If you are considering a move from WordPress to your own custom CMS, whether because of performance, maintenance, security, or complexity, I can help. I have been there and done that.
My Journey from WordPress to Own CMS
Do not get me wrong -- WordPress is amazing. It enables millions of people with little tech skills to build and run sites. For blogs and other simple use cases, WordPress is a great choice.
Starting in 2009, I built and ran more than my fair share of WordPress sites, often pushing them to the limits with customizations and plugins. And it worked.
But over time, I realized I actually used very little from the WordPress core. I added my own tables to the WordPress database schema. The fact that I was building on top of WordPress started to slow me down rather than help.
I eventually built my own CMS from scratch using plain PHP and MariaDB, iterated through several versions, and have been running it reliably for years. Along the way, I made mistakes, learned from them, and created a CMS that is maintainable, performant, and tailored to my needs.
Why Consider a Custom CMS
- Performance: Tailor database schema, caching, and code for your exact use case without being slowed by legacy WordPress requirements.
- Maintainability: Enforce coding standards and clean architecture; no unexpected plugin or theme conflicts.
- Security: Reduce attack surface by controlling every part of the stack.
- Flexibility: Add complex features, custom content types, or workflows without fighting WordPress’s limitations.
- Cost trade-off: Development of a custom CMS is a large investment, so this path is justified only for sites that truly need it. For many businesses, optimizing WordPress or migrating to another popular framework is sufficient.
What I Offer
Consulting
I provide impartial guidance to evaluate whether migrating from WordPress to a custom CMS is the right move for your project. I can help you:
- Assess your current site’s limitations and identify pain points.
- Determine if a custom CMS is justified or if optimizations within WordPress are sufficient.
- Plan migration strategies, including database design, feature mapping, and phased rollout.
- Advise on technologies, architecture, and long-term maintainability.
Consultations can range from a short 30-minute session to multi-day workshops, depending on your needs.
Migration Planning & Partial Guidance
If you proceed, I can help design migration plans, guide your developers, or implement parts of the custom CMS. This includes:
- Designing database schemas and content structures.
- Planning feature parity or improvements over WordPress.
- Advising on performance, caching, and security strategies.
- Reviewing or auditing your implementation to avoid common pitfalls I experienced firsthand.
Why Work With Me
- Practical experience: I have built and run multiple WordPress sites and my own custom CMS.
- First-hand knowledge of challenges: I understand the technical, architectural, and operational challenges involved in moving from WordPress to a custom system.
- Impartial advice: I do not promote any particular framework or CMS. My focus is on what works best for your business and use case.
- Proven PHP + MariaDB expertise: You get guidance grounded in real-world production experience.
If you are considering migrating from WordPress or evaluating whether a custom CMS makes sense for your business, contact me to discuss your options.