Not too long ago, building a website for an association meant months of work, a steep price tag, and constant reliance on developers for even the smallest updates. Every feature, from a membership directory to an event calendar, was coded from scratch. While the results could work, they were also rigid, expensive, and difficult to maintain.
Today, we’re in the middle of a transformation: the low code/no code revolution.
With modern WordPress tools like Elementor and a rich ecosystem of professional plugins, associations can now launch feature-rich, dynamic, and fully branded websites with little to no custom programming. This shift doesn’t just save money, it changes how associations can operate, adapt, and grow.
From Hand-Coded to Highly Customizable
Cast your mind back to the nascent days of the internet, where crafting a website involved meticulous HTML coding and laborious uploads via sluggish modems. It was an era characterized by technical expertise and a steep learning curve, where the ability to navigate complex codebases was paramount. Yet, even in those early stages, the seeds of innovation were sown.
Fast forward to the present day, and the landscape of website development has undergone a remarkable transformation. The advent of low code/no code platforms represents a watershed moment, democratizing access to website creation and management in ways previously unimaginable. Gone are the days of reliance on intricate coding and specialized technical knowledge; instead, users are empowered to realize their digital visions through highly-customizable, intuitive interfaces.
Low code/no code development, epitomized by platforms like Elementor, represents a groundbreaking approach to website creation that prioritizes accessibility, simplicity, and efficiency. Essentially, these platforms empower users, regardless of their coding proficiency, to design and build fully functional websites through intuitive interfaces. With low code/no code tools like Elementor, users can seamlessly customize every aspect of their websites, from layout and styling to interactive elements and dynamic content, without the need for extensive coding knowledge. In addition, programs like Elementor provide easy integration with coding languages such as CSS, HTML, Javascript, and PHP, making every day tasks easier while maintaining complete customization capabilities for website developers. Simply put, low code/no code development platforms like Elementor are the best of all website development worlds combined.
Over the past few years, however, tools known as page builders have matured into full site-building platforms. Elementor, in particular, has led the charge by:
- Going open source so third-party developers can build powerful add-ons.
- Adding a theme builder so every part of a site (headers, footers, archives, templates) can be visually customized.
- Enabling dynamic content so pages can pull directly from member data, event systems, and other custom fields without coding.
The result? Associations can have a site with advanced functionality, directories, event listings, learning hubs, member portals, without the traditional development overhead.
Why This Matters for Associations
For associations, flexibility is everything. Your programs evolve, your members’ expectations shift, and your technology stack needs to keep up. Low code/no code platforms make that possible.
Key benefits include:
- Lower ongoing costs – Most premium tools cost $40-$200 per year. Compare that to the tens of thousands it can cost to develop and maintain custom features.
- Rapid feature expansion – As plugin developers release new capabilities, you get access without a redevelopment project.
- Future-proofing – Your site evolves with your needs, rather than becoming obsolete after a few years.
The Trade-Offs (and How to Manage Them)
1. More features mean more to learn.
One trade-off inherent in utilizing low code/no code platforms like Elementor is the necessary relationship between flexibility and complexity. While these platforms offer users immense freedom to customize their websites with a vast array of features and design elements, navigating the breadth of options can pose a learning curve. The abundance of customization possibilities, ranging from interactive widgets to complex layout configurations, may require users to invest time in familiarizing themselves with the platform’s capabilities. Additionally, as websites become more intricate and feature-rich, managing the vastness of Elementor’s features and understanding its nuanced functionalities may require ongoing learning.
However, as part of our services at Cantata, we bridge the complexity gap by analyzing common needs during our prototyping phase and creating easily usable components. These tools come pre-styled, optimized for mobile, and ready for the easy task of inserting text or images. Moreover, we provide comprehensive training videos for each component, ensuring you have resources for reference and potentially onboarding new team members. Additionally, we are available to address any support requests that you may have, should any issues arise.
2. Slightly more code means slightly slower load times.
While platforms like Elementor offer unparalleled flexibility and ease of use, the extensive codebase and additional layers of abstraction inherent in these tools can result in slightly slower loading times compared to leaner, custom-coded websites. However, it’s essential to contextualize this trade-off within the broader landscape of website optimization, where the benefits of rapid development and enhanced functionality often outweigh minor compromises in loading speed.
SEO experts might point out that page speed is a factor in Google’s search algorithm, and rightly so. However, Google’s main focus is on the primary driver of its algorithm: relevance. While page speed may play a minor role, Google’s overarching mission has always been to prioritize content that best matches the users’ search intent. Thus, while page speed is a consideration, it’s clear that relevance remains paramount in Google’s ranking criteria.
This means, when evaluating page speed, the primary concern is user experience. Waiting several seconds for a page to load can be quite frustrating. When using low code/no code tools, the loading delay is quite minor, and oftentimes unrecognizable. These page performance, speed comparison tools measure in milliseconds. Thus, the difference between a page loading in 500ms versus 1,800ms might result in a downgrade in performance grade, but is hardly perceptible to users, if ever at all. Sacrificing all the positives of low code/no code programs in order to achieve exceptionally small speed improvements simply isn’t worth it given the substantial costs and maintenance burdens of custom code. Instead, investing in server infrastructure or performance-oriented plugins offers a more sensible approach to optimizing user experience without compromising on all the benefits that come with low code/no code programs.
3. Dependence on third-party developers.
Another consideration when embracing low code/no code development is the inherent dependence on third-party developers and their products. Platforms like Elementor rely on a vast ecosystem of plugins, themes, and extensions to augment their core functionalities, providing users with a wealth of options for customization and feature enhancement. However, this reliance introduces a degree of interdependence, as updates or compatibility issues from third-party developers can impact one’s website. Additionally, while the abundance of third-party solutions offers unparalleled flexibility, it also necessitates careful vetting and ongoing maintenance to mitigate the risk of conflicts or vulnerabilities. Despite these challenges, the trade-off between leveraging existing solutions and developing custom features from scratch often favors the former.
Cantata’s Approach
We’ve built Cantata Sites to maximize the benefits of low code/no code while minimizing the headaches:
- Component-based design – We tailor and pre-style elements for your specific needs.
- Training and documentation – We provide walkthroughs and videos so your team can update with confidence.
- Ongoing support – When you need a new feature, we can often deploy it in hours, not months.
The Bottom Line
Low code/no code platforms are not a fad, they’re the future of web development for associations. By shifting the heavy coding work to professional product developers, associations get more flexibility, more features, and lower costs. And with the right partner, you can bypass the complexity and enjoy a site that’s easy to use, easy to update, and ready for whatever comes next.
Welcome to the low code/no code revolution — association edition.