WordPress Full Site Editing is Here
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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. So today, I want to share my POV on WordPress’s upcoming Full Site Editing (FSE) and how that may impact your website.
What exactly is Full Site Editing (FSE)?
WordPress 6.0
Here’s a great article from one of my hosting partners, Kinsta, about what’s new in WordPress 6.0. With this release, you must review your website and current theme to ensure you can take advantage of these recent advances. To do so, you want to have a block-based theme.
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 rehash that now, you can review my previous post, where I talk about “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 regarding layout, element positioning, and customization.
The downside is that with that design freedom and flexibility came website performance and ease of use issues. Sites were slower, and website owners were frustrated with the non-intuitive user interfaces and shortcodes, making swapping out to a new theme more difficult.
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.
Enter Gutenberg and Blocks
While I was initially not a fan of Gutenberg, I dove in and loved it. You can add a block to any page to get the layout and design you prefer within the constraints of your theme.
Working out the kinks and tweaking functionality and usability has taken some time. But that happens with anything new once it’s released into the wild. If the product or software doesn’t evolve, then that’s when you need to worry.
For non-techies, you now have more control than you ever have without knowing the code. Some stayed with the “Classic Editor” that kept things as they were for those not ready to switch to using blocks.
That was years ago. If you are still using the Classic Editor, move to Gutenberg. Deactivate the Classic Editor plugin, go to any page or post, and use the Convert to Blocks option. You can then tweak the layout and display to your liking and probably be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is.
WordPress 5.9, released in January 2022, prioritized block-based themes. FSE is now firmly in the mix, meaning themes will eventually be FSE (block) compatible. Don’t worry; this has been in the works and is not an on-off switch yet.
However, with significant changes come choices that have to be made. So, for this discussion, let’s discuss themes.
What about your current WordPress theme?
Anyone who has worked with me knows I have been a fan of StudioPress since its inception. However, 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, mainly if others depend on you to keep them ahead of the curve.
Some have migrated to builders and feature-rich “builder” themes like Avada and Divi. Divi has made significant performance gains and is a viable solution for strident DIYers. However, Avada still has a steep learning curve, and I’m not impressed with its performance metrics.
This website is currently Kadence. I chose this theme because it is lightweight, feature-rich, and takes advantage of block-level editing. Read about that here.
My Radar On = Discovery!
When the “World Wide Web” was created, then WordPress, 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 again—this time with a new block theme 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 go up a notch, but it was also fun.
Change is Inevitable
Change is inevitable regarding websites, technology, and even life. That’s because good companies and products look for ways to ensure that their products keep up. Or, better yet, they are ahead of the curve. So they take advantage of the “now” and what they envision the future will be.
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 other 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 and makes themes for Kadence. (Great minds think alike, right?)
What does that mean for you?
As you know, I only recommend what I use for my 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:
- You can stay with your current setup, but reviewing your situation and options wouldn’t hurt, whether it be an FSE-supported block theme or a platform like Kadence. Eventually, you will want to be on a block-based platform that offers FSE.
- Regardless of your WordPress theme, if you still rely on the Classic Editor plugin, it’s time to turn that off and become familiar with blocks. Unfortunately, this plugin is now depreciated.
- You can set up a staging area on your hosting to play with your site without the Classic Editor plugin so you can get used to blocks. You can also try other themes before switching on your live site.
You want your WordPress website to be on the path to using a WordPress block-based theme with Full Site Editing.
Now is the Time for Action
I usually don’t advise folks to switch just because I have. I quite often tend to be 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.
However, in this case, I recommend you plan accordingly by using block-based themes and plugins. Especially considering WordPress is on the solid path to 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,
P.S. Do yourself a favor and check out Kadence.
