Still Not Using WordPress Blocks? (Shame on you.)
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Over the past several decades, I’ve experienced unbelievable change. Some of it was good; some, while not easy, was necessary.
It has sometimes felt impossible to keep up. But I always pushed through because I knew I had to succeed. Today, I want to share my perspective on WordPress’s Full Site Editing (FSE) and how it will impact your website.
What exactly is Full Site Editing (FSE)?
WordPress 6.0
(The most recent version of WordPress 7.0.1)
You’ve probably heard of builders and editor plugins (Elementor, Beaver Builder, WPBakery). I’m not a fan of most editors, but many developers are. That’s okay—everyone has a way of doing things that works for them. Rather than rehashing that now, you can review my previous post, where I discuss “builders.”
TL;DR: Builders allow website owners to customize their sites beyond what any theme can do — without knowing the code. Similarly, developers love the ability to customize websites in ways they couldn’t before, including layout, element positioning, and other aspects.
The downside is that, with that design freedom and flexibility, came degraded website performance and ease-of-use issues. Sites were slower, and website owners were frustrated with the non-intuitive user interfaces and shortcodes, making it more challenging to switch to a new theme.
Now, with a block-based theme — and yes, some are more feature-rich than others — you can create anything to match your vision, just with blocks. Blocks frustrate website owners too, but once you embrace and understand how they work, you’ll love the flexibility and the ability to make the changes you want without a lick of code.
Enter Gutenberg and Blocks
While I was initially not a fan of Gutenberg, I dove in and came to love it. You can add a block or two or three to any page to get the layout and design you prefer, of course, within the constraints of your theme.
Working out the kinks and tweaking functionality and usability took some time and continues to this day. But that happens with anything new once it’s released into the wild. If the product or software doesn’t evolve, that’s when you should worry.
For non-techies, you now have more control than ever without needing to know the code. Some still use the “Classic Editor,” which keeps things as they were for those not ready to switch to blocks.
But that is now years ago! Online years are like days, and you can fall behind fast.
If you are still using the Classic Editor, move to Gutenberg. The Classic Editor pretty much keeps WordPress the way it was pre-blocks – a.k.a. living in the past.
Deactivate the Classic Editor plugin, go to any page or post, and use the Convert to Blocks option you’ll see at the top of the page. You can then tweak the layout and display to your liking, and you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is. And you’ll get more comfortable with blocks in the process.
WordPress 5.9, released in January 2022, prioritized block-based themes—4 years ago. FSE is now firmly in the mix, meaning themes are primarily FSE-compatible (blocks).
With significant changes come choices that have to be made. So, for this discussion, let’s discuss the themes part of your decision-making process.
What about your current WordPress theme?
Anyone who has worked with me knows I had been a fan of StudioPress since its inception — and that dates me big time. As the story goes, StudioPress was not keeping up with the latest developments, and its growth regarding new themes had stagnated.
So I moved on. That’s the approach you need with technology, especially if others depend on you to keep them ahead of the curve.
Some have migrated to builders and feature-rich “builder” themes, such as Avada and Divi. Divi has made significant performance gains and is a viable solution for strident DIYers too (now with AI agents). However, Avada has a steep learning curve, and performance metrics can be a concern.
This website is currently on Kadence. I chose this theme because it is lightweight, feature-rich, and utilizes block-level editing. Read about that here.
My Radar On = Discovery!
When the “World Wide Web” was created, followed by WordPress, and then Revolution — which morphed into StudioPress and the Genesis framework — I had a gut feeling for each that led me to jump in.
For the first time in a long time, I had that same gut feeling—this time with a block-theme framework called Kadence. At first glance, it seemed to check all the boxes I had been waiting for.
So, I did what I always do. I dove in—and redesigned two of my sites, NetM@nners and BusinessEmailEtiquette.com. Not only did my performance metrics immediately improve, but it was also enjoyable. I was having fun again.
Change is Inevitable
Change is inevitable regarding websites, technology, and even life. That’s because good companies and products continually seek ways to stay competitive. Or, better yet, they are ahead of the curve.
They take advantage of the “now” and what they envision the future will be. You need to do the same.
Decisions Made Sooner Than Later
Here’s my thought process that may clarify your program moving forward.
Technology will keep trucking along — with or without you. This concept also applies to all WordPress themes, plugins, and services.
I sensed an opportunity to jump on the FSE bandwagon before everyone else. But, then again, that’s always how I’ve rolled — ahead of the curve. And I’ve not been wrong yet…
One of my favorite StudioPress theme shops, Restored 316, now focuses on Kadence themes. (Great minds think alike, right?) Check them out if you want feature-rich feminine themes.
What does that mean for you?
As you know, I recommend products that I use on my own sites. This lets me monitor the company’s culture, products, and support. So, if it is not good enough for me, it’s not good enough for me to recommend it to you.
Here’s what you have to consider:
BOTTOM LINE: You want your WordPress website using a block-based theme so you can take advantage of Full Site Editing.
Now is the Time for Action
I usually don’t advise folks to switch just because I have. I quite often find myself ahead of my time. The reality is, Website owners typically have more than enough time to stay in their safe space until they can make the necessary decisions. That time is over with blocks.
I recommend that you plan accordingly by transitioning to block-based themes and plugins. Especially considering that WordPress is a solid path for full-site editing.
The last thing you want is a site that isn’t up to speed (literally), isn’t using the latest technology (you’re left behind), or breaks with a future update (Ouch!). All of this can be avoided by taking action now.
At your service,
*Some of the links on this page are to companies with which I have a professional affiliation.
Read my complete affiliate statement here.
