Static Sites vs WordPress: What Derby Businesses Need to Know

WordPress powers over 40% of the internet. It’s everywhere. But is it actually right for your business?

If you’re a Derby-based company looking to get online (or clean up your current site), you’ve probably come across two main options: WordPress, or a “static site”. While WordPress has the name recognition, it’s not always the smarter choice.

In this post, we’re diving into the key differences, and why more Derby businesses are ditching plugins and picking performance instead.

WordPress: Popular, But Not Always Practical

WordPress is like a Swiss Army knife. It can do everything… which sounds great, until you realise all those attachments slow you down.

• Plugin overload: Need a contact form? SEO tweaks? Cookie popups? You’re usually adding 10–30 plugins. Each one adds bloat.
• Constant updates: Themes, plugins, and core files all need maintaining. Forget once, and you’re a security risk.
• Hidden costs: Premium themes, plugin licenses, performance add-ons, managed hosting, it adds up.
• Speed issues: Dynamic pages with loads of scripts = sluggish user experience. Google hates it. Users bounce.

In short: it works, but it’s not exactly lightweight.

What is a Static Site?

Static sites are exactly what they sound like, simple, fast, and built without a database or complicated backend.

They’re made with tools like Astro, which render the entire site as plain HTML, CSS, and minimal JavaScript. The result? Lightning-fast pages that load instantly.

No plugins. No logins. No surprise updates breaking your site at 2am.

For small businesses that just need to showcase who they are, what they do, and how to get in touch, a static site does the job beautifully.

5 Reasons Static Beats WordPress for Derby Businesses

Whether you’re a café on Sadler Gate or a roofing company in Allestree, here’s why a static site could be a better fit:

1. ⚡ Performance

Static sites load fast. No database calls. No bloat. Just clean, efficient code, the kind Google (and your customers) love.

2. 🔍 Better SEO

Speed is a ranking factor, and static sites often come with leaner code and better structure for crawlers. Plus, fewer third-party scripts means fewer SEO-killers.

3. 🧼 No Plugin Clutter

Forget the plugin roulette. Everything is built in, cleanly, and custom to your needs.

4. 💷 Lower Costs

You don’t need expensive hosting, licences, or constant maintenance. A static site is a one-off investment that just… works.

5. 🔐 Better Security

No login panel = fewer attack surfaces. It’s one of the safest ways to publish a site.

So, Which is Right for You?

You might be thinking, “What if I need a blog?” or “Can I still sell things online?”

Here’s the good news, you don’t need WordPress for that.

At Mapletree, we build static sites that do more than just look pretty. Want a blog? Sorted. Need a CMS? Easy. Selling digital products or taking payments? Stripe’s got your back, and we’ll hook it all up, without the clutter.

Whether you’re a service-based business, a content creator, or selling online, we make it fast, flexible, and tailored to you.

So yes, static still wins. And Mapletree makes it work beautifully.

And if you’re a Derby business that simply wants to:

• Show your services
• Get found on Google
• Load fast on every device
• And skip the technical headaches

…then a static site is a no-brainer.

Want Help Choosing or Migrating?

At Mapletree Studio, we build fast, minimal, static websites for businesses across Derbyshire and beyond. No templates. No fluff. Just clean code that works, powered by Astro and optimised for performance.

Explore our full website service or get in touch if you’re ready to switch from bloated to brilliant.

Simple is powerful. Let’s build something better.