WordPress Tips

WordPress 5.0 news: Launch date set, new default theme announced

Major details regarding the WordPress 5.0 launch have now been revealed as WordPress has set a November 19 launch date and previewed the new Twenty Nineteen theme.

The future of accessibility in WordPress

In October 2018, the WordPress accessibility team lead resigned, highlighting issues she’s faced with Gutenberg. What does her decision mean for the future of accessibility in WordPress?

4 plugins to add extra Gutenberg blocks to WordPress

Since Gutenberg released to the public, developers have released new plugins that add extra functionality to Gutenberg with additional blocks. Here are 4 plugins that impressed us with a bevy of new blocks you can add to your Gutenberg editing experience.

What’s coming next for WordPress?

WordPress first released the Gutenberg editor in beta form over a year ago, and it is now available to the public in the WordPress 4.9.8 “Try Gutenberg” preview release. But now that it’s out, what is WordPress working on next? Here’s a preview of WordPress 4.9.9 and 5.0.

SEO analysis: What we learned from our posts that rank

Search engines make ranking decisions based on the content itself with all else being equal. So instead of trying to outline Google’s formula, let’s take a different approach and reverse-engineer it. At MPWR Design, we rank #1 for quite a few search terms, so here’s a breakdown of what we’ve learned from four of our posts that rank well.

How does location affect search results?

Even though search engine rank is important and SEO is a common buzzword in the website world, it isn’t entirely possible to rank in search results for a particular topic worldwide because of location. Here’s how location affects search results and how to compensate for it with your content.

Use Google Search Console to refine your SEO

Want to learn more about how people find your site? Google Search Console provides valuable insight to how your site is discovered through search.

Which plugins do we use on our website?

Recommendations are great, but which plugins do we actually use? Take a peek behind the curtain as we list each one we use and describe what each does.

Are ads on your website effective?

Once you’ve launched a website, you might decide to use ads to monetize it. Is this an effective approach? We analyze the success of banner ads as well as some alternate forms of monetization in this article.

Does WordPress have limitations?

You might have heard someone say, “WordPress can’t do that.” But is this the truth? Here, we separate fact from fiction and examine the actual limitations of WordPress.

Gutenberg compatibility issues with page builder themes and plugins

Because Gutenberg itself is a type of page builder and replaces the classic WordPress editor, themes and plugins that use a different editor have the biggest potential for compatibility issues. Not all page builders will automatically break, but they could unless they’ve specifically added Gutenberg support. Here’s a look at what some of the more well-known page builders have said about Gutenberg.

“Try Gutenberg” coming July 31: What WordPress 4.9.8 means for you

The WordPress team announced Gutenberg, a new content block-based editor, in 2017. Since then, they’ve been hard at work preparing Gutenberg for its public release. Recently, WordPress announced that it would include the option to try Gutenberg in WordPress 4.9.8, releasing July 31, 2018. What does this mean for your website?

Is WordPress vulnerable to malware or hacking?

Website security can sometimes fly under the radar but the threat is real because of the treasure trove of data you may have stored on your site. To learn more, here’s a look at new malware targeting WordPress, called BabaYaga, and some strategies you can take to protect your site.

Should you design your own website or hire someone to help?

In a world where everyone can have a voice, you need a way to make yours stand out, and your website is an essential catalyst for carrying out your brand’s identity. At the same time, however, hiring a professional requires a financial commitment. Should you hire a professional to help? We provide a few things to consider to figure out which option is best for you.

WordPress 4.9.6: New last-minute tools to help you prepare for the GDPR

Shortly before the GDPR went into effect, WordPress implemented some tools in WordPress 4.9.6 to help you prepare. Here’s an overview of the tools, what each does, and what you need to do to ensure you’re prepared.

How to downgrade WordPress

Normally it’s a good idea to keep your website up to date and always run the latest version of WordPress, your theme, and your plugins, but for the rare occasions you need an older version, how can you downgrade WordPress? Here’s a simple guide to help.

Google Maps Platform: What does it mean for you?

On Wednesday, May 2, 2018, Google announced the Google Maps Platform and accompanying changes to their pricing structure. If you use Google Maps Platform, how will these changes impact you?

What is FTP and how does it work?

FTP (file transfer protocol) allows you to upload files directly to your site, just like moving files around on your computer. Here are the basics of FTP and how to use it on your website.

What is the GDPR and what should you do to be prepared?

GDPR, or General Data Protection Regulation, is a regulation protecting personal data of citizens of the European Union. The GDPR creates a single data protection law for the European Union. As the owner of a WordPress website, here’s what you need to know to prepare for the May 25 GDPR enforcement date.

How to change the WordPress default image sizes

WordPress offers to automatically scale down the size your images display for you, but did you know you can change the default image sizes so it’ll offer the size you want out of the box? Here’s how to do it.

How run multiple WordPress installs on one site

Usually, everything you need can be encapsulated in one WordPress installation. Under certain circumstances, though, you might desire to run multiple WordPress installs on one website. If that’s the case for you, here we show you two different methods for running multiple separate WordPress installations on one website.

Website design trends: Single-page websites

Single-page websites are trendy, but are they a good idea? How does using only one page affect your SEO? We explore the pros and cons and provide examples of effective single-page sites here.

How to create anchor links in WordPress

Links allow you to direct your website visitors to another web page easily, but they also can give you the ability to do more than that. With these easy steps, learn how to create anchor links to a particular place in the middle of a page on a WordPress site.

How to change your font in WordPress

How do you change your website’s font on a WordPress site? We offer tips on how to use your theme change your font, use a plugin to override your theme, or change your fonts with CSS.

How to choose the perfect hero background image for your site

These tips help you select the perfect hero background image for your website. Learn the role resolution, orientation, and contrast play in selecting a hero image and download a template to help you ensure you choose the best hero image for your site.

Is your website outdated?

Is your website outdated? Use these 5 warning signs to find out.

WordPress and HTTPS: Why your site needs encryption and how to migrate your site

Even if you don’t deal with secure information like bank account or credit card numbers, your site needs HTTPS encryption. Learn why HTTPS is important and how to migrate a WordPress site to HTTPS in this tutorial.

How to publish a WordPress site to Apple News

Learn how to publish a self-hosted WordPress website to Apple News with this simple 4-step tutorial.

What are widgets in WordPress?

WordPress uses widgets to build content throughout your website in places like the sidebar and footers. Learn how to use widgets in this article.

What is a content delivery network?

A content delivery network, or CDN, is a distributed network of data centers. Learn how content delivery networks improve the speed of your site and how to use one with WordPress in this article.

Accessible content: Can everyone use your website?

Can everyone consume your site’s content? In this article, we’ll discuss accessibility considerations for visual proximity issues and hearing impairments.

Visually accessible content: Can colorblind users see your site?

Colorblindness may affect many visitors to your site, as studies show it affects 8% of men and 0.5% of women worldwide. With this in mind, three considerations should be made to ensure your site is accessible to colorblind visitors and doesn’t prevent them from seeing your content.

Visually accessible content: Can everyone read your site?

Some visually impaired visitors to your website use screen readers to read your content. Is your website accessible to those visitors? These tips will help you find out.

Design trends: Content blocks and grid layout designs

Over the past few years, website design has conceptually evolved from a linear design — designing a web page like a word processing document, top to bottom — to a “content block” design. The content block concept views web pages as a grid, with multiple columns and components assembled together to form a web page like pieces of a puzzle. Here, we examine the content block trend and several websites using a grid layout design.

Design trends: Duotone effects and gradient designs

As the name suggests, “duotone” is a two-color design. Many times, these two colors are blended together to form a gradient. Several large companies have hopped on the duotone bandwagon as you’ll see in the examples here.

Website design trends: Brutalism

Brutalism refers to websites with a raw, function-over-form look that is anything but sleek. With basic fonts, large or busy text, and little to no visual flash, websites using brutalism certainly stand out — and whether that’s a good thing or not is a cause for debate. Take a look at these websites embracing brutalism and decide for yourself if they’re innovative or just plain ugly.

Website design trends: Hero images

A hero image isn’t a picture wearing a cape; instead, it’s a large, immersive image that covers most of the screen of a website. Hero images are perhaps the most prominent design trend used across the Web today. Here, we take a look at the hero image trend and several websites using it.

SEO basics: 7 tips to help search engines find your content

How can Google and other search engines better find your content? Use these 7 SEO tips to optimize a WordPress website for search.

Should you use Google AMP on your website?

Is Google AMP for you? We weigh the pros and cons here to help you decide if you should use it on your site.

Navigating WordPress navigation: 3 tips to working with menus

Having great content doesn’t do much good if your users can’t find it — that’s where your site’s menu system comes in. Some of its features may not be obvious at first glance, so here are 3 tips to help you make the most of navigation menus in WordPress.