Reasons Why Revamp Agency, Based in New York, Transitioned from WordPress Shop to Jamstack [Part 2]

③ However, is a static website effective for Revamp's clients?

Static site generators have made significant progress over the past 30 years. Static sites from the 1990s had only basic features, but today's static sites can change dynamically as you like.

 

In a static site, there is no database layer beneath the front-end content display. In a static site, there is no need to wait for content to be fetched from a database to display the page. Instead, static files are used to build the site within the browser, and they are only displayed when a visitor accesses the page (pages that are not accessed are not displayed). Therefore, visitors do not have to wait for elements at the bottom of the global footer module to load when they are trying to find your phone number on the contact page.

 

This toolset is an ideal website building tool for small and medium-sized enterprises interested in providing important information to potential customers, rather than complex sites dynamically built using databases. Pages such as About Us, Hours, Contact, and Connect are among the most visited pages on most websites.

 

"However, when we actually implemented it, we were amazed by its speed," says Weis. For most agency clients, the specific technology that meets their needs is not the issue. In our case, the ultra-fast site became a significant added value.

 

James Weis

Founder and Lead Developer of Revamp Agency

④How was it when you switched from WordPress to React-based Gatsby?

The Revamp team decided to redesign and rebuild the agency's website using Jamstack Gatsby, testing the entire process from start to finish before deploying it to the client.

 

The designers were able to work freely. When Weis presented the requirements for the features and look & feel of the new Revamp site, they were not constrained by design limitations that required developers to incorporate specific modules or plugin functionalities.

 

 

The construction itself was simple, largely because Weis was already familiar with Javascript and had dedicated time to self-study React and GraphQL. However, after grasping the coding techniques, the development work could be done straightforwardly without considering the limitations of inconvenient CMS platforms like WordPress.

 

"It was my first site, so I really enjoyed the design process, but as I remembered the code, my pace slowed down," says Weis. "However, when I actually did it, I was able to create something from scratch just the way I wanted, and that was truly wonderful.

 

On the Revamp site, we did not utilize the construction of a custom CMS or many Jamstack CMS tools, but it allowed for a quicker launch. Of course, after the launch, all editing requests had to go through him, which was cumbersome at first, but for some clients, not connecting to a CMS can add value.

 

"By not implementing a CMS, the time to launch has been significantly shortened, allowing us to deliver the new website to customers who have no interest in logging into the backend much faster than usual, and enabling our internal development team to manage the edits," says Weis.

 

Furthermore, Weis found it very easy to connect the site to a CMS (Revamp chose DatoCMS as the first Gatsby CMS) a few months after the site was completed, whenever the team had time. It is also easy to switch CMS according to client requests on a Gatsby site, which increases the flexibility of content management.

⑤Comparison of hiring in-house developers and hiring dedicated developers for Jamstack and Gatsby

After launching the new Revamp website, the team was faced with a decision. It was whether to leverage the in-house development staff to build the new site for clients or to hire a third-party dedicated development shop from Gatsby.

 

"Spending time on technical training in-house was beneficial, but the decision to outsource was not a problem for me at all."

 

The core competence of the Revamp team is the design process that transforms clients' goals and visions into graphics, art, fonts, and copy. Each team member possesses highly specialized skills, providing clients with world-class design.

 

Jamstack website production companies have team members with highly specialized skill sets, allowing the Revamp team to leverage them immediately without waiting for in-house team member training. As every agency knows, it is impossible to find one or two developers with all the skills necessary for building and maintaining websites for clients. Development-focused agencies can utilize broader resources to respond quickly and easily to the challenges that come their way.

 

Other agencies may choose to employ in-house rather than outsourcing development work, but Revamp is satisfied with that choice. The team can focus on design with clients and has become able to act more quickly to provide the benefits of Jamstack and Gatsby to more current customers and prospects.

Building a site with Jamstack offers benefits to any business.

 

A website is beneficial for any business, but sites that are time-consuming, inconvenient, or difficult to manage and update can do more harm than good. Consumers trust clean, fast, and professional websites that convey a company's brand and voice. If a website takes too long to load, consumers will leave that domain. They seek to do business with companies that take their online presence seriously and make it easy to access the necessary information.

 

Site generators like Jamstack and Gatsby are the future of the web and online business.