The revolution has been revolutionized
I made the case for low-code WordPress. Now AI makes custom code affordable again. Here's why we're changing how we build at Holter Strategic.
Read insightArticles and videos
Insights and archive.
New thinking on websites and agentic development, alongside the articles and videos that brought us here.
Then and now
We were part of that revolution.
We were early and vocal evangelists for the low code, no code revolution. We helped lead it. Our earlier blog posts and videos document what we advocated and why.
Now we're leading in a new revolution. We're preserving that history with context about what has changed with the rise of agentic development.
Each original now has a current response that explains what has changed, so that you can read them side by side.
55 articles
Join the Next Revolution
In 2023 I argued low code was worth its trade offs. Agents changed the cost of custom code, and the trade offs no longer hold.
Read insightSupport Still Has Your Back
Support still matters as much as launch. A leaner site means fewer surprises, and new features cost far less to add.
Read insightBreaking the Illusion of Communication, Faster
Working prototypes always beat wireframes. Now the gap between a decision and a working revision is often a single conversation.
Read insightYour Marketing Tools, Built to Fit
I once put a whole marketing stack inside WordPress. Now we build the specific tools a client uses and connect the rest cleanly.
Read insightGood SEO Habits Without the Heavy Plugin
The SEO basics I recommended in 2024 still matter. They no longer require a large plugin to get right.
Read insightAnswering the RFP, With Better Answers
Clear answers still build trust. Our answers about cost, design, and speed have simply gotten a lot more generous.
Read insightHow Much Will This Website Cost Now?
The cost centers I described in 2024 still apply, but the development share of each has collapsed. Transparency still builds trust.
Read insightPage Count, Overhead, and the New Floor
Even small sites used to carry big-site overhead. Agents have lowered that floor, while planning and content still scale with size.
Read insightContent Is Still Not Created Equal
Complex content still needs careful planning. What's changed is the cost of presenting it well and migrating it.
Read insightAmbitious Design No Longer Costs Double
Bold design used to raise both the design fee and the development bill. The build cost has collapsed. The design conversation has not.
Read insightBuild the Feature, Not the Framework
In 2024 advanced features meant borrowing a big framework. Now we can build exactly the feature a site needs, at a fraction of the cost.
Read insightAccessibility Without the Budget Fight
Accessible markup and custom focus styles no longer cost extra. Planning, alt text review, and real testing still need people.
Read insightThe Truth About SEO, Still
A new site still can't guarantee rankings. But the parts you control are now faster and cheaper to do well.
Read insightPage Speed Without the Weight
I said chasing the last milliseconds wasn't worth it. Without a page builder, that speed comes free, and relevance still rules.
Read insightChoosing Hosting When the Site Gets Lighter
Hosting is still about expertise, not hardware. A lean custom site needs less server, and one team can own both sides.
Read insightHow Long Does It Take Now?
Development is no longer the long pole in the schedule. Client feedback and content now set the pace of a website project.
Read insightWhy So Expensive? Why So Cheap? The Gulf Has Collapsed
Programmer time created the gap between cheap and custom WordPress. Agents collapsed it, so the budget now buys judgment.
Read insightYes, You Still Need to Know Where Your DNS Is
AI can build your site faster, but it can't find your registrar login. Domain ownership and DNS access matter as much as ever.
Read insightIs WordPress Insecure? The Safest Site Is a Lean One
Hacks still mostly come through plugins. Custom code written by agents means far fewer plugins, and fewer doors to lock.
Read insightSupport Is Still the Critical Question
A website is never done. What changed is how lean the site is, how fast changes happen, and how I now think about retainers.
Read insightPassword Protection, Without the Plugin Puzzle
Members areas still need careful planning and testing. Building them to fit how you actually work no longer costs a fortune.
Read insightThe Backstory, Continued
For thirty years we replaced custom code with products. Agents changed the math, but the communication gap still needs bridging.
Read insightWordPress Keeps Evolving. So Do We.
Page builders were the 2018 game changer for WordPress. AI agents are the next stage, and WordPress is still the foundation.
Read insightWelcome to the Next Revolution
Every benefit I promised from low code in 2024, revisited. The next revolution keeps them all and drops the compromises.
Read insightDo You Still Need All Those Plugins?
In 2024 I asked why anyone would build what a plugin already does. AI agents have changed the answer.
Read insightCustom Design Without the Trade Off
In 2024 I conceded that page builders put a ceiling on design, and argued the savings were worth it. That trade off is gone.
Read insightNow It’s Time to Fire Your Page Builder
In 2024 I told you to fire your web developers. The trade offs I asked you to accept back then are gone. Here's what changed.
Read insightCan Low-Code Platforms Really Handle Fully Custom Design?
In this November 2024 video, I chose the flexibility of Elementor over the expense of a fully custom build.
Read the originalTime to FIRE Your Web Developers!
That was a deliberately provocative title in October 2024.
Read the originalThe AMAZING WordPress Plugin Eco-System
This August 2024 tour explains why I valued the WordPress plugin ecosystem.
Read the originalThe Evolution of the World’s Most Popular CMS
Published in July 2024, this history explains how WordPress, custom content types, and visual builders opened up website creation.
Read the originalBackstory to the Low-Code/No-Code Revolution
This June 2024 account follows the effort to make sophisticated websites affordable and understandable.
Read the originalWelcome to the Revolution!
I began building websites in 1995 with HTML and Photoshop.
Read the originalComplexity Levels in Password Protected Content
Published in May 2024, this guide separates a shared page password from individual accounts, subscriptions, and single sign-on.
Read the originalThe Critical Unasked Question: Support
This May 2024 video makes a point that carries into our current approach.
Read the originalIs WordPress Insecure?
This May 2024 video describes the importance of careful plugin selection and regular maintenance.
Read the originalDo You Know Where Your DNS Is?
Published in April 2024, this guide explains a launch problem that faster development cannot fix by itself.
Read the originalWhy So Expensive? Why So Cheap?
In April 2024, this video explained why low-code development cost less than traditional custom work.
Read the originalHow Long Does it Take to Build a Website?
This April 2024 video explains why feedback and content can govern a project schedule.
Read the originalCritical Issues in Choosing a Web Hosting Provider
Published in March 2024, this guide distinguishes server resources from the people supporting them.
Read the originalDoes Page Speed Really Matter for S.E.O.?
In March 2024, I argued that chasing a small speed improvement could cost more than it was worth.
Read the originalThe Truth About S.E.O.
This March 2024 article argues for candid conversations about search visibility.
Read the originalAccessibility Costs Considered
Published in March 2024, this article asks clients and developers to discuss accessibility early.
Read the originalHow Advanced Features Impact Website Project Pricing
This March 2024 guide covers commerce, events, memberships, and integrations.
Read the originalHow Design Expectations Impact Website Pricing
Published in February 2024, this guide explains why a useful design brief needs more than a request for something dynamic.
Read the originalNot All Content is Created Equal
This February 2024 article distinguishes page count from the work inside each page.
Read the originalDoes Page Count Really Impact Website Pricing?
Published in February 2024, this video explains why a site with more pages does not necessarily require more development.
Read the originalHow Much Will This Website Cost?
This February 2024 introduction breaks website pricing into decisions a client can understand.
Read the originalNew YouTube Channel: Answering the RFP
This February 2024 introduction explains why I created Answering the RFP for agency partners.
Read the originalUsing Yoast SEO for Search Engine Performance
Published in January 2024, this guide introduces practical content and metadata work in Yoast SEO.
Read the originalWordPress as a Complete Marketing Operating System
This September 2023 article describes a WordPress setup with CRM, email, analytics, and automation under one roof.
Read the originalThe Key to Mastering Project Communications
Published in August 2023, this article explains our long-standing use of browser-based prototypes.
Read the originalStrategic Support Has Your Back
This May 2023 article treats support as part of a website relationship.
Read the originalJoin the Low Code / No Code Revolution
This May 2023 article made the case for shifting development costs away from individual clients and into shared products.
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Original publication dates are preserved. Historical offers and prices are not current quotations. Browse the earlier site's pages.