WordPress Full Site Editing is Here
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Over the past 29 years, I’ve experienced unbelievable change. Some of it was good; some, while not easy, was necessary.
It has sometimes felt as if it is impossible to keep up. But I always pushed through because I knew to succeed, that’s what I had to do. 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 not a fan of Gutenberg initially, 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’s what 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, put block-based themes at the forefront. 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, I have felt StudioPress is not keeping up with the latest developments, and its growth regarding new themes has 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 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.
At the same time, it became glaringly evident how far behind Genesis/StudioPress had become. More than I had realized.
If you are on a StudioPress child theme, you have a decision to make.
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 lend clarity to 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 did. But, then again, that’s always how I’ve rolled — ahead of the curve. And I’ve not been wrong yet…
In the case of one of my favorite StudioPress theme shops, Restored 316, I was pleased to find out that they make themes for Kadence too. (Great minds think alike?)
What does that mean for you?
As you know, I only recommend what I use for my sites. This lets me keep tabs on 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.
At the same time, StudioPress’s lack of progress caused me to look elsewhere. And when I did, I discovered a block theme called Kadence that, in my view, blew StudioPress out of the water.
Here’s what you have to consider:
- You can stay on your current setup. But it wouldn’t hurt to review your situation and options, whether it be one of the StudioPress child themes, Genesis FSE-supported block themes, or a platform like Kadence. Eventually, you will want to be on a block-based platform that offers FSE.
- Regardless of what WordPress theme you are using, if you are still relying 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.
Regardless of what WordPress theme you use, you want it to be on the path of being a WordPress block-based theme with Full Site Editing.
Now is the Time for Action
I usually don’t advise folks to make a switch just because I have. I quite often tend to be ahead of my time. Usually, website owners have more than enough time to stay in their safe space until they can make the necessary decisions.
However, in this case, this is a situation I recommend that you have on your radar; think about it, and plan accordingly. Especially considering WordPress is now on the solid path of 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.
