Why I Don't Use WordPress (And What I Use Instead)

WordPress has become the default choice for web design, but it's the wrong tool for most small businesses. I stopped using it years ago, and here's why.

Every time a potential client asks me to build them a WordPress site, my first instinct is to push back. Not because WordPress is bad software - it's actually pretty good at what it does. But for a plumber, electrician, salon, or restaurant trying to get online and get found, WordPress introduces problems that don't need to exist.

Let me explain what I use instead, and why it matters for your business.

The WordPress Problem

WordPress powers about 43% of all websites on the internet. It's so common that people assume it's the obvious choice for a small business site. But popularity doesn't equal right.

Here's the issue: WordPress is complicated. It's a full-featured publishing platform built for people who want maximum flexibility. That flexibility comes with a cost.

That's not a typo. Last week alone, 333 new vulnerabilities were disclosed in the WordPress ecosystem. 76% of those were in plugins, not WordPress core.

Why? Because WordPress relies on thousands of third-party plugins. Each plugin is code someone else wrote, often on their own schedule, with their own security practices. One bad plugin and your entire site can be compromised.

"But WordPress is Easy to Use"

On the surface, yes. You login, you write a post, you publish. That's easy. But there's a lot happening behind the scenes that you don't see.

Every day, there are updates. WordPress core updates, plugin updates, theme updates. Each update needs testing to make sure nothing breaks. Miss an update and you're vulnerable. Most small business owners don't have time to monitor this.

You also need good hosting. Cheap WordPress hosting is slow and unreliable. Good WordPress hosting costs $15-30/month minimum. Then you need backups. Then you need security plugins. Then you need monitoring tools.

It adds up. What seemed like "easy to use" becomes a part-time job.

What I Use Instead

I build static websites — hand-coded HTML, CSS, and a little JavaScript. Static websites are different from WordPress in a fundamental way.

Instead of having a database and running code every time someone visits your site, a static site is pre-built HTML files. Your site is done before anyone visits it. When someone clicks your link, they're just getting a file - no database lookup, no code execution, no plugins running in the background.

The benefits are dramatic:

• Faster: Pre-built files load instantly. No waiting for plugins to run or database queries to complete. Google's own data shows sites that load fast get more calls and conversions.
• More secure: Without a database or plugin system, there's almost nothing to hack. No login to breach, no vulnerable plugins, no malware hiding spots.
• Cheaper to host: Static files cost pennies to host. Services like Netlify and Cloudflare Pages offer free hosting with automatic backups, CDN delivery, and DDoS protection built in.
• Zero maintenance: No updates to manage. No plugins to monitor. Your site just works.

Speed matters. Static sites are consistently 3-5x faster than WordPress sites hosting the same content. That's not a minor difference - that's the difference between someone calling you and clicking away.

How Content Updates Work

The main question I get is: "If there's no database, how do I update my website?"

Simple answer: you send me the changes, and I update them.

This is actually better than WordPress in most cases. With WordPress, you have to know how to login to your admin panel, avoid breaking things with bad edits, and manage plugins. With a static site, you just tell me what needs to change, and I make sure it's done right.

For content-heavy sites (restaurants with menus, service businesses with lots of pages), I can add a simple admin interface or connect a headless CMS. But most small business sites don't need that. They need occasional updates, not daily publishing.

"But What About SEO?"

Static sites are actually better for SEO than WordPress. Here's why:

• Speed is a ranking factor: Google's algorithm includes page load time. Static sites are faster, so they rank better.
• Cleaner code: No plugin bloat, no database calls, no unnecessary JavaScript. Just clean HTML and CSS.
• No plugin conflicts: One SEO plugin conflicting with another? Doesn't happen with static sites.
• Automatic sitemaps and optimizations: Modern static site tools generate sitemaps, structured data, and other SEO basics automatically.

I've built static sites that rank better than their WordPress equivalents in Louisville's competitive markets. Plumbers, electricians, salons, restaurants - they all see faster load times and better Google visibility.

The Honest Breakdown

Here's what you're getting with me instead of WordPress:

• Build once, not constantly. WordPress is an ongoing commitment. Static sites are built right and left alone.
• Security you don't have to manage. No vulnerable plugins, no database hacks, no malware. It's secure by design, not by luck.
• Hosting that doesn't cost much. Free or cheap hosting on enterprise-grade infrastructure. No bloated WordPress hosting bills.
• Fast sites that convert. Speed matters. Your visitors will thank you.
• Peace of mind. Your website won't get hacked. It won't slow down. It won't break after an update.

The Bottom Line

WordPress was built for bloggers and journalists who want full control and constant publishing. That's not your business. You're a plumber, electrician, salon owner, or restaurant operator. You need a website that gets you calls, not a publishing platform you have to babysit.

Static sites do exactly that. They're faster, more secure, cheaper to host, and require zero ongoing maintenance. You get a professional website that works. That's the deal.

If you want to talk about what a static site looks like for your business, just give me a call. I'll show you what's possible.