When you’re building a website, it’s tempting to trust someone who promises a fully custom design. However, if they suggest using a custom CMS or coding your website from scratch, it’s a big red flag. You should avoid web designers who use a custom CMS or build your site in straight code. In this post, we’ll explain why this decision can lock you in, create future problems, and leave you without control of your own website.

What Is a Custom CMS (And Why Avoid Web Designers Who Use One)?

A custom CMS is a content management system built by a web designer or developer, often from scratch. While it may sound impressive, it typically locks you into working with that one designer or agency.
When you avoid web designers who use a custom CMS, you protect yourself from:

• Being dependent on one person for updates
• Expensive maintenance fees
• Lack of flexibility
• Problems moving to a new designer or host
  At Chandler Web Design, we see this all the time—business owners stuck with sites they can’t manage or move because they trusted a designer who pushed a custom CMS.

Why Building a Site in Straight Code Is a Red Flag

Another red flag is when web designers suggest building your website in straight HTML, CSS, and JavaScript without a CMS at all.
Here’s why you should avoid web designers who use this approach:

• You’ll need a developer to make any change
• Adding blog posts or updating content becomes complicated
• You can’t manage your site easily
• Small edits can become expensive and time-consuming
  Most businesses need flexibility, not complicated solutions.

Why WordPress Is the Smarter Choice

The solution is simple: choose WordPress. When you avoid web designers who use a custom CMS, and instead work with WordPress experts like Chandler Web Design, you get:

• Ease of use: Edit pages, upload blogs, and manage products without coding
• Ownership: You’re not tied to any one designer
• Support: WordPress powers over 40% of the web, so there’s always help available
• Scalability: Start small and grow as your business does
• SEO readiness: WordPress integrates with the best SEO tools, like Yoast
  Our clients love that they can log in anytime and update their content, without needing our help. Although we don’t provide admin access during hosting contracts, you can still update blogs and make changes to your content easily.

Custom CMS vs WordPress: Why You Should Avoid Web Designers Who Use a Custom CMS

You should avoid web designers who use a custom CMS because it puts your entire website at risk.

The Dangers of Being Held Hostage by a Custom CMS

One of the biggest dangers of working with web designers who use a custom CMS is losing control.
If they go out of business or ghost you, you could lose access to your own website.
At Chandler Web Design, we believe your website should be in your control. That’s why we use WordPress. You’ll never be tied to us or anyone else.

What Chandler Web Design Does Differently

We don’t use custom CMS platforms or straight code builds because they’re not in your best interest. Chandler Web Design builds WordPress websites that are easy to manage, scalable, and affordable.

• You get login access to make changes and write blog posts
• Your site is secure, updated, and optimized
• After your hosting contract, you can move your site anywhere you like
  We believe in putting you in control, not holding you hostage.

Ready for a WordPress Website You Own?

If you want a website that works for you, it’s time to avoid web designers who use a custom CMS. Chandler Web Design builds affordable WordPress sites starting under $1,000.

👉 Contact Chandler Web Design today for a free consultation!