WP Weekly 49 – Speed

With Google’s core web vitals, speed is an even more important factor. Speeding things up with new project lightspeed, Astra with faster optimized CSS loading, and the next loaded WP 5.8 with WebP support. Including brand new launches, who is buying and selling in the WordPress space, and a Genesis surprise.

Fluent CRM with 8000+ active installs is the easiest way to set up email marketing, funnels, and automated sequenced emails on WordPress.

Restrict Content Pro is a super simple plugin to create a premium content membership website on WordPress to generate recurring revenue.

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What’s Buzzing in WordPress 💖

  • Speed Matters… automatically optimize websites made with Thrive themes plugins using the new project lightspeed tool for cleaner and neater output code to score well on Google’s core web vitals. Also, the new Astra 3.5 promises an even faster front end loading experience with optimized CSS and improved accessibility.
  • Elementor Only… with so much happening, starting off with the new design of the official Elementor website (neat, for sure!). Elementor Hub (aka Forums) has expanded into advanced rooms focused on various topics of web development. Plus, Elementor now has a new fancy yet useful feature of hotspot widgets and video playlist.
  • New Launches… the cool-looking and interactive conversational forms feature (like Typeform) is now available in the Fluent Forms, included in a special lifetime deal offer. Also, the pro version of the Social Icons Widget plugin has been released with support for custom icons and SVG support.

Extended WordPress Buzz 🔥

  1. Money in WP… there is a lot, considering the WordPress economy is expected to clock $635.5 billion in 2021; check detailed insights in the WordPress Economy Study by WPengine. Even in the breakdown of WordPress market share growth by Joost de Valk, the eCommerce flag bearer – WooCommerce is growing faster than Shopify.
  2. Buying & Selling… how a side project Plugin Rank flourished and then was sold to Syed Balkhi from Awesome Motive. While Andrew Palmer acquired 21 Divi plugins adding to their tools collection for Divi users. If you want to jump into buying and selling WordPress businesses, then check FlipWP from Alex Denning and Iain Poulson.
  3. Blocks Life… check this video shared at the WordCamp Europe 2021 to get amazed at the block’s progress from editor to a site builder. The Gutenberg 10.8 update has added new typography controls with font weights support, custom fonts for the list block along with template editor enhancements. Also, check the handy list view to easily navigate content within the blocks editor.

Quick Bits 👍

  • New auto sync plugin for Google Sheets to WordPress Table.
  • FilterWP added integration for fields types by MetaBox plugin.
  • Siteground has a new security plugin for all (non-SG users also).
  • Oxygen 3.8 is now available with advanced queries and more.
  • Want to add your block patterns to the directory? Here is how.
  • Now for easier WooCommerce products listing on Google.
  • Expanding Codeable expert community with Mike and Christie.

[Loaded Next] WordPress 5.8 goodness ✔

WordPress 5.8 is an important next release with a lot of new stuff. WordPress 5.8 beta 1 is now available for your testing featuring powerful blocks, patterns, and better tools. Among all the new things, it will include support for Emoji 13.1 which adds new emojis with variations for skin tones and genders. Also, it will support WebP image format allowing faster website experience.

Are you an old Genesis Framework user?
If you are a vintage Genesis Pro (Plus) lifetime buyer (like me), then you should see free availability of Genesis Blocks Pro and Genesis Custom Blocks Pro plugins in your account now. For new users, these plugins are currently only available with the purchase of Genesis Pro plan.

Upcoming Events 💬

September 27, 2023: WordPress Accessibility Day 2023, Livestreaming Free.
September 28, 2023: WordPress Web Agency AI Summit 2023, by Crocoblock.
September 28, 2023: Best Practices for Email Marketing, BlueHost online event.

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