A few years ago, building a website often meant hiring a developer, paying a boatload of money, or spending months (or years) trying to figure everything out yourself. Today, things look very different.
AI website builders can generate layouts, write content, suggest images, and have a website online in a matter of hours. On the surface, it sounds like the perfect solution. Why hire a developer when an AI tool can build a website for you?
The reality is that many business owners discover the same thing during this process: AI tools only take you so far, and building a website is only the first step. What do you do when the AI tool hits it’s limits?
AI Can Be Useful… Sometimes
Honesty check: I used chatGPT to get the first draft of this blog post. But then I ripped out the guts, and changed the headline of this section from “AI is a great tool!” to “AI can be useful sometimes”. Because my real opinion is AI should be used carefully and in moderation, or it will end up hurting more than it helps. But when you can cut out an hour of writing the first draft of a blog post, that’s hard to argue with.
Yes, can help brainstorm content ideas, generate rough drafts, create page layouts, and speed up repetitive tasks. Used correctly, AI can save time and help move projects forward faster.
But the problem is assuming that AI builders can replace the flexibility, strategy, and long-term scalability that a business website needs.
Getting Online Is Easy. Growing Is Hard.
Most AI website builders are designed to help you get online quickly.
- You answer a few questions.
- You choose a style.
- The platform generates a website.
- BAM! Wow, it looks awesome
At first, it feels impressive. Then the real questions start appearing.
- Can I add a custom booking system?
- Can I integrate with my CRM?
- Can I customize the checkout process?
- Can I create a members-only area?
- Can I connect this to my internal business processes?
- Can I redesign specific sections without rebuilding everything?
- Can I move my website elsewhere if I outgrow this platform?
These are the moments when many businesses begin to realize that the website they built quickly isn’t necessarily the website they need long-term.
The Hidden Cost of DIY
One of the biggest reasons people choose to DIY their website with AI builders is cost and speed. And in this economy, everyone is looking for ways to do more with less.
So at first glance, it seems cheaper and faster to do it themselves. But many business owners don’t factor in the cost of their own time learning, and fixing mistakes along the way.
Time spent:
- Learning a platform
- Fixing formatting issues
- Testing mobile layouts
- Troubleshooting integrations
- Managing plugins and updates
- Researching SEO
- Rewriting AI-generated content
Many business owners choose the AI builder route because they want to save money, only to realize they’re spending valuable time working on their website, learning tools, and fighting builders instead of working on their business.
AI Doesn’t Understand Your Business
AI is very good at recognizing patterns. What it doesn’t do well is understand the unique aspects of your business and brand.
It doesn’t know specifics about YOU:
- Why do customers choose you over competitors?
- What questions do prospects ask during sales calls?
- Which services are most profitable for your business?
- How do your internal processes work to benefit your customers?
- What makes your customer experience different?
AI can generate a website that looks nice and professional, but is it unique to you and your customers? Does it stand out from your competitors? Does it communicate your value effectively?
Bottom line: A website should reflect your business, not a collection of statistically likely sentences on a cookie-cutter template.
Why I Continue to Build with WordPress
There are so many emerging AI website platforms available today. I’ve tried some, and I’m not impressed. I continue to build primarily with WordPress because it offers something many AI builders struggle with: flexibility.
WordPress allows businesses to start simple and grow over time.
- Need a basic brochure website today? No problem.
- Need ecommerce next year? No problem.
- Need a customer portal, online courses, membership system, custom integrations, advanced forms, or unique functionality down the road? Still no problem.
The foundation remains the same, on a platform built by a massive community over the last 15+ years. This platform can run small one-page websites, and is also the framework for websites with massive infrastructure.
WordPress websites are built on a system that can evolve as a business evolves.
The Difference Between a Tool and a Foundation
This is where I think many discussions about AI miss the point.
AI is a tool. WordPress is a foundation.
The two can actually work together very well.
- AI can help create content ideas.
- AI can help speed up development tasks.
- AI can help improve workflows.
But the website itself still needs a solid foundation that can be customized, maintained, and expanded over time.
A business website isn’t a one-time project. It’s an asset that should continue supporting your business for years.
The Questions to Ask Before Choosing DIY + AI
Before building a website entirely with AI, ask yourself:
- What happens when my business grows?
- Can I customize this platform if I need something unique?
- Can I move my website elsewhere later?
- Will I own my content and website?
- How much time am I willing to spend managing everything myself?
- Will this platform support my future goals?
If the answer to those questions isn’t clear, it’s worth taking a closer look before committing.
Final Thoughts
AI is a powerful tool that can help businesses move faster and work more efficiently. But AI doesn’t eliminate the need for a strong website foundation.
The businesses that get the most value from AI aren’t replacing strategy, flexibility, and expertise. They’re using AI alongside them.
That’s why I continue to build with WordPress. Businesses deserve a website that can grow with them instead of holding them back when they need something more.
