The Three Ways to Build a Modern Website

and How to Choose the Right One!

Discover how to build a modern website with AI builders, WordPress, or composable commerce—and learn when each delivers measurable business value.

Insights +

13th of October 2025 | +4 minutes

A guide how to build a modern website.

Choosing how to build a modern website has never been harder—or more important.
From instant AI builders like Lovable.dev, to WordPress + Elementor PRO setups, to the Composable Commerce Architectures, each path promises speed, beauty, or scalability.

But as we explored in The New Digital Divide, technology alone doesn’t create advantage.
The real question isn’t “What platform should we use?”—it’s “Which model aligns with our brand, team, and growth plan?”

At Blank Street Studio, we help brands make that decision strategically—balancing design, performance, and ROI.

Here’s how to decide which route fits your business best.

What Most Brands Still Get Wrong Online.

Most brands approach a rebuild emotionally:

“We just need a new site.”

Yet every decision—tool, plugin, or template—shapes future cost, agility, and brand equity.

Many pick fast, cheap, or familiar options that soon limit them:

- AI sites are quick but rigid.

- WordPress offers control but needs discipline.

- Composable stacks scale but require investment and expertise.

To build a modern website, you must match your platform to your maturity.

Three Ways to Build a Modern Website | Decoration image

The Three Paths to a Modern Website

AI Builders — Instant Presence

(Lovable.dev and Similar Platforms)

AI builders like Lovable.dev promise an entire website in minutes.
They’re sleek, automated, and perfect for rapid validation.

Strengths

- Build time: 1–3 days

- Low cost: €0–€2K/month

- AI generates layout and copy instantly

- Hosting and updates are fully managed

Limitations

- Vendor lock-in—code can’t be exported

- Minimal SEO and analytics control

- Not built for complex integrations or scaling

Best for:

Start-ups, local businesses, or founders need speed over flexibility.

Agency insight:

AI builders eliminate low-margin brochure sites—freeing agencies to focus on strategy, branding, and growth.

They’re not competition; they’re filters.

WordPress + Elementor PRO

The Creative Workhorse

WordPress remains the web’s backbone.
Paired with Elementor Pro, it becomes the ideal system for brands that want visual control, SEO structure, and creative freedom without the enterprise complexity.

Strengths

- Pixel-perfect design freedom

- Full SEO management with RankMath Pro

- Integrates with CRM, e-commerce, and multilingual tools

- You own the site—no platform lock-in

Limitations

- Needs speed optimisation (Kinsta hosting, caching, NitroPack)

- Plugin maintenance adds an ongoing cost

- Scaling globally or adding deep AI personalisation takes work

Best for:

Premium SMEs, lifestyle brands, editorial websites, and boutique e-commerce projects.

Composable Commerce

The Enterprise Engine

Composable commerce is the next leap: a modular, API-driven architecture that separates front-end, back-end, and integrations.
Think of it as building with Lego bricks—each component can evolve independently.

Example stack:

Shopify Plus + Next.js + Storyblok + Algolia + Klaviyo + Vercel.

Strengths

- Scalability without redesigns

- Fast performance (edge rendering, global CDNs)

- Native AI and personalisation capability

- Long ROI horizon: 5–10 years

Limitations

- High initial cost (€50K–€150K+)

- Requires technical maintenance and clear ownership

Best for:

Legacy producers, global DTC brands, or businesses seeking measurable EBITDA uplift.

The Future of Digital Experience

By 2026, the gap between fast-moving, composable brands and static websites will widen dramatically.
AI design, first-party data, and real-time personalization will define brand loyalty.

Websites will no longer be “rebuilt” — they’ll evolve continuously, like living systems.

Discovery checklist

Brand & business

- Why you exist and how you differentiate

- Priority markets and pricing power

Experience & content

- Key journeys (Home → Product → Checkout)

- Content needs (editorial, video, multilingual)

Technology & data

- Integrations (ERP, PIM, CRM, analytics)

- Baseline SEO and Core Web Vitals

Team & operations

- Who owns releases and measurement

- Budget runway and cadence

The Future: What’s Next in Website Evolution

By 2026, the gap between fast-moving, composable brands and static websites will widen.
AI-driven design, first-party data, and real-time personalisation will define brand loyalty.
Websites will no longer be rebuilt—they’ll evolve continuously, like living systems.

“When speed, flexibility, and customer experience are your only advantages, monolithic tech becomes your anchor.”

— Mattias Aybar, Founder, Blank Street Studio

Conclusion

There’s no single “best” way to build a modern website—only the right one for your stage.

- Start with AI builders for instant validation.

- Grow with WordPress + Elementor when control and SEO matter.

- Scale with Composable Commerce when speed, automation, and global reach drive value.

Every evolution deserves a strategic partner.

→ Let’s build your digital flagship

Published by BSS Team

We are a Munich and Stockholm-based Brand and digital Experience Design Agency that delivers second-to-none experiences for forward-thinking brands and Startups with something to say.

e-commerce

Branding

Strategy