Bomshteyn Consulting

Moving Forward with Confidence: Our Firm's Journey from WordPress to Statamic CMS

Introduction

As a web development firm, our mission is to provide our clients with the best possible solutions for their online needs. For years, we have been using WordPress as the go-to platform for many projects. However, as technology evolved and our clients demanded more flexibility and customization, we began to search for an alternative. This is the story of our journey from WordPress to Statamic CMS and the reasons why we believe it's a better choice for professional web development projects.

The Challenges with WordPress

WordPress is an excellent platform for non-developers who want to create a simple website. However, it's not without its challenges. Crashes after updates, incompatibilities between themes and plugins, and limitations in professional use have led to increasing dissatisfaction. Moreover, clients often believe they are getting the best available technologies, but they end up with a solution they could have created themselves.

Our Initial Choice: Custom CMS Backend with Laravel

Before discovering Statamic CMS, we decided to build custom CMS backends with Laravel, a popular PHP framework. This approach provided us with more control and customization options for our projects, but it was time-consuming and not the most efficient solution.

Discovering Statamic CMS

Statamic CMS emerged as a powerful alternative to WordPress. With its Pro package, we gained access to a range of features that made it perfect for professional websites, including a user-friendly and customizable control panel, multilingual support, version control with Git, and unlimited user accounts and roles.

The Benefits of Statamic CMS

There are several reasons why we chose Statamic CMS over WordPress:

  1. Speed: Statamic's flat-file architecture eliminates the need for database queries, resulting in faster website performance.

  2. Security: With no database to target, hackers have a harder time compromising websites built with Statamic.

  3. Version Control: Git integration allows us to track changes easily and maintain a clean development environment.

  4. Collaboration: Multiple developers can work on the same project without the need for migrations or other cumbersome processes.

  5. Customization: We can tailor the Control Panel to meet the specific needs of each client.

Statamic: Built on Laravel

Statamic CMS is built on top of Laravel, which makes it easier to implement custom functionalities in the backend. This also enables us to leverage our experience with Laravel to create more efficient and cost-effective solutions for our clients.

Designing with Tailwind CSS and Antlers

We utilize Tailwind CSS to build custom reusable components that we include as part of the Control Panel. This allows clients to easily change the layout of their websites. Statamic uses Antlers as its templating engine, which is simple to learn for those with experience in Blade or Twig.

Empowering Clients with Customization

One of the most significant advantages of Statamic CMS is the ability to provide clients with more customization options. By organizing designs into different components, clients can build new pages with a consistent design theme. This level of customization gives clients more control over their websites and helps create a truly unique online presence.

FAQ

  • What are the main differences between WordPress and Statamic CMS? The main differences include Statamic's flat-file architecture, which offers better speed and security, its built-in features that eliminate the need for numerous plugins, and its customization capabilities.

  • How does Statamic CMS improve website performance? Statamic's flat-file architecture reduces the need for database queries, which leads to faster loading times and a better user experience. Moreover, its compatibility with modern frameworks like Laravel and Tailwind CSS allows for more efficient development and optimized website performance.

  • Is Statamic CMS suitable for clients who used to have their websites built with WordPress? Yes, Statamic CMS is an excellent choice for clients transitioning from WordPress. We have helped many clients migrate their websites from WordPress to Statamic, ensuring a seamless transition and improved website performance.

  • What is the cost of using Statamic CMS? Statamic CMS offers a free version for simple websites, but for professional use, the Pro package is recommended. It costs $259 per project and provides numerous features, such as multilingual support, Git integration, and unlimited user accounts and roles.

  • Can I still use popular CSS frameworks with Statamic CMS? Yes, Statamic CMS is compatible with popular CSS frameworks like Tailwind CSS, which allows for the creation of custom reusable components and easy integration into the Control Panel for layout customization.

Conclusion

Our journey from WordPress to Statamic CMS has been a transformative one. By embracing this powerful, flexible, and secure platform, we have been able to provide our clients with better solutions for their online needs. As a web development firm, we are committed to staying at the forefront of technology and ensuring that our clients receive the best possible service. Statamic CMS has proven to be an essential tool in our arsenal, and we look forward to continuing to harness its capabilities in future projects.