:format(webp)?_w=3840)
We decided over five years ago that the future of content management systems (CMS) was headless technology. Today, we’re confident that becoming early adopters of headless was one of the best decisions we made. As an agency that builds and supports websites, we regularly receive enquiries from clients who are struggling with their WordPress sites due to common issues like:
Hacked websites
Broken or outdated plugins
Slow load times
Unreliable third-party developers or agencies that are no longer in business
With headless CMS solutions, the majority of these problems no longer occur in our support desk. Why? Because headless CMS technology is inherently more secure, faster, and less dependent on problematic plugins. We believe the headless approach, particularly using Storyblok, provides superior flexibility, scalability, and security, making it a serious alternative to WordPress.
WordPress vs Headless CMS: A Comparison
1. The Popularity of WordPress
WordPress is one of the most widely used CMS platforms globally, powering over 40% of all websites. It's accessible, economical, and easy to set up for basic websites. However, its popularity often leads businesses to stick with it without fully considering the alternatives, especially when scaling is a goal. While WordPress might seem like a more popular CMS platform—accessible, quick, and familiar—using it for every project can lead to limitations, especially for businesses that depend on their websites to drive lead generation and maintain marketing flexibility.
2. What is a Headless CMS?
A headless CMS separates the backend (where your content is managed) from the front end (how your content is presented). This means your content can be delivered seamlessly across multiple platforms—websites, mobile apps, smart devices, and even digital displays—giving you full control and flexibility.
Unlike WordPress, which ties content creation and presentation together in one system, a headless CMS allows developers to build custom frontends using modern technologies like React or Next.js, while the content is managed independently in a backend like Storyblok.
3. Key Benefits of a Headless CMS Over WordPress
Improved Security
One of the main issues with WordPress is its vulnerability to security breaches. Being the most popular CMS means it's also the most targeted by hackers. Additionally, many WordPress sites rely heavily on third-party plugins that may not always be up-to-date or secure, creating further vulnerabilities.
With headless CMS platforms like Storyblok, the separation of the backend and frontend reduces attack vectors, making it far more difficult for hackers to compromise your site.
Enhanced Speed and Performance
WordPress sites can often be weighed down by excessive plugins, themes, and unnecessary code, leading to slow loading times. Speed is critical for user experience and SEO performance, and with headless CMS architecture, the front end can be built using optimised code and frameworks that are inherently faster. For example, Next.js enables faster loading through server-side rendering and static site generation, improving your site’s performance across the board.
Greater Flexibility for Developers and Marketers
One of the biggest limitations of WordPress is its lack of flexibility when it comes to customisation. Sure, there are thousands of plugins, but they often create conflicts, break during updates, or simply don’t provide the specific functionality needed.
A headless CMS, on the other hand, allows your developers to work with any programming language and build a truly custom front end. This flexibility extends to marketers as well—Storyblok, for instance, provides an intuitive content management interface that allows for real-time updates, giving your marketing team full control without needing to rely on developers for every change.
4. Why Storyblok Is Our Headless CMS of Choice
As an agency, we believe in using the best tools available for our clients, and Storyblok is our preferred headless CMS. Here’s why:
Visual Editor: Unlike many headless CMS platforms, Storyblok offers a visual editor that allows marketers and content creators to see the impact of their changes in real-time, without requiring any technical expertise.
Component-based Content: Storyblok enables us to build reusable components that streamline the process of creating and managing content, ensuring consistency and saving time across multiple projects.
API-First: Storyblok’s API-driven approach allows us to integrate it with any front-end technology, giving clients ultimate flexibility over how their content is delivered and displayed.
WordPress vs Headless CMS: Which Is Better for SEO?
1. SEO Flexibility in a Headless CMS
WordPress has been traditionally strong in SEO, especially with the use of popular plugins like Yoast SEO. However, a headless CMS like Storyblok provides even more SEO flexibility. By decoupling the frontend from the backend, developers can implement advanced SEO strategies more easily, such as custom metadata structures, schema markups, and lightning-fast loading speeds—all factors that Google’s algorithm prioritises.
2. Page Load Speed and Core Web Vitals
As mentioned, page load speed is critical for SEO. WordPress, with its reliance on plugins and themes, can struggle to maintain optimal speeds. On the other hand, Headless CMS solutions, especially those built with modern frameworks like Next.js or React, are optimised for performance. This directly improves Core Web Vitals metrics such as Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
3. Content Delivery Across Multiple Channels
Headless CMS technology is built for omnichannel delivery, meaning the content you create can easily be repurposed and optimised for multiple platforms—websites, mobile apps, voice assistants, and more. This level of content flexibility not only future-proofs your digital strategy but also allows for consistent SEO across platforms, something WordPress isn’t inherently designed for.
Should You Migrate from WordPress to a Headless CMS?
1. When WordPress May Still Be the Right Choice
For small businesses, blogs, or basic brochure-style websites, WordPress can still be a good option. It’s cost-effective, easy to set up, and has a vast library of plugins for added functionality. If you’re a sole trader or running a basic website without complex requirements, sticking with WordPress may work just fine.
2. When You Should Consider Moving to Headless
However, if you’re looking to scale your website, integrate modern marketing technologies, or offer a seamless user experience across multiple channels, moving to a headless CMS is worth considering. Businesses that rely heavily on their website for lead generation, sales, or global marketing efforts will benefit immensely from the performance, flexibility, and security that headless platforms offer.
Final Thoughts: WordPress vs Headless CMS
At Together Digital, we’ve seen firsthand the limitations of WordPress and the transformative benefits of moving to a headless CMS. While WordPress remains a solid choice for basic websites, we believe that headless technology, particularly with platforms like Storyblok, offers a future-proof solution for businesses serious about digital transformation.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to re-platform your existing website, we can help you make the right choice to ensure scalability, security, and performance for years to come.
Ready to Explore headless CMS?
If you’re interested in exploring the benefits of headless CMS feel free to reach out to our team. Let’s chat about how we can help you future-proof your website and give you the marketing agility you need to grow.
We are proud to mention our partnership with Design Rush, the B2B Agency Marketplace.
