Why So Many Agencies Still Use WordPress — And Why I’m Moving On
But here’s the truth nobody likes to say out loud:
WordPress is slow, bloated, fragile, and constantly under attack.
Not because it’s “bad,” but because when something becomes the most popular platform on the internet, it also becomes the biggest target. Plugins conflict. Themes break. Updates fail. Security patches stack up. And eventually… your site starts feeling like a 2004 minivan trying to keep up with modern highway traffic.
I know this because my own kevinchamplin.com site used to be WordPress.
And even with 15+ years of experience working deeply inside the WordPress ecosystem, I eventually got tired of:
Updates breaking things for no reason
Random slowdowns
Plugin bloat
Security warnings
General “WordPress headache”
So I deleted it.
Gone.
Done.
And I rebuilt it from scratch using a simple Laravel + JavaScript + MySQL stack.
No plugins. No theme nonsense. No clutter.
Just clean code, fast load times, and a site that does exactly what I want — instantly, reliably, and without babysitting it every few days.
I couldn’t be happier.
Custom Code Isn’t the Future — It’s the Present
Businesses are waking up to a simple fact:
Speed, stability, and security matter more than templates.
Modern frameworks like Laravel, Next.js, and other lightweight stacks are absolutely crushing WordPress in:
Page load times
Security
Developer flexibility
Integration with AI
Long-term maintenance
Ability to scale
And as AI becomes central to marketing and operations, the old “plugin-based” approach is starting to show its age. You can only duct-tape so many plugins together before things break.
I’ve spent years in the trenches with agencies, businesses, and enterprise systems — from Illinois Valley Community College to major corporate platforms, to running two companies today:
Ironcrest Software in Naperville, IL and 815 Media, LLC in LaSalle, IL.
I’ve seen where the industry is going.
I’ve seen how businesses struggle.
And honestly?
I’m tired of trying to fit in with legacy agency thinking when I know there are better ways.
So What If You Don’t Want Custom Code?
Not everyone needs (or wants) a hand-crafted custom application. I get it.
That’s why we built our own website builder — faster, simpler, and far more secure than WordPress. No plugins, no updates, no patching. Just log in and manage your content. The way it should be.
Most of my 815 Media, LLC clients will be moving onto this system in 2026 because it’s:
Faster
More secure
Easier for clients to manage
Designed with modern business needs in mind
AI-ready and future-proof
Times are changing.
AI is here.
And clinging to outdated systems just because “everyone still uses it” is how businesses fall behind.
If You’re Tired of Slow, Broken, Bloated Websites…
You’re not alone.
Whether you want a custom-built site like kevinchamplin.com or want something simple, fast, and easy with our next-generation website builder, we can help.
I’m done pretending that the old way is still the best way.
And I want you to know — you don’t have to settle for it either.
If you’re ready for what’s next, let’s talk.