Next.js 14 for Business Websites: A Practical Guide

This entire site—jamiebudesky.dev—is built with Next.js 14. So is Repasi Motorwerks and Pine Ridge Campground. I've used it for dozens of business websites, and I think it's the best choice for most projects.

What is Next.js?

Next.js is a React framework developed by Vercel. It takes React—the most popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces—and adds everything you need for production websites:

• Routing (page navigation)
• Server-side rendering (for performance and SEO)
• Image optimization
• API routes (backend functionality)
• Built-in performance optimizations

Think of it as React with batteries included.

Why It's Great for Business Websites

Business websites have specific requirements: they need to load fast, rank well in search engines, look great on all devices, and be maintainable long-term. Next.js excels at all of these.

Speed Out of the Box

Next.js automatically optimizes your site. Code splitting, prefetching, image optimization—all the performance best practices happen automatically.

SEO-Friendly by Default

Unlike traditional React apps (which can struggle with SEO), Next.js renders pages on the server. Search engines see fully-rendered HTML, not empty JavaScript shells.

Scale from Simple to Complex

Start with a simple brochure site, then add a blog, e-commerce, user authentication, or complex web applications—all within the same framework.

Modern Developer Experience

TypeScript support, hot reloading, excellent error messages. Developers are more productive, which means faster delivery and easier maintenance.

Performance Benefits

Automatic Image Optimization

Next.js's Image component automatically:

• Resizes images for different screen sizes
• Converts to modern formats (WebP, AVIF)
• Lazy loads images below the fold
• Prevents layout shift as images load

This alone can dramatically improve page speed without manual optimization.

Automatic Code Splitting

Each page only loads the JavaScript it needs. A visitor to your homepage doesn't download code for your contact form until they navigate there.

Prefetching

When a link is visible in the viewport, Next.js prefetches that page in the background. By the time users click, the page is often already loaded.

Static Generation + Incremental Regeneration

Static pages load instantly (served from CDN). But unlike traditional static sites, Next.js can rebuild individual pages when content changes—no full site rebuilds.

SEO Advantages

Server-Side Rendering

Search engines receive fully-rendered HTML, not JavaScript that needs to execute. This ensures all content is indexed properly.

Metadata API

Next.js 14's Metadata API makes it easy to add proper title tags, meta descriptions, Open Graph tags, and structured data to every page.

Dynamic Sitemaps

Generate sitemaps programmatically based on your actual pages. When you add a new blog post, the sitemap updates automatically.

Core Web Vitals

Next.js is optimized for Core Web Vitals—the metrics Google uses to evaluate page experience. Good scores mean better rankings.

Key Features in Next.js 14

App Router

Next.js 14's App Router (introduced in 13, mature in 14) provides:

• Simpler routing with file-based conventions
• Server Components by default (less JavaScript shipped to browsers)
• Layouts that persist across page navigations
• Streaming for progressive page loading

Server Actions

Handle form submissions and data mutations without building separate API routes. Write backend logic right next to your frontend code.

Partial Prerendering (Preview)

A hybrid approach where static shells load instantly, then dynamic content streams in. The best of both static and dynamic rendering.

Next.js vs. Alternatives

vs. WordPress

WordPress powers millions of sites, but:

• Performance requires constant optimization and plugins
• Security requires ongoing maintenance and updates
• Customization often means fighting against the platform
• Hosting costs more for equivalent performance

Next.js is faster, more secure, and more customizable—but requires development skills that WordPress doesn't.

vs. Static Site Generators (Hugo, Jekyll)

Pure static generators are great for simple sites, but:

• No dynamic functionality without external services
• Full rebuilds for any content change
• Limited interactivity options

Next.js gives you static performance with dynamic capabilities when you need them.

vs. Other React Frameworks (Gatsby, Remix)

Gatsby was the React static site king, but its complexity and build times became problematic. Remix is excellent but more backend-focused.

Next.js has the best balance of features, performance, and ecosystem support.

When to Choose Next.js

Good Fit:

• Business websites that need to rank well
• Sites with blog or content sections
• Marketing sites with forms and integrations
• Projects that may grow in complexity
• Sites that need custom functionality

Maybe Not:

• Very simple sites (one-pagers might be overkill)
• Clients who need to edit everything themselves (consider adding a CMS)
• Teams with no JavaScript experience (steep learning curve)

Getting Started

If you're a developer, getting started is simple:

npx create-next-app@latest

For business owners, the key is finding a developer who knows Next.js well. The framework is powerful, but like any tool, results depend on execution.

I build all my business websites with Next.js 14. If you're interested in a fast, SEO-friendly website for your business, let's talk.