Website Core Stack

Defining the core application for website building is perhaps the biggest decision anyone will make when it comes to moving forward with digital publishing.

Not surprising, then, that our first toolset mentioned is the Website Core Stack.

There are a variety of ways to approach a website project, ranging from subscription-based SaaS products like SquareSpace, Wix and Shopify to proprietary niche content systems. But our experience makes it an easy call to land on WordPress and the core stack below, for the vast majority of website needs.

By far, the most popular and prolific CMS (content management system) in website building.  Nearly 1/3 of all sites in the world have WordPress under the hood, an astounding ratio. Yes, there's a learning curve to WordPress, but it's gradual and very attainable. Getting to know WordPress pays major dividends later on, in your ability to scale up, add on, and push your website into any direction imaginable.

We like GeneratePress as a clean, ready-to-build theme that provides an array of great default structure and design settings, then gets out the way. The Premium version, which is quite inexpensive, allows a wide range of options to define a solid framework for the creative content tools you'll apply.

Beaver Builder and its users are enjoying a golden era of content creation and custom theming. This page builder plugin is in a crowded and competitive sector, with both good and bad options aplenty out there. But Beaver Builder is a proven and very well-liked tool among its user base, and it ecosystem continues to mature into positive directions.

Gravity Forms is a premium plugin, but we put in every site we install.  That's because every website will have a need for form inputs and feedback solutions. The extreme versatility and user-friendliness of Gravity Forms make it automatic for us. No other form building plugins can reach the level of GF and it's ecosystem of add-ons and connectors.

Gravity Forms plugin

Beaver Builder page builder plugin

GeneratePress theme

WordPress 5