business AND on top of the business you're actually in.

How is a custom site different?

When we build custom, there are no plugins to chase and no theme to keep patched. The site is built lean, so it loads fast and there's a whole lot less to go wrong. And you're not maintaining any of it. We are. Our $750 a year covers updates, maintenance, hosting, and security, so the site is genuinely hands-off for you. You run your business, we mind the website. You can see how that works on our services page.

So which do you choose?

If you want a website you never have to think about, with a real person you can call (that'd be me and Debbie and her team), go custom.

If you've already got a developer, or a real reason you need WordPress, it can work for you, and I'll be the first to say so.  And if you've got a WordPress site that's turned into my buddy's boat, we can take it over and rebuild it custom. Happens all the time.

Not sure which way to go? Tell us about your business and we'll give you a straight answer. Even if the answer is "stay where you are."

Common questions

Is WordPress free?

The software is free, just like how a puppy is free. The real costs show up in maintenance, hosting, premium themes, plugins, and the time and money it takes to keep it all up and running smoothly and safely.

Do you build on WordPress?

No, we build fully custom. For most businesses, that means a lean, faster, more secure, hands-off website. But, if WordPress is genuinely the right fit for you, we'll say so and part friends.

Can you take over my WordPress site?

Yes. We rebuild sites off WordPress all the time, and we keep your content and your good name intact.

Tom Bruch has built websites since 1998 and is the owner of Aggieland Website Design.