WordPress: real strengths
WordPress is widely used for reasons that genuinely make sense for a media outlet that is just starting:
- Quick and cheap to start: many ready-made themes and plugins are available.
- Easy to find people: many developers and admins already know WordPress.
- Large ecosystem: ad, analytics and SEO integrations are already available.
- Free to switch providers: the platform is open and not tied to a single maker.
WordPress: the price that is often forgotten
WordPress costs are not only at the start. The following only become noticeable once the website is running:
- Every plugin adds load and risk. Too many plugins slow pages down and make upkeep more complicated.
- Core, theme and plugin updates must be regular. A security hole in a plugin or theme that has fallen behind is a common way in for attackers.
- At high traffic, WordPress needs a properly set up server and cache, otherwise the website slows down exactly when a story is busy.
- A truly custom look usually means building a theme of its own, not just picking a template.
A custom CMS: when it makes sense
A custom CMS (built or adapted for a media outlet’s needs) starts to be worth considering when:
- Traffic is large or often spikes, so performance should not depend on how many plugins are installed.
- The newsroom workflow has needs that mature plugins do not serve, such as writer and editor roles, scheduled publishing, or per-edition e-paper.
- You need to connect with a mobile app or other systems the media outlet owns.
- You want to reduce reliance on third-party plugins and want the technical side managed by someone accountable.
A custom CMS: risks to check
A custom CMS is not an automatic answer. Its upfront cost is usually higher, new features have to be built first, and you depend on its maker. So make sure a few things are clearly in writing before deciding:
- Who owns the domain, the content and the code?
- Can articles be exported at any time in a standard format?
- How are new features requested, and what do they cost?
- What happens to your website if the provider stops working?
Five deciding questions
Answer these five questions honestly, then see which way your answers lean:
- How many monthly visitors do you have now, and what is the target a year from now?
- Who will handle updates and security: your team or someone else?
- Is there a need that mature plugins do not serve, such as e-paper or a mobile app?
- What is the total budget over three years, not just the first-year cost?
- How soon does the website have to go live?
Moving off WordPress without losing rankings
Articles, categories, tags, authors and images can be moved from WordPress to another CMS. The most important thing is to keep the old addresses: if an article’s address changes, set up a permanent redirect (301) from the old address to the new one so the links and rankings already earned are not lost. Learn why in the URL slug guide.
Do the move in stages with a backup, and verify the content on the new website before switching the old one off.
Still unsure which to choose?
We build media websites on our own CMS, so we have a stake in this. That is why we suggest you weigh it with the five questions above. If your media outlet is still small and WordPress is enough, that is a perfectly valid choice.
If you would like our opinion on your media outlet’s situation, see the media website service page or get in touch.