As someone who has been developing websites with WordPress since 2010 and teaching others to create their own for the last two years, I’ve been thinking a lot about what AI means for the future of my business and Website Foundations, the the course that I teach.
I have three questions that I have been exploring:
- Will businesses still need a professional to build and maintain their website?
- Is there still value in offering a course teaching how to create and manage a WordPress website?
- As an educator what changes will need to be made to the course to keep it relevant or should I even continue with the course at all?
As someone who uses AI, I see the possibilities that it offers. I also recognize that the changes AI brings deserve careful consideration in both my client work and my teaching.
So let’s break it down together.
Will businesses still need a professional to build and maintain their website?
I’ve used AI to organize content, draft copy, creates layouts and even generate code. There are also tools available that help create WordPress blocks, themes, plugins, and entire website.
AI capabilities depend on the tools that you use. They may be built into a theme or page builder, provided through a plugin, or offered by your hosting company. I expect more tools to incorporate AI for website creation and maintenance as these capabilities evolve.
To be honest, being able to describe what you need and receive step-by-step directions is pretty convenient. There are even tools that can make changes directly to your website. Both of these approaches make website tasks more accessible for a business owner with limited technical experience and reduce the repetitive work for a professional like myself.
Here is the caveat: the results still need to be reviewed.
- Does the content accurately explain your services?
- Will the instructions works for your website setup?
- Are the calls to action and next steps clear for visitors to the website?
- Does the website look good and work well on desktop, tablet and mobile?
- Do the forms work correctly?
AI can help with these questions, BUT someone still needs to review the answers and test the results.
I expect that AI will make it easier for business owners to handle more website tasks themselves. Professional help may still save time, resolve issues that require more expertise, or cover tasks that an owner isn’t comfortable performing.
Hiring help may not require handing over the entire project to a professional. You might use AI to build the first version of your website and than hire the services to review your website, refine the design or connect services or help maintain it.
At this time of this post it is my belief that some businesses will still need and prefer professional help, while others will handle more tasks in house. That choice will depend on what the website needs, how much responsibility the owner wants to take on, and how comfortable they are in doing the work.
Is there still value in offering a course?
I believe there is still value, but what is worth learning is changing.
Knowing how to update website content, manage images, edit links, and have a basic understanding of the website setup gives you more control. It also helps you evaluate AI recommendations/suggestions, write prompts that provide useful information, and communicate more clearly with a professional you hire.
That doesn’t mean that everyone needs to learn every step of building a website. Some will want to know the whole process. Others want enough knowledge to manage everyday changes and recognize when to hire a professional.
A course can provide a clear learning path, opportunities to practice, and feedback on your actual website. For me, the value is helping students apply what they learn and gain confidence in managing their website…Now, with AI as one of the tools they can use.
What does this mean for Website Foundations?
This is the question I’m considering most carefully. As an educator, I’m questioning what I should teach, how I should teach it, and whether continuing to offer Website Foundations makes sense.
I know a course needs to offer value beyond instruction available through AI. Teaching someone where to click can be useful, but it can’t be the only reason to enroll.
If I continue to offer the course, it will need to evolve. That may include teaching students how to use AI thoughtfully, review what it creates, and make informed decisions based on the results. Guidance, practice, and feedback on their own work would also need to be part of that experience.
I’m beginning to explore what this could look like, including whether it meets students’ needs and is sustainable for me to offer. I don’t want to keep teaching the same process simply because it’s familiar. I want what I teach to be useful and worth the time and investment students put into it.
Final Thoughts
I expect AI will change how websites are created, how people use them, and the role they play in the business. A website may increasingly provide information to AI assistants while continuing to serve people who visit directly.
I wish I had a crystal ball that could show me what’s coming and how I can prepare my business and help clients and students prepare theirs. I may not be able to see into the future, but I can stay curious, test the tools as they come available, and listen to what my clients and students need.
I see opportunities for AI to make website creation more accessible and help business owners feel more confident managing their websites. For now that’s where I want to focus my work as I consider what comes next for my business and the Website Foundations course.
Has AI changed the way you think about your business and website?
Email or contact me with your thoughts on AI as it relates to your business. I would love to hear your thoughts, concerns or ideas.
