Updating Wordpress: Ultimate 2024 Website Building Guide

Introduction

In today's digital age, having a well-maintained website is crucial for any business. This year Chasing Creative has worked with clients who desire to up their game when it comes to their website experience. WordPress, one of the most popular content management systems, offers a range of benefits that make it a top choice for website creation and maintenance. This short but informative guide will walk you through everything you need to know about building and updating a WordPress website in 2024. Whether you're considering a custom build or a theme-based build, this comprehensive guide will help you make informed decisions.

At Chasing Creative we've built sites on Wix, Webflow, Squarespace, and Wordpress. Each offering their own experience and list of pros and cons.

Why Choose WordPress?

WordPress continues to dominate the web, powering over 40% of all websites in 2024. Its popularity is no accident. WordPress provides unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and user-friendliness, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. The Wordpress ecosystem offers resources in talent to build and optimize as well as technologies like builders, themes, and plugins. Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, said "WordPress is a platform that democratizes publishing and brings the power of the web to everyone" which is true. Their platform allows for sites to customize and build out far beyond what other platforms allow in their builders. But is it for everyone?

Key Benefits:

• Flexibility: WordPress can be tailored to meet the unique needs of any business, whether you're running an e-commerce store (though we love Shopify for ecom), a blog, or a corporate website.
• Scalability: As your business grows, WordPress can easily accommodate new features and increased traffic.
• User-Friendliness: With its intuitive interface, even those with limited technical skills can manage and update their websites efficiently.

Custom Builds vs. Theme-Based Builds

When creating a WordPress website, you have two main options: custom builds and theme-based builds. Both approaches have their advantages, and the best choice depends on your project's scope and budget.

Custom Builds:

• Advantages:
  • Highly tailored to specific needs
  • Unique design and functionality
  • Optimal performance and security
• Suitable For:
  • Large, complex projects
  • Businesses with specific requirements
  • Companies looking for a unique online presence

Theme-Based Builds:

• Advantages:
  • Cost-effective
  • Quick setup and deployment
  • Wide variety of designs and functionalities
• Suitable For:
  • Small to medium-sized projects
  • Businesses with a limited budget
  • Companies needing a website up and running quickly

Pick Wordpress builder—lots of good options:

1. Elementor
   • Active Installations: Over 5 million.
   • Key Features: Drag-and-drop interface, extensive template library, WooCommerce integration, and responsive design controls.
   • Pricing: Free basic version; Pro version starts at $59/year.
   • Pros: Ease of use, extensive add-ons, and integration capabilities.
   • Cons: Can impact page speed and significant updates sometimes cause glitches. (though sources argue this)
   • Source: WPBeginner and Seahawk Media
2. Beaver Builder
   • Active Installations: Over 500,000.
   • Key Features: Front-end visual editor, pre-made templates, and advanced modules like accordions and sliders.
   • Pricing: Starts at $99/year.
   • Pros: Beginner-friendly, powerful modules, and multisite support.
   • Cons: Less feature-rich compared to some competitors.
   • Source: WP101 and HubSpot Blog
3. Divi Builder
   • Active Installations: Over 1 million.
   • Key Features: Visual drag-and-drop interface, global elements for reusable content, WooCommerce integration.
   • Pricing: $89/year or $249 for lifetime access.
   • Pros: Extensive customization options, robust design settings, and great support channels.
   • Cons: Occasional bugs and live chat support only for pre-sales.
   • Source: WP101 and Seahawk Media
4. Spectra
   • Active Installations: Over 500,000.
   • Key Features: Integrated with WordPress block editor, 300 pre-built block patterns, JIT markup compiler for fast performance.
   • Pricing: Free; Pro version available soon.
   • Pros: Beginner-friendly, fast and efficient, extensive template library.
   • Cons: Limited advanced features compared to other builders.
   • Source: WPAstra and HubSpot Blog
5. Breakdance
   • Key Features: Visual drag-and-drop interface, WooCommerce integration, advanced layout control, and dynamic data binding.
   • Pricing: Starts at $149/year.
   • Pros: Modern interface, high customization, fast performance.
   • Cons: Relatively new with fewer community resources.
   • Source: Seahawk Media and Breakdance
6. WPBakery Page Builder
   • Key Features: Drag-and-drop editor, extensive library of content elements, user role access control.
   • Pricing: $45/year.
   • Pros: Saves templates for later use, multilingual interface, works with most themes.
   • Cons: Can impact page speed and leaves shortcodes if deactivated.
   • Source: Seahawk Media and WPBeginner

These builders offer a range of functionalities suited to different needs, from beginners to advanced users. For detailed reviews and more information, you can visit the provided sources.

Steps in theme updates

When launching a new site for clients we follow an easy and practical standard operating procedures for Wordpress sites when we update a theme or builder.

Here’s our game plan:

1. Backup Everything: First, we’ll back up your site to keep everything safe.
2. Staging Site: We’ll create a staging site to test the new theme without any hiccups.
3. Compatibility Check: Making sure the new theme plays nice with WordPress and your plugins.
4. Child Theme Magic: We’ll set up a child theme to keep your customizations intact.
5. Pause Caching and Security: Temporarily turning off caching and security plugins to avoid any conflicts.
6. Install & Preview: We’ll install the new theme and preview it before going live.
7. Test Drive: Ensuring all pages and features work perfectly with the new theme.
8. Device & Browser Check: Testing the new look on different devices and browsers to ensure it’s responsive.
9. Performance Boost: Checking and optimizing the site’s speed and performance.
10. SEO Checkup: Making sure your SEO settings and URLs stay intact.
11. Watch & Monitor: Keeping an eye on the site for a few days post-update to catch any issues early.
12. Spread the Word: Informing your users about the exciting update and gathering their feedback.

‍How to Decide: When choosing between a custom build and a theme-based build, consider your budget, timeline, and specific needs. Custom builds offer a high level of customization and uniqueness, making them ideal for businesses with specific requirements. On the other hand, theme-based builds are more budget-friendly and can be set up quickly, making them a great choice for leaner projects or businesses needing a faster turnaround.

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Should I work directly with a developer or agency for my Wordpress site?

Both options have their own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and project scope. In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of working with a developer directly versus an agency like Chasing Creative.

Working with a Developer Directly

Pros:

1. Cost-Effective:
   • Freelance developers typically charge lower rates than agencies, making them a more budget-friendly option for small projects or startups.
   • You pay only for the work done without the overhead costs associated with an agency.
2. Direct Communication:
   • Working directly with a developer allows for clear, one-on-one communication, ensuring your vision and requirements are understood and implemented accurately.
   • Quick and direct feedback can lead to faster decision-making and adjustments.
3. Flexibility:
   • Freelance developers often have more flexible schedules, which can be beneficial if your project requires rapid changes or has a tight deadline.

Cons:

1. Limited Resources:
   • A single developer may lack the diverse skill set required for complex projects, leading to potential delays or compromises in quality.
   • Absence due to personal reasons or workload issues can halt the project progress.
2. Dependence on One Person:
   • Relying on a single developer means your project is vulnerable to disruptions if they are unavailable or unable to complete the work.
   • Risk of the developer abandoning the project midway, especially if more lucrative opportunities arise.
3. Less Structured Approach:
   • Freelancers may not follow the same rigorous processes and quality checks as agencies, which can affect the final product's consistency and reliability.

Working with an Agency Like Chasing Creative

Pros:

1. Comprehensive Skill Set:
   • Agencies like Chasing Creative have teams of contractors like specialists, including designers, developers, and project managers, ensuring all aspects of your project are covered.
   • Access to a wider range of expertise can lead to a more polished and professional final product.
2. Reliability and Continuity:
   • Agencies provide a more stable and reliable service, with multiple team members available to step in if someone is unavailable.
   • Established processes and quality assurance measures ensure consistent and high-quality outcomes.
3. Project Management:
   • Agencies offer dedicated support that oversee the project, ensuring it stays on track, on time, and within budget.
   • Chasing Creative staff serve as a single point of contact, simplifying communication and coordination.

Cons:

1. Higher Costs:
   • Agencies generally charge higher fees than individual developers due to their broader range of services and overhead costs.
   • Costs can increase if the project scope expands or if additional services are required. (We usually agree prior to starting unless its an ongoing retainer)
2. Less Direct Communication:
   • Working with an agency can sometimes involve multiple layers of communication, which might slow down the decision-making process. But Chasing Creative is more of a hybrid agency vs. large agency so you deal directly with the team.
   • You may not always have direct access to the developers working on your project. But at Chasing Creative we don't care. We find most of our clients like having the option but don't need to chat to a developer day to day.
3. Rigid Processes:
   • Traditional agencies follow established procedures, which can sometimes limit flexibility and slow down the process if rapid changes are needed. With Chasing Creative we don't need insane processes. We work with only a handful of clients at a time and plan to keep it that way. We are an extension of your team.
   • Customization and unique requests may require additional time and cost. This is true—if the project changes from what we speak about so will costs but we usually offer the best rates to ongoing customers.

Choosing between a freelance developer and an agency like Chasing Creative depends on your project's specific needs, budget, and complexity. If you require a cost-effective solution with flexible communication, working with a freelance developer may be the right choice. However, if you need a comprehensive, reliable, and professionally managed project, an agency like Chasing Creative offers the expertise and resources to ensure success. Consider your priorities and project requirements carefully to make the best decision for your business.

Why Website Speed Matters

The number one thing we focus on is speed. This effects the user experience and increasingly users are ditching slow sites. It can have an effect on conversions as well as professionalism. Especially for many of our clients who work in the tech space. Slow site. Maybe means a slow process. Here are some considerations when it comes to speed of your Wordpress website.

1. User Experience:
   • Visitors expect fast-loading websites. Delays of even a few seconds can lead to higher bounce rates. According to Google, 53% of mobile site visitors leave a page that takes longer than three seconds to load.
2. SEO Rankings:
   • Google uses page speed as a ranking factor. Faster websites rank higher in search results, driving more traffic (Google).
3. Conversion Rates:
   • Speed impacts conversion rates. Amazon reported that a 100ms increase in page load time led to a 1% drop in sales.

Factors Affecting WordPress Website Speed

1. Hosting:
   • Quality hosting is essential. Choose a reliable provider optimized for WordPress.
2. Themes:
   • Lightweight, well-coded themes improve speed. Avoid themes with excessive features you don’t need.
3. Plugins:
   • Too many plugins can slow down your site. Use well-coded, essential plugins and regularly audit for unnecessary ones.
4. Images:
   • Large, unoptimized images can slow down your site. Always use optimized images.
5. Caching:
   • Caching reduces server load and improves load times by serving static versions of your pages.

Essential Plugins for Speed Optimization

1. WP Rocket:
   • A premium caching plugin with features like page caching, cache preloading, and GZIP compression.
2. W3 Total Cache:
   • A powerful caching plugin that enhances SEO and user experience by integrating content delivery networks (CDNs).
3. Smush:
   • An image optimization plugin that compresses and optimizes images without losing quality.
4. Autoptimize:
   • A plugin that aggregates, minifies, and caches scripts and styles, and defers scripts to the footer.
5. Perfmatters:
   • A lightweight performance plugin that disables unnecessary WordPress options and includes optimizations like script management and lazy loading.
6. Lazy Load by WP Rocket:
   • A plugin that improves loading times by only loading images and iframes when they are visible to the user.

Website speed is crucial for the success of your WordPress site. Understanding the factors that affect speed and using the right plugins can enhance your site’s performance, improve user experience, boost SEO rankings, and increase conversion rates. Regularly monitor and optimize your website to keep it fast and efficient.

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Why Choose Chasing Creative?

At Chasing Creative, we specialize in crafting bespoke WordPress solutions that cater to your unique business needs.

Whether you're building a new site from the ground up or enhancing an existing one, our team of experts is dedicated to delivering exceptional results.

With a focus on both aesthetic appeal and functionality, we ensure your website not only looks great but also performs seamlessly.

Our commitment to staying ahead of industry trends and implementing the latest SEO best practices guarantees your site will rank high and attract the right audience.

Trust Chasing Creative to elevate your digital presence and drive your business growth.

Contact us today to start your WordPress journey with the best in the business.

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Before You Go: Quick Stats on Wordpress

Here are some quick WordPress statistics from 2023 that highlight its strengths and popularity:

1. Market Dominance:
   • WordPress powers 43.2% of all websites globally​ (HubSpot Blog)​.
   • It holds a 64.2% market share among content management systems, making it the most widely used CMS​ (DevriX)​.
2. Growth and Adoption:
   • WordPress has been the fastest-growing CMS for 12 consecutive years​ (HubSpot Blog)​.
   • Every two minutes, a new site within the top 10 million websites starts using WordPress​ (HubSpot Blog)​.
3. E-commerce Strength:
   • WooCommerce, the WordPress e-commerce plugin, powers 9.1% of all e-commerce sites and is used by 20.4% of WordPress websites​ (Hostinger)​​ (DevriX)​.
   • WooCommerce has been downloaded over 290 million times, with an average of 30,000 downloads per day​ (Hostinger)​.
4. Plugin and Theme Ecosystem:
   • The WordPress plugin directory offers over 60,000 plugins, providing extensive functionality and customization options​ (DevriX)​.
   • Yoast SEO, one of the most popular plugins, has over 5 million active installations and a 4.8 out of 5 rating based on 25,000 reviews​ (Hostinger)​.
   • WordPress offers nearly 12,000 free themes, allowing users to design and customize their websites easily. Astra is one of the most popular themes with over 1 million active downloads​ (Hostinger)​.
5. Content Creation:
   • WordPress users produce about 70 million new posts each year, with 71% of them in English​ (DevriX)​.
6. Security:
   • Despite being a frequent target for attacks, WordPress offers robust security features and regular updates to protect sites​ (HubSpot Blog)​.

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