Why Migrating from WordPress to AWS Transformed My Website

Running a website as a small business owner can often feel like an uphill battle, especially when simplicity and cost-efficiency are priorities. For years, my WordPress website was hosted on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) provided by Kamatera, with my domain registered through Namecheap and DNS managed by Cloudflare. While this setup worked, it introduced unnecessary complexity and expenses.

Here’s why I decided to move my website to AWS and how it transformed my web presence.

With my previous setup, I was juggling three separate vendors:

1. Kamatera (VPS) – Hosting my WordPress site.
2. Namecheap – Handling my domain registration.
3. Cloudflare – Managing DNS configurations.

Paying multiple vendors not only complicated billing but also required me to manage and troubleshoot across different platforms. I realized I could consolidate these services with AWS’s Route 53 and S3, reducing both overhead and stress.

WordPress is a powerful tool, but it often felt like overkill for my simple business website. Here are the main reasons I decided to move away:

• Limited Analytics Flexibility: Customizing Google Analytics for meaningful insights was cumbersome.
• Unnecessary Plugin Expenses: Many features required paid plugins, adding to my costs.
• Complexity Overload: For a small website, WordPress introduced layers of complexity I didn’t need. Updates, backups, and plugin compatibility were time-consuming.

AWS offered a streamlined solution that was simpler, cheaper, and tailored to my needs.

At the same time, I reevaluated my reliance on Upwork for client acquisition. While the platform connects freelancers with potential clients, it posed significant drawbacks:

• High Costs to Bid: Constantly buying "Connects" to bid on projects was expensive.
• Expensive Marketing: Upwork’s fees for promoting services cut into my margins.
• Limited Branding Opportunities: I couldn’t link to my LinkedIn profile or personal website, restricting my ability to build trust and showcase my expertise.

By hosting my website on AWS, I could better promote my services, integrate with Stripe for payments, and control my branding.

AWS presented the perfect alternative, allowing me to:

1. Transfer My Domain to Route 53: Consolidating domain registration and DNS management under AWS simplified administration.
2. Host My Website in an S3 Bucket: Switching to a static site removed the need for a VPS, reducing hosting costs to less than a dollar per month.
3. Accelerate Performance with CloudFront: With free SSL and DDoS protection, CloudFront sped up global loading times and added a layer of security.
4. Integrate Stripe for Payments: Using Lambda functions, I could process payments seamlessly and promote my services more effectively.

This wasn’t my first AWS migration. My personal website (www.theluismiranda.com) was my testing ground. It gave me the confidence to handle domain transfers, DNS configurations, and static site hosting. That experience showed me how AWS could deliver top-tier performance, security, and cost-efficiency for less than $1 per month.

Migrating my business website from WordPress to AWS was a game-changer. By consolidating services, reducing costs, and simplifying management, I now have a fast, secure, and affordable website that aligns perfectly with my business goals. This move empowered me to focus on growing my business rather than managing unnecessary complexities.

In the next part of this series, I’ll dive into how I planned and prepared for the migration—and how you can, too.