Web designers spend hours perfecting a site’s layout, functionality, and content. However, we don’t always pay attention to the 404. Why is that?

It’s easy to take the 404 page for granted. It’s often hidden for one. We may not think of it until we stumble upon the page.

Content management systems (CMS) like WordPress make them even less visible. That’s because themes often come with preconfigured templates. We may not think to review what’s there.

That could be a missed opportunity. The 404 page is a place to help users navigate your website. They may look elsewhere if they can’t find what they need. And WordPress block themes open the door to customization. You can add features without touching code.

Let’s explore how the WordPress Site Editor can help you build a custom 404 page.

Start with a WordPress Block Theme

To start, you’ll need to install a copy of WordPress. You can use a local site or a web hosting account.

Next, it’s time to activate a block theme. However, a fresh install of WordPress will do this for you. The bundled default themes now work with the Site Editor.

We’ll use the Twenty Twenty-Three default theme for this demonstration. But you can use any block theme you like. The WordPress theme directory has several available for download.

Even better is that a basic 404 page doesn’t require plugins. WordPress includes enough blocks to build a functional page.

Edit Your 404 Template in the WordPress Site Editor

Now that we have a WordPress block theme, we can focus on our 404 page. Let’s start by navigating to Appearance > Editor inside the WordPress admin.

Next, we’ll click on the Templates link in the sidebar.

This screen displays all of the templates that come with your theme. The Twenty Twenty-Three default theme comes with a 404 template listed as Page: 404.

What if your theme doesn’t come with a 404 template? It’s possible to add a new theme template using the Site Editor. Just be sure to keep the WordPress template hierarchy in mind.

Assess the Template

Our 404 template is a bit sparse. It consists of a paragraph block and a search field. Both items are helpful. But we can do better, right?

A quality 404 page is there to guide users. Remember that they arrived here by mistake. The link they wanted to visit isn’t available.

What can we do to improve this page? We can think of a few additions that would make a positive impact.

Add Some Helpful WordPress Blocks

First, we’ll add a Page List block. This one provides a map of content for users to navigate. We love that the list shows parent and child relationships.

Maybe our visitor was looking for a blog post? Let’s add a Latest Posts block that shows six recent articles.

We can also include a button that links to the Blog page. Users can click it to gain instant access to our archive.

Let’s narrow things down a bit as well. Our blog has several categories and tags. We can use the Categories List and Tag Cloud blocks to add direct links to them. We’ll also use the Block Editor to create a multi-column layout.

What if our visitor still hasn’t found what they need? We’ll add a Cover block that encourages them to contact us.

It seems like we’ve covered all the bases. Our 404 page will serve as a launch point for users to find desired content.

Helping Users Find Their Way

We’ve taken a basic 404-page template and turned it into a hub. And we did so with native WordPress blocks. A few minutes was all it took to enhance the user experience.

There’s always room for more enhancements, though. You could add some third-party blocks to help users navigate. And a live search feature would improve the core WordPress function.

All told, the Site Editor simplified the template-building process. It didn’t require us to write code. And it offers plenty of layout options.

Don’t ignore your website’s 404 page. Improving it is worth the effort. And the WordPress Site Editor makes it easier than ever.

The post How to Build a 404 Page with the WordPress Site Editor appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

That’s why the newfangled world of block themes has been disruptive. They’re different than classic themes. They don’t rely as heavily on PHP. And then there’s the whole concept of using JSON to define styles and options.

Block themes do come with advantages, however. Using one may mean writing fewer lines of code. And a block-based approach means not having to reinvent the wheel. That’s because many layout and functionality features come standard with WordPress.

The number of available block themes is increasing. But not all are ideal for web designers. We need flexibility and easy customization.

With that in mind, let’s check out some essential WordPress block theme features that focus on professionals.

A Minimalist Approach to Design

Readymade WordPress themes are popular. They promise a faster start on web design projects. Yet they can also be very opinionated.

That clashes with our ability to build custom websites. It seems like you can waste hours ripping a theme apart. You then have to rebuild it to match your vision. Starting from scratch may have been more efficient.

Thus, a minimalist approach makes sense. A strongly opinionated block theme is no better than a classic counterpart. It requires too much effort to customize.

Blockbase may be the best example of a minimalist theme. It makes very few design decisions. It’s the proverbial blank canvas. Still, the theme offers enough options to please designers.

Minimalism is a subjective quality, though. Not everyone wants a blank canvas. A theme that offers a few extra bells and whistles is also worth considering.

The key concept is to spend the bulk of your time moving forward. Some themes make it nearly impossible to do so.

A Selection of Style Variations

Block themes are supposed to make web design easier. And style variations are among their most powerful features. They make it possible to switch color and typography schemes. It takes only a few clicks to transform your site.

Web designers can use this to their advantage. A style variation may make for quicker progress. For example, a theme that offers light and dark color schemes saves us from building them.

This concept also fits with minimalist themes. Style variations that serve as a solid foundation are ideal. We can choose a variation and further customize it within the Site Editor.

Style variations won’t fully represent a finished product. But they are a step in the right direction.

A Set of Basic Block Template Parts

Think of block template parts as reusable sections of a theme. They’re not full-blown templates. But we can use them to power smaller areas within a template.

It’s a highly flexible feature. For example, you might create a block template part to display a call-to-action on blog posts. You could also create a variety of layouts for a site’s header. There are so many possibilities here.

A block theme that includes a set of template parts would be helpful. We can add common elements using minimal effort. We’ll have more time to focus on project details.

Let’s use Blockbase as an example. The theme includes several header variations. Everything from minimal to full-width options is available.

We can change header layouts within the Site Editor. Customization is easy. We have the option to edit the existing blocks or add new ones.

But why stop at headers? A theme could also include block template parts for other areas. Footers, sidebars, author bios, and navigation styles are possibilities. Anything to improve efficiency is worth considering.

Custom Block Patterns for Niche Sites

Like block template parts, block patterns are reusable. However, block patterns are implemented at the content level. We can add them to any page or post.

Patterns once again save us from reinventing the wheel. And they can range from basic layouts to (almost) fully-formed content areas.

WordPress offers a community-driven block pattern directory. Find a pattern you like and then paste it into your page. Or import custom patterns directly within the block editor.

Theme authors can also include custom block patterns. The advantage is that these patterns can better reflect the theme. For example, they may take typography and color into account. That makes for a seamless fit with the existing design.

Authors might offer patterns that fit the theme’s niche. Including grid patterns or card layouts to a magazine theme, for instance. A portfolio theme could also provide galleries or project listing patterns.

Regardless of Theme Type, Web Designers Have the Same Needs

For web designers, the decision to work with block themes is nuanced. Block themes are the future of theming. But they work differently than the classic variety. As such, it’s easy to lose sight of what makes a block theme worthwhile.

There are some common threads, though. Web designers still need flexibility. We need a solid and unopinionated foundation. And we can’t forget simple options to help achieve project goals.

These are the same qualities we look for in a classic theme. The good news is that some block themes take web professionals into account. They eschew bloated features and focus on real-world solutions.

Regardless of the type of theme we use, needs don’t change. That’s worth remembering as we navigate a new era of building websites.

The post Essential WordPress Block Theme Features for Web Designers appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

That’s where side projects come in handy. They provide the perfect environment for trying new things. There’s little risk and plenty of creative freedom.

And there’s no better playground than WordPress. The content management system (CMS) is infinitely extensible. It’s also well-documented and easy to customize. Best of all, it will help get your project off to a quick start.

With that in mind, here are five ideas for WordPress side projects. Each will help you level up your design and development game. Here we go!

Build a WordPress Block Theme

Compared to their classic counterparts, block themes are a different animal. They have a unique structure. And they aren’t as dependent on PHP.

They also haven’t been widely adopted yet. However, the WordPress Site Editor is constantly improving. Thus, it’s only a matter of time before block themes have a breakthrough.

If you haven’t paid much attention to block themes, now is a great time to start. Building a basic theme will allow you to see their inner workings. And you can get your feet wet with advanced features like theme.json and global style variations.

What sort of theme should you build? Think about how a block theme could benefit a typical client. Keep their needs in mind and add features to suit them. You may be able to use it as a starting point for future projects.

Resources

• A Deep Introduction to WordPress Block Themes by Ganesh Dahal
• Create Block Theme plugin by WordPress.org
• Creating WordPress block themes by Carolina Nymark
• Intro to the Site Editor and Template Editor by Wes Theron
• WordPress Theme Handbook: Block Themes by WordPress.org

Create a WordPress Plugin

Don’t let the title scare you. Creating a WordPress plugin doesn’t have to be overly complex. Much depends on the plugin’s purpose.

You might be thinking about successful products like WooCommerce or Gravity Forms. They have a lot of code underneath the hood. And they have teams of developers maintaining them. You don’t have to go that far.

There is an easier path to getting started with plugin development. For example, try a small custom plugin that has niche functionality. One that may only be relevant to a specific website. It might consist of just a few lines of code.

And you may already have some foundational knowledge. Are you familiar with adding code snippets to your theme’s functions.php file? If so, the jump to a custom plugin isn’t very difficult. The same code can be copied to a plugin with a few adjustments.

Plugin development is a great way to sharpen your PHP skills. Plus, it’s a better approach than using theme-specific code. This experience will serve you well on future projects.

Resources

• Plugin Basics by WordPress.org
• WordPress plugin boilerplate generator by Tom McFarlin & Devin Vinson
• Writing a WordPress Plugin From Scratch: A Step-by-Step Tutorial by Fred Meyer

Optimize a Website for Peak Performance

Everyone wants a fast website. But it’s not always easy to accomplish.

That’s particularly true when using WordPress. Themes, plugins, and third-party resources can bring your site to a crawl. And web hosting also plays a key role in load times.

Install a copy of WordPress on a server and experiment. Add lots of content and images. Try using different site configurations. See how switching themes impacts your site. Add various plugins that you use in your client projects.

This is also a great time to brush up on how caching works. There are several types to explore, including server and plugin-based options.

From there, use tools like Google Page Speed or a plugin like Query Monitor to gauge performance. This way, you can determine the impact of each item.

You’ll learn some valuable lessons along the way. And it may lead to a change in how you approach building a website.

Resources

• 6 WordPress Plugins to Optimize & Speed Up Your Website by Eric Karkovack
• How to Speed Up Your WordPress Site by Kinsta
• Improving Site Performance: An overview by Hari Shanker

Build a Custom Block

The Block Editor is rapidly evolving. New features are regularly added, and bugs are being squashed. The user experience (UX) has improved. As such, more users are choosing it over the Classic Editor.

And the ability to build custom blocks is powerful. Developers can bring a variety of features to their projects. Adding custom content, design, and functionality are among the possibilities here.

Blocks also offer portability. They can be used throughout your website. And you can package them into a plugin to use on multiple projects.

Plus, there are multiple ways to build custom WordPress blocks. Native blocks are built with React. However, there are alternatives available.

Plugins like Advanced Custom Fields Pro and Genesis Custom Blocks can also be used. They allow developers to create custom blocks via PHP. They’re efficient and make custom blocks accessible to more people.

Building custom blocks can be extremely useful. And it’s a great way to boost your revenue, as well.

Resources

• ACF Blocks by Advanced Custom Fields
• Create Block NPM Package by WordPress
• Getting Started With WordPress Block Development by Arjun Singh
• Introduction to Block Development: Build your first custom block by Learn WordPress

Integrate Third-Party Apps and Services

WordPress and its plugin ecosystem are very capable. But there are also times when you’ll need to integrate with third-party tools. They play an important role in areas like marketing and eCommerce.

There are a wide range of use cases. For instance, you might want to build a headless website using Gatsby or another static site generator. You can create content within WordPress while reaping the performance benefits of static HTML.

Automation is growing in popularity as well. And there are so many ways to integrate it into your workflow. A new form entry on your WordPress site could trigger, say, adding a new contact to your mailing list.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are also ways to integrate with payment gateways, customer relationship management (CRM) tools, and multi-channel eCommerce providers.

There may be a cost involved with some integrations. However, there are several free options to choose from. Find a few that are relevant to your business and get to work!

Resources

• AutomatorWP Plugin
• How to Incorporate External APIs in Your WordPress Theme or Plugin by Karen Pogosyan
• Sourcing from WordPress by Gatsby
• Uncanny Automator Plugin
• Zapier WordPress Integrations

Improve Your WordPress Skills

WordPress is a rapidly changing CMS. Keeping up with new developments is a key to professional growth. This is particularly so when it comes to blocks. They’re the present and future of the software.

Try to integrate one or more of the above items into a side project. You’ll gain a better understanding of how WordPress works.

Even better is that you won’t have to deal with the pressures of client work. And you can decide whether to release your project to the public. It might be a nice way to contribute to the community. But there’s also value in spinning up a local install and experimenting.

Either way, the skills you learn will serve you well into the future. So, take the first steps toward learning and see where it takes you!

The post 5 WordPress Side Projects To Help You Learn & Grow appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

WordPress is the perfect CMS for launching an online magazine. Their magazine themes have been specifically designed for websites that frequently publish news or editorial content. They typically feature a grid or column-based layout that makes it easy to display multiple posts from various categories at once.

They often come with customizable widgets and modules, allowing you to create a unique and engaging user experience. Other benefits include easy post navigation, social media integration, and the ability to showcase ads or sponsored content.

The free WordPress magazine themes we have for you here are an excellent choice for bloggers, news websites, or anyone that publishes frequent content updates.

The post The 10 Best Free Magazine & News WordPress Themes appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Using WordPress landing page themes can make the process of creating and testing landing pages easier and more efficient. With pre-designed templates and customizable features, you can quickly create landing pages that fit your branding and marketing goals.

Our curated collection of the best landing page WordPress themes will help you better convert visitors into subscribers and customers. From customizable templates to built-in optimization features, these themes maximize conversions. Start creating high-converting landing pages with our collection today!

The post The 10 Best Free Landing Page Themes for WordPress appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

But before we get too far into the weeds, it’s worth noting that block themes are fundamentally different than the classic WordPress themes you’re used to. They’re specifically built to work with FSE and the Gutenberg block editor. Think of them as an entirely separate category of theme.

Now that we have those details out of the way, it’s time to start looking at themes! Block themes are a growing segment, and therefore, it will take time for their numbers to approach the massive quantity of classic themes on the market.

Still, there are plenty of compelling options. And the fact that these themes are fairly simple to customize means that you have a lot of flexibility. If a particular design element doesn’t fit your needs, you can always start from scratch.

To help get you started on your journey, here are ten free WordPress block themes that are worthy of your consideration.

The post 10 Free WordPress Block Themes That Utilize Full Site Editing appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

WordPress is our choice for blogging. It’s a widely-used platform with a large and supportive community, making it easy to find resources and assistance. It’s also highly customizable, with a vast library of plugins and themes freely available.

When it comes to WordPress blogging themes, there are certain things you should be looking for. They should be responsive, customizable, and have features designed specifically for blogging, such as post organization and author information. It should also have widget areas, a commenting system, be compatible with popular plugins, and fast loading for user experience and search engine rankings.

Ultimately, the specific theme features needed will depend on the blogger’s goals and needs for their website. The free themes we have for you below should help narrow your search for a WordPress blogging theme. Happy blogging!

The post The 20 Best Free Personal Blog Themes for WordPress appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Thankfully, there’s a better way to build themes. By using a “starter” theme, all the basics are done for you. Templates and code structure are already in place – but often in a “barebones” way.

That allows you to essentially build a website to your own custom specifications, and it cuts out the repetition while also acting as a blank canvas to build upon.

By using a good starter theme, you’ll spend less time ripping apart existing styles and more time on the specific needs of your project.

The post 6 Starter & Barebone Themes for WordPress Development appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Whether you’re looking to present the story of your company, highlight your services or products, or simply establish a professional online presence, there are numerous free WordPress themes available to suit your needs.

In this collection, we’ve compiled the best free corporate and business WordPress themes for your company. These themes offer a wide range of features and customization options to help you create a professional website, without breaking the bank. Check out our selection and start building your business website today!

The post The 15 Best Free Business & Corporate WordPress Themes appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Fortunately, WordPress offers a wide range of free fashion and lifestyle themes that can help you create a stunning website without breaking the bank. Whether you’re looking for a minimalist design or a bold and colorful aesthetic, there’s a theme that can suit your needs. These themes also come with customizable layouts and a range of features to help you create a unique and memorable user experience.

In this collection, we’ve rounded up the best free fashion and lifestyle WordPress themes that incorporate all of these features and more. From modern designs to more traditional layouts, these themes can help you create a visually stunning site or blog that showcases your content in style.

You might also like our collections of fashion flyers, photoshoot Lightroom presets, or these feminine logo templates.

The post The 15 Best Free Fashion & Lifestyle WordPress Themes appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.