Still helping out a friend, they are not technical nor a designer so a complete site builder like Elementor, Beaver etc are not really ideal. She just needs a theme that is well supported but provides a good level of inbuilt functionality to change the layout of the pages including blog archive and so on.
She has seen two options she appears to 'like the look of'. Neave Theme and WP Astra.
Any views on these themes or an alternative?
Thanks. Also, I have to say, WP has really come a long way having played about with the most recent version. Think I might start using it again.
My personal favourites are GeneratePress and OceanWP.
Elementor is OK if used reasonably.
This is all Elementor (free version, with lots of custom code "manually" added, but still Elementor): https://gtmetrix.com/reports/www.4roomsescape.com/fk3bxFj6/
Well what she is looking at ranges between $40-$80 so I think that should pretty much cover anything. Don't need this for multiple sites, just one.
I was looking at GeneratePress, but it appeared to be a bit less visual to change/build and more code-based changes? Maybe I just didn't look close enough.
@Lee said:
Looking for some suggestions from you WP pros.
Still helping out a friend, they are not technical nor a designer so a complete site builder like Elementor, Beaver etc are not really ideal. She just needs a theme that is well supported but provides a good level of inbuilt functionality to change the layout of the pages including blog archive and so on.
She has seen two options she appears to 'like the look of'. Neave Theme and WP Astra.
Any views on these themes or an alternative?
Thanks. Also, I have to say, WP has really come a long way having played about with the most recent version. Think I might start using it again.
Tell her to have a look at Blocksy (free; paid optional, https://creativethemes.com/blocksy/ ) Lots of built-in features, super light-weigth and I recently set a friend up with Blocksy. She is also not very technical and loving it
Well what she is looking at ranges between $40-$80 so I think that should pretty much cover anything. Don't need this for multiple sites, just one.
I was looking at GeneratePress, but it appeared to be a bit less visual to change/build and more code-based changes? Maybe I just didn't look close enough.
X theme is pretty nice and if there is an offer it is budget friendly. Give it a look. I like it
@Ympker said: Tell her to have a look at Blocksy (free; paid optional, https://creativethemes.com/blocksy/ ) Lots of built-in features, super light-weigth and I recently set a friend up with Blocksy. She is also not very technical and loving it
Makes me remember, I need to try GeneratePress some time again. But usability is obviously also a thing. I think for people not so fond of tech stuff Blocksy might be very easy to use. Generatepress is very good, too. Never used Ocean
Makes me remember, I need to try GeneratePress some time again. But usability is obviously also a thing. I think for people not so fond of tech stuff Blocksy might be very easy to use. Generatepress is very good, too. Never used Ocean
I've heard nothing but praises for Blocksy.
If I had more time - i'd give it a run, see if it can be better optimized.
And I completely understand the sentiment - for most webshops I go with OceanWP, even though GeneratePress is faster - because OceanWP makes the layout look "nicer to normal people" out of the box, so no need to touch anything - which saves time.
And we have a very clear winner, it's Blocksy. I am impressed with it enough that I am going to throw up a test WP install just to play around with it. Sarah is delighted, she is already got the basic set up she wants and just needs to make it 'more pretty' which she says seems easy enough. Also bought the Pro version so a win for the developer.
Thanks all as always, I credited @Ympker with the suggestion
I think she just bought the yearly single website licence, all she needs to be fair. As I mention on the other chat, she is over the moon with it, says it gives every option she wanted and does it all visually so no messing about. Quick and easy.
I think she just bought the yearly single website licence, all she needs to be fair. As I mention on the other chat, she is over the moon with it, says it gives every option she wanted and does it all visually so no messing about. Quick and easy.
Yeah, it is super straight-forward. If she needs help there is a Facebook community for it, too
@Lee I have been experimenting with the starter sites of Blocksy. Do consider sticking with the Gutenburg based templates. They are faster, 'native' to WP and starting May, google will revamp the algorithms that actually give Gutenburg a headstart over the other pagebuilders.
@vyas said: starting May, google will revamp the algorithms that actually give Gutenburg a headstart over the other pagebuilders
Google will give Gutenberg a head start? Meaning it'll give you better search engine ranking if you use Gutenberg? (I don't even use Google for searching, but I guess some people do...)
Maybe I'm a poor reader, but I've read that thread/comment and (skimmed) the linked article on 5.7, still didn't find anything on Google algorithm's ...
@flips said:
Maybe I'm a poor reader, but I've read that thread/comment and (skimmed) the linked article on 5.7, still didn't find anything on Google algorithm's ...
Ugh
Might have been a discussion in a fb group or a wp group.. from my covid clouded memory, here is
the summary version:
Under the new google ranking algorithms, some ‘native features’ like lazy loading, block support etc offer a leg up to gutenburg.
Other page builders will have to catch up
I recently install a DirectAdmin on my new VPS, I have a feeling that... Maybe I should not use Panel anymore. Panel only gave me a extra learning curve.
@elliotc said: I recently install a DirectAdmin on my new VPS, I have a feeling that... Maybe I should not use Panel anymore. panel only gave me a extra learning curve.
As much as panels are convenient they can be a hassle, it is just one more thing to learn and also cause you issues that you then have to learn how to fix. If you are just running personal sites and have a good backup solution a VPS without a panel is usually the way to go. Need mail, throw in MXRoute and so on.
I use to go for the, it's not that I can't do it, just too lazy so used a panel but I changed that last year and stopped using panels for anything personal.
So I finally got some time to try out WordPress again properly. Shit so much improved since I last really used it. The editor is remarkably good, seem to recall a lot of upset about Gutenberg when it first came out.
The free version of the Blocksy theme has more options than I have ever seen on a free theme, but maybe others do also. I did try a few random ones and got hit more or less immediately with "Get the Pro version" to do this thing you want.
I did quite a big import of dummy data and added a number of plugins (Direct Admin in a reseller account to install WP). On GTMetrix was getting pretty decent results. Although I noticed TTFB was quite long but I suspect that may have happened after I used a Google Font.
Have been using other options like Grav and getKirby recently but really thinking about spending more time with WP and maybe moving a couple of sites.
Also, Ghost 4.0 is out today, for those serious about just blogging and have an audience they really do now make it a viable money-making opportunity for those that have something interesting to say.
Indeed, perhaps I am holding on to historic prejudices with WP that in order to provide the functionality and end result you want, bloated is exactly how it will end up. I guess I just need to get on and replace a site properly with it and see what happens.
@elliotc said: I recently install a DirectAdmin on my new VPS, I have a feeling that... Maybe I should not use Panel anymore. panel only gave me a extra learning curve.
As much as panels are convenient they can be a hassle, it is just one more thing to learn and also cause you issues that you then have to learn how to fix. If you are just running personal sites and have a good backup solution a VPS without a panel is usually the way to go. Need mail, throw in MXRoute and so on.
I use to go for the, it's not that I can't do it, just too lazy so used a panel but I changed that last year and stopped using panels for anything personal.
Especially for WordPress installs just fire up LAMP> @Lee said:
Apologies another question, really getting back into WP.
Do you find it is better to run WP on a VPS/Dedi or does a shared/reseller at a decent provider not hold it back in comparison to a VPS/Dedi?
Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller provider to handle server security and the backend. I am currently with @MikePT at Hetzner's and HostMantis and performance has never been an issue. Ramnode is also great. Throw in the license savings for, say, JetBackup, Litespeed, cPanel/DA and also comodities like 1 click SSL, daily backups.. has made me stick with Shared Hosting over setting up my own VPS. You can get Shared Hosting really cheap and with a lot of nice perks without lifting a finger
@Ympker said: Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller
Yeah, I am trying to get into a mindset of trusting a shared/reseller provider for some sites so I can do exactly that, focus on the websites these days and stop being a whiny little bitch about trust. I have real trust issues when it comes to relying on other hosts since I sold my own a while back.
Although I like DA probably going to switch back to cPanel, Jetbackup only seems to provide the option of having your own external source for backups like S3. Does not appear to be available in the DA version unless I am mistaken. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable using a reseller where I have the ability to backup to my own location.
@Ympker said: Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller
Yeah, I am trying to get into a mindset of trusting a shared/reseller provider for some sites so I can do exactly that, focus on the websites these days and stop being a whiny little bitch about trust. I have real trust issues when it comes to relying on other hosts since I sold my own a while back.
Although I like DA probably going to switch back to cPanel, Jetbackup only seems to provide the option of having your own external source for backups like S3. Does not appear to be available in the DA version unless I am mistaken. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable using a reseller where I have the ability to backup to my own location.
I hear you. Very happy that, with HM reseller I can use cPanel and it has daily backups on JetBackup. Additionaly, I have scheduled weekly/monthly JetBackups remote backups to GDrive. A feature still missing for DA @MikePT is also waiting for this as much as I am probably. As for trust, just make sure to pick a well-established provider with good performance and features. Imho cant go wrong with Ramnode/HM/Mike.
@Ympker said: Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller
Yeah, I am trying to get into a mindset of trusting a shared/reseller provider for some sites so I can do exactly that, focus on the websites these days and stop being a whiny little bitch about trust. I have real trust issues when it comes to relying on other hosts since I sold my own a while back.
Although I like DA probably going to switch back to cPanel, Jetbackup only seems to provide the option of having your own external source for backups like S3. Does not appear to be available in the DA version unless I am mistaken. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable using a reseller where I have the ability to backup to my own location.
DA has in-built support for storage, but not the cheap options like Amazon, or BackBlaze.
Hetzner Box works perfectly fine, and it's not outrageously expensive, but does cost more.
Comments
Looking for some suggestions from you WP pros.
Still helping out a friend, they are not technical nor a designer so a complete site builder like Elementor, Beaver etc are not really ideal. She just needs a theme that is well supported but provides a good level of inbuilt functionality to change the layout of the pages including blog archive and so on.
She has seen two options she appears to 'like the look of'. Neave Theme and WP Astra.
Any views on these themes or an alternative?
Thanks. Also, I have to say, WP has really come a long way having played about with the most recent version. Think I might start using it again.
What's the budget?
What layout and functionality is required?
I wrote a general guide on good relatively decent theme">how to pick a good relatively decent theme.
My personal favourites are GeneratePress and OceanWP.
Elementor is OK if used reasonably.
This is all Elementor (free version, with lots of custom code "manually" added, but still Elementor):
https://gtmetrix.com/reports/www.4roomsescape.com/fk3bxFj6/
Detailed info about providers whose services I've used:
BikeGremlin web-hosting reviews
Well what she is looking at ranges between $40-$80 so I think that should pretty much cover anything. Don't need this for multiple sites, just one.
I was looking at GeneratePress, but it appeared to be a bit less visual to change/build and more code-based changes? Maybe I just didn't look close enough.
Tell her to have a look at Blocksy (free; paid optional, https://creativethemes.com/blocksy/ )
Lots of built-in features, super light-weigth and I recently set a friend up with Blocksy. She is also not very technical and loving it 
She is using Qubely Blocks (free) along with it.
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
X theme is pretty nice and if there is an offer it is budget friendly. Give it a look. I like it
Dentistry is my passion
Thanks, this is looking more like her thing.
Same site, same page, same server:
Blocksy GTmetrix
GeneratePress GTmetrix
OceanWP GTmetrix
Detailed info about providers whose services I've used:
BikeGremlin web-hosting reviews
Makes me remember, I need to try GeneratePress some time again. But usability is obviously also a thing. I think for people not so fond of tech stuff Blocksy might be very easy to use. Generatepress is very good, too. Never used Ocean
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
I've heard nothing but praises for Blocksy.
If I had more time - i'd give it a run, see if it can be better optimized.
And I completely understand the sentiment - for most webshops I go with OceanWP, even though GeneratePress is faster - because OceanWP makes the layout look "nicer to normal people" out of the box, so no need to touch anything - which saves time.
Detailed info about providers whose services I've used:
BikeGremlin web-hosting reviews
And we have a very clear winner, it's Blocksy. I am impressed with it enough that I am going to throw up a test WP install just to play around with it. Sarah is delighted, she is already got the basic set up she wants and just needs to make it 'more pretty' which she says seems easy enough. Also bought the Pro version so a win for the developer.
Thanks all as always, I credited @Ympker with the suggestion
Glad to hear I could help
Yeah, it's pretty nice huh?
Pro version lifetime or yearly?
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
I think she just bought the yearly single website licence, all she needs to be fair. As I mention on the other chat, she is over the moon with it, says it gives every option she wanted and does it all visually so no messing about. Quick and easy.
Yeah, it is super straight-forward. If she needs help there is a Facebook community for it, too
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
Good recommendation with Blocksy @Ympker
@Lee I have been experimenting with the starter sites of Blocksy. Do consider sticking with the Gutenburg based templates. They are faster, 'native' to WP and starting May, google will revamp the algorithms that actually give Gutenburg a headstart over the other pagebuilders.
VPS reviews and benchmarks |
Google will give Gutenberg a head start? Meaning it'll give you better search engine ranking if you use Gutenberg? (I don't even use Google for searching, but I guess some people do...)
Gutenberg versus page builders post wp5.7
https://talk.lowendspirit.com/discussion/comment/58545/#Comment_58545
VPS reviews and benchmarks |
Maybe I'm a poor reader, but I've read that thread/comment and (skimmed) the linked article on 5.7, still didn't find anything on Google algorithm's ...
Ugh
Might have been a discussion in a fb group or a wp group.. from my covid clouded memory, here is
the summary version:
Under the new google ranking algorithms, some ‘native features’ like lazy loading, block support etc offer a leg up to gutenburg.
Other page builders will have to catch up
VPS reviews and benchmarks |
Ok, so mainly due to performance for ranking ...
I recently install a DirectAdmin on my new VPS, I have a feeling that... Maybe I should not use Panel anymore. Panel only gave me a extra learning curve.
Action and Reaction in history
As much as panels are convenient they can be a hassle, it is just one more thing to learn and also cause you issues that you then have to learn how to fix. If you are just running personal sites and have a good backup solution a VPS without a panel is usually the way to go. Need mail, throw in MXRoute and so on.
I use to go for the, it's not that I can't do it, just too lazy so used a panel but I changed that last year and stopped using panels for anything personal.
So I finally got some time to try out WordPress again properly. Shit so much improved since I last really used it. The editor is remarkably good, seem to recall a lot of upset about Gutenberg when it first came out.
The free version of the Blocksy theme has more options than I have ever seen on a free theme, but maybe others do also. I did try a few random ones and got hit more or less immediately with "Get the Pro version" to do this thing you want.
I did quite a big import of dummy data and added a number of plugins (Direct Admin in a reseller account to install WP). On GTMetrix was getting pretty decent results. Although I noticed TTFB was quite long but I suspect that may have happened after I used a Google Font.
Have been using other options like Grav and getKirby recently but really thinking about spending more time with WP and maybe moving a couple of sites.
Also, Ghost 4.0 is out today, for those serious about just blogging and have an audience they really do now make it a viable money-making opportunity for those that have something interesting to say.
Apologies another question, really getting back into WP.
Do you find it is better to run WP on a VPS/Dedi or does a shared/reseller at a decent provider not hold it back in comparison to a VPS/Dedi?
Depending on how bloated you make it, it works pretty smoothly on shared hosting.
Nexus Bytes Ryzen Powered NVMe VPS | NYC|Miami|LA|London|Netherlands| Singapore|Tokyo
Storage VPS | LiteSpeed Powered Web Hosting + SSH access | Switcher Special |
Indeed, perhaps I am holding on to historic prejudices with WP that in order to provide the functionality and end result you want, bloated is exactly how it will end up. I guess I just need to get on and replace a site properly with it and see what happens.
Especially for WordPress installs just fire up LAMP> @Lee said:
Personally, I am super happy with being able to focus 100% on my Websites and leave it to the Shared Hosting/Reseller provider to handle server security and the backend. I am currently with @MikePT at Hetzner's and HostMantis and performance has never been an issue. Ramnode is also great. Throw in the license savings for, say, JetBackup, Litespeed, cPanel/DA and also comodities like 1 click SSL, daily backups.. has made me stick with Shared Hosting over setting up my own VPS. You can get Shared Hosting really cheap and with a lot of nice perks without lifting a finger
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
Yeah, I am trying to get into a mindset of trusting a shared/reseller provider for some sites so I can do exactly that, focus on the websites these days and stop being a whiny little bitch about trust. I have real trust issues when it comes to relying on other hosts since I sold my own a while back.
Although I like DA probably going to switch back to cPanel, Jetbackup only seems to provide the option of having your own external source for backups like S3. Does not appear to be available in the DA version unless I am mistaken. Makes me feel a lot more comfortable using a reseller where I have the ability to backup to my own location.
I typically do the following:
Development site on VPS, typically using Webinoly or Gridpane.
Production site once optimized... shared or VPS (With Gridpane) depending on the purpose.
While we are on the topic, a short video I had made a few months ago.
https://img.gaatha.co/fWT6IJ
And my favourite: Webinoly
https://img.gaatha.co/5SHsb5
VPS reviews and benchmarks |
I hear you. Very happy that, with HM reseller I can use cPanel and it has daily backups on JetBackup. Additionaly, I have scheduled weekly/monthly JetBackups remote backups to GDrive. A feature still missing for DA
@MikePT is also waiting for this as much as I am probably. As for trust, just make sure to pick a well-established provider with good performance and features. Imho cant go wrong with Ramnode/HM/Mike.
Ympker's VPN LTD Comparison, Uptime.is, Ympker's GitHub.
DA has in-built support for storage, but not the cheap options like Amazon, or BackBlaze.
Hetzner Box works perfectly fine, and it's not outrageously expensive, but does cost more.
DirectAdmin automated remote backup configuration
Detailed info about providers whose services I've used:
BikeGremlin web-hosting reviews