Candid Creative page-builder transition roadmap: 4 stages over 12 months

The concrete migration plan for the Candid agency stack.

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.

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: The Case Against Page Builders (piece 10 of 15)). Document the gap so it informs Stage 3 pricing.

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.

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.

Benchmarks that would change these recommendations:

• If WordPress core stewardship destabilizes further (a Mullenweg/WP Engine-style event in 2026-2027 that affects Gutenberg's roadmap — see WP Engine vs Automattic timeline (Sept 2024 → ongoing) — open-source has centralized choke points), reconsider Bricks as a managed-risk choice — its output is cleaner than Elementor's and the team is small but focused.
• 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).
• If AI search referral traffic does not become a meaningful channel by mid-2027, the AI-extractability argument weakens proportionally. Re-weight accordingly.