A headless website that stays fast

A headless website fits when you want to change the design and technology without replacing the content source each time. We review what you publish, where else that information is used, and who approves changes. A separate frontend can provide that freedom, but it also needs clear agreements on its connection to the source.

For a small site that rarely changes, a simpler approach may be enough. We compare the build and ongoing management: a CMS subscription, hosting, integrations, and technical updates remain separate components. You receive a scoped proposal based on what is needed. If you want design, copy, and code handled together, see our website development service.

Astro reads structured content and renders it into fast pages. We can connect the frontend to a headless CMS or files in Git. An editorial team that wants visual editing can work in Storyblok; a technical team already using version control can choose local content.

That structure also makes AI assistance possible. Through an API or files, agents can prepare and check content. We configure the workflow so a person reviews changes before they go live. The agent prepares, the team decides; a readable source is not permission to publish independently.

Our own site uses typed files in Git and validates them on every build. Read our experience without a CMS for the details. We build both approaches and choose the source around the people who will work with it.

A headless frontend does not have to fetch all its data from one system. We identify which content comes from the CMS and which features need another source, such as a form or product catalog. For each integration, we decide which data is authoritative and how current it needs to be on the website. For Verhuurwinkel.nl, Storyblok manages the content while product data comes straight from the client's ERP, each through its own API.

Content that changes infrequently can be built ahead of time. For data that needs to be current during a visit, we deliberately choose an additional solution. We also test missing data and temporary API failures so errors do not spread unnoticed. Web development includes defining who handles an incident and how the website behaves while a source is unavailable.

On a headless website with many articles or services, search can help visitors find the right page faster. We define which content is searchable and which details each result displays, such as a title, short description, and page type. We keep drafts and restricted content out of the public search index.

We coordinate index updates with website publishing. A deleted page should not remain a usable result, and an updated title should appear in search results too. We test words your customers use and check what happens with a typo or no matching results. For a small collection, browser-based search may be enough. With more content, we assess whether a separate search service is needed.

We start a headless migration with a list of current URLs, page types, images, and features. Together, we decide what stays, what needs improvement, and what is no longer useful. We then build the Astro frontend with a few representative pages. That way, you can assess the new design and editing process before we transfer all the content.

We retain existing addresses where possible and create redirects for changed routes. Metadata, internal links, and forms are included in the checks. Before switching over, we agree on how to transfer recent edits from the old site and how to roll back if deployment fails. Launch becomes a tested transition, not just a hosting change.

Your team needs to know when a saved change appears on the website. We test the path from source to preview and live version, including notifications for a failed build. We also define who performs technical updates and how to restore an earlier version. A separate frontend does not remove those responsibilities.

After launch, we track speed and search traffic through monthly PageSpeed and Search Console measurements. You can see that monthly series for this site in our own case. We discuss what the data does and does not show; a technical change does not guarantee more inquiries. Through website maintenance, we can handle updates and checks. New pages, languages, or integrations receive a clear scope so you can assess the effect on ongoing management first.