WordPress powers over 40% of the web. It's everywhere—from personal blogs to Fortune 500 companies. But just because something is popular doesn't mean it's the right choice for your medical practice.
At Hippo Agency, we've made a conscious decision to build custom websites using NextJS instead of WordPress. This isn't about following trends or using the latest technology for its own sake. It's about delivering measurable results: faster load times, better security, improved SEO, and ultimately, more patient conversions.
The WordPress Reality Check
Let's be clear: WordPress isn't inherently bad. It democratized web publishing and made websites accessible to millions. But for medical practices competing in today's digital landscape, WordPress comes with significant drawbacks.
The Plugin Predicament
The average WordPress site uses 20-30 plugins. Need a contact form? There's a plugin. Want SEO features? Another plugin. Appointment booking? Yet another plugin.
Each plugin is:
- A potential security vulnerability
- A performance bottleneck
- A maintenance headache
- A compatibility risk
We've seen practices whose sites broke completely after a routine plugin update. One dermatology clinic lost three days of appointments because their booking plugin conflicted with a security update. That's not just inconvenient—it's lost revenue.
Security: The Elephant in the Room
90% of hacked CMS websites are WordPress sites
Here's the sobering reality: outdated plugins, exposed admin panels, and legacy code keep healthcare teams responding to breaches instead of booking patients.
These compounding issues leave medical practices exposed to breaches and downtime.
with known vulnerabilities that bots actively scan for
that make credential stuffing attacks trivial
that broadcast exactly where attackers should focus
that surface when every request hits the same aging stack
that introduce insecure code you can't easily audit
For medical practices handling patient information, security isn't optional. While WordPress can be secured, it requires constant vigilance, regular updates, and often expensive security plugins that further slow down your site.
The Performance Problem
Google's Core Web Vitals have made site speed a ranking factor. The typical WordPress site takes 4-6 seconds to load. That might not sound like much, but consider:
- 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take over 3 seconds to load
- Every second of delay reduces conversions by 7%
- Slow sites rank lower in search results
WordPress's database-driven architecture means every page request involves multiple database queries, PHP processing, and plugin execution. It's like taking the scenic route when your patients just want to book an appointment.
The NextJS Advantage: Built for Modern Healthcare
NextJS represents a fundamentally different approach to web development. Instead of assembling plugins like Lego blocks, we build streamlined, purpose-built websites optimized for your specific needs.
Lightning-Fast Performance
Our NextJS sites consistently deliver the same polished experience you see across our marketing pages.
Often under 1 second even on mobile devices.
Top marks across performance, accessibility, SEO, and best practices.
Prefetching keeps navigation feeling native-app fast.
Automatic formatting and compression tuned for every screen.
How? NextJS uses a modern delivery stack built for speed and consistency.
Pages are pre-built and served instantly from the edge.
Dynamic content stays fast, even when it personalizes.
Content delivers from servers closest to your patients.
Only the assets needed for a page are ever loaded.
Real example: We migrated an orthodontist's WordPress site to NextJS. Load time went from 5.2 seconds to 0.9 seconds. Their bounce rate dropped 40%, and consultation bookings increased by 35%.
Security by Design
NextJS sites are inherently more secure because they:
- Have no database to hack (content is static or API-driven)
- Expose no admin login pages
- Require no plugins with vulnerabilities
- Use modern authentication when needed
- Deploy behind CDN protection
We've never had a NextJS site compromised. Not once. Compare that to WordPress, where we regularly get calls from practices whose sites have been hacked, defaced, or infected with malware.
Maintainability That Makes Sense
With NextJS, updates are:
- Predictable: No surprise breaking changes
- Testable: Changes are verified before deployment
- Reversible: Easy rollback if issues arise
- Automated: Continuous deployment with zero downtime
No more logging in monthly to update 20 plugins, hoping nothing breaks. No more compatibility issues. No more "maintenance mode" messages scaring away patients.
SEO Superiority
NextJS provides SEO advantages that WordPress struggles to match:
Technical SEO:
- Perfect Core Web Vitals scores
- Automatic sitemap generation
- Structured data implementation
- Mobile-first responsive design
- Clean, semantic HTML
Performance SEO:
- Faster crawling and indexing
- Better user experience signals
- Lower bounce rates
- Higher engagement metrics
Content SEO:
- Dynamic meta tags
- Automatic Open Graph images
- Schema markup for healthcare
- Optimized image delivery
One plastic surgery practice saw their organic traffic increase 60% within three months of migrating from WordPress to our NextJS solution—without changing any content.
Real-World Comparisons: The Numbers Don't Lie
Let's look at actual metrics from recent projects:
From WordPress Pain to NextJS Performance
The jump to NextJS delivers measurable improvements across every operational KPI.
WordPress Site
BeforeNextJS Site
AfterThe improved conversion rate alone justified the investment. At 100 visitors per day, that's an extra 42 conversions per month—potentially tens of thousands in additional revenue.
When WordPress Still Makes Sense
We believe in using the right tool for the job. WordPress might still be appropriate if:
You Have Existing WordPress Infrastructure
If you've invested heavily in WordPress—custom plugins, integrations, trained staff—migration might not make immediate sense. We can optimize your existing WordPress site while planning a future transition.
Budget Constraints
A basic WordPress site can be cheaper initially (though often more expensive long-term). If budget is tight and you need something immediately, WordPress can be a starting point.
Content-Heavy Blogs
If you're primarily publishing blog content with minimal functionality, WordPress's content management can work well—though we'd still recommend considering alternatives.
Client Preference
Some clients are comfortable with WordPress and prefer to stick with what they know. We respect that and can deliver exceptional WordPress sites when needed—we just believe there's usually a better option.
Our Approach: Tailored, Not Templated
When we build with NextJS, we're not installing a theme and calling it a day. We're creating a custom digital experience tailored to your practice:
- 01
Discovery
Understanding your patients, goals, and workflows.
- 02
Design
Creating interfaces engineered to convert visitors into consultations.
- 03
Development
Building fast, secure, maintainable code with zero bloat.
- 04
Optimization
Fine-tuning performance, analytics, and technical SEO before launch.
- 05
Launch
Deploying seamlessly with rollbacks and monitoring in place.
- 06
Support
Providing ongoing enhancements as your practice evolves.
Every line of code serves a purpose. Every feature is intentional. Every optimization drives results.
The Migration Path
Worried about moving from WordPress? Our migration process is seamless:
- 01
Content Audit
Identify what to keep, improve, or remove before we migrate.
- 02
SEO Preservation
Maintain rankings, redirects, and structured data from day one.
- 03
Design Enhancement
Modernize the experience while honoring your brand standards.
- 04
Parallel Development
Build the new site without disrupting the legacy environment.
- 05
Staged Migration
Transition traffic with zero downtime and full monitoring.
- 06
Post-Launch Optimization
Measure, iterate, and keep performance gains locked in.
We've migrated dozens of medical practices from WordPress to NextJS. The average migration takes 4-6 weeks and results in immediate performance improvements.
The Bottom Line: Your Patients Deserve Better
Your website is often the first interaction patients have with your practice. In those crucial first seconds, you're either building trust or losing a potential patient to a competitor.
WordPress was revolutionary in 2003. But this is 2025. Your patients expect:
- Instant loading
- Mobile perfection
- Seamless interactions
- Absolute security
NextJS delivers all of this and more. It's not about using trendy technology—it's about providing the best possible experience for your patients while giving you a competitive advantage in search rankings and conversion rates.
Ready for a Modern Medical Website?
If you're tired of WordPress problems—slow loading, security concerns, plugin conflicts, maintenance headaches—let's talk about building something better.
We offer:
- Free website audits to show your current performance
- Migration planning to ensure a smooth transition
- Performance guarantees with measurable improvements
- Ongoing support to keep your site at peak performance
Your practice deserves a website as modern as your medical technology. One that loads instantly, ranks highly, converts effectively, and never gets hacked.
Ready to move beyond WordPress? Contact us at 888-215-6934 or visit our contact page for a free consultation. We'll show you exactly how a custom NextJS website can transform your online presence and drive real growth for your practice.
At Hippo Agency, we build websites that work as hard as you do. Fast, secure, and designed to convert—because your patients deserve the best, and so do you.
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