I Didn't Mean to Build a CMS

How a simple website rebuild accidentally spiraled into a custom content system, a sales cart, and a powerful blueprint for building with AI

Jul 10, 2025

What started as a simple curiosity to see if I could rebuild my website in Lovable (from WordPress) has evolved into something that could be considered quite similar to a child’s Christmas wish list.

I shared the link with you a few days ago, after I had started building the site's basic structure.

Well, fast forward a few days, and I have created my own CMS (content management system, with SEO), and a simple cart solution (with upsells), all natively connected to Kit (for email marketing).

I only have a few things left to finish, but I expect to go live with the site next week.

Including a native audio player for the posts.

I’m also going to try my hand at creating an MCP. Here’s a formal definition of what that is, then there’s my version:

Think of MCP like a blueprint or memory system that tells AI who it is, what it knows, and how it should help you—every time you use it.

Instead of starting from scratch each time you chat with an AI, MCP gives the AI a backstory, just like giving a new assistant a job description, a stack of your past work, and a playbook for how you like things done.

So, if you're a content creator, MCP lets you:

Train AI to work like you (your voice, your tone, your process)
Give it context (like your audience, your goals, and your offers)
Let it take action (like writing drafts, building plans, or even managing workflows)

It's like upgrading from a helpful intern to a fully briefed, AI-powered creative partner who gets you.

I’ll share the results of that after I figure it out, lol.

Back to working on my site…

I’ve been going back and forth between Claude & Gemini for the code and prompts. Gemini seemed to be going a wee bit sideways, so I had moved to Claude, where the progress picked back up.

One thing to keep in mind is that the longer you’re in a thread with one of these tools, the greater the chance you have of things not working as well as they did when you started. In discussing this with a friend, he mentioned that it’s more a matter of the LLM model than the tool used for vibe coding (in my case, Lovable).

Something that blew me away as I worked on my site this week was that, after I had hit a wall with an issue, I went back the next day, and Claude showed up like it was well-rested and had downloaded a whole bunch of new knowledge overnight.

I asked it to remind me where we left off, it gave me a quick recap, and asked if we should start with what it suggested.

Before it did that, it said it would conduct a little research…

I had no idea why, but I was curious.

My response to what it came back with was literally, “Hey, where did you get that? You’re kind of tripping me out.” 😂

Here’s the top of the document that I created from its research:

All my projects are private until I publish them, but this threw me for a loop.

Long story short(ish), Claude, with its deeply analytical capabilities, began to break down the site architecture in ways I hadn't anticipated. It pulled together best practices for building a React-based application with a custom blog editor and an integrated cart system.

It analyzed how platforms like Notion and Ghost structure their content blocks, providing a masterclass in digital architecture. Before I knew it, it was helping me construct a reusable blueprint.

It’s basically a much more in-depth PRD (product requirements document).

Now I have this ‘blueprint’ (its words, not mine), anytime I want to build a similar site with Lovable (I’m doing one for a client right now).

I now have a guide—an actual, teachable, repeatable guide for building a content-first website with an integrated e-commerce cart. And it only happened because I decided to roll up my sleeves and build the first version for myself.

Building goes way beyond creating with code (without knowing how to code)

I’ve had more “a-ha” moments while using AI to collaborate on this project than I’ve had in months of passively reading articles or watching tutorials. The irony is that I wasn't trying to master AI. I was just trying to make something I wanted (note: that’s the best place to start, as you’ll be much more inclined to finish!).

Creators Have a Unique Edge (And Most Don’t Realize It Yet)

This is where things get really exciting, especially if you’re a creator. If you've been in the game for a while, you possess a powerful advantage that large corporations simply can’t replicate.

You know your people.

You understand their language, their specific pain points, their hesitations, and their deepest desires. You’ve been having intimate conversations with them for years—in email replies, podcast feedback, newsletter comments, DMs, and YouTube interactions.

You have the unique ability not just to build a tool, but to write the copy that sells it, create the tutorials that teach it, and foster the community that rallies behind it.

Don’t wait until you “know enough.”

Start building, and let the learning catch up to you.

Noteworthy 🔥

I came across a video featuring Greg Isenberg and Tod Sacerdoti, where they demonstrated how to use String.com (currently free in Alpha), showing how to build simple agents with prompts (i.e., without complicated node connections, such as Make or n8n).

Try String Free here

A Little Brainpower 🧠

A crash course in using AI Agents. “You should be playing with AI agents for marketing,” by

Kyle Poyar

I think this applies to a lot of existing apps (especially with what I’ve been able to create in such a short time). “Calendly is doomed. The clock is ticking.”

A new approach to SEO. “Ranking in AI Search Results: What I’ve Learned So Far.”

Tool Time 🛠️

For Fun: Get a ‘wrapped’ version of your year with ChatGPT (much like “Spotify Wrapped”). Try GPT Recap here.
AI Assistant: AI that works behind the scenes to understand the information that matters for your personal workflow. Use Littlebird free here.
Vibe coding: Another option to try and build your own tool, app, or even lead magnet. Everything you need in one place. Use base 44 for free here.
Social media: Create, schedule, and analyze your social media content all in one place with or without AI. Try PostSyncer free here.

This always cracks me up 😂

Okay, it’s been a wild week of building, and as you can see, the journey took some unexpected and frankly mind-blowing turns!

My main hope in sharing all this, from the accidental CMS to the tools worth trying, is to encourage you to dive in, too.

You don’t need a perfect plan. Just start with a small problem you want to solve or a simple curiosity you want to explore. The barrier between a wild idea and a working prototype has never been lower.

I’m heading back to my site to finish up the last few details.

Have a fabulous day!

With coffee & kindness,
Kim