WordPress SEO: A Beginner’s Guide to Optimizing Your Site

If you’re running a website or blog on WordPress, you likely want it to be found by as many people as possible.

One way to achieve this is through search engine optimization (SEO), which involves optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of SEO and show you how to optimize your WordPress site for better rankings.

Table of Contents

  1. Understanding the basics of SEO
  2. Keyword research: Finding the right keywords for your site
  3. On-page optimization: How to optimize your site’s content
  4. Technical SEO: Improving your site’s structure and performance
  5. Off-page optimization: Building backlinks to your site
  6. Local SEO: Optimizing for local search results
  7. Measuring and tracking your SEO success
  8. Common SEO mistakes to avoid
  9. Tips for staying up-to-date with SEO best practices
  10. Conclusion
  11. FAQs

1. Understanding the basics of SEO

SEO is the practice of optimizing your website to improve its visibility and ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs).

When someone types a query into a search engine like Google, the search engine uses complex algorithms to determine which websites are the most relevant and useful for that query.

By optimizing your website for specific keywords and following best practices for on-page and off-page optimization, you can improve your website’s chances of ranking higher in the SERPs.

2. Keyword research: Finding the right keywords for your site

Keyword research is the process of identifying the keywords and phrases that people use to search for information related to your site.

By targeting these keywords in your content, you can improve your chances of ranking higher in the SERPs for those searches.

There are many tools available to help with keyword research, including Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and SEMrush.

3. On-page optimization: How to optimize your site’s content

On-page optimization involves optimizing your website’s content to make it more search engine friendly.

This includes things like optimizing your meta tags (title, description, and header tags), using internal and external links, and ensuring your content is high quality and relevant to your target audience.

You should also make sure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly, as these factors can also affect your ranking in the SERPs.

4. Technical SEO: Improving your site’s structure and performance

Technical SEO involves optimizing your website’s structure and performance to make it more search engine friendly.

This includes things like optimizing your website’s URL structure, ensuring your website is secure (using HTTPS), and optimizing your website’s images and videos for faster loading times.

You should also make sure your website is easy to navigate and has a clear hierarchy of pages and content.

5. Off-page optimization: Building backlinks to your site

Off-page optimization involves building backlinks (links from other websites to your site) to improve your website’s authority and ranking in the SERPs.

This can be done through things like guest posting, creating high-quality content that others will want to link to, and building relationships with other bloggers and website owners in your niche.

6. Local SEO: Optimizing for local search results

Local SEO involves optimizing your website to appear in local search results for keywords related to your business or location.

This can be done through things like optimizing your Google My Business listing, ensuring your website is listed in local directories, and creating location-specific content.

7. Measuring and tracking your SEO success

To ensure your SEO efforts are paying off, it’s important to measure and track your website’s performance in the SERPs.

This can be done using tools like Google Analytics, which can show you how much traffic your website is getting and where it’s coming from, as well as tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush, which can show you how your website is ranking for specific keywords and how your competitors are performing.

8. Common SEO mistakes to avoid

There are several common SEO mistakes that website owners make that can hurt their website’s ranking in the SERPs.

These include keyword stuffing (using too many keywords in your content), using duplicate content, neglecting mobile optimization, and not paying attention to on-page SEO factors like meta tags and header tags.

9. Tips for staying up-to-date with SEO best practices

SEO is constantly evolving, so it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest best practices and techniques.

One way to do this is by following reputable SEO blogs and websites, such as Moz, Search Engine Land, and Ahrefs.

You can also attend industry events and conferences, and join online communities and forums to stay informed about the latest trends and developments in SEO.

10. Conclusion

Improving your WordPress site’s visibility in search engines requires a combination of on-page and off-page optimization techniques, as well as a focus on technical SEO factors like website structure and performance. By following the best practices outlined in this guide, you can improve your website’s chances of ranking higher in the SERPs and driving more traffic to your site.

11. FAQs

Q: How long does it take to see results from SEO?
A: It can take several weeks or even months to see the full effects of SEO, as search engines take time to index and rank new content.

Q: Do I need to hire an SEO professional to optimize my site?
A: While it’s not necessary to hire an SEO professional, it can be helpful if you’re not familiar with SEO best practices or don’t have the time to devote to optimizing your site.

Q: Can I do SEO myself?
A: Yes, with the right knowledge and tools, it’s possible to do SEO yourself. However, it can be time-consuming and requires ongoing effort to maintain.

Q: What is the difference between on-page and off-page SEO?
A: On-page SEO involves optimizing your website’s content and structure, while off-page SEO involves building backlinks and improving your website’s authority and reputation.

Q: How often should I update my website’s content for SEO?
A: It’s a good idea to update your website’s content regularly, both for SEO purposes and to keep your audience engaged. Aim to publish new content at least once a week, if possible.

Opinion April 28, 2023

How to Remove Malware from WordPress Sites

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world. With its user-friendly interface and vast library of plugins and themes, it’s no wonder why so many website owners choose WordPress to power their online presence. However, this popularity also makes WordPress a prime target for hackers, and if your site is not properly secured, it could be vulnerable to malware attacks.

Malware is malicious software that is designed to damage or disrupt computer systems. When it comes to WordPress sites, malware can take the form of viruses, trojans, worms, and other types of malicious code. If your site has been infected with malware, it can cause a range of problems, including slow performance, data loss, and even complete site shutdown.

But don’t worry, in this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to take in order to clean your site from malware and protect it from future attacks.

Table of Contents

  1. Understanding Malware
  2. Signs of Malware Infection
  3. How Malware Gets into Your WordPress Site
  4. Steps to Remove Malware from Your WordPress Site
    1. Backup Your Site
    2. Scan Your Site for Malware
    3. Identify and Remove Malicious Code
    4. Update Your WordPress Core, Plugins, and Themes
    5. Reset Your Passwords
    6. Reinstall WordPress
    7. Add Security Plugins
  5. Tips to Prevent Malware Infections in the Future
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQs

Understanding Malware

Malware is a type of software that is specifically designed to harm your computer, steal your data, or cause other types of damage. Malware can take many different forms, including viruses, trojans, worms, and ransomware. Malware is typically spread through email attachments, downloads, or infected websites.

In the case of WordPress sites, malware can be introduced through vulnerabilities in the core software, plugins, or themes. Hackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access to your site and inject malicious code.

Signs of Malware Infection

If your site has been infected with malware, there are a few common signs to look out for:

  • Your site is running slowly or is unresponsive
  • Your site has been flagged as dangerous by Google or other security tools
  • Your site is redirecting to other sites or spammy content
  • Your site is displaying pop-ups or other unwanted ads
  • Your site is sending spam emails

If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to take immediate action to clean your site.

How Malware Gets into Your WordPress Site

There are many ways that malware can get into your WordPress site. Some of the most common methods include:

  • Outdated software: If you’re running an outdated version of WordPress, plugins, or themes, you may be vulnerable to security exploits that can introduce malware.
  • Weak passwords: If your WordPress admin password is weak or easily guessable, hackers can gain access to your site and inject malware.
  • Unsecured plugins: Not all plugins are created equal, and some may have vulnerabilities that can be exploited to introduce malware to your site.
  • Unsecured themes: Similarly, some themes may have vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers.
  • Infected computers: If you use a computer that has been infected with malware, it can spread to your site if you log in to your WordPress admin panel from that computer.

Steps to Remove Malware from Your WordPress Site

If your site has been infected with malware, it’s important to take immediate action to clean it up. Here are the steps to take:

1. Backup Your Site

Backing up your site regularly is important in case something goes wrong during the malware removal process. It’s a good idea to create a backup before making any changes to your site. That way, if something goes wrong, you can easily restore your site to its previous state.

There are a few ways to backup your WordPress site, including using a plugin, backing up your site through your web host, or manually creating a backup. Whichever method you choose, make sure you store your backup in a safe and secure location, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage service.

Once you have created a backup, you can proceed with removing the malware from your site.

2. Scan Your Site for Malware

Before you start cleaning up your site, you’ll want to scan it to identify all the malware that needs to be removed. There are many WordPress security plugins that can help with this, such as Wordfence or Sucuri. These plugins will scan your site and identify any malicious code that needs to be removed.

3. Identify and Remove Malicious Code

Once you’ve identified the malware on your site, you’ll need to remove it. This can be a difficult process, as malware can be hidden in many different places, including your theme files, plugin files, and even your WordPress core files. You can use the information provided by the security plugin to identify where the malware is located, and then manually remove the code from those files.

4. Update Your WordPress Core, Plugins, and Themes

Outdated software is one of the most common ways that malware gets into WordPress sites. To prevent future infections, it’s important to keep your WordPress core, plugins, and themes up to date. You can do this by regularly checking for updates in your WordPress dashboard and installing them as soon as they become available.

5. Reset Your Passwords

If your site has been infected with malware, it’s possible that your WordPress admin password has been compromised. To prevent future attacks, you should reset your password and make sure that it is strong and secure. This means using a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoiding easily guessable phrases or words.

6. Reinstall WordPress

In some cases, the malware on your site may be so deeply embedded that it’s difficult to remove completely. If this is the case, you may need to reinstall WordPress from scratch. This will wipe your site clean and give you a fresh start. Just be sure to backup your content and data before doing this.

7. Add Security Plugins

To further protect your site from future malware infections, you can add additional security plugins to your WordPress site. These plugins can help to detect and prevent malware, as well as provide additional security features such as two-factor authentication and login lockdowns.

Tips to Prevent Malware Infections in the Future

In addition to the steps outlined above, there are a few additional tips that can help you prevent malware infections in the future:

  • Use strong passwords for all accounts
  • Keep your WordPress core, plugins, and themes up to date
  • Only download plugins and themes from reputable sources
  • Use a security plugin to scan your site regularly
  • Install an SSL certificate to encrypt data on your site

Conclusion

Removing malware from your WordPress site can be a time-consuming and frustrating process. However, by following the steps outlined in this guide, you can clean your site and prevent future infections. Remember to keep your site up to date, use strong passwords, and use security plugins to keep your site secure.

FAQs

  1. Can malware infect my site if I’m using a security plugin?
    • While security plugins can help prevent malware infections, they are not foolproof. It’s important to use a combination of security measures to protect your site.
  2. How can I tell if my site has been infected with malware?
    • Common signs of malware infections include slow performance, redirects, and spammy content. You can also use a security plugin to scan your site for malware.
  3. Can I remove malware from my site myself, or do I need to hire a professional?
    • If you have experience with WordPress and website security, you may be able to remove malware yourself. However, it’s often best to hire a professional to ensure that all malware is removed and your site is properly secured.
  4. How often should I scan my site for malware?
    • It’s a good idea to scan your site for malware on a regular basis, such as once a week or once a month. This can help you catch any potential infections early and prevent them from causing serious damage to your site
  5. What should I do if my site is infected with malware?
    • If your site is infected with malware, you should take immediate action to remove it. Follow the steps outlined in this guide, and consider hiring a professional if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself.
  6. How can I prevent my site from getting infected with malware in the first place?
    • Keeping your WordPress core, plugins, and themes up to date, using strong passwords, and only downloading plugins and themes from reputable sources can all help to prevent malware infections. Additionally, using a security plugin to scan your site regularly and adding additional security measures such as two-factor authentication can also help keep your site secure.

Remember, keeping your WordPress site secure is an ongoing process. By following the steps outlined in this guide and taking steps to prevent future infections, you can help protect your site and keep it safe from malicious attacks. Don’t wait until it’s too late – take action today to secure your WordPress site.

Security April 27, 2023

How to Secure Your WordPress Site: Tips and Best Practices

WordPress is one of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMS) in the world, with millions of websites relying on it to power their online presence. However, with great popularity comes great responsibility. WordPress sites are often targeted by hackers and cybercriminals, who exploit vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to the website, steal sensitive data, or even take control of the entire site. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best practices and tips to secure your WordPress site and prevent it from becoming a victim of cyber-attacks.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Keep WordPress Up to Date
  3. Use Strong Passwords
  4. Limit Login Attempts
  5. Change the Default Admin Username
  6. Use SSL Encryption
  7. Disable File Editing
  8. Use Security Plugins
  9. Backup Your Site Regularly
  10. Limit Access to the WordPress Admin Area
  11. Use a Web Application Firewall
  12. Monitor Your Site for Suspicious Activity
  13. Be Careful with Plugins and Themes
  14. Conclusion
  15. FAQs

1. Introduction

Security should be a top priority for any website owner, especially if you’re running a WordPress site. Hackers and cybercriminals are always on the lookout for vulnerabilities to exploit, and WordPress sites are a prime target. However, by following some best practices and tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of a security breach and protect your site’s integrity and reputation.

2. Keep WordPress Up to Date

One of the easiest and most effective ways to secure your WordPress site is to keep it up to date. WordPress releases regular updates that fix security vulnerabilities, bugs, and other issues. By keeping your site updated, you ensure that your site is protected against the latest threats and that it runs smoothly.

To update your WordPress site, log in to your admin panel, navigate to the Dashboard, and click on the “Updates” link. From there, you can see if there are any available updates for WordPress, themes, or plugins, and update them with just a few clicks.

3. Use Strong Passwords

Another essential security practice is to use strong passwords for all user accounts on your WordPress site. Weak passwords are easy to guess or crack, making it simple for hackers to gain access to your site. Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to create a strong and unique password for each user account.

Avoid using common passwords like “password,” “123456,” or your name or birthdate. Instead, use a password manager to generate and store strong passwords securely. You can also enforce strong passwords for all users on your site by using a plugin like “Force Strong Passwords.”

4. Limit Login Attempts

Hackers often use brute force attacks to gain access to WordPress sites by trying multiple combinations of usernames and passwords until they get the correct one. To prevent this, you can limit the number of login attempts allowed on your site. By default, WordPress allows unlimited login attempts, which makes it easy for hackers to keep trying until they succeed.

You can use a plugin like “Limit Login Attempts” to limit the number of login attempts from a specific IP address. Once the limit is reached, the plugin blocks further attempts from that IP address for a specific period.

5. Change the Default Admin Username

The default admin username for WordPress is “admin,” which makes it easy for hackers to target your site. If you’re still using the default admin username, you should change it immediately. Use a unique username that’s difficult to guess, and avoid using your name or any personal information.

To change the admin username, create a new user account with administrator privileges, log out of the old admin account, log in with the new account, delete the old admin account, and assign all its content to the new account.

6. Use SSL Encryption

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption is a security protocol that encrypts data transmitted between a user’s browser and a web server. SSL helps protect sensitive information, such as login credentials and payment details, from being intercepted by hackers.

To use SSL encryption on your WordPress site, you need to install an SSL certificate. Many web hosts offer free SSL certificates, or you can purchase one from a trusted SSL provider. Once you have an SSL certificate, you need to configure your site to use HTTPS instead of HTTP.

7. Disable File Editing

By default, WordPress allows users to edit theme and plugin files from the WordPress admin panel. While this feature can be useful for developers, it can also be a security risk. If a hacker gains access to your site’s admin panel, they can modify the code to gain unauthorized access or cause damage to your site.

To disable file editing, add the following code to your site’s wp-config.php file:

define( 'DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true );

8. Use Security Plugins

There are many security plugins available for WordPress that can help you secure your site. Some popular options include Wordfence, Sucuri Security, and iThemes Security. These plugins offer features like malware scanning, firewall protection, and brute force attack prevention.

Before installing a security plugin, be sure to read reviews and check the plugin’s compatibility with your site’s theme and other plugins.

9. Backup Your Site Regularly

Backing up your WordPress site regularly is essential to protect your site’s data and content. If your site is compromised, you can use a backup to restore your site to its previous state. Many web hosts offer automatic backups, but it’s also a good idea to create your own backups regularly.

You can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus to create backups of your WordPress site and store them in a secure location.

10. Limit Access to the WordPress Admin Area

Limiting access to the WordPress admin area is another effective way to secure your site. You can use a plugin like “WP Limit Login Attempts” to restrict access to the login page and admin panel to specific IP addresses.

You can also use two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to your site. Two-factor authentication requires users to enter a code sent to their mobile device or email address in addition to their password to log in to the site.

11. Use a Web Application Firewall

A web application firewall (WAF) is a type of firewall that filters and blocks malicious traffic to your site. A WAF can protect your site against common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

Some web hosts offer a WAF as part of their hosting package, but you can also use a plugin like “Cloudflare” to add a WAF to your site.

12. Monitor Your Site for Suspicious Activity

It’s important to monitor your WordPress site regularly for any suspicious activity, such as unauthorized login attempts or unusual file changes. You can use a plugin like “Sucuri Security” to monitor your site and receive alerts if any suspicious activity is detected.

13. Be Careful with Plugins and Themes

Plugins and themes can add functionality and customization to your WordPress site, but they can also be a security risk. Some plugins and themes contain vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers. To minimize the risk, only install plugins and themes from trusted sources and keep them up to date.

You should also delete any unused plugins and themes from your site to reduce the attack surface.

14. Conclusion

Securing your WordPress site should be a top priority for any website owner. By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can significantly reduce the risk of your site being hacked or compromised.

From keeping your WordPress site and plugins up to date, to using strong passwords and limiting access to the admin area, there are many steps you can take to secure your site. Additionally, using security plugins, SSL encryption, and backups can add an extra layer of protection.

Remember to always be vigilant and monitor your site regularly for any suspicious activity. With these tips and best practices, you can ensure that your WordPress site stays secure and protected.

15. FAQs

  1. Can I use a free SSL certificate for my WordPress site?
    Yes, many web hosts offer free SSL certificates that you can use to encrypt your site’s traffic.
  2. Is it important to use a web application firewall for my WordPress site?
    Yes, a web application firewall can help protect your site against common attacks and block malicious traffic.
  3. How often should I backup my WordPress site?
    It’s a good idea to backup your WordPress site at least once a week, or more frequently if you make frequent updates or changes.
  4. Can I use a security plugin and a web application firewall together?
    Yes, using both a security plugin and a web application firewall can provide comprehensive protection for your WordPress site.
  5. Is it safe to use free plugins and themes on my WordPress site?
    Not all free plugins and themes are safe, so it’s important to only use plugins and themes from trusted sources and keep them up to date.
Security April 26, 2023

How to Backup Your WordPress Site: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you worried about losing all your website data? Have you ever experienced losing important data due to a technical issue or a cyber-attack? Backing up your website is an important step to ensure that your data is safe and secure. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how to backup your WordPress site.

Introduction

In this section, we will discuss the importance of backing up your WordPress site and the consequences of not doing so. We will also introduce the different types of backups.

Why is it important to backup your WordPress site?

Backing up your WordPress site is crucial as it protects you against data loss due to various reasons such as cyber-attacks, human error, or technical failures. In case of any data loss, a backup will help you restore your website to its previous state.

Consequences of not backing up your WordPress site

Not backing up your website can lead to irreversible damage in case of data loss. If your website is hacked, your data can be stolen, and your website can be shut down. Moreover, you can lose your website’s search engine rankings, customers, and revenue.

Types of backups

There are two types of backups: manual and automatic backups. Manual backups involve copying your website files and database to an external device or cloud storage manually. Automatic backups are taken by a plugin or hosting service on a regular basis.

How to Backup Your WordPress Site

In this section, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to backup your WordPress site manually and automatically. We will also discuss the best backup plugins and hosting services.

Manual Backups

Step 1: Create a backup folder

Create a backup folder on your computer or an external device.

Step 2: Backup WordPress files

Copy all your WordPress files to the backup folder. You can use an FTP client or the file manager in your hosting account to download the files.

Step 3: Backup WordPress database

Export your WordPress database using a tool like phpMyAdmin or a WordPress plugin like WP-DB-Backup. Save the database backup file to the backup folder.

Step 4: Store the backup file

Store the backup file in a safe place, such as an external device or a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Automatic Backups

Step 1: Choose a backup plugin or hosting service

Choose a reliable backup plugin or hosting service that offers automatic backups.

Step 2: Install and configure the plugin or hosting service

Install and configure the plugin or hosting service according to the instructions provided.

Step 3: Choose backup frequency

Choose the backup frequency that suits your needs. It is recommended to take daily backups.

Step 4: Store the backup file

Store the backup file in a safe place, such as an external device or a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Best Backup Plugins and Hosting Services

Backup Plugins

  • UpdraftPlus
  • Jetpack
  • BackupBuddy

Hosting Services

  • SiteGround
  • Bluehost
  • WP Engine

Conclusion

Backing up your WordPress site is an important step to ensure that your data is safe and secure. In this article, we have provided a comprehensive guide on how to backup your WordPress site manually and automatically. We have also discussed the best backup plugins and hosting services. By following this guide, you can ensure that your website is protected against data loss.

FAQs

  1. What is the best backup frequency for my WordPress site?
  • It is recommended to take daily backups.
  1. Can I backup my WordPress site for free?
  • Yes, you can use free backup plugins or hosting services, but it is recommended to use a premium service for better performance and support.
  1. Can I backup my WordPress site manually without a plugin or hosting service?
  • Yes, you can backup your WordPress site manually by copying your website files and database to an external device or cloud storage manually.
  1. How often should I test my backup?
  • It is recommended to test your backup regularly to ensure that it is working properly. You can test your backup by restoring it on a test site or a local server.
  1. How can I restore my WordPress site from a backup?
  • You can restore your WordPress site from a backup by uploading the backup files and database to your hosting account or by using a backup plugin that offers a restore feature.
Tutorials April 26, 2023

A Checklist to Develop a Customer Service Portal Using WordPress

From startups to enterprises, customer experience has taken a center stage in the business world. It plays a significant role in consistent business growth and success.

Customer service portals are the primary resources that provide customers with all the information and help them resolve their queries without assistance from the customer support team. This centralized portal is like a go-to platform for customers when they encounter problems. In fact, 84% of customers prefer using customer portals over speaking to a customer support agent. 

Customer service portals empower customers to be self-reliant and independent. Being available for customers 24*7, these portals enhance customer satisfaction and build their loyalty to the brand.

WordPress is one of the best content management systems to develop a customer service portal. It is easy to set up and secure. It offers multiple compact and user-friendly choices for website themes. 

WordPress also offers countless plugins and widgets for website customization and helps with SEO. All these features make it the best choice for creating your customer service portal. 

This article shares the ultimate checklist of customer service portal must-haves. Read on to find out more. 

The Ultimate Checklist of Every Customer Service Portal

#1. Choose a Domain

In simple words, a domain is the address or location of a website on the internet that helps users locate it with ease. Like the company website, the customer service portal needs to have a unique domain address so that it can be easily accessed by customers. 

There are two ways in which you can set up a domain address for the customer service portal.

  • Using a subdomain

Subdomain helps in separating the website into various sections. It can be an entirely different website. For example, many companies use a subdomain for their careers site or the company blog.

We have also used a subdomain to host our support forum. 

Themely subdomain

Source

  • Using a subfolder

Subfolders (also referred to as subdirectories) work like traditional file storage systems. Every folder contains some web pages that are a part of the website.

The Themely blog is an example of a subfolder system.

Themely subfolder

 

Source

Choose the desired naming system for the customer service portal while considering customer experience and website SEO.

#2. Install a Theme 

Choose a relevant theme from among the list of available themes. Customize the look and feel of the customer portal per your brand theme. WordPress themes by Themely are professional-looking and easy to customize.

Here are a few considerations when choosing the best theme for the customer service portal.

 

  • Responsive design – The portal should be accessible and perform well across various devices, such as laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and more. 
  • Browser compatibility – The theme must be compatible with different browsers irrespective of their version numbers. 
  • Social sharing features – Customers should be able to share portal content with others on social media, email, or any other communication medium.
  • SEO – The portal must be optimized for SEO. This includes content readability, sitemap, site speed, and other aspects. For example, the portal pages must contain a relevant URL or slug, just like blog posts. 
  • Security and support – The theme must be secure. The theme developers must provide adequate support in case you’re facing any issues. Hence, look up theme reviews online before installing it.

#3. Create Portal Pages

Based on the industry and audience you cater to, design a customer service portal that provides customers with product information, step-by-step tutorials, FAQs, and more.  

An effective customer service portal consists of the following pages. Customize these pages according to your requirements to provide exceptional customer service.

  •  Contact Form

The portal must contain a compact contact form that customers can use to submit queries, requests, or feedback without any hassles. Contact forms protect the email inbox from spam messages. It provides customers with a direct means to connect with the business by providing all the essential information.  

WordPress offers many plugins for installing contact forms on websites. These plugins can be configured to send these messages to your email inbox. 

To prevent such messages from landing up in the spam count on a customer service software like Hiver. The platform integrates with the email inbox seamlessly to deliver crucial customer messages to you on time. This smart Gmail add-on helps you handle all customer or visitor conversations seamlessly without the loss of any information. 

  • Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs offer a quick resolution to customer queries, thereby ensuring enhanced customer experiences. Instead of spending time answering emails or responding to comments or messages on social media, set up an FAQ page on the customer service portal and save your customer support team’s time. 

A well-written FAQ page contains short and sharp answers to customer questions and are presented in a clean layout. Here is an example of one of the best FAQ pages.

Airbnb Help Center

Source

So, what should you include in the FAQ page?

  • Include the most common questions your customers often ask about product/service usage, pricing models, business hours, and more.
  • Write the FAQs in question-and-answer format from the point of view of the customers in simple language. 
  • Start your answers with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Writing definitive answers to questions sounds confident and saves the customers’ time.
  • Add a search box to the page to ensure these questions can be looked for without any hassles.
  • Update these questions on a timely basis by referring to the support queries, competitors’ websites, Quora, and more.
  • Knowledge Base

The knowledge base is an online library of information about a product or service. It offers customers access to detailed content in the form of guides, tutorials, troubleshooting tips, manuals, glossaries, and other helpful information. 

A knowledge base converts your customer service portal into a self-service one, thereby reducing the number of support tickets. Being accessible to customers 24*7, it helps you deliver the best experience to the customers. 

Follow these tips to create an informative and engaging knowledge base.

  • Present information in various content formats – text, images, video, infographics, and more.
  • Divide the topics into smaller chunks to deliver the right information at the right time.
  • Update the knowledge base with fresh content pertaining to product updates, service launches, and more.
  • Use a knowledge base management software like Hiver to create and manage your knowledge bases without any hassles.
  • Community Forum

Having a customer service portal does not necessarily mean handling customers on your own. Start an online community forum where customers can reach out and interact with one another for collaboration, advice, and support. 

An online community forum will encourage knowledge sharing among customers, thereby reducing the pressure on customer support teams for resolving queries. These forums could also be great a medium for sourcing user-generated content and topic ideas, thus creating a strong knowledge base. It will certainly help in streamlining the customer journey with your brand.

  • Live Chat

Live chat is yet another must-have for customer service portals. It helps deliver quick answers to customer queries and assist them with their problems. 

Live chat support enables you to foster long-term relationships with customers by providing them with real-time support. Around 42% of customers prefer live chat as it offers them a hassle-free way to reach businesses. 

Here are a few things to remember when configuring your live chat.

  • Configure the bot to automate conversations.
  • Improve response time with canned responses.
  • Personalize the messages to connect with the customers better.
  • Leverage built-in chat forms to capture customer information.
  • Categorize chats using tags and assign them desired priority.
  • Use live chat software that integrates seamlessly with Gmail inbox to respond to the customers seamlessly.
  • Generate reports to gain insights into live chat metrics and improve your strategy.
  • Feedback Options

The customer service portal aims at delivering enhanced customer experiences. Hence, understanding what your customers feel about the same is essential. 

Capture customers’ opinions using feedback questionnaires, exit-intent popups, star ratings, suggestion boards, and more. This feedback will help you understand what your customers like and dislike and aid you in improving your offerings. 

Collecting customer feedback lets your customers know that you value their opinions and creates the best customer experience. It boosts customer satisfaction and helps in retaining customers. 

Here are a few best practices to follow when collecting customer feedback.

  • Leverage different ways, such as long-form surveys, short in-app surveys, popups, and more to collect customer feedback. 

Here is an example of a short survey by Evernote.

Evernote Survey
Source

  • Do not follow a one-size-fits-all approach for capturing feedback. Tailor your surveys according to customer behavior.
  • Analyze the collected feedback and incorporate those changes in your product or processes.

#4. Ensure Seamless Query Escalation

Although the customer support portal helps customers with finding answers to their questions, you must provide them with a solution to connect with the support team seamlessly. 

As certain queries may require a high level of support, the support team must be easily reachable. They must have access to customer information, chatbot conversations, purchase history, and more so that they can assist without any difficulties. This will ensure the timely resolution of queries that could otherwise result in customer dissatisfaction. 

Determine the cause of the escalated issue and take measures to resolve them. Always keep the customers updated about the issue resolution status. Focus on creating positive experiences by training the support team to be empathetic towards the customers.

#5. Optimize the Portal by Investing in SEO

SEO is essential for customer service portals as it determines its visibility on search engines, thereby ensuring that customers find it with ease. WordPress offers a few amazing plugins to optimize the site for SEO. YoastSEO is one among them.

WordPress SEO plugins can help in  –

  • Generating XML sitemap automatically.
  • Updating and managing title and meta description on each page.
  • Setting ‘noindex’ and ‘nofollow’ tags to keep duplicate content at bay.
  • Writing rich content and optimizing the same for desired keywords.
  • Building internal links while considering the link juice for your content.

Wrapping Up

These were some of the must-dos for developing a seamless customer service portal. Use this checklist as a guide for building a customer portal that wows your audience. So go ahead and build a fully-functional and informative portal that provides the right information at the right time.

Tutorials September 15, 2022

Ultimate Guide to Skyrocket Your Retail Sales Using WordPress

Will there ever come a time when we don’t want to increase our online sales?

Probably not. 

Breaking new sales records is always challenging and let’s face it, you’re always on the lookout for ways to do so. 

Thanks to WordPress, creating an eCommerce site is easier than ever. It’s helping retailers add more functionality and build rich, engaging eCommerce sites. 

But a high convenience also means high competition. Data shows that there are an estimated 12 – 24 million eCommerce sites across the world and the number is growing with each passing day. 

And while not every online retailer is a direct competitor, you still need to stand out. Doing the bare minimum won’t work.

You’ll need to take extra measures to elevate your sales. Fortunately, you can do that if you’ve built your stores on WordPress and WooCommerce. All you need is a strategy and some tips to get started.

Listed below are ways you can leverage WordPress to break your sales records and increase your revenue. 

Let’s go. 

Leverage PlugIns to Boost Sales

WordPress PlugIns are a blessing to retailers aiming to add eCommerce-friendly functionalities to their sites. WooCommerce is the most popular plugin for eCommerce sites built on WordPress. In fact, 22% of the top 1 million eCommerce sites use WooCommerce to power their online store on WordPress. 

If you’re thinking about how this may help your store, understand that these plugins successfully integrate commerce with content. They provide you with greater flexibility in creating the site the way you want it, based on the products you’re selling. 

These functionalities include tax tables, payments, product descriptions, eCommerce order fulfillment processes, etc. — basically everything you’d need to smoothly run your online store. WooCommerce is also affordable, allowing small businesses to leverage its features without paying a hefty price too. 

Optimize your Site Performance

Did you know that the first five seconds of page load time have the highest impact on conversion rate? 

5 seconds. That’s all you got. 

Slow site speed is a problem many sites face but as an eCommerce store owner, poor performance can have a daunting effect on your conversion rate. So naturally, if your page loads any slower than that, you’re losing out on prospects, sales, and profit. 

To understand how your WordPress site performance is impacting your sales, first check your bounce rate. You can do so on Google Analytics. If it’s higher than average, test your page speed on Google PageSpeed Insights. You’ll get a complete picture of your page performance. 

To improve your loading time, some measures you can take are:

  • Build responsive themes on WordPress that avoids complex flash elements
  • Optimize your images
  • Minify your site’s JavaScript and CSS
  • Enable browser caching

Implement Upselling and Cross-selling

Allowing customers to discover new products or to check out services that complement the main product isn’t just limited to offline sales. Data shows that cross-selling in eCommerce can increase sales by 20% and profits by 30%. 

WordPress sites have allowed Upselling and Cross-selling to strategically make their way into online retail. One of the most common and effective ways eCommerce sites do this is by including “Related Products” or a “Frequently Bought Together” section. 

Upselling and Cross-selling are included in WooCommerce’s native functionality. You can enable them by simply going to one of your product pages, scrolling down to the Product data section, and then clicking on the Linked Products tab. 

Hence, you can easily put this technique into action, allowing customers to check out other products they might be interested in purchasing.

Incorporate Pop-ups to Prevent Lost Sales

How many times have you decided to leave a website and you’re instead immediately greeted with a pop-up that encourages you to stay? 

Exit-intent popups are the most common way to encourage action amongst prospects who decide to leave. It makes them think twice if you highlight your product value and pitch any discounts or special deals that encourage sales. 

OptinMonster is one of the most popular popup plugins for eCommerce sites on WordPress. Once you sign in, you will get access to a drag and drop builder for creating an exit-intent pop-up. You will also get options to segment your customers to personalize the messaging. 

Send Abandon Cart Emails

Cart abandonment has been a prominent issue in eCommerce as many customers end up adding items they want to buy but don’t want to purchase right away. 

Cart abandonment prospects may be the hardest to lose but they may be the easiest to convert. All they need is a nudge to complete their purchase. As a result, abandoned cart reminders have become a popular form of email marketing. 

You can use tools like MailChimp to craft personalized messages and automate these reminders. You just simply need to connect your WooCommerce shop to MailChimp via MailChimp for WordPress Premium.

Furthermore, plugins like Abandoned Cart for WooCommerce help you identify the reason and give your reports on abandoned carts. With the help of these notifications, you can identify common reasons for cart abandonment and create a well-customized workflow of emails to pitch to customers to complete their sales. 

Create Unique Title Tags for Products

To have a good conversion rate, you first need to have good traffic. And to have good traffic, you need to follow the SEO fundamentals. Your product directory may be massive but if you use generic titles for similar products, they won’t stand out in the search results. 

To capture the attention of search engines, you need to create unique title tags for each of your product pages. Title tags are an HTML element of a webpage that defines the title of the webpage. It can range from an article name to the name of the product but you need to consider the keywords you use in the title tags and ensure their readability. 

You can use Yoast WooCommerce SEO Plugin to add extra SEO features and optimize your title, meta description, and URL.

Finishing Thoughts

Building an eCommerce website on WordPress is easy, but you cannot just sit back and relax once it’s done. WooCommerce retailers face many challenges in the current eCommerce landscape due to the intense competition. The last thing you want is to fall into the trap of stagnant sales and minimal growth. 

But you need to create your space to shine and leverage the opportunities at hand to the fullest. At some point, you have to take a step back and evaluate your current site and tactics to ensure you’re on the right track. You’ll need to constantly strive toward optimizing your site performance and strategically use WordPress plugins to grow your sales and increase your conversions. 

Opinion April 25, 2022

How to Make Your WordPress Website More Environmentally Friendly

Technology has given many opportunities to grow. However, it does have downsides—one of them is that it contributes to climate change.

Every business wants to make its website accessible to the users at all times. To make this happen, it has to use energy—24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When the visitors land on the page, the web server uses energy to deliver elements like images, videos, and text to them. Plus, web servers also require power to operate and air conditions to keep them cool.

Now imagine millions of websites on the web using this amount of energy. Some websites are small and may use less energy. However, big websites have more tools and applications and get more visitors. This means they need more power to run and, thus, impact the environment.

In fact, a study reveals that internet operations account for 10% of annual energy consumption, which is likely to increase to over 20% by 2030.

This is where an eco-friendly WordPress website comes into the picture.

This blog post will walk you through five tips to improve sustainability and make your WordPress website a greener place.

5 tips to make your WordPress website more eco-friendly

Choose a green hosting company

Your web hosting provider takes a tremendous amount of energy to transmit data. In fact, research reveals that web hosting data centers will be responsible for up to 20% of the world’s power consumption by 2025. Therefore, switching to a green web host is the best decision to build an eco-friendly website.

Green web hosting, or eco-friendly hosting, seeks to eliminate the global environmental impact of the services it provides. In short, it is a more environmentally friendly way to host websites. They aim to provide high-quality hosting services while decreasing their carbon footprint.

Finding a green web host can be overwhelming. Here are four factors you should consider when choosing a host:

Transmission of data through networks contributes to maximum energy usage. In order to lower your website’s carbon footprint, the need is to select a data center close to your users. This will speed up the delivery and loading time and reduce the amount of energy required by your website.

Carefully read the policy documents of each host and read reviews about them online. Understand what they’re doing to be green. Are they buying credits for renewable energy from sources like sun and wind? Or, how are they cooling their centers?

Make sure the host you choose has a high Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) rating. The PUE measures how efficiently the data centers use the energy. As a thumb rule, the perfect score is 1. So, your green host must have a PUE rating as close to 1 as possible. For example, Google data centers have a PUE rating of 1.11, which means no wasted energy.

Choosing a green host that ticks all your boxes might seem a lot of work. Initiatives like The Green Web Foundation provide a list of numerous hosting providers to make your search easier.

Switch to an eco-friendly theme

Adopting an eco-friendly WordPress theme is another crucial factor in building an ecologically friendly website. So, select a theme that looks fresh and clean as you want the environment to be.

Further, the lesser resources they pull, the better it is for the environment. Many ready-made WordPress themes provide tons of features that you might not require. So, run your theme through the Query Monitor plugin to check how many database queries it has, which can decrease the speed of your website.

Here are a few WordPress themes for website planning to go green:

Total theme

The Total theme is a flexible, multipurpose theme that suits any type of business. It comes with 40+ demo sites that serve as a starting point for building your website. You can install any site with just a single click and tweak layout, colors, and fonts to match your business. These demo sites are coded clean, which means you use a few resources with this theme.

Further, the total includes over 80 builder modules, which can help you create attractive layouts. The best part? You can get all these features for just $59.

EcoCoded

If you’re looking for a theme that can minimize the environmental impact of your business, EcoCoded is one of the best options for you. EcoCoded offers few features and uses only a few colors and only one font, lowering load time and power usage. This minimalist theme comes with few images and zero fancy animations.

EcoCoded is available in both free and paid versions, starting at $29.

Eco Nature

Eco Nature is a beautiful theme that works on all browsers and screen sizes. It comes with three unique demos, which help you create an eco-friendly website. The clear and flexible shortcodes make customization easy. The theme also includes an intuitive drag-and-drop compose, Layer Slider plugin, parallax scrolling, and many Google Fonts. You can get this theme for just $59.

Limit plugins

WordPress plugins can help you add additional features to your website. They are one of the main reasons people enjoy using WordPress. However, that doesn’t mean you will install as many plugins as you want.

Plugins are programmed in the PHP language. Visitors browse your site and use the features it has to offer. If they trigger a part of the PHP code processed by the PHP module on your web server, more data and energy will be used.

So, if you have hundreds of plugins installed on your website, clean them out. This not only makes your WordPress website eco-friendly and more secure, but it can also give it a performance boost. This is because the cleaner your website backend is, the less amount of energy and power it will use.

Here’s how you can limit the use of plugins:

Before you install a plugin, think if it’s really required. Can you get the feature it offers in another way? For example, you can move as much of the plugin functionality as possible to functions.php. This way, you will use fewer plugins and utilize more efficient code.

You can use the P3 (Plugin Performance Profiler) to check which plugin uses the most resources and to measure its performance.

Another way is to make sure all your plugins are up-to-date. To check this, go to the “Update” tab in your WordPress dashboard. Further, while installing the plugin, check how often the plugin is updated and how many websites have installed it. If some plugins are inactive, get rid of them.

Other factors you should consider while choosing what plugins to keep include the security provided by the plugin and how the security issues are resolved, what kind of support they offer, its reviews and testimonials, and the number of databases it has.

Prefer digital document sharing and signing

No matter your title or industry, paperwork is one of the significant barriers to productivity. It reduces efficiency and can even pose a security risk—not to mention that 40% of the time is spent by employees filing papers. Plus, carrying out paper processes also requires various tools such as printers, fax machines, and more. And don’t forget the cost of paper can add up quickly in a workplace.

Sustainability is another reason to evaluate paper usage. A study shows that paper products make up the largest percentage of all materials (including metals and plastics) in landfills.

Hence, for an eco-friendly website, going paperless is crucial. It can not only reduce the website’s carbon footprint but also have a positive impact on the company’s bottom line.

By embracing online document management systems and digital signatures, you can lower paper use in your day-to-day operations. From signing contracts to sharing documents, anything you can do on paper can be done electronically, eliminating paper and making your website eco-friendly.

Electronic signatures are collected at once and can be used on as many documents as you want. If done correctly, they provide the same benefits as handwritten signatures. And don’t forget the security, convenience, and cost-effectiveness that comes along.

You can sign the documents via your phone or computer. Plus, numerous apps can make the process easier. However, before selecting any digital signing app, ensure it is secure and integrates with your existing software.

Furthermore, electronic document sharing can also help you share documents with your customers or clients from anywhere across the world with an internet connection. Some notable file-sharing software includes Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, FileCloud, and more.

Optimize all images

Images are one of the core elements of a WordPress website. Using them correctly can enhance your website content. However, using a large number of them can slow down your site. In fact, images take up 50% of your page weight.

That’s why optimizing your WordPress images is crucial to speed up your website, and ultimately reduce its carbon footprint. This is because each optimized image reduces the amount of energy required for data transmission to your visitors.

Here’s how you can optimize your images:

Before optimizing each image, ask yourself questions like, is this image valuable for your site, does it contain useful information, can you reduce its file size, and can you use it in SVG format? Then, use an image optimization plugin to reduce its size without compromising its quality, change the format, and so on.

The geographical distance between the website’s servers can have a massive impact on the loading time—the larger the distance, the slower the speed. To avoid this, install a content delivery network (CDN) that stores your site on multiple servers worldwide and connects your visitors to the server nearest to them.

Lazy loading is another effective technique that loads images only when the visitors want to see them. This means your pages will show the photos on the top, whereas images below the fold are loaded only when the user scrolls down the page.

This method is useful especially for images on long pages that take longer to load—the page won’t load completely until all the elements are fully downloaded. It also reduces the HTTP request and the energy used in data transfer, resulting in an ecologically conscious website.

Implement caching

Caching is another effective technique to reduce the carbon footprint of your WordPress website. Caching refers to the process of making copies of website pages after the first load and serving those to every subsequent user.

Since WordPress doesn’t have to fetch information from the database before the web page is sent to the visitor, it reduces the load on the web hosting servers and makes your website load faster.

There are mainly two types of caching for WordPress sites:

  • Page caching
  • Browser caching

Page caching allows you to store static versions of the pages in the cache and render them to the website visitors. You don’t have to process PHP for every single visit, saving a lot of server processing time and resources.

Browser caching is a process in which a website’s static resources, such as images, stylesheets, logo, etc., are stored locally in the visitor’s browser cache. This allows browsers to load these files faster when the user visits the website the second time.

This lowers the overall server load time because fewer requests are created to the actual server, and your website performance will also improve.

In a nutshell, both these types are less energy-intensive and will make your website faster and more ecologically conscious.

Wrapping up

WordPress is the major blogging platform on the web. But gradually, it is becoming one of the big environmental polluters too. With these five techniques, you can reduce the amount of energy your website needs to be available to your users at all times.

The best part? These tips don’t require any technical skills, and you can implement these changes without affecting the functionality and design of your website.

Remember: Building an eco-friendly website can not only reduce your carbon footprint but also speed up its load time and boost the performance of your website.

Tutorials December 19, 2021

4 Advanced Tactics to Take Your WordPress Performance to the Next Level

Google’s Core Web Vitals update in 2020 has made website performance more important than ever.

It includes three metrics (Largest Contentful Paint, First Input Delay, Cumulative Layout Shift) that measure qualitative user experiences on a web page. These page experience signals are now an organic ranking signal.

In addition, high-performance websites lead to lower bounce rates, greater engagement, more conversions, and overall, a superior user experience.

Website success is mainly determined by three factors: conversions, visibility, and usability.

  • Faster page loads lead to a better experience and consequently, more conversions.
  • Google views high-performing, responsive websites positively and ranks them higher in organic searches. Thus, these sites get more traffic and visibility.
  • A website that’s easy-to-use compels visitors to return to the site, thus building customer loyalty and brand value.

Hence, if you optimize your site performance in various aspects, you have a significant advantage over your competitors.

Let’s look at four advanced tips to improve your WP site performance:

1. Use feature-rich, fast website builders

Website builders ease the complex task of creating a website. Just because you’re a developer doesn’t mean you have to build each new site from the beginning.

With website builders, you don’t need extensive coding skills or design skills. You don’t need to hire an expensive designer. And you can create a website quickly, sometimes in less than 30 minutes.

Many website builders allow you to export your site to other platforms. The top website builders in the market are also optimized to load quickly, have a host of useful features, and are built with SEO in mind.

Website builders like Elementor help you create professional sites for your brand faster. Its import/export feature allows you to create a website, export its elements, and attributes as a kit, and apply them to fresh projects or ongoing ones.

Full Website Kits is a new feature that builds on these capabilities to allow you to export entire websites, including templates, layout, site settings, WP pages and posts, custom post types, and WooCommerce product pages.

Thus, instead of having to save each page as a JSON file with only content, you can simply export the website blueprint as a zip file and import it to your next site. Your workflow is accelerated because you don’t have to build each new site from scratch and devote time and energy to ensure brand consistency.

You also have access to the Website Kits Library that contains a collection of pre-built websites complete with 404 pages, pop-ups, headers, and footers.

You can create a site blueprint for a specific industry, a marketing package with your branding, or WooCommerce websites right away—and you have the support of professionally designed kits.

2. Ensure custom breakpoints for responsive design

A responsive web design automatically adjusts for different viewports and screen sizes. CSS breakpoints are used to create a responsive web design by splitting the design into smaller versions of the website based on the screen size of the device.

CSS breakpoints are pixel values that a developer can specify in the code. Website content responds to these points to display the ideal layout to the user.

Elementor now has six custom breakpoints that allow developers to create responsive designs for mobile screens, tablet screens, laptops, and wide-screen devices. You have the flexibility to choose which breakpoints will be active and what the value of each breakpoint will be. You can also scale the preview up or down to suit various device sizes.

Elementor has also altered the UI such that you can see inherited values from each breakpoint as placeholders, allowing you to choose your styles.

To prevent the custom breakpoints from tanking site performance, Elementor’s developers have rebuilt the responsive control loading mechanism to improve server response time by ~23%, reduce memory usage by ~5%, and reduce ~30% data traffic to the Editor load.

They also saved up to 110 KB on each page load by removing support for Internet Explorer.

Font Awesome loading has also been optimized to improve performance.

3. Improve page loading speed

a. Optimize CSS

With time, CSS code files can build up and cause your WP site to slow down. Some ways in which you can optimize CSS are:

  • Minify CSS code by reducing file size and removing unnecessary characters like line breaks, extra spaces, comments, and whitespace.
  • Combine CSS files into one, reducing HTTP requests. However, it won’t help much if your site uses HTTP/2.
  • Eliminate render-blocking resources by delivering critical CSS inline and deferring all non-critical CSS resources
  • Remove unused CSS either manually or reduce unused CSS with a plugin like Asset CleanUp or PurifyCSS

Elementor’s asset loading experiment improves a website’s front-end performance by applying dynamic assets loading, reducing duplicate code, and removing unused CSS.

Certain widgets also have lazy loading options enabling you to reduce the number of HTTP requests during the initial page load.

Also, to improve the Largest Contentful Paint metric, if a file is less than 8K, the CSS is printed inline inside the HTML document. Else, it is loaded as an external file.

Elementor loads CSS library files only when you press Save on the Elementor Editor instead of when the page is loading.

You can use a free (and popular) plugin called Autoptimize to perform CSS optimizations.

b. Optimize JavaScript

You should also minify and combine JavaScript files, inline critical JS resources, defer non-critical JS resources, and remove unused JavaScript.

Plugins like WP Meteor, Flying Scripts, Async JavaScript Plugin, WP Rocket, and Plugin Organizer can help.

Elementor achieves JS optimization by splitting the front-end JS files into smaller files and loading only the JS files for the widget being used on the page.

It also employs conditional JS library loading wherein widgets consume external libraries like Swiper.js efficiently, loading the library only if at least one element on the page uses it.

Conditional loading also applies to JS libraries like the Lightbox, Screenful, Share links, and Dialog libraries.

c. Reduce initial server response time

The optimal server response time is less than 200 ms.

Some ways in which you can optimize server response time are:

  • Use a fast theme

A beautiful theme with an excellent UI is useless if it won’t load quickly because users won’t be waiting around to see it.

Since feature-rich themes require a lot of code that takes more time to load, choose a lightweight theme with only the necessary functions.

You can use the free Hello theme available on the Elementor Theme Builder to create a fast and flexible WP site.

Other examples of fast WP themes are Astra, Neve, and GeneratePress. All three have deep Elementor integrations and starter sites.

  • Use optimized plugins

The more plugins you install, the slower your site becomes. Each plugin has its own file size, HTTP requests, and database queries.

Restrict the number of plugins to include only the features that are necessary to your site. This will also prevent compatibility issues.

Delete unused plugins because not only do they decrease performance, but they also present security vulnerabilities.

Elementor removes the need to use multiple plugins because it has built-in widgets for most important functions like galleries, contact forms, social share icons, and sliders.

d. Optimize images

You can optimize your images in several ways:

  • Resize images to their display width.
  • Compress resized images to reduce the file size by removing information like metadata and camera details (but without affecting image quality).
  • Use optimum image formats like PNG for transparent backgrounds, logos, icons, and opacity.
  • Use image CDN to load images faster.

Plugins like Smush, Imagify, and ShortPixel can be used to optimize images.

You can also use the Elementor video widget to optimize heavy GIFs.

e. Use browser caching

A browser caching plugin like W3 Total Cache can reduce the number of requests per page. Images, JavaScript, CSS, and other cacheable resources don’t have to be downloaded each time.

f. Use Preload for critical assets

Preload is a resource hint to request critical resources ahead of time and improve page loading speeds. The browser caches preloaded resources so that they are available as soon as needed, but does not execute the scripts or apply the stylesheets.

You can preload resources by adding a <link> tag to the attribute rel = “preload” in the header of your HTML document.

E.g.  <link rel=”preload” as=”script” href=”critical.js”>

You can use plugins like Pre* Party Resource Hints to preload critical assets.

g. Use a CDN service

CDNs like Cloudflare, KeyCDN, BunnyCDN, and Stackpath help increase page load times because they use an optimized server that’s closest to your visitor. Static content is saved on “edge” servers around the world and served to visitors from the nearest edge location.

4. Expand your knowledge about web design

Web design is a vast field with many sub-disciplines. To be a good web designer, you should know a bit about each aspect such as the concepts of visual design, HTML, UX, UI, CSS, typography, layout creation, and so on.

Knowledge of how the front end and back end work will make you a well-rounded designer.

Elementor Academy is an educational platform that you can use to get comprehensive knowledge of web creation, including WordPress and Elementor-related topics.

The courses have been created by people who developed Elementor so you can be sure you have the right instructors. You can choose from how-to tutorials, full-length courses, videos, or webinars based on your learning preferences.

WordPress-related topics like Design and Layout, Dynamic Design, Theme Builder, Responsive, Integrations, Forms, and WooCommerce are available. You can also find resources on business-related subjects like SEO, content marketing, conversion optimization, and getting clients.

The best part is that the resources are free to use so you shouldn’t miss them!

Over to you

As a developer or designer, you have endless possibilities to create branded and performance-optimized professional WordPress websites. And with Elementor Full Website Kits, you don’t have to create each one from scratch.

Advanced features like custom CSS breakpoints ensure that you deliver well-designed, responsive, and fast websites without wasting time on repetitive tasks.

Streamline your workflow and optimize your processes for each client by investing in a website builder that doesn’t restrict your design capabilities.

Opinion October 26, 2021

4 Battle-Tested WordPress Migration Practices for 2021

If you think WordPress is merely a blogging platform, you’ll be disregarding all the awesome plugins and features the CMS possesses to power your business. Take WooCommerce for instance. The powerful eCommerce plugin is used by a majority of online stores globally.

Also, if we count only the websites using a CMS, WordPress stands out as the undisputed leader with a market share of 64.4%.

The reason?

WordPress offers an incredible level of customization and supersedes other CMS in areas, such as UX, mobile usability, speed, and security. Moreover, it has over 55,000 plugins and 8,000 themes that make it the most popular CMS globally.

As a result, most developers and website owners prefer to migrate to WordPress from Sitecore, Joomla, and other CMS options. In fact, WordPress users enjoy its large developer community and scalability in terms of SEO and other features.

But moving your WordPress site to a new host can be quite challenging. If not done properly, one could lose files and experience crazy downtime, errors, and SSL certificate issues. Whether you are a pro at using WordPress or new to this world, we have a few best practices that’ll help you move WordPress to a new hosting server.

Choose Your New Host Carefully

Most website owners consider a site migration because of benefits like an affordable plan, better performance and customer support, and security among others. However, not all hosts are the same. Depending on the type of hosting you prefer, consider these quick pointers.

  • If you are looking for shared hosting, Bluehost consistently tops the list. The hosting scores high when it comes to quality, performance, and customer service. In fact, hosting providers
  • BlueHost and SiteGround are officially registered on WordPress.org.
  • For cloud hosting or location-specific hosting, we recommend SiteGround.
  • If you prefer managed WordPress hosting, opt for WP Engine, SiteGround, or Liquid Web.

Depending on the nature of your business, consider factors like security, data storage, speed, and customer support when choosing your hosting. For instance, an eCommerce website would prioritize security and speed over the other items mentioned here.

NOTE: Once you have bought a hosting plan, do not install WordPress. Your account should be devoid of any files at this stage.

Choose the Type of Migration You Are Comfortable with

WordPress migration can be done manually or using a plugin (automatically). If you choose the latter, then I assume you are comfortable using FTP or File Transfer Protocol, accessing databases, and modifying files at the backend.

Alternatively, you can use some fantastic backup plugins that can create complete site backups and help you move the site without much hassle. We’ll see more on these plugins in the subsequent section.

Large sites have multiple files and folders and are prone to errors when plugins are used. In such a case, the manual approach works better.

Further, most hosting providers offer free migration services as a part of their package. Make sure you research well on this aspect before choosing a host.

Move Your Site Manually

Though migrating a WP website manually may sound like a complex task, we’ve tried to simplify the process by breaking it down into steps.

Step 1: Take a Backup

Once you have chosen the new hosting, take a backup of your site’s files and folders using the FTP tool. Tools like FileZilla, Core FTP Pro, and Cyberduck (for Mac) can help you with this step.

Navigate to the WordPress root folder (named public_html or www in most cases). Right-click on this and choose Download. This will save a copy of your root directory to the
computer.

Step 2: Backup the WordPress Database

After copying the files, it’s time to take a backup of your database the holds information related to the site’s content, users, and much more. In most cases, you can access your database through the control panel.

If you use cPanel, look for a section called Databases and click on the phpMyAdmin option.

Step 3: Export the Database

Choose the site’s database from the list, select the Quick option under Export Method, and hit Go. So, now you have a copy of your website’s database in .sql format.

Export the Database

Step 4: Create a New Database on the New Host

If your new host uses cPanel, simply follow these steps.

  • In the Databases section of cPanel choose the MySQL Databases option.
  • Create a new database and add a user. Make sure you note the name you use.
  • Access the new database through phpMyAdmin.
  • Use the Import tab in the new database to upload the .sql file you created in the previous step.
Step 5: Upload the Files to the New Host

Log in to your new server through the FTP and navigate to the root folder. Right-click anywhere and select Upload. Locate your folders and select the files you need to upload.

Step 6: Update wp-config.php File to Point to Your New Database

At this stage, if you visit your website, it won’t work as you still have to update your wp-config.php file to point to your new database. Locate this file in your root folder, right-click, and select View/Edit.

Next, update these three lines in the file with values that point towards your new database. For instance, replace the lowercase variables with the credentials for your new database.

define(‘DB_NAME, ‘db_name’);
define(‘DB_USER, ‘db_user’);
define(‘DB_PASSWORD, ‘db_pass’);

Save and close the file.

Step 7: Make Sure the Domain Name Server (DNS) Points to the Correct Host

For this step, you need to enter the following details into your domain name account.
Information from your new host

Access to the registrar where you purchased the domain name

Count on WordPress Migration Plugins

It’s natural to experience anxiety when migrating to a new host. After all, you don’t want to ruin the efforts you put in to create the awesome website you own today. Fortunately, you can count on some awesome WordPress migration plugins that can simplify the process and help you fully clone your site to perfection.

When choosing a WordPress migration plugin, consider the following questions.

  • Does the plugin offer support for serialized data?
  • Is it well-coded and highly performing? Is it likely to create performance issues for your new hosting service?
  • Does it have a backed-up database as SQL files?
  • Does it allow the migration of the entire database or small components?
  • Does it have automatic fixes for all the problems encountered?
  • How compatible is it with various operating systems?

The answers to these questions will help you select a plugin that suits your needs.

WordPress migration plugins like Duplicator, JetPack, Migrate Guru, Migrate DB Pro, and
BackupBuddy among others can help you get you up and running quickly. Most of these plugins create complete website backups and offer recovery services.

Summing Up

WordPress is the core of several modern businesses because it allows easy user management and offers SEO benefits and robust security features. Further, the CMS comes with thoroughly-tested API integrations that suit specific business needs.

However, migrating WordPress sites can be a stressful experience as there are too many minute details to pay attention to. Failing to pay heed to them is risky as it may damage the whole website.

Use the best practices shared above to easily move your WordPress website to a new host.

Opinion July 1, 2021

Top 8 WordPress Directory Plugins For Every Function

User-friendly databases in the form of directories can be a helpful feature to integrate into your WordPress site and there are loads of plugins out there that enable you to do this. It can be tricky figuring out which plugin to choose when they all feature different options from maps to integrated email marketing options, and at a wide range of prices.

We’re here to help, and we’ve narrowed it down to the top 8 directory plugins for WordPress. Whether you’re looking to build a basic text-based directory or a professional directory with integrated maps, there’s something here for you.

Everest Business Directory

At the top of the list we have this highly functional WordPress plugin. There are so many features in this plugin that we found it can do just about anything from directory listing to editing and more. There are elegant templates to choose from and it can be seamlessly integrated into the style of your WordPress website. Six-month support comes in at $28, so although it’s not the cheapest on the list it’s still affordable and you get so much.

Connections Business Directory

The basic features of this WordPress plugin are free but there are many additional features such as new templates that are available at a price. Conveniently, however, add-ons are individually priced so you can choose only the features you need, such as additional templates or contact-form widgets. This way you can build the perfect directory. If you’re looking for a basic directory, the free version is eminently functional, supporting many languages and enabling you to upload your brand’s logo into the directory.

Connections Business Directory

Business Directory Plugin

German, French, Russian and English are all supported languages in this functional and easy-to-use WordPress plugin. Like many plugins out there, Business Directory Plugin offers a basic free plan with optional paid extras, so thinking carefully about what you need from your plugin can get you a good deal with these plugins. Paid features include Maps integration, payment gateways and more.

Business Directory Plugin – Easy Listing Directories for WordPress

GeoDirectory

GeoDirectory is another WordPress directory plugin with both free and paid features. GeoDirectory’s free plugin is fairly basic, although it’s functional enough if your needs are simple. However, most likely you’ll need some version of a paid plan. This gives you access to a pricing manager which helps maximize revenue, as well as geolocation settings so you can group users into different locales. To unlock all GeoDirectory’s features you can choose to pay either once annually for $199 or in six or four-monthly instalments.

Advanced Classifieds And Directory Pro

Allison Chan, tech writer at Paperfellows and Custom Essay describes this WordPress business directory plugin as “offering one of the most functional and advanced free plugins on the market so it’s an exceptional option if you don’t want to pay for premium features. With Advanced Classifieds, usually premium features are available for free.” This includes advanced search options in the search bar and the ability to create a “featured” list that users need to pay you to access. For custom pricing plans you still need an add-on, but these start from an affordable $4.99 a month.

Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro

Sabai Directory

Sabai Directory offers a professional-looking directory plugin for a low price making it an attractive prospect. By crowdsourcing data in a similar way to Yelp and Google Maps, utilizing user reviews and comments, you can build a functional directory on a tight budget with this plugin. It’s also highly customizable and you’ll find many styles and templates to choose from. There’s no free version but at $29 with six months of free support it’s a great investment for what you get.

Name Directory

For simple directory needs, Isabel Aquino, WP expert at Australianhelp and Stateofwriting recommends Name Directory. “This is a good option as it’s completely free – there are no hidden costs to encounter for add-ons or additional functionality,” she advises. “This means you’re going to end up with a basic directory as there’s no option for including images or maps, but if you need a text-based directory then this is an accessible option.” You can still create multiple directories and they’ll all be searchable with this cheap and cheerful option.

Name Directory

LDD Directory Lite

Our last plugin stands out as it’s one of the few WordPress directory plugins that allows sending email marketing within its free version. You can make customized emails to follow up leads with this plugin, so if email marketing is important to you this is an excellent choice. Besides this handy function, it also features many customizable style options for your directory.

LDD Directory Lite

The Last Word

Whether you’re a WordPress veteran or a new user looking to add a basic directory to your site you’ll find something on this list. A directory is a valuable component of any website, adding value for your visitors and ultimately helping you profit.

Collections August 18, 2020
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