{"id":406,"slug":"candid-page-builder-roadmap-stages-1-4","title":"Candid Creative page-builder transition roadmap: 4 stages over 12 months","kind":"reference","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","claude-code","candid-team"],"topics":["agency-methodology","page-builders"],"reference_body":"**The concrete migration plan for the Candid agency stack.**\n\n**Stage 1 (now, low-risk):** Stop quoting Elementor or Divi as the default for new builds. Update internal scoping docs and pricing menus to lead with **WordPress + Gutenberg + a block theme (Kadence or Blocksy)** for sub-$10k brochure work. **Zero migration of existing clients required.**\n\n**Stage 2 (next 90 days):** Pick one block-theme stack and standardize. Document a starter kit: theme + 1-2 block plugins + ACF Blocks for custom modules. **Run two new builds on it.** Measure build hours vs your last two Elementor builds — the honest result might be that Gutenberg builds take longer at first (counter-argument 4.5 in [[research-brief-case-against-page-builders]]). Document the gap so it informs Stage 3 pricing.\n\n**Stage 3 (next 6 months):** Offer existing Elementor/Divi clients a **migration audit as a service ($500-$1,500)** that scopes a rebuild quote and projects CWV / SEO impact. **Converts the architecture problem into a billable engagement instead of an awkward conversation.**\n\n**Stage 4 (next 12 months):** For one suitable client (content-heavy, SEO-sensitive, willing to invest), **pilot a headless Astro + WordPress build**. Use as a case study and reference for \"premium\" tier pricing.\n\n**Benchmarks that would change these recommendations:**\n- If WordPress core stewardship destabilizes further (a Mullenweg/WP Engine-style event in 2026-2027 that affects Gutenberg's roadmap — see [[wp-engine-automattic-dispute-timeline-2024-2026]]), **reconsider Bricks as a managed-risk choice** — its output is cleaner than Elementor's and the team is small but focused.\n- If a Gutenberg-killer regression ships (a 6.x release that significantly degrades block-editor UX), **the case for Beaver Builder as a stability play strengthens** (cleanest exit of the four major builders).\n- If AI search referral traffic does not become a meaningful channel by mid-2027, the AI-extractability argument weakens proportionally. Re-weight accordingly.","rationale_body":"The concrete agency-level operational plan that comes out of the research. Pairs with [[ten-year-cost-model-rebuild-vs-foundation]] for the financial frame and [[ia-decision-matrix-by-business-shape]] for the per-client IA decision.","metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"page-builder-migration-by-use-case","title":"Reference: alternative-stack recommendations by use case and budget (Candid 6-tier framework)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"wp-engine-automattic-dispute-timeline-2024-2026","title":"WP Engine vs Automattic timeline (Sept 2024 → ongoing) — open-source has centralized choke points","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"ten-year-cost-model-rebuild-vs-foundation","title":"Reference framework: 10-year cost model — rebuild-every-3-years vs foundation-first (Canadian SMB, CAD)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"}],"incoming":[{"slug":"rule-stop-quoting-page-builders-as-default-for-new-builds","title":"RULE: Stop quoting Elementor / Divi / WPBakery as the default for new Candid client builds. Block themes lead the pricing menu.","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"research-brief-case-against-page-builders","title":"Research brief: The Case Against Page Builders (piece 10 of 15)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"}]},"created_at":"2026-05-22T20:21:39.903Z","updated_at":"2026-05-22T20:21:39.903Z"}