Why we chose Sanity + Astro for Bjørn Rolf Eng — and not WordPress
When a new client reaches out to us, one of the first questions is almost always the same: «Can't we just use WordPress?» It makes sense. WordPress is familiar, used by millions, and seems like the obvious choice. But for Bjørn Rolf Eng – Norwegian author and storyteller – we took a different path. Here's why.
WordPress seems simple — until it isn't
A typical WordPress site is built like this: you install WordPress, choose a theme like Divi or a ready-made template, and that theme comes with a number of pre-installed plugins. There's a plugin for SEO, one for forms, one for security, one for caching – and all of them need to be maintained.
The problem appears when WordPress updates itself, or when a single plugin updates. Suddenly the website doesn't work. The layout might break. A feature might crash. In the worst case, the entire site goes down – on a Friday afternoon, when no one is available.
This is not unusual. It is the everyday reality for many WordPress users.
As a business owner, you don't have time for that. You need to focus on your customers, not technical problems you didn't cause.
What did we choose — and why?
For Bjørn Rolf Eng we chose Sanity and Astro. Simply put:
Sanity is where Bjørn writes and publishes his content. Blog posts, book news, reflections. It looks like a clean writing tool and works in the browser. No installation. No updates to worry about. Nothing can crash.
Astro is the technology that builds the actual website – what visitors see. It creates lightning-fast pages that search engines love.
How it works in practice
- Bjørn opens Sanity and writes a new blog post
- He clicks Publish
- The system updates bjornrolfeng.no automatically – no developer needed
- Within minutes, the content is live
No middlemen. No waiting. Nothing that can go wrong.
What does this mean for search engines?
Here's something most people don't know: Google prioritises fast websites.
A WordPress site with many plugins can take 3–5 seconds to load. Bjørn Rolf Eng's website loads in under one second.
That means his content gets indexed faster, ranks higher and reaches more readers – without extra advertising.
The website is also secure by design. There's no database to hack, no code to exploit. A static website simply has no open doors for attackers.
Is this right for you?
If you're a small business, an independent professional or a content creator who needs:
- A website that always works, regardless of updates
- Fast loading that helps you get found on Google
- A simple system for publishing content without technical help
- Security without extra costs
We'd love to help you find the right solution. Get in touch at kodemagisk.no/en/contact.