I'm getting back into web development after a few years away, and I'm interested in how to efficiently build websites for small businesses. With a background in frontend development (Typescript + React/Vue) and recent experiences with Shopify, I want to know what tools and technologies would be best for different types of client websites. Specifically, I'm looking for recommendations on:
- A simple, static 5-page site with a visually appealing homepage and contact form.
- A more complex site that allows clients to make their own edits, so a CMS would be required.
Clients are likely to spend between $1000 and $4000, so I'm seeking cost-effective solutions that still look professional and are easy to maintain. I'm curious about how the landscape has changed and what options might be best suited for my needs.
4 Answers
While I also don’t enjoy working with WordPress, it has a big advantage for clients since it’s widely used - hiring new developers to take over would be easier if needed. Shopify is excellent for e-commerce, but for those simpler sites, maybe consider Squarespace. Personally, I’d go for a stack like Tanstack Start or Astro with a headless CMS like Sanity for flexibility.
Given your experience, I'd say WordPress is still a solid option for basic brochure sites. Just be prepared for the learning curve if it's been ten years since you used it. Some are moving towards alternatives like CraftCMS, but it's pricier. If you're not set on a CMS, try CodeStitch for some creative flexibility!
Entering the Svelte/React/Vite/Next world is exciting! I switch up my stack for each project to keep things lively. For the types of sites you mentioned, I’d personally look at hosting options like AWS or Vercel and experiment with analytics tools like Google Analytics or PostHog.
I discovered astro.build recently, and it's fantastic for building sites quickly. If you're leaning towards a CMS, Strapi is a good choice, and combining it with Astro could give you a great outcome for a brochure site. Whatever you choose, don’t overlook the benefits of static site generation!
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