I find that the front wheel of the bicycle is a bit too close to the blue overlay and that (by comparison) there's too much space between the back wheel of the bicycle and the left edge of the photo. How's this for an OCD reaction?
Otherwise I like the photo, especially the background.
Thanks for the feedback.
What about the "logo" ("watermark")?
Does it look OK? Like: a good idea to mark cover images with such a logo?
The logo as such seems okay, but I would probably try to make it smaller (less intrusive). In particular, it seems too big for this photo.
"A single swap file or partition may be up to 128 MB in size. [...] [I]f you need 256 MB of swap, you can create two 128-MB swap partitions." (M. Welsh & L. Kaufman, Running Linux, 2e, 1996, p. 49)
I find that the front wheel of the bicycle is a bit too close to the blue overlay and that (by comparison) there's too much space between the back wheel of the bicycle and the left edge of the photo. How's this for an OCD reaction?
Otherwise I like the photo, especially the background.
Thanks for the feedback.
What about the "logo" ("watermark")?
Does it look OK? Like: a good idea to mark cover images with such a logo?
The logo as such seems okay, but I would probably try to make it smaller (less intrusive). In particular, it seems too big for this photo.
Still not certain on the correct proportion (and design - colours etc).
Considering small article cover images, as well as YouTube video covers - especially when viewed on mobile phones.
Seriously considering making the logo take almost a 1/3 of the photo for those (all those images below are gruesome, but considering just the logo/mark).
@bikegremlin said:
Did a minor home-page re-design. I think that now it's a little more informative, and a little less ugly.
Nothing smart - just bragging.
A question, for those who aren't completely visual design-blind like I am:
I want to make a sort of a "standard (water) mark" for all the article cover pictures, and YouTube video cover-pictures.
The best I could come up with is my logo in a bottom corner, on a blue background, like this:
Does that look OK?
Any better ideas are more than welcome.
Lovely photo Otherwhisw, what @angstrom already said :P
I like the logo in the corner (both style B and the bike one). For the website I like the bike one, although I think the logo needs to be smaller as it takes up quite a bit of the main image as @angstrom said. Maybe change the background colour to be more translucent with the logo colour being bolder (different colour to black). For YT I think it need to be bigger like it is on the bike.
Never used the service - it's on my to-do list.
One of the best WP developers I know, and a good man, is now working for Cloudways.
I'd love having people like that on a tech-support call (especially if paying premium prices).
Had an interesting (at least for me) discussion in my website comments section. Directed the poster to LES, expecting more educated replies here - hadn't seen if they ever did that though.
Cloudways was on my "check out" list when I was considering a better hosting. Went with Veerotech (and they've been quite good), before taking HostMantis' "too-good-to-not-try" crazy discount (and still with them now for any "important" stuff).
Hadn't heard any complaints about them. Are they the "most-bang-for-the-buck?" Most probably not. But are they a high quality "provider?" Quotation marks because I understand they rent the "cloud infrastructure" (quotation marks again because not every option is really cloud ). "One" more quotation marks - just for laughs.
@vyas said:
Not saying Cloudways is bad- but the over aggressive pushing "try us" for a user with 10 visits /day smells of desperation.
That's capitalism. Can't really blame them.
Not my cup of tea in terms of marketing, or any kind of business (recommending what you know is not the optimal choice for the other party), but I'll never run a big company and become rich!
@vyas said:
Not saying Cloudways is bad- but the over aggressive pushing "try us" for a user with 10 visits /day smells of desperation.
that fb wordpress group is cesspool of marketing , in 2019 it was siteground , for 2020 gridpane now its cloudways. ive sent multiple feedback to point out such a activity and misleading tactics to the group admin but never got reply.
Still helping out a friend, they are not technical nor a designer so a complete site builder like Elementor, Beaver etc are not really ideal. She just needs a theme that is well supported but provides a good level of inbuilt functionality to change the layout of the pages including blog archive and so on.
She has seen two options she appears to 'like the look of'. Neave Theme and WP Astra.
Any views on these themes or an alternative?
Thanks. Also, I have to say, WP has really come a long way having played about with the most recent version. Think I might start using it again.
My personal favourites are GeneratePress and OceanWP.
Elementor is OK if used reasonably.
This is all Elementor (free version, with lots of custom code "manually" added, but still Elementor): https://gtmetrix.com/reports/www.4roomsescape.com/fk3bxFj6/
Well what she is looking at ranges between $40-$80 so I think that should pretty much cover anything. Don't need this for multiple sites, just one.
I was looking at GeneratePress, but it appeared to be a bit less visual to change/build and more code-based changes? Maybe I just didn't look close enough.
@Lee said:
Looking for some suggestions from you WP pros.
Still helping out a friend, they are not technical nor a designer so a complete site builder like Elementor, Beaver etc are not really ideal. She just needs a theme that is well supported but provides a good level of inbuilt functionality to change the layout of the pages including blog archive and so on.
She has seen two options she appears to 'like the look of'. Neave Theme and WP Astra.
Any views on these themes or an alternative?
Thanks. Also, I have to say, WP has really come a long way having played about with the most recent version. Think I might start using it again.
Tell her to have a look at Blocksy (free; paid optional, https://creativethemes.com/blocksy/ ) Lots of built-in features, super light-weigth and I recently set a friend up with Blocksy. She is also not very technical and loving it
Well what she is looking at ranges between $40-$80 so I think that should pretty much cover anything. Don't need this for multiple sites, just one.
I was looking at GeneratePress, but it appeared to be a bit less visual to change/build and more code-based changes? Maybe I just didn't look close enough.
X theme is pretty nice and if there is an offer it is budget friendly. Give it a look. I like it
I believe in good luck. Harder that I work ,luckier i get.
@Ympker said: Tell her to have a look at Blocksy (free; paid optional, https://creativethemes.com/blocksy/ ) Lots of built-in features, super light-weigth and I recently set a friend up with Blocksy. She is also not very technical and loving it
Makes me remember, I need to try GeneratePress some time again. But usability is obviously also a thing. I think for people not so fond of tech stuff Blocksy might be very easy to use. Generatepress is very good, too. Never used Ocean
Makes me remember, I need to try GeneratePress some time again. But usability is obviously also a thing. I think for people not so fond of tech stuff Blocksy might be very easy to use. Generatepress is very good, too. Never used Ocean
I've heard nothing but praises for Blocksy.
If I had more time - i'd give it a run, see if it can be better optimized.
And I completely understand the sentiment - for most webshops I go with OceanWP, even though GeneratePress is faster - because OceanWP makes the layout look "nicer to normal people" out of the box, so no need to touch anything - which saves time.
And we have a very clear winner, it's Blocksy. I am impressed with it enough that I am going to throw up a test WP install just to play around with it. Sarah is delighted, she is already got the basic set up she wants and just needs to make it 'more pretty' which she says seems easy enough. Also bought the Pro version so a win for the developer.
Thanks all as always, I credited @Ympker with the suggestion
I think she just bought the yearly single website licence, all she needs to be fair. As I mention on the other chat, she is over the moon with it, says it gives every option she wanted and does it all visually so no messing about. Quick and easy.
I think she just bought the yearly single website licence, all she needs to be fair. As I mention on the other chat, she is over the moon with it, says it gives every option she wanted and does it all visually so no messing about. Quick and easy.
Yeah, it is super straight-forward. If she needs help there is a Facebook community for it, too
@Lee I have been experimenting with the starter sites of Blocksy. Do consider sticking with the Gutenburg based templates. They are faster, 'native' to WP and starting May, google will revamp the algorithms that actually give Gutenburg a headstart over the other pagebuilders.
@vyas said: starting May, google will revamp the algorithms that actually give Gutenburg a headstart over the other pagebuilders
Google will give Gutenberg a head start? Meaning it'll give you better search engine ranking if you use Gutenberg? (I don't even use Google for searching, but I guess some people do...)
Maybe I'm a poor reader, but I've read that thread/comment and (skimmed) the linked article on 5.7, still didn't find anything on Google algorithm's ...
@flips said:
Maybe I'm a poor reader, but I've read that thread/comment and (skimmed) the linked article on 5.7, still didn't find anything on Google algorithm's ...
Ugh
Might have been a discussion in a fb group or a wp group.. from my covid clouded memory, here is
the summary version:
Under the new google ranking algorithms, some ‘native features’ like lazy loading, block support etc offer a leg up to gutenburg.
Other page builders will have to catch up
I recently install a DirectAdmin on my new VPS, I have a feeling that... Maybe I should not use Panel anymore. Panel only gave me a extra learning curve.
@elliotc said: I recently install a DirectAdmin on my new VPS, I have a feeling that... Maybe I should not use Panel anymore. panel only gave me a extra learning curve.
As much as panels are convenient they can be a hassle, it is just one more thing to learn and also cause you issues that you then have to learn how to fix. If you are just running personal sites and have a good backup solution a VPS without a panel is usually the way to go. Need mail, throw in MXRoute and so on.
I use to go for the, it's not that I can't do it, just too lazy so used a panel but I changed that last year and stopped using panels for anything personal.
So I finally got some time to try out WordPress again properly. Shit so much improved since I last really used it. The editor is remarkably good, seem to recall a lot of upset about Gutenberg when it first came out.
The free version of the Blocksy theme has more options than I have ever seen on a free theme, but maybe others do also. I did try a few random ones and got hit more or less immediately with "Get the Pro version" to do this thing you want.
I did quite a big import of dummy data and added a number of plugins (Direct Admin in a reseller account to install WP). On GTMetrix was getting pretty decent results. Although I noticed TTFB was quite long but I suspect that may have happened after I used a Google Font.
Have been using other options like Grav and getKirby recently but really thinking about spending more time with WP and maybe moving a couple of sites.
Also, Ghost 4.0 is out today, for those serious about just blogging and have an audience they really do now make it a viable money-making opportunity for those that have something interesting to say.
Indeed, perhaps I am holding on to historic prejudices with WP that in order to provide the functionality and end result you want, bloated is exactly how it will end up. I guess I just need to get on and replace a site properly with it and see what happens.
@elliotc said: I recently install a DirectAdmin on my new VPS, I have a feeling that... Maybe I should not use Panel anymore. panel only gave me a extra learning curve.
As much as panels are convenient they can be a hassle, it is just one more thing to learn and also cause you issues that you then have to learn how to fix. If you are just running personal sites and have a good backup solution a VPS without a panel is usually the way to go. Need mail, throw in MXRoute and so on.
I use to go for the, it's not that I can't do it, just too lazy so used a panel but I changed that last year and stopped using panels for anything personal.
Especially for WordPress installs just fire up LAMP> @Lee said:
Apologies another question, really getting back into WP.
Do you find it is better to run WP on a VPS/Dedi or does a shared/reseller at a decent provider not hold it back in comparison to a VPS/Dedi?
Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller provider to handle server security and the backend. I am currently with @MikePT at Hetzner's and HostMantis and performance has never been an issue. Ramnode is also great. Throw in the license savings for, say, JetBackup, Litespeed, cPanel/DA and also comodities like 1 click SSL, daily backups.. has made me stick with Shared Hosting over setting up my own VPS. You can get Shared Hosting really cheap and with a lot of nice perks without lifting a finger
@Ympker said: Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller
Yeah, I am trying to get into a mindset of trusting a shared/reseller provider for some sites so I can do exactly that, focus on the websites these days and stop being a whiny little bitch about trust. I have real trust issues when it comes to relying on other hosts since I sold my own a while back.
Although I like DA probably going to switch back to cPanel, Jetbackup only seems to provide the option of having your own external source for backups like S3. Does not appear to be available in the DA version unless I am mistaken. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable using a reseller where I have the ability to backup to my own location.
@Ympker said: Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller
Yeah, I am trying to get into a mindset of trusting a shared/reseller provider for some sites so I can do exactly that, focus on the websites these days and stop being a whiny little bitch about trust. I have real trust issues when it comes to relying on other hosts since I sold my own a while back.
Although I like DA probably going to switch back to cPanel, Jetbackup only seems to provide the option of having your own external source for backups like S3. Does not appear to be available in the DA version unless I am mistaken. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable using a reseller where I have the ability to backup to my own location.
I hear you. Very happy that, with HM reseller I can use cPanel and it has daily backups on JetBackup. Additionaly, I have scheduled weekly/monthly JetBackups remote backups to GDrive. A feature still missing for DA @MikePT is also waiting for this as much as I am probably. As for trust, just make sure to pick a well-established provider with good performance and features. Imho cant go wrong with Ramnode/HM/Mike.
@Ympker said: Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller
Yeah, I am trying to get into a mindset of trusting a shared/reseller provider for some sites so I can do exactly that, focus on the websites these days and stop being a whiny little bitch about trust. I have real trust issues when it comes to relying on other hosts since I sold my own a while back.
Although I like DA probably going to switch back to cPanel, Jetbackup only seems to provide the option of having your own external source for backups like S3. Does not appear to be available in the DA version unless I am mistaken. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable using a reseller where I have the ability to backup to my own location.
DA has in-built support for storage, but not the cheap options like Amazon, or BackBlaze.
Hetzner Box works perfectly fine, and it's not outrageously expensive, but does cost more.
@Ympker said: Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller
Yeah, I am trying to get into a mindset of trusting a shared/reseller provider for some sites so I can do exactly that, focus on the websites these days and stop being a whiny little bitch about trust. I have real trust issues when it comes to relying on other hosts since I sold my own a while back.
Although I like DA probably going to switch back to cPanel, Jetbackup only seems to provide the option of having your own external source for backups like S3. Does not appear to be available in the DA version unless I am mistaken. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable using a reseller where I have the ability to backup to my own location.
DA has in-built support for storage, but not the cheap options like Amazon, or BackBlaze.
Hetzner Box works perfectly fine, and it's not outrageously expensive, but does cost more.
Yeah, I am aware you can send them to a VPS and then to a cloud of your choice, it is just that HM has made me very comfortable with the 1 click backup to GDrive solution :P Thanks for sharing though! Nice write-up.
@Ympker said: Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller
Yeah, I am trying to get into a mindset of trusting a shared/reseller provider for some sites so I can do exactly that, focus on the websites these days and stop being a whiny little bitch about trust. I have real trust issues when it comes to relying on other hosts since I sold my own a while back.
Although I like DA probably going to switch back to cPanel, Jetbackup only seems to provide the option of having your own external source for backups like S3. Does not appear to be available in the DA version unless I am mistaken. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable using a reseller where I have the ability to backup to my own location.
DA has in-built support for storage, but not the cheap options like Amazon, or BackBlaze.
Hetzner Box works perfectly fine, and it's not outrageously expensive, but does cost more.
Yeah, I am aware you can send them to a VPS and then to a cloud of your choice, it is just that HM has made me very comfortable with the 1 click backup to GDrive solution :P Thanks for sharing though! Nice write-up.
I agree - JetBackup (and cPanel) are a lot more convenient. I prefer them.
It could even be argued that you pay more for the more expensive backup options than you save on the license costs (as a customer at least).
Me either, but the issue come from the cPanel price change.
@Lee said: As much as panels are convenient they can be a hassle, it is just one more thing to learn and also cause you issues that you then have to learn how to fix.
2 days of trial and error saved me 30 minutes of reading doc.
@bikegremlin said: I agree - JetBackup (and cPanel) are a lot more convenient. I prefer them.
It could even be argued that you pay more for the more expensive backup options than you save on the license costs (as a customer at least).
Absolutely, want to focus on sites these days now I have more time. If I use a VPS/Dedi I tinker, then I tinker so much I forget that I am supposed to be developing a site. cPanel/JetBackup really is a sweet spot solution. Both for ease of safety and quickly moving if the need arises.
What are your essential go-to plugins for WordPress these days? Caching and optimisation in particular but nice to haves that adds something to the site.
LS Cache/WP Super Cache + Flying Pages (or WP rocket) depending on your webserver. I also like to install Classic Editor to create posts and add Contact Form 7. Depending on your needs you might want to add some additional security, anti-spam and backup plugins. (Akismet, Wordfence, Jetpack, I don't use backup plugins as I backup the server as a whole.)
And not to forget, if you don't know much about SEO, a SEO plugin like Yoast (even tho it's very bloated) helps a lot.
@Lee said:
What are your essential go-to plugins for WordPress these days? Caching and optimisation in particular but nice to haves that adds something to the site.
LSCache, PasswordProtected (before goinf live, or in maintenance mode), ShortPixel for Image Optimization, SecurityNinja (free version, only on first install to further secure the wp install, then deactivate and/or uninstall), Qubely (for Gutenberg Blocks, works with Blocksy), depending on Hosting provider: UpdraftPlus. Yoast for SEO.
Here's my (minimum) list:
1. CDN: BunnyCDN or Gumlet. Both support Video now, haven't tried
2. Image Optimization: Shortpixel (not really required - you can use jpegoptim or pngoptim to compress the images before uploading. In fact, preferred for (a) above. Otherwise the SEO and pagespeed tools complain :-) https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/03/how-to-optimize-jpeg-command-line-linux )
3. "Security" : wordfence. I use it more for notifications and who is doing what. Ideally, following as many steps from below as possible : https://www.digitalocean.com/community/questions/how-to-secure-wordpress-without-a-security-plugin
There was a better article, cannot find it now.
4. Backup : All In One Backup or Updraft Plus.
5. Cache: All in one optimization, for LS servers: LS Cache, for non LS : https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-fastest-cache/
6. SEO: Rankmath. Ideally, the posts should be optimized BEFORE publishing. I use Frase.ai or Copywritely for that.
@Lee said:
What are your essential go-to plugins for WordPress these days? Caching and optimisation in particular but nice to haves that adds something to the site.
First and foremost, Backups: WPvivid.
Caching: One LiteSpeed server: LSCache for caching. If you want something simple, WP Fastest Cache.
Security: NinjaFirewall.
SEO: The SEO Framework.
Image Optimization: For a new site, Smush is a good enough option.
@vyas said:
Here's my (minimum) list:
2. Image Optimization: Shortpixel (not really required - you can use jpegoptim or pngoptim to compress the images before uploading.
Exactly this. Plugins tend to heavily compress the images and make the image look bad. Most of the times you don't know what kind of compression is used either. You are better off doing it yourself before uploading and 100% of the times it looks way better than vs a plugin optimized image.
Comments
The logo as such seems okay, but I would probably try to make it smaller (less intrusive). In particular, it seems too big for this photo.
"A single swap file or partition may be up to 128 MB in size. [...] [I]f you need 256 MB of swap, you can create two 128-MB swap partitions." (M. Welsh & L. Kaufman, Running Linux, 2e, 1996, p. 49)
Still not certain on the correct proportion (and design - colours etc).
Considering small article cover images, as well as YouTube video covers - especially when viewed on mobile phones.
Seriously considering making the logo take almost a 1/3 of the photo for those (all those images below are gruesome, but considering just the logo/mark).
🔧 BikeGremlin guides & resources
Lovely photo
Otherwhisw, what @angstrom already said :P
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
I like the logo in the corner (both style B and the bike one). For the website I like the bike one, although I think the logo needs to be smaller as it takes up quite a bit of the main image as @angstrom said. Maybe change the background colour to be more translucent with the logo colour being bolder (different colour to black). For YT I think it need to be bigger like it is on the bike.
Check out the changes with WP 5.7.
https://wordpress.org/news/2021/03/esperanza/
Big focus on Gutenburg as a strong alternative to Pagebuilders like Elementor.
blog archives
And the cloudways BS continues
blog archives
Never used the service - it's on my to-do list.
One of the best WP developers I know, and a good man, is now working for Cloudways.
I'd love having people like that on a tech-support call (especially if paying premium prices).
Had an interesting (at least for me) discussion in my website comments section. Directed the poster to LES, expecting more educated replies here - hadn't seen if they ever did that though.
Cloudways was on my "check out" list when I was considering a better hosting. Went with Veerotech (and they've been quite good), before taking HostMantis' "too-good-to-not-try" crazy discount (and still with them now for any "important" stuff).
Hadn't heard any complaints about them. Are they the "most-bang-for-the-buck?" Most probably not. But are they a high quality "provider?" Quotation marks because I understand they rent the "cloud infrastructure" (quotation marks again because not every option is really cloud
). "One" more quotation marks - just for laughs. 
🔧 BikeGremlin guides & resources
Not saying Cloudways is bad- but the over aggressive pushing "try us" for a user with 10 visits /day smells of desperation.
blog archives
That's capitalism. Can't really blame them.
Not my cup of tea in terms of marketing, or any kind of business (recommending what you know is not the optimal choice for the other party), but I'll never run a big company and become rich!
🔧 BikeGremlin guides & resources
that fb wordpress group is cesspool of marketing , in 2019 it was siteground , for 2020 gridpane now its cloudways. ive sent multiple feedback to point out such a activity and misleading tactics to the group admin but never got reply.
Looking for some suggestions from you WP pros.
Still helping out a friend, they are not technical nor a designer so a complete site builder like Elementor, Beaver etc are not really ideal. She just needs a theme that is well supported but provides a good level of inbuilt functionality to change the layout of the pages including blog archive and so on.
She has seen two options she appears to 'like the look of'. Neave Theme and WP Astra.
Any views on these themes or an alternative?
Thanks. Also, I have to say, WP has really come a long way having played about with the most recent version. Think I might start using it again.
What's the budget?
What layout and functionality is required?
I wrote a general guide on good relatively decent theme">how to pick a good relatively decent theme.
My personal favourites are GeneratePress and OceanWP.
Elementor is OK if used reasonably.
This is all Elementor (free version, with lots of custom code "manually" added, but still Elementor):
https://gtmetrix.com/reports/www.4roomsescape.com/fk3bxFj6/
🔧 BikeGremlin guides & resources
Well what she is looking at ranges between $40-$80 so I think that should pretty much cover anything. Don't need this for multiple sites, just one.
I was looking at GeneratePress, but it appeared to be a bit less visual to change/build and more code-based changes? Maybe I just didn't look close enough.
Tell her to have a look at Blocksy (free; paid optional, https://creativethemes.com/blocksy/ )
Lots of built-in features, super light-weigth and I recently set a friend up with Blocksy. She is also not very technical and loving it 
She is using Qubely Blocks (free) along with it.
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
X theme is pretty nice and if there is an offer it is budget friendly. Give it a look. I like it
I believe in good luck. Harder that I work ,luckier i get.
Thanks, this is looking more like her thing.
Same site, same page, same server:
Blocksy GTmetrix
GeneratePress GTmetrix
OceanWP GTmetrix
🔧 BikeGremlin guides & resources
Makes me remember, I need to try GeneratePress some time again. But usability is obviously also a thing. I think for people not so fond of tech stuff Blocksy might be very easy to use. Generatepress is very good, too. Never used Ocean
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
I've heard nothing but praises for Blocksy.
If I had more time - i'd give it a run, see if it can be better optimized.
And I completely understand the sentiment - for most webshops I go with OceanWP, even though GeneratePress is faster - because OceanWP makes the layout look "nicer to normal people" out of the box, so no need to touch anything - which saves time.
🔧 BikeGremlin guides & resources
And we have a very clear winner, it's Blocksy. I am impressed with it enough that I am going to throw up a test WP install just to play around with it. Sarah is delighted, she is already got the basic set up she wants and just needs to make it 'more pretty' which she says seems easy enough. Also bought the Pro version so a win for the developer.
Thanks all as always, I credited @Ympker with the suggestion
Glad to hear I could help
Yeah, it's pretty nice huh?
Pro version lifetime or yearly?
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
I think she just bought the yearly single website licence, all she needs to be fair. As I mention on the other chat, she is over the moon with it, says it gives every option she wanted and does it all visually so no messing about. Quick and easy.
Yeah, it is super straight-forward. If she needs help there is a Facebook community for it, too
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
Good recommendation with Blocksy @Ympker
@Lee I have been experimenting with the starter sites of Blocksy. Do consider sticking with the Gutenburg based templates. They are faster, 'native' to WP and starting May, google will revamp the algorithms that actually give Gutenburg a headstart over the other pagebuilders.
blog archives
Google will give Gutenberg a head start? Meaning it'll give you better search engine ranking if you use Gutenberg? (I don't even use Google for searching, but I guess some people do...)
Gutenberg versus page builders post wp5.7
https://talk.lowendspirit.com/discussion/comment/58545/#Comment_58545
blog archives
Maybe I'm a poor reader, but I've read that thread/comment and (skimmed) the linked article on 5.7, still didn't find anything on Google algorithm's ...
Ugh
Might have been a discussion in a fb group or a wp group.. from my covid clouded memory, here is
the summary version:
Under the new google ranking algorithms, some ‘native features’ like lazy loading, block support etc offer a leg up to gutenburg.
Other page builders will have to catch up
blog archives
Ok, so mainly due to performance for ranking ...
I recently install a DirectAdmin on my new VPS, I have a feeling that... Maybe I should not use Panel anymore. Panel only gave me a extra learning curve.
Action and Reaction in history
As much as panels are convenient they can be a hassle, it is just one more thing to learn and also cause you issues that you then have to learn how to fix. If you are just running personal sites and have a good backup solution a VPS without a panel is usually the way to go. Need mail, throw in MXRoute and so on.
I use to go for the, it's not that I can't do it, just too lazy so used a panel but I changed that last year and stopped using panels for anything personal.
So I finally got some time to try out WordPress again properly. Shit so much improved since I last really used it. The editor is remarkably good, seem to recall a lot of upset about Gutenberg when it first came out.
The free version of the Blocksy theme has more options than I have ever seen on a free theme, but maybe others do also. I did try a few random ones and got hit more or less immediately with "Get the Pro version" to do this thing you want.
I did quite a big import of dummy data and added a number of plugins (Direct Admin in a reseller account to install WP). On GTMetrix was getting pretty decent results. Although I noticed TTFB was quite long but I suspect that may have happened after I used a Google Font.
Have been using other options like Grav and getKirby recently but really thinking about spending more time with WP and maybe moving a couple of sites.
Also, Ghost 4.0 is out today, for those serious about just blogging and have an audience they really do now make it a viable money-making opportunity for those that have something interesting to say.
Apologies another question, really getting back into WP.
Do you find it is better to run WP on a VPS/Dedi or does a shared/reseller at a decent provider not hold it back in comparison to a VPS/Dedi?
Depending on how bloated you make it, it works pretty smoothly on shared hosting.
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Indeed, perhaps I am holding on to historic prejudices with WP that in order to provide the functionality and end result you want, bloated is exactly how it will end up. I guess I just need to get on and replace a site properly with it and see what happens.
Especially for WordPress installs just fire up LAMP> @Lee said:
Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller provider to handle server security and the backend. I am currently with @MikePT at Hetzner's and HostMantis and performance has never been an issue. Ramnode is also great. Throw in the license savings for, say, JetBackup, Litespeed, cPanel/DA and also comodities like 1 click SSL, daily backups.. has made me stick with Shared Hosting over setting up my own VPS. You can get Shared Hosting really cheap and with a lot of nice perks without lifting a finger
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
Yeah, I am trying to get into a mindset of trusting a shared/reseller provider for some sites so I can do exactly that, focus on the websites these days and stop being a whiny little bitch about trust. I have real trust issues when it comes to relying on other hosts since I sold my own a while back.
Although I like DA probably going to switch back to cPanel, Jetbackup only seems to provide the option of having your own external source for backups like S3. Does not appear to be available in the DA version unless I am mistaken. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable using a reseller where I have the ability to backup to my own location.
I typically do the following:
Development site on VPS, typically using Webinoly or Gridpane.
Production site once optimized... shared or VPS (With Gridpane) depending on the purpose.
While we are on the topic, a short video I had made a few months ago.
https://img.gaatha.co/fWT6IJ
And my favourite: Webinoly
https://img.gaatha.co/5SHsb5
blog archives
I hear you. Very happy that, with HM reseller I can use cPanel and it has daily backups on JetBackup. Additionaly, I have scheduled weekly/monthly JetBackups remote backups to GDrive. A feature still missing for DA
@MikePT is also waiting for this as much as I am probably. As for trust, just make sure to pick a well-established provider with good performance and features. Imho cant go wrong with Ramnode/HM/Mike.
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
DA has in-built support for storage, but not the cheap options like Amazon, or BackBlaze.
Hetzner Box works perfectly fine, and it's not outrageously expensive, but does cost more.
DirectAdmin automated remote backup configuration
🔧 BikeGremlin guides & resources
Yeah, I am aware you can send them to a VPS and then to a cloud of your choice, it is just that HM has made me very comfortable with the 1 click backup to GDrive solution :P Thanks for sharing though! Nice write-up.
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
I agree - JetBackup (and cPanel) are a lot more convenient. I prefer them.
It could even be argued that you pay more for the more expensive backup options than you save on the license costs (as a customer at least).
🔧 BikeGremlin guides & resources
Me either, but the issue come from the cPanel price change.
2 days of trial and error saved me 30 minutes of reading doc.
Action and Reaction in history
Absolutely, want to focus on sites these days now I have more time. If I use a VPS/Dedi I tinker, then I tinker so much I forget that I am supposed to be developing a site. cPanel/JetBackup really is a sweet spot solution. Both for ease of safety and quickly moving if the need arises.
What are your essential go-to plugins for WordPress these days? Caching and optimisation in particular but nice to haves that adds something to the site.
LS Cache/WP Super Cache + Flying Pages (or WP rocket) depending on your webserver. I also like to install Classic Editor to create posts and add Contact Form 7. Depending on your needs you might want to add some additional security, anti-spam and backup plugins. (Akismet, Wordfence, Jetpack, I don't use backup plugins as I backup the server as a whole.)
And not to forget, if you don't know much about SEO, a SEO plugin like Yoast (even tho it's very bloated) helps a lot.
LSCache, PasswordProtected (before goinf live, or in maintenance mode), ShortPixel for Image Optimization, SecurityNinja (free version, only on first install to further secure the wp install, then deactivate and/or uninstall), Qubely (for Gutenberg Blocks, works with Blocksy), depending on Hosting provider: UpdraftPlus. Yoast for SEO.
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
Here's my (minimum) list:
1. CDN: BunnyCDN or Gumlet. Both support Video now, haven't tried
2. Image Optimization: Shortpixel (not really required - you can use jpegoptim or pngoptim to compress the images before uploading. In fact, preferred for (a) above. Otherwise the SEO and pagespeed tools complain :-) https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/03/how-to-optimize-jpeg-command-line-linux )
3. "Security" : wordfence. I use it more for notifications and who is doing what. Ideally, following as many steps from below as possible : https://www.digitalocean.com/community/questions/how-to-secure-wordpress-without-a-security-plugin
There was a better article, cannot find it now.
4. Backup : All In One Backup or Updraft Plus.
5. Cache: All in one optimization, for LS servers: LS Cache, for non LS : https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-fastest-cache/
6. SEO: Rankmath. Ideally, the posts should be optimized BEFORE publishing. I use Frase.ai or Copywritely for that.
I have a longer list of Free, Paid and Freemium plugins that I typically use. I prefer the latter two : https://amarvyas.in/most-common-plugins-wordpress-sites/
blog archives
First and foremost, Backups: WPvivid.
Caching: One LiteSpeed server: LSCache for caching. If you want something simple, WP Fastest Cache.
Security: NinjaFirewall.
SEO: The SEO Framework.
Image Optimization: For a new site, Smush is a good enough option.
Have you tried turning it off and on again?Exactly this. Plugins tend to heavily compress the images and make the image look bad. Most of the times you don't know what kind of compression is used either. You are better off doing it yourself before uploading and 100% of the times it looks way better than vs a plugin optimized image.