Plugin, static host, or done-for-you?
Three ways to get a WordPress site onto static HTML, and the questions that tell you which one fits a small business.
The three routes
1. An export plugin
You keep WordPress, usually on a private or local server, and a plugin turns it into static files you publish on a fast host.
- Good for: teams that like editing in WordPress and have someone technical.
- You still own: WordPress updates, the plugin stack, re-exporting after every change, and forms and search that relied on PHP.
- Watch for: anything the page builds with PHP on the fly (search, filters, some form plugins) breaks in a plain export.
2. A static WordPress host
A hosting company runs WordPress for you behind the scenes and serves the static copy to visitors. You log in to WordPress as before.
- Good for: owners who want to keep the WordPress editor and hand off the server.
- You still own: the WordPress admin, plugins and their renewals, and a monthly plan.
- Watch for: plugin compatibility lists. Not every plugin works when the public site is static.
3. A done-for-you rebuild
A service copies your content and design, rebuilds the site as plain HTML and CSS, and hands you a site with no WordPress at all. Changes go through the service.
- Good for: owners who don’t want to touch a dashboard again, and whose site is pages plus a contact form.
- You still own: your domain and your content. Hosting is still a bill, usually a small one.
- Watch for: how changes are made after launch, how fast, and whether you can take the files elsewhere.
The checklist, whatever you choose
Ask these before you pay anyone, including us:
- URLs: does every page keep its address, with a 301 redirect for any that moves?
- Titles, descriptions, structured data: are they carried over page by page?
- Forms: where does each form send its message, and who maintains that?
- Images: are they resized for phones, or copied as-is?
- DNS and launch: who switches the domain, and can you roll back?
- After launch: how do you change a phone number next month, and how long does it take?
- Ownership: can you download the whole site and host it elsewhere?
Where FCKWP fits
We do route three. We read your public site, move the content automatically, and rebuild it as plain HTML. You keep your URLs, and your forms send to your inbox or CRM. After launch you email us a change and a person ships it within one business day.
If your site is really a store, a member area or a live booking system, the report says so. One of the other routes, or staying on WordPress, may suit you better.