WordPress or a static website? Pros and cons for SMEs

As soon as it comes to a new company website, a technical question sooner or later crops up: WordPress or a static website? Most SMEs hear these terms for the first time from their agency, and simply nod. Yet behind it lies a decision that will accompany you for years: in speed, security, maintenance effort and cost.

I build both, depending on what fits. So here you get no holy war, but an honest comparison. In the end, you should be able to judge for yourself what makes sense for your business.

What does «WordPress» mean and what «static»?

Briefly and without jargon: WordPress is a content management system, that is, a program that runs in the background on a server. On every visit it assembles the page afresh, from a database, many building blocks and often quite a few additional plugins. In return, you can change texts and images yourself via a login.

A static website is the opposite: the pages are already fully built and simply sit ready as files. On a visit nothing is recalculated, the page is only delivered. This is the approach with which I build most SME sites.

The strengths of WordPress

WordPress is not the most-used system in the world for nothing. For certain undertakings it is a very good choice.

• Maintain content yourself: You can change texts, images and whole pages yourself via a login, without touching any code.
• Strong with lots of content: Anyone constantly adding new posts, dates or products is well served by an editorial system.
• Huge choice: For almost every function there is a ready-made plugin, from a booking calendar to a small shop.

The catch only shows in everyday use: every plugin needs maintaining. WordPress itself, the template and all extensions require regular updates. If you miss these, the site becomes a gateway, WordPress is a popular target for attacks precisely because of its widespread use.

The strengths of a static website

A static page sounds like «can do nothing», but it is the opposite. It is simply built, and that is precisely its strength.

• Very fast: Nothing has to be calculated, the page is there instantly. Visitors like that, and Google rates fast pages better.
• Barely attackable: Without a database and without a login area, there is simply less that can break or get hacked.
• Little maintenance: No weekly updates, no plugin carousel. The site just runs.
• Cheap to operate: Static sites can be hosted very economically, often for a few francs a month.

The honest downside: without an editorial system, you do not change content yourself via a login. For smaller adjustments you contact your developer, or a simple way is built specifically for you to maintain certain texts yourself.

WordPress vs static website, which suits your SME?

There is no answer that is right for everyone. But an honest rule of thumb helps.

WordPress is worth it if: you regularly publish new content yourself, a larger blog or news section is planned, several people maintain content, or you need more complex functions like a larger shop.

A static website is worth it if: your site is mainly meant to present who you are and what you offer, content rarely changes, speed and security matter to you, and you want as little ongoing effort and as low running costs as possible.

For most smaller SMEs in the Schaffhausen and Winterthur region, a lean, static site is the better way, for instance as a onepager from CHF 890 or a multi-page site from CHF 1'900. It is fast, secure and causes almost no trouble in operation. But as soon as new content is added regularly, WordPress plays to its strength. By the way, the two worlds can be combined: a static main site with a docked-on editorial area only where you really need it.

What really matters in the end

Do not let yourself be guided by the technology, but by your everyday life. The most important question is not «WordPress or static», but: How often does my content really change, and who maintains it? Anyone who honestly answers «once or twice a year» rarely needs a big system.

And one more thing: a system is only as good as its maintenance. A neglected WordPress site with outdated plugins is riskier than a simple static site. So choose also based on how much time and money you want to invest on an ongoing basis.

If you are unsure which way suits your plans, we will look at it together, honestly and without tech waffle. Tell me briefly about your project via the contact form, and you will find more reading in my other articles.