Why We’re Building Static Sites — And Why It’s Good for You
Faster load times, better security, and lower costs — here's why Neat is moving websites to static site generators like 11ty and deploying via Vercel and Netlify.
At Neat Interactive, we’ve rethought how websites should be built. Instead of relying on traditional servers and complex CMS platforms like WordPress, we’re now using modern static site generators like 11ty (Eleventy) — hosted on platforms like Vercel and Netlify.
This shift isn’t just about technology. It’s about faster websites, lower maintenance, better security, and smarter long-term value for our clients.
The Benefits for You
1. Blazing-Fast Performance
Static sites load almost instantly. Because everything is pre-built and served from a global CDN, your content reaches users faster, improving both user experience and SEO.
2. Stronger Security, Lower Risk
There’s no server running WordPress or PHP in the background which means fewer vulnerabilities, no plugin updates, and far less chance of getting hacked.
3. Lower Maintenance Costs
You won’t need monthly patching, plugin upgrades, or constant backend fixes. Once deployed, static sites just run. And if something needs changing, we can version it in Git and roll back instantly if needed.
4. Still Dynamic Where It Matters
Just because it’s “static” doesn’t mean it’s limited. You can still have:
- Contact forms
- Newsletter sign-ups
- Blog posts
- Content updates via Git or headless CMS
…and it all works without a server to babysit.
How It Works (and Why That Matters)
Behind the scenes, we use 11ty, a static site generator that compiles your site into plain HTML at build time. It pulls content from markdown, JSON, or headless CMSs and outputs clean, SEO-friendly code. That code is then pushed to Vercel or Netlify, which handle deployment, hosting, security, and global distribution.
What About Dynamic Features?
For anything that traditionally needed a server (like submitting a form or scheduling content), we use:
- Netlify Forms or serverless functions
- Third-party tools like Zapier or Make for automation
- Headless CMSs like Sanity or Netlify CMS if you want a content editor experience
Everything feels modern and responsive and you eliminate the traditional server overhead (and headache).
Can WordPress Users Transition Easily?
Yes. If you’re used to managing content in WordPress, learning to work with a headless CMS or simple markdown-based content can feel refreshingly straightforward. Once you’ve seen how fast and clean your site runs with none of the usual WordPress quirks, the switch often saves time and reduces costs over the long-run.
We can even guide your team on how to manage updates or blog posts with minimal tech knowledge.
In Summary
If you want a website that:
- Loads faster than your competitors
- Ranks better in search
- Costs less to maintain
- Doesn’t rely on fragile plugin ecosystems
- Still lets you publish content and capture leads
…this is the direction we recommend.
We’re building these sites for ourselves. We’re building them for our clients. And if you're ready, we’d love to build one for you.