When clients approach me for a new web application, one of the first technical decisions I make is which React framework to use. Over the past few years, Next.js has consistently been my framework of choice, and for good reason.

The most compelling reason to choose Next.js over a traditional React application is search engine optimization. Next.js offers server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG) out of the box, which means content is pre-rendered and immediately available to search engines.

With traditional React applications, content is rendered client-side, which can lead to SEO challenges. Search engines may not execute JavaScript efficiently, resulting in poor indexing of your content.

Next.js's approach to rendering provides significant performance benefits:

• Faster Initial Load Times: Pre-rendered pages appear quickly to users
• Improved Core Web Vitals: Better Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and First Input Delay (FID) metrics
• Reduced Client-side JavaScript: Less work for the browser to do

For client projects where performance directly impacts conversion rates and user satisfaction, these benefits are invaluable.

Beyond the technical advantages, Next.js offers an exceptional developer experience:

• File-based Routing: Intuitive organization of pages
• API Routes: Built-in backend functionality
• Image Optimization: Automatic image optimization with next/image
• Incremental Static Regeneration: Update static content without rebuilding the entire site

This streamlined development process allows me to deliver projects more efficiently, saving clients both time and money.

In a recent e-commerce project, switching from a traditional React application to Next.js resulted in:

• 40% improvement in page load speed
• 25% increase in organic search traffic
• 15% higher conversion rate

These metrics translate directly to business value for my clients.

Despite my preference for Next.js, there are scenarios where traditional React applications remain appropriate:

• Internal tools with no SEO requirements
• Applications with minimal content but complex client-side interactions
• Projects where the team has deep expertise in a specific React setup

While both Next.js and traditional React have their place in modern web development, Next.js has become my default choice for client-facing projects. Its combination of performance, SEO benefits, and developer experience creates a compelling package that delivers tangible business results.

If you're considering a new web project, I'd be happy to discuss whether Next.js would be the right fit for your specific needs.