Think about it. Your analytics workflow probably looks similar to this:

1. Log into Google Analytics to understand who’s visiting
2. Switch to Search Console to check what’s bringing them there
3. Open PageSpeed Insights to make sure your site isn’t too slow
4. Toggle between these tabs trying to connect the dots
5. Finally return to WordPress, mentally exhausted before making a single improvement

Google Site Kit changes this workflow.

But, Should You Really Care About Website Data?

See, if you had a physical store, you’d have immediate feedback.

You’d see customers browsing, notice what they were interested in, and immediately know if they leave without purchasing.

But with your website? Not so much.

Your site could be:

• Driving away mobile customers because your checkout process is hard to complete
• Missing out on valuable search terms your customers are using (while ranking for terms nobody searches for)
• Confusing visitors with navigation that only makes sense to you
• Spending on ads bringing visitors to pages that don’t convert

And you’d never know any of these problems exist without analytics, and would continue losing revenue.

Fortunately, you don’t need to be a data nerd – just the right tools that translate the analytics geek-speak for you.

How Google Site Kit Helps (and Why Should You Care)

Google Site Kit takes metrics data (like traffic, session duration, keywords, performance, and much more) from across the Google Analytics suite and puts them right inside your WordPress dashboard.

As an official WordPress plugin developed by Google, Site Kit connects your website directly to six powerful Google services.

1. Google Search Console: Shows how people find you in search results (and what they’re searching for).
2. Google Analytics: Tracks who visits your site, what they look at, and what they do.
3. Google AdSense: Displays advertising revenue if you monetize your content.
4. PageSpeed Insights: Tells you why your website loads slower than your competitors (and how to fix it).
5. Google Tag Manager: Adds tracking codes without you touching a single line of code.
6. Google Optimize: Tests different versions of your pages to see which converts better.

Now, instead of six separate logins, Site Kit brings all the essential data like traffic, session duration, website performance, and more, directly into your WordPress dashboard—the place you’re already working.

No more tab switching. No more lost momentum. No more wasted time.

So, does that make it the magic solution that you’re looking for? Well, maybe.

Why Small Business Owners Should Consider Using Site Kit

With Site Kit, this entire process happens in one place — saving you ~45 minutes every time you need to check your site performance.

We’ve helped thousands of small business owners set up their websites, and the technical side of analytics has always been a major pain point for them.

This is because a traditional analytics setup requires:

• Understanding Google’s product ecosystem
• Creating and configuring properties
• Adding code and verification tags to your site headers
• Connecting various services and hoping they talk to each other

Here’s why that matters for your business.

1. Respects Your Time

For most business owners, an analytics session can go for about 30-45 minutes.

That includes switching between different dashboards, making sense of disparate data, and applying the learnings to your business.

If you check your metrics weekly, that’s up to 36 hours saved per year—almost a full work week recovered.

When you can see traffic patterns, search performance, and page speed issues in a single dashboard, you can identify problems and opportunities in minutes rather than hours.

This means faster decision-making and the ability to fix issues before they impact your revenue.

2. It Helps You Connect the Dots

When data is fragmented across platforms, it becomes difficult to make critical connections.

For example, Search Console might show increased impressions for a key term, but Analytics reveals that those visitors immediately leave your site. PageSpeed Insights might explain why: your page loads too slowly on mobile devices.

Site Kit makes these relationships visible at a glance, helping you make informed decisions rather than relying on guesswork.

3. It Speaks Human

Many small business owners (maybe you’re one of them) avoid analytics altogether because of intimidating terminology like “bounce rate,” “session duration,” or “conversion attribution.”

Site Kit translates these complex metrics into simple terms and visual presentations that make sense, even if you’re not fluent in geek speak.

Setting Up Google Site Kit: A Simple, Step-by-Step Guide

Even if your tech skills max out at setting the clock on your microwave, you can implement Google Site Kit in under five minutes. Here’s how.

Step 1: Install the Plugin

Log in to your WordPress dashboard.

Go to the Plugins section in the left sidebar and click Add New.

In the search bar, type “Google Site Kit” and look for the plugin with Google’s official logo.

Click Install Now and wait for installation.

After installation completes, click Activate.

Step 2: Connect Your Google Account

After activation, you’ll see a welcome screen with a “Start Setup” button. Click this button to begin the connection process.

You’ll be prompted to sign in with a Google account. Use the same Google account you use for any existing Google services.

Review the permissions Site Kit requests, check Select All, and click Continue.

Step 3: Verify Site Ownership

Google needs to verify that you own the website. If you already have Search Console set up, this may happen automatically.

If not, Site Kit will guide you through the verification process.

The Site Kit plugin automatically adds an HTML tag to your website to complete the verification (a process you’d otherwise have to do manually).

Follow through the steps and allow or deny whichever services you need from Google. If you’re just starting out, we’d recommend simply allowing Site Kit to set your website up with all the services so you can skip the decision making.

Step 4: Complete Configuration

Once connections are established, return to your WordPress dashboard.

You’ll now see a new Site Kit option in your sidebar.

Click this to access your unified analytics dashboard. If you’re setting up Search Console and Google Analytics for the first time, with the Site Kit plugin, you won’t see any data for the first 24-48 hours.

So, don’t worry just yet.

Once Google has started tracking your website’s traffic, keywords, impressions, unique visitors, and more, you should start seeing all the data populate on your dashboard.

Your First Week With Site Kit: A Procrastinator-Proof Plan

You’re not going to become an analytics expert in just a week.

But each day brings a small revelation into what’s actually happening on your website rather than what you think is happening.

And by the end of the week, you’ll go from flying blind to having a practical understanding of what’s working, what’s not, and exactly what to improve first.

That’s meaningful progress, enough to make impactful decisions for your website.

Day 1: Setup (5 minutes)

• Install the plugin through WordPress’ plugin directory (Plugins → Add New → search “Google Site Kit”)
• Connect using your primary Google account (the same one you use for Gmail)
• When prompted, enable at minimum: Search Console, Analytics, and PageSpeed Insights

Day 2: Quick Overview (10 minutes)

• Open your dashboard and immediately notice which metrics appear in your “Key Metrics” section based on your site goals
• If you run a service business, you’ll see “Top pages driving leads” showing which pages generate form submissions
• For local businesses, check “Top cities driving traffic” to see if your geo-targeting efforts are working (you might discover unexpected interest from neighboring towns)

Day 3: Check Your Search Terms (10 minutes)

• In the “Top performing keywords” tile, look for queries you never anticipated (a florist might discover “same day delivery” drives more clicks than “wedding arrangements”)
• Look for keywords with high impressions but terrible click-through rates (under 1%) – these represent missed opportunities
• For product-based businesses, identify specific product names that appear in search but aren’t optimized on your site

Day 4: Analyze Visitor Behavior (10 minutes)

• Look at “Visit length” to see if users spend less than 30 seconds on key pages (a danger sign)
• Check “Pages per visit” to see if visitors view 1.2 pages on average (indicating they’re not exploring further)
• Identify content with long engagement times using “Most engaging pages” (these are your hidden gems)

Day 5: Performance Review (10 minutes)

• Review “Least engaging pages” to find content with bounce rates over 80%
• Note if your mobile website speed score is dramatically lower than desktop (common for image-heavy small business sites)
• Identify server response time issues that often plague shared hosting environments

Day 6: Make One Improvement (15 minutes)

• If you discovered your Services page has high traffic but low engagement on Day 4, add testimonials or a video related to that service
• If PageSpeed flagged unoptimized images on your top product page, compress them using a WordPress optimization plugin
• For location-based businesses, strengthen local keywords on pages getting unexpected traffic from nearby cities (discovered in Day 2)

Day 7: Create A Routine (5 minutes)

• Schedule “Analytics Monday” as a recurring 15-minute calendar block at 9 AM
• Choose one specific metric from your key metrics dashboard to improve by 10% (if your “Pages per visit” is 1.2, aim for 1.3)
• Take a screenshot of today’s dashboard to compare against next month’s numbers

How To Turn Site Kit Data Into Business Growth

There’s no point in having metrics that are tracked and accessible to you on the WordPress dashboard if you don’t use them for business growth. Here are the different business types and what data they should consider focusing on.

For Service-Based Businesses

The question to ask is: “How do I get more leads that turn into paying clients?”

Data to look at:

• Search terms driving traffic to your site
• Which pages convince visitors to contact you
• How long people spend reading about your services
• Which pages send visitors running for the hills

Action steps:

• Go to the Search Console section in Site Kit.
• Look at which search terms bring the most clicks.
• See what happens to those visitors in the Analytics section.
• Work on the pages that see visitors but don’t convert. You can add client testimonials, improve page content and images, or experiment with new CTAs.

For E-Commerce Businesses

The question to ask is: “Where am I losing potential sales in my purchase process?”

Data to look at:

• Product page views versus add-to-cart actions
• Cart abandonment points
• Mobile versus desktop conversion differences
• Return visitor purchasing patterns

Action steps:

• Under the Analytics section of your Site Kit dashboard, look for the “Behavior Flow” report.
• Identify the pages where visitors most commonly exit your site.
• Check the PageSpeed section to see if those high-exit pages have performance issues.
• Simplify checkout steps that show high abandonment rates.

For Content Publishers

The question to ask is: “What content keeps readers coming back and generates sustainable revenue?”

Data to look at:

• Time spent on different content types
• Return visitor percentages for specific topics
• Social sharing patterns
• Ad performance on different pages

Action steps:

• Check your Site Kit overview to identify your top 10 most-visited pages.
• Filter these pages by time-on-page in the Analytics section.
• Look for patterns in content structure, topic, or format among your highest-engagement pages.
• Review your Google AdSense data to see which content types generate more revenue.

For Local Brick-and-Mortar Businesses

The question to ask is: “How effectively am I connecting with nearby customers who need my services?”

Data to look at:

• Local search performance
• Mobile versus desktop visitor patterns
• Business hours alignment with peak site traffic
• Conversion actions like calls, direction requests, and form submissions

Action steps:

• In the Search Console section, filter for queries containing local terms (near me, your city name, etc.).
• Review traffic patterns by time of day in the Analytics section.
• Check mobile performance metrics in PageSpeed Insights.
• Ensure your contact information and location details are prominently displayed on pages with high local traffic.

You didn’t start a business to stare at analytics dashboards. So, here’s the absolute minimum you need to do to get the benefits:

When Google Site Kit Might Not Be Enough

While Site Kit provides tremendous value for most small business owners, you should also understand its limitations.

Here are a few instances where you know Site Kit isn’t cutting it for your use case:

• You need multi-platform insights: Site Kit only works with the Google Analytics suite. So, if your business uses Facebook Ads, email marketing, or other platforms, you’ll need additional solutions to see the complete picture.
• You need a deeper analysis: Site Kit gives you a simplified view of Google’s tools. Power users might eventually want direct access to the full versions for more advanced analysis.
• Your e-commerce operations become complex: Businesses with sophisticated sales funnels, multiple product lines, or complex inventory management might need more specialized analytics tools.
• You need custom reports: If you’re at the point where you need highly customized dashboards and reports, you might need to graduate to enterprise analytics solutions.

Other Tools To Integrate

When your business reaches the point where basic analytics aren’t enough (Hey, congratulations, by the way!), consider these more advanced tools:

• For visual insights: Microsoft Clarity shows where visitors click, how far they scroll, and even records anonymous sessions so you can see exactly how people use your site. 
• For conversion testing: Tools like Optimizely or VWO let you run sophisticated A/B tests to optimize every element of your sales funnel. 
• For a competitive edge: Semrush or Ahrefs provide deeper keyword research and competitor analysis than Search Console, helping you find opportunities your competitors are missing. 
• For customer journey mapping: Solutions like Userpilot or Amplitude offer detailed user flow analysis for complex websites, helping you understand every step of the customer journey. 

Common Questions Small Business Owners Ask About Site Kit

Will installing Site Kit affect my website’s performance?

Site Kit is designed to minimize performance impact. It loads Google’s scripts in the most efficient way possible, so your site speed won’t take a hit.

I already have Google Analytics. Will this mess it up?

Nope! Site Kit will connect to your existing Google services and use those instead of creating duplicates. Your historical data stays intact.

What if I change themes or redesign my website?

Since Site Kit connects at the WordPress level, not the theme level, it keeps working even if you completely redesign your site or switch themes.

Is there a cost to using Site Kit?

Site Kit is completely free. Both Google Site Kit and the Google services it connects to (Analytics, Search Console, etc.) are free to use. There’s no catch or hidden fees.

Can my virtual assistant or team use Site Kit too?

Absolutely! Anyone with appropriate WordPress admin access can use the Site Kit dashboard, making it easy to delegate analytics monitoring to your team.

What happens if I decide to stop using Site Kit?

If you decide to uninstall Site Kit, you can always go back to using the standard Google interfaces. You will need to manually install the Google Analytics tag, as Site Kit previously handled this task.

Is Google Site Kit Right for Your Business?

We’ve helped thousands of businesses build websites and implement analytics. The pattern is clear: businesses that make data-informed decisions outperform those that operate on gut feeling alone.

Google Site Kit is perfect for you if:

• You run a WordPress website (sorry, Wix and Squarespace folks).
• You don’t have a dedicated analytics team or consultant.
• You need practical insights, not just fancy charts.
• You want to improve your website without diving into the technical deep end.

The 20 minutes you invest in setting up Site Kit today could save you hours of confusion and reveal opportunities that have been hiding in your website data all along.

Your customers are already telling you what they want through their behavior on your website. With Google Site Kit, you can finally understand what they’re saying.

The post Google Site Kit: Is This the Magic Analytics Solution for Your Small Business? appeared first on DreamHost Blog.

Your homepage is a showstopper. Your blog is filling up fast. And now you’re adding even more — perhaps a portfolio or a section stacked with testimonials.

The only problem is, you’re not sure how to keep it all properly organized.

You know WordPress can handle different post types. But, uhhhh…how do you actually access that feature?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Custom post types are essentially like unicorns — everyone’s heard of them, but very few people have seen them in person. 

To help you learn more about these mythical beasts, we’ve made a guide. A really good, comprehensive guide that anyone can follow. And you’re reading it now.

Give us 10 minutes of your time, and we’ll introduce you to the world of custom post types (CPTs).

Let’s get started!

What Are Custom Post Types (and Why Should You Care)?

As you’re probably aware, WordPress was originally designed as a blogging platform. And it still plays that role really well.

Of course, WordPress can do much more nowadays. Many WordPress-powered sites don’t even have a blog, but underneath the hood, that original blog-based skeleton is still there.

This means that whenever you publish content, it’s usually packaged in one of these default post types:

• Posts: Blog posts, that is
• Pages: Every page that isn’t a standard post
• Attachments: Media uploads, like photos and audio snippets
• Revisions: When you edit an existing post, the changes are stored here
• Nav Menu: Every menu on your site is stored in one of these

Sticking with these default options is just fine if you have a simple website, but what about if you want to run a store or create a visual portfolio?

You could jam your content into a post or a page, but how do you separate real blog posts from the other stuff? 

Some site owners try to MacGyver the situation, using categories and tags to organize their content. The problem is, you end up with an organizational headache.

This is where custom post types come in useful. Basically, you can tell WordPress exactly what type of content you want to publish and how that content should be displayed. 

There are multiple benefits.

• Improved user experience: By structuring content logically, CPTs help visitors navigate your site more efficiently, leading to better engagement.
• Enhanced SEO: CPTs can have their own taxonomies, metadata, and URL structures. In plain English, that means search engines can understand and index your content more effectively.
• Better scalability and flexibility: Creating a clear structure for your content means you’re less likely to encounter issues as your site grows.
• A bespoke admin environment: Your WordPress dashboard can be tailored with custom menu items and fields, so you can add new posts and make updates faster.
• Better integration with plugins: Many WordPress plugins, such as custom fields tools and page builders, are specifically designed to work with CPTs. Again, this opens up more options for customizing your admin environment.
• Consistent content display: Create a uniform look and feel for your new content types by creating custom templates.

To summarize: custom post types rock.

Do Custom Post Types Affect SEO and Performance?

You may hear some people say that custom post types will ruin your site performance and mess up your SEO.

That can happen, but that’s almost always the result of bad code.

If you set up your CPTs properly, you shouldn’t see any issues. In fact, creating a better structure might improve the search performance of your WordPress website.

4 Telltale Signs That Your Website Needs Custom Post Types

Okay, that’s the sales pitch done. Now, do you actually need this feature? There’s no point in reading a whole guide unless your site will benefit.

With that in mind, here are the main telltale signs that CPTs are worth exploring.

1. Your Site Has Multiple Types of Content

Content comes in many flavors. If your website features more than one, you might want to explore custom post types.

Some examples:

• A photography portfolio with image galleries and detailed descriptions
• Event listings that have date, time, and location fields
• Client testimonials that are structured differently from your blog posts

Any content that doesn’t neatly fit either the post or page format is prime CPT material.

2. Content Management Feels Like a Total Mess

Does your WordPress admin area feel like an untamed jungle? For example, are you:

• Using categories or tags to differentiate unrelated content types? (E.g., mixing blog posts and portfolio items)
• Relying heavily on page builders or shortcodes to create unique layouts for different types of content?
• Having difficulty filtering or sorting content?

These are all symptoms of a site that’s crying out for custom post types!

3. Some Content Types Don’t Display Properly on Your Site

Maybe your site only has one type of content…but these posts just don’t look right. 

A common example would be product pages that look like blog posts. No one with an ounce of discernment is buying from that online store.

The solution involves custom post types. You can assign each new post type a unique template that is perfectly tailored to your content. 

4. You Need Features That Posts and Pages Don’t Have

Posts and pages can handle text, links, images, embedded media…and that’s about it. 

If you need something more, you should probably set up some CPTs.

Some real-world examples:

• Event pages that need date pickers, RSVP options, and countdown timers
• Real estate listings with price fields, location maps, and property details
• Job boards that have application forms and submission tracking

How To Create Custom Post Types

Hmm, seems like you could use some CPTs. Shall we create some?

There are several ways to register custom post types in WordPress. 

The simple route calls for no technical knowledge. If you’re comfortable working with PHP snippets, the middle road offers more customization options. For coders, the fully hands-on method provides complete control.

Let’s work through them now.

1. The Easy Plugin Method (Beginner-Friendly)

Not a WordPress expert? We get you. Whether you’re new to the platform or new to running a website, the whole thing can seem overwhelming.

Not to worry. Tools like Custom Post Type UI plugin make it simple to install CPTs.1. Install the plugin: In your WordPress admin area, visit Plugins > Add New Plugin, and search for “Custom Post Type UI.” Click Install Now.

Once installed, the button will change to “Activate.” Click it.

2. Open the plugin settings: Via the sidebar menu, head to CPT UI > Add/Edit Post Types.

3. Fill out the basic settings: Choose a slug and a name for your new CPT. The plugin will ask you for both the singular and plural versions.

4. Choose your settings: This page has a huge range of options, allowing you to configure access, fields, functions, and additional labels for your new post type.

5. Publish: Once you’re done, click the blue Add Post Type button to create your new CPT!

The new custom post type will appear in the sidebar, like your Posts and Pages. You can open this new menu item to add and manage content.

2. Using WPCode for Manual Creation (Intermediate)

Let’s take things up a notch. If you’re comfortable customizing WordPress, this next method will give you more options to play with.

It’s based around a plugin called WPCode, which helps you add PHP snippets to core files in a secure way.

Here’s the process:

1. Install the WPCode plugin: In the sidebar, visit Plugins > Add New Plugin and search for “WPCode.” Install and activate it.

2. Add a new PHP snippet: Navigate to Code Snippets > + Add Snippet via the sidebar menu.

This will open up a library of ready-made code snippets.

There’s loads of useful stuff here — but for this task, you need to select Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet). It should be right at the top.

3. Build your snippet: From the pop-up panel, choose PHP Snippet.

You should then see a nice big box for your code.

To register your new CPT, you can paste in this template and make changes to match your requirements:

 // Our custom post type function

 function create_posttype() {
  
    register_post_type( 'portfolio',
    // CPT Options
        array(
            'labels' => array(
                'name' => __( 'Portfolio' ),
                'singular_name' => __( 'Portfolio Item' )
            ),
            'public' => true,
            'has_archive' => true,
            'rewrite' => array('slug' => 'portfolio'),
            'show_in_rest' => true,
  
        )
    );
}
// Hooking up our function to theme setup
add_action( 'init', 'create_posttype' );

4. Save and activate: Once you’re happy with your code, hit the Save button on the top right. To put your new post type into action, hit the toggle switch that currently says “Inactive” and click Update to finish up.

Once again, your new custom post type should appear in the sidebar menu. You can click on this label to start creating custom content!

Safety Tips

Whenever you’re playing with code in WordPress, think of yourself as a chemistry teacher doing a science experiment. Take some precautions, and you should avoid setting the whole place on fire…

• Test your new snippet on a staging site if possible.
• Always review and back up your website before adding new code.
• WPCode provides a sandboxed environment, but be careful if you’re not experienced with code.

3. Coding Directly in functions.php (Advanced)

Hello, WordPress veteran. You skipped to the end because you prefer to not use plugins. You just need a nudge in the right direction, and away you go.

Here’s your workflow:

1. Back up your site: An important precaution. We don’t want any whoopsies.
2. Set up a child theme: We have a full guide ready for you explaining how to work on this.
3. Open your child theme’s functions.php file: You can access it via WordPress (Appearance > Theme Editor) or via FTP. If you can’t see the Theme Editor in your admin sidebar, permissions, or your hosting provider might block it.
4. Insert your custom code: Here are some of the options you have to play with:

// Register Custom Post Type for Portfolio
function register_portfolio_post_type() {
    $labels = array(
        'name'                  => _x('Portfolios', 'Post Type General Name', 'textdomain'),
        'singular_name'         => _x('Portfolio', 'Post Type Singular Name', 'textdomain'),
        'menu_name'             => __('Portfolios', 'textdomain'),
        'name_admin_bar'        => __('Portfolio', 'textdomain'),
        'archives'              => __('Portfolio Archives', 'textdomain'),
        'attributes'            => __('Portfolio Attributes', 'textdomain'),
        'parent_item_colon'     => __('Parent Portfolio:', 'textdomain'),
        'all_items'             => __('All Portfolios', 'textdomain'),
        'add_new_item'          => __('Add New Portfolio', 'textdomain'),
        'add_new'               => __('Add New', 'textdomain'),
        'new_item'              => __('New Portfolio', 'textdomain'),
        'edit_item'             => __('Edit Portfolio', 'textdomain'),
        'update_item'           => __('Update Portfolio', 'textdomain'),
        'view_item'             => __('View Portfolio', 'textdomain'),
        'view_items'            => __('View Portfolios', 'textdomain'),
        'search_items'          => __('Search Portfolio', 'textdomain'),
        'not_found'             => __('Not found', 'textdomain'),
        'not_found_in_trash'    => __('Not found in Trash', 'textdomain'),
        'featured_image'        => __('Featured Image', 'textdomain'),
        'set_featured_image'    => __('Set featured image', 'textdomain'),
        'remove_featured_image' => __('Remove featured image', 'textdomain'),
        'use_featured_image'    => __('Use as featured image', 'textdomain'),
        'insert_into_item'      => __('Insert into portfolio', 'textdomain'),
        'uploaded_to_this_item' => __('Uploaded to this portfolio', 'textdomain'),
        'items_list'            => __('Portfolios list', 'textdomain'),
        'items_list_navigation' => __('Portfolios list navigation', 'textdomain'),
        'filter_items_list'     => __('Filter portfolios list', 'textdomain'),
    );

    $args = array(
        'label'                 => __('Portfolio', 'textdomain'),
        'description'           => __('A custom post type for portfolio items', 'textdomain'),
        'labels'                => $labels,
        'supports'              => array('title', 'editor', 'thumbnail', 'custom-fields'),
        'hierarchical'          => false,
        'public'                => true,
        'show_ui'               => true,
        'show_in_menu'          => true,
        'menu_position'         => 5,
        'menu_icon'             => 'dashicons-portfolio',
        'show_in_admin_bar'     => true,
        'show_in_nav_menus'     => true,
        'can_export'            => true,
        'has_archive'           => true,
        'exclude_from_search'   => false,
        'publicly_queryable'    => true,
        'rewrite'               => array('slug' => 'portfolio'),
        'capability_type'       => 'post',
    );
    register_post_type('portfolio', $args);
}
add_action('init', 'register_portfolio_post_type');

Save and test. Once you’ve saved your changes, look for your new post type in the WordPress sidebar.

Alternatively, you can do away with the whole child theme business and create a custom plugin, applying the same code we suggested above. Here’s our guide on how to get started with custom plugins!

Popular Custom Post Types

The reason custom post types are so powerful is that they are truly custom. If you can dream it, you can build it.

That said, there are a few post types that regularly pop up on WordPress sites. 

Before you start trying to design something from scratch, it’s worth checking whether one of the formats below would meet your requirements.

• Portfolio item: You could use a template that shows off individual images or one that packages project descriptions and outcomes in a case study format.
• Testimonial: With a testimonial CPT, you could add star ratings and company logos. It would also allow you to organize testimonials without using blog categories.
• Event: It’s possible to advertise events on a page, but you may have to use a cocktail of plugins to display dates, location maps, and RSVP options. A custom event post type could have these functions built in.
• Product: If you’re trying to build an e-commerce store, having a dedicated template for showing off your products is essential. 
• Listing: The same goes for other listings, such as real estate and classifieds. Creating a separate CPT lets you set up a bespoke template and keep your listings neatly organized.

As you plan upgrades to your site, consider whether these custom post types would fit your needs — or whether you need something completely custom!

How To Display Your Custom Post Types

Having registered the new CPTs, you need to decide how and where they should appear on your site.

The options here are literally unlimited. And that can feel a bit overwhelming.

If you’re not sure where to begin, try this starter pack:

Add Custom Post Types to Your Site Menu

There’s no point using custom posts if no one can find them.

In your WordPress admin area, navigate to Appearance > Menus and add the new CPT archive to your main menu.

Be sure to change the label to make it clear what visitors can expect.

Creating Dedicated Templates

You probably don’t want your new custom posts to be served up exactly like blog posts. That includes the archive page, where visitors can see your latest content.

Creating a new template gives you the chance to build your own layout.

1. Visit your theme directory: Access your theme files via FTP or your WordPress theme editor.
2. Create a new template file: Name your file using this format: archive-{post_type}.php. For example, you could name it archive-movies.php. 
3. Customize the new template: Here’s your chance to get creative. Write or modify the code to include featured images, excerpts, custom fields, and more.
4. Style that thing: Add your own CSS rules or integrate your design framework to match the branding of your website.
5. Test, test, test: Make sure your new template is looking good on all devices.

Need some inspiration? Check out other websites to see how they present similar content!

Display Posts in Widgets

Did you know you can display your custom posts in any widget area? All you need is a free plugin called Custom Post Type Widgets.

After you install and activate the plugin, head over to Appearance > Widgets and add a new widget.

From the big menu on the left, find and select Archives (Custom Post Type).

You can then configure your widget to display any post type you want!

💡Top tip: This plugin also lets you display recent posts, a calendar view, a tag cloud, and more.

Upgrade Your WordPress Site Today

WordPress is amazingly versatile. From code to quizzes, it can handle pretty much any type of content. But, as we’ve learned, things can get messy when you mix and match content types.

If you want to create something more than standard posts and pages, it’s definitely worth using custom post types to keep your content tidy. The process is really easy, and it will instantly improve the usability of your site.

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The post Decoding WordPress: Your Complete Guide to Custom Post Types appeared first on DreamHost Blog.

You’ve spent hours decorating the Christmas tree and basking it in twinkling lights.

But that was back in December.

Life got busy, and before you knew it, spring rolled in. And now, the poor tree droops in the corner, shedding needles — a dusty fire hazard more than a festive centerpiece.

That’s what happens with abandoned WordPress plugins.

We install them for a reason, but over time, they’re forgotten. Left unchecked, abandoned plugins become security risks, exposing your site to potential threats.

Let’s spot them and remove them.

What’s an Abandoned Plugin?

Oh yes, first, we still need to understand what an abandoned plugin exactly is.

An abandoned plugin is a WordPress plugin that its developer no longer maintains or updates. WordPress considers a plugin abandoned if it hasn’t received updates in over two years.

Such plugins can become incompatible with the latest WordPress versions, leading to potential security vulnerabilities and functionality issues.

Why Abandoned Plugins Are a Big Problem

Abandoned plugins are like ticking time bombs for your WordPress site. In 2023, 97% of all new WordPress vulnerabilities originated from plugins, while only 0.2% were found in the WordPress core itself. That means nearly every security issue affecting WordPress sites comes from plugins and themes — not the core software.

The WordPress vulnerability report from SolidWP has daily updates on any new WordPress ecosystem vulnerabilities. You’ll almost always see new vulnerabilities for plugins but rarely for the WordPress core.

That’s thousands of business owners who dealt with:

• Lost revenue during site downtime.
• Compromised customer data.
• Damaged reputation and lost trust.
• Google blacklisting their site as “potentially harmful.”
• Hours (or days) spent cleaning up the mess.

When developers abandon their plugins, they stop patching security holes — creating perfect entry points for hackers.

Think about it:

• No security updates = exposing your site to known vulnerabilities.
• No compatibility testing with new WordPress versions = broken functionality.
• No bug fixes = unexpected behavior that can compromise your site.

Now, Wordfence’s WAF blocked 3 million attacks from about 14,000 IPs targeting plugin vulnerabilities in just the first half of 2023.

But let’s suppose you got lucky, and the abandoned plugin you have is completely safe to use.

We still have to deal with performance issues.

Every new WordPress update improves speed, reduces redundancies in the system, and makes the overall website feel snappy while adding more features.

But if the abandoned plugin bogs the website down, these speed improvements might never get noticed, and it’d be easy to think that WordPress is the culprit here (even though it never is).

There’s also a strong possibility that the plugin causes a conflict with a newer version of WordPress and you’re left with a broken website.

Unfortunately, when that happens with abandoned plugins, you’re completely on your own. No developer to answer questions, no community support, no documentation updates. 15.7% of all vulnerable plugins were completely removed from the WordPress plugin repository because of abandonment.

This leaves website owners unknowingly running outdated, unpatched software that hackers can exploit.

Put simply — move away from such plugins as soon as possible.

How To Spot Abandoned Plugins

It’s time to pick up your metaphorical magnifying glasses, and begin searching for clues that reveal plugins that are gathering dust in your WordPress dashboard.

Here are some things that help identify if an abandoned plugin is lying around on our website.

1. The “Last Updated” Date

The most obvious red flag is hiding in plain sight.

In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.

Then click View Details to open the plugin details where you’ll see the “Last Updated” date.

UpdraftPlus is a popular plugin and gets updated quite regularly. As of this writing, it was updated just two weeks ago, and it’s safe to retain since there’s active development.

But you could have an older plugin still on your website like the one below, updated NINE years ago:

Any plugin not updated in over a year deserves your attention, while those untouched for two years fall into WordPress’s official “abandoned” category and should be removed from your website as quickly as possible.

If there are pages that still use functionality of the plugin (maybe it’s an old form plugin and you still have some forms), replace the functionality with newer plugins as quickly as you can.

2. Check Updated Date in the Plugin Search

Suppose you’re looking to install your next WordPress plugin. You want to check the last updated dates in the search results as well.

Let’s take the same abandoned plugin from the above example here. If you go to Plugins > Add New Plugins and search for it, you’ll see the below screen:

Notice that it displays the last updated date right on the search results so you can choose whether or not to install the plugin.

If you’re not on your WordPress dashboard, but are looking up plugins on the WordPress plugin directory, you can click through any plugin and see the version and “Last updated” date on the information panel on the right.

That should give you enough information to decide if the plugin is worth considering or not.

3. Look at Support Tickets

Suppose you see a plugin that was updated recently but only has a few active installs. How can you be sure if the plugin is active being developed?

The support tickets can show a clear picture.

On the WordPress plugins directory page, go to any plugin you’re considering, and click the Support link right below the download button.

On this page, you’ll see all the support tickets WordPress users have raised.

If you notice the developer actively responding to, resolving queries, even adding new features on request, you can safely consider trying the plugin out.

But sometimes, you may notice that queries are left unanswered for weeks and there’s no actual development on the plugin. That’s when it’s better to stay away and find something more active.

4. Listen to Your Dashboard’s Warnings

WordPress is like that smart techie on your team who keeps everything in check.

If the WordPress core, a plugin or theme goes out of date, there’s a new vulnerability, or there’s a possible conflict, it sends you indications, notifications, and error messages to clearly state that.

You can choose to override those and continue with the action you planned to take — but we ‌advise listening to these warnings.

5. Run Automated Security Checks

There are many ways to secure your WordPress website. The easiest is to install just one security plugin like Wordfence, Patchstack, Sucuri, etc., and let it figure out if something is good for your website or not.

These plugins keep track of every security vulnerability, abandoned or outdated plugins, and any WordPress core issues out there. If your website shows signs that match any of these issues, the plugin will immediately notify you of the same.

They also perform automated background scans to detect malicious actors attempting to exploit outdated or abandoned plugins to gain unauthorized access to your website, or to identify previously safe plugins that have become infected.

6. The Popularity Test

And finally, if you don’t want to worry about the technicalities, leave it up to the crowd. The best WordPress plugins are also the ones with the most number of active installations.

When searching for plugins on the WordPress plugins directory, click the Advanced View tab under the plugin data (the section where we see the “Last updated” date).

The advanced view shows you stats on which version of the plugins are in use across all the users, and how many downloads the plugin sees on a daily and weekly basis, along with the total installs.

Plugins with dwindling active installations (under 1,000), declining download trends, or consistently poor ratings may be on their way to abandonment — or already there.

For the most part, if you stick to the top WordPress plugins which are actively used by a lot of people, you’re generally going to be fine. That’s because the developers as well as the technically savvy users are on the lookout for issues in the code and solve them as they appear.

Found Abandoned Plugins? Here’s What To Do

So you’ve discovered the plugin equivalent of that forgotten Christmas tree in your WordPress site. Now what?

Here’s your step-by-step rescue plan to safely eliminate these security risks without breaking your site.

Step 1: Find an Alternative

Before you touch anything, find a replacement. Search for active plugins that offer similar functionality to your abandoned ones.

The best replacements will have:

• Updates within the last 3 months
• Compatibility with your WordPress version
• Strong ratings (4+ stars)
• A responsive developer community
• Good documentation

Nerd Note: Sometimes the perfect replacement isn’t a plugin at all! Many features once requiring plugins are now built into WordPress core or your theme.

Step 2: Create a Complete Backup

A backup is your website’s safety net. Don’t skip it!

Create a full backup of your WordPress site, including files and database.

You can use plugins or your host’s backup tools, but make sure you know how to restore from this backup if needed.

Hopefully, the backup won’t be necessary, but it will be a lifesaver if things go wrong.

Step 3: Test in a Staging Environment (When Possible)

For business-critical sites, test before you leap. If available, clone your site to a staging environment and replace the abandoned plugins there first.

If the site breaks, you need to investigate what went wrong and how to fix it in staging before you start working on the live website.

This environment becomes your consequence-free playground for new plugins to be tested properly with your specific setup.

Step 4: Carefully Replace the Plugin

Now for the main event. Here’s how to swap out those abandoned plugins.

1. Activate the new plugin first, without deactivating the old one yet.
2. Configure the new plugin to match your settings from the old one.
3. Verify functionality works as expected with both active.
4. Deactivate (but don’t delete) the abandoned plugin.
5. Test your site thoroughly to ensure nothing broke.

When you’re sure everything is working as it should, get rid of that old WordPress plugin.

Step 5: Post-Replacement Check-Up

After the switch, give your site a thorough examination. Check your site’s front end and back end for any issues.

Look for visual glitches, functionality problems, or error messages. And pay special attention to features that relied on the replaced plugin.

Should You Ever Keep an Abandoned Plugin?

Let’s face it — sometimes you need an abandoned plugin that your site absolutely depends on.

Maybe it handles a unique function (like a specific checkout recommendation system) that no other plugin matches, or perhaps you’ve built custom integrations around it.

So, can you (and should you) keep it? Well…it’s complicated.

Keeping an abandoned plugin is risky. You should only consider keeping it if:

• The plugin serves a critical function with no viable alternatives.
• Your business workflow depends on the custom features it provides.
• The plugin is relatively simple with minimal code surface area (you can have a developer review the plugin code on GitHub).
• You’ve thoroughly tested it with your current WordPress version and it plays nice.

If all these elements are satisfied, you can consider keeping the plugin. But we’d still recommend finding a way to maintain the code with the help of a developer or getting rid of it as soon as you can.

The Extra Security Precautions You Must Take

If you decide to keep that abandoned plugin hanging around, you’ll need to build a fortress around it.

• Create a plugin-specific firewall: Use security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri to create custom firewall rules specifically targeting potential vulnerabilities in your abandoned plugin. These act as your first line of defense against attacks targeting known weaknesses.
• Implement regular code audits: Hire a developer to periodically review the plugin’s code for security vulnerabilities. Yes, this costs money, but it’s significantly cheaper than dealing with a hacked site and its aftermath.
• Set up enhanced monitoring: Configure alerts for any unusual activity related to the plugin. Early detection can mean the difference between a minor issue and a full-blown security breach that takes down your entire site.
• Isolate when possible: If feasible, run the abandoned plugin on a separate subdomain or environment, limiting its access to your main site’s sensitive data and functions — think of it as a quarantine zone.

Proactive Steps To Take Control of Plugin Health 💪

As cliche as it is, prevention beats cure.

Here’s how to build a healthy plugin ecosystem that keeps your WordPress site secure and performing at its best.

Schedule Regular Plugin Audits

Think of this as your site’s quarterly checkup.

Mark your calendar for a thorough plugin review every three months. During these audits, evaluate each plugin’s recent update history, compatibility status, and whether you still actually need it.

This routine maintenance prevents plugin problems before they start and keeps your site lean.

Choose Plugins With Strong Track Records

Not all plugins are created equal. When adding new tools to your site, look for these healthy indicators:

• Regular updates (at least quarterly)
• Large, active user base (10,000+ installations)
• Responsive developer support (check how quickly questions get answered)
• Detailed documentation and clear development roadmap

Adopt the “Less is More” Philosophy

Your WordPress site isn’t a plugin collection showcase. Every plugin adds code, complexity, and potential security issues.

Ask yourself: “Does this plugin solve a real problem I have right now?”

If not, it doesn’t belong on your site. Aim for the minimum number of plugins necessary to achieve your goals.

Set Up Automatic Update Notifications

Stay informed without constant dashboard checking. Configure email alerts for available plugin updates through your host’s tools or a management plugin.

These email alerts help you keep track of any critical security patches or compatibility updates, even when you’re busy running your business.

Consider a Managed WordPress Hosting Solution

Sometimes, it’s best to just hand things over to a professional so you can work on your business.

Services like DreamPress handle most of WordPress maintenance, including security monitoring and updates, and also help out if something breaks.

Your Site Deserves Better Than Plugin Cobwebs

Like that forgotten Christmas tree, abandoned plugins might have served you well once — but their time has passed. You cannot risk the security and performance of your WordPress site with these abandoned plugins.

But, not everyone has the time or technical expertise to monitor plugins for signs of abandonment.

DreamPress can take care of that for you. It handles WordPress core updates, security patches, and site backups automatically and offers automatic daily backups, built-in caching, and 24/7 WordPress specialized support.

Meaning, you focus on creating content and running your business while DreamPress gives you peace of mind that your site is well taken care of.

So go ahead — give your WordPress site the spring cleaning it deserves, or let the pros at DreamPress handle it for you.

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The post How To Detect Abandoned WordPress Plugins That May Be Putting Your Site at Risk appeared first on DreamHost Blog.

About the last one. Seeing success in your tea leaves?

If you’re struggling to figure out what motivates your customers, it may be time to try WooCommerce Analytics.

This powerful tool delivers loads of insightful data from your WooCommerce store. The numbers can be pretty revealing, helping you to get the upper hand over the competition.

Keen to give it a go? Let’s start the guided tour!

What Is WooCommerce Analytics Exactly?

Oh, you want a more detailed answer.

Essentially, WooCommerce Analytics is a free data analysis tool built for people like you and me. (Assuming you don’t have a degree in statistics).

It’s designed to help business owners to understand:

• Which products are selling.
• What people are ordering.
• How much revenue is coming in.
• Which coupons and discounts are being used.

And plenty more. These features are available straight after you install WooCommerce on your WordPress website. There it is, in the side menu of your WordPress admin area:

If the term “attribution” gets you all hot and flustered, there’s also a separate beta extension called WooCommerce Analytics.

This lets you track:

• How customers come to your WooCommerce store.
• Which devices they are using while browsing the virtual shelves.
• Which of your marketing campaigns attract their attention.

Hot damn!

Why WooCommerce Analytics Is Great for Small Businesses

You might be happy just watching the money roll in. We can picture you now, smoking a cigar and stroking a white cat as you slowly rotate on your surprisingly ergonomic evil mastermind office chair.

But actually, WooCommerce Analytics has some slightly more practical applications. You can use insights from this tool to:

• Refine your product selection: Performance data shows what’s selling like hotcakes and what needs to go on clearance.
• Adapt your site for a better customer experience: Figure out why your customers are spending less than you’d like.
• Improve your marketing: Once you understand the full customer journey, it’s way easier to make highly targeted campaigns. 
• Upgrade your inventory management: Avoid overstocking or understocking to reduce your overheads. 

And this is just a quick sample. We’ll look more closely at applying insights to real-world scenarios a little later.

WooCommerce Analytics 101: Understanding Your Dashboard

To access WooCommerce Analytics, you’ll need a website running on WordPress 5.3 or higher with the free WooCommerce plugin installed.

Got that? Perfect, let’s start exploring.

Begin by navigating to Analytics > Overview within your WordPress admin area.

Wow, there’s a lot going on here.

Don’t worry, it’s pretty straightforward once you know what you’re looking at. WooCommerce Analytics has a whole heap of options, but we can divide them into three categories:

• Performance indicators – Key metrics such as sales, refunds, and orders.
• Charts – Visualize your data with customizable line and bar charts.
• Leaderboards – Highlighting your most important KPIs.

The controls here are fairly simple: you use the drop-down selector at the top to choose your date range and watch the numbers change.

If you want to change the figures that show up on your “Overview” dashboard, click the three dots in the top-right corner of each section.

But this area is really just an at-a-glance dashboard. WooCommerce Analytics goes much deeper.

Tap on any of the boxes, and you’ll be whisked away into the individual stats pages. These include…

Products

Look to your left and select Analytics > Products from the sidebar menu.

On this page, you can see a graph of items sold, sales, and orders. Drop-down menus at the top allow you to select your date range and the type of products you want to study.

Scroll down, and you’ll discover a complete list of sales. Here, you can sort the data by tapping any header.

Revenue

It’s business time. Navigate to Analytics > Revenue in the sidebar menu, and behold your empire.

You can use the data range selector and tap on any of these panels to see the data pop up on the chart.

Further down, you have a day-by-day breakdown of your revenue.

Orders

Here’s where things get really interesting. Under Analytics > Orders, you have a collection of tools that can reveal every aspect of how your customers shop.

At the top of the page, you can choose specific currencies to focus on. And in the next drop-down box, we have the option “Advanced Filters.”

This allows you to drill down into the minutiae of order data, from customer type to tax rate.

And of course, you have a full list of orders that match your selections at the bottom of the page.

More Options

Take a glance at the sidebar. Below “Orders,” you’ll see several more options: “Variations,” “Categories,” “Coupons,” “Taxes,” and “Downloads.”

All of these dashboards work similarly — you choose a date range, narrow down your products, and then admire the data.

Before we finish this whistlestop tour, there is one more tab: “Stock.” This dashboard gathers data from WooCommerce’s stock management feature, helping you check inventory across your SKUs at a glance.

5 WooCommerce Analytics Metrics You Really Need To Track

If you’re the kind of person who gets a kick out of seeing gross sales, taxes, and refunds, these dashboards are fun to browse.

But if you’re trying to extract some useful information from the data, we recommend focusing on some key metrics.

1. Average order value (AOV): Every business wants to increase the average amount a customer spends per transaction. By tracking your AOV over time, you can figure out how your decisions are affecting purchase behavior. You can find this metric in the “Orders” dashboard.
2. Revenue growth: Is your revenue growing or falling over time? You’d probably prefer the former. To find out how your store is performing, visit the “Revenue” area and use the date range picker to compare current and previous periods.
3. Best-selling products: This is where you’re making money. It might be worth doubling down. Head to the “Products dashboard,” and sort the main list by “Items Sold.” Want more detail? Apply the same sorting in the “Variations” dashboard to see which sizes, colors, and other variants are your most popular.
4. Products with the highest returns: Of course, making a sale is only half the equation. To find out which products are actually generating cold hard cash for your business, you’ll need to visit “Orders” and sort by “Net Sales.”
5. Low-performing items: Struggling to shift certain products? See which items are weighing down your inventory by heading to “Orders,” and inverse sorting by “Items Sold.” 

We recommend checking these metrics every three months to keep your finger on the pulse!

Using Insights From WooCommerce Analytics To Boost Your Business

Some insights from metrics are pretty clear. If bright yellow size 9 Crocs are selling well on your website, you know where to invest (remember, profit before taste).

But there are other, less obvious insights that you can draw from your WooCommerce data. Below, we’ve included some real-world examples.

Stock Management

Storage is expensive, so it makes sense to keep your inventory lean. Find products that are selling slowly or piled high in your warehouse, and reduce your stock.

On the flip side, look at seasonal trends from previous years to determine which products have been popular, and stock up in advance.

Customer Experience

Sometimes, visitors will start shopping, add items to their carts…and then just leave. It’s often because they’ve become frustrated by the experience of shopping in your store.

Monitor how many customers are doing this under “Orders.” Look for orders with the status “Abandoned.” If the number is alarming, you might need to make improvements.

Marketing Optimization

While WooCommerce Analytics doesn’t have attribution built in, you can still use the tool to rate your marketing efforts.

Say you’re pushing a particular product through social ads. Sales for that product should go up, right? If you don’t see an uptick, you might need to take a different approach.

Product Strategy

Of course, marketing might not be your issue — you might just need to refine your offerings.

That could mean changing your pricing or serving up a different mix of products. Whenever you experiment, keep an eye on the sales for individual products and SKUs. This data can be very revealing!

More Analytics Tools for WooCommerce

While WooCommerce Analytics has some useful features, it misses important data. To fill in those gaps, it’s worth adding some more analytics tools to your e-commerce website.

The easiest way to do this is by visiting the WooCommerce Marketplace.

This emporium of extensions has loads of great add-ons.

Here’s the menu:

WooCommerce Analytics Beta

This extension adds beta features to WooCommerce Analytics. That means it’s not super reliable yet — but it’s still useful.

The main feature here is order attribution. In other words, you can track where customers are coming from. The tool covers social channels, referrals, devices, marketing campaigns, and more.

And that means you can set up loads more metrics.

Price: Free

Google Analytics for WooCommerce

Another official extension, this one lets you explore store data via your Google Analytics account.

This opens up yet more data points, from cart actions to product views. With this level of detail, you can really start understanding customer behavior.

Price: Free

Google Analytics Pro for WooCommerce

Hungry for even more data? This premium analytics plugin gives you an amazing selection of metrics to play with. You can even track individual behaviors, like someone clicking an email, logging in to your site, and progressing through the various stages of checkout.

It’s heaven for WooCommerce nerds.

Price: $79 per year subscription

Start Learning More About Your Store

You don’t need to be an Einstein of e-commerce to make money online. It’s really about trying stuff out and seeing what works. And WooCommerce Analytics provides an easy way to track your successes (and failures).

Remember, visitors can only buy from your store if they can access it — Downtime can be costly.

If you want to avoid the hiccups, DreamHost offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee and unlimited bandwidth on all our shared and managed hosting plans. Now that is a statistic.

Sign up today to feel the difference for yourself!

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He clicked “Update Now,” walked out to grab a coffee, and returned to a site that didn’t load.

Panic set in. The homepage was a mess. Customer logins failed. And the support team was drowning in emails with subject lines like “URGENT!!” and “What did you do??”

Well, Mark unknowingly broke the website.

But with this guide, you won’t. Here’s how to update your WordPress site safely — without turning your day into an absolute disaster.

Why Update Your WordPress?

Keeping WordPress up to date is critical for your site’s security, performance, and functionality.

• Security: Every update patches vulnerabilities that hackers exploit. Running an outdated version is like leaving your shop’s front door unlocked overnight. If a security flaw is discovered, attackers can use it to inject malware, steal customer data, or take down your site entirely.
• Performance: Each new version optimizes code, reduces load times, and enhances efficiency. A faster site means happier visitors, lower bounce rates, and even a boost in search rankings — Google favors well-performing sites.
• Functionality: WordPress updates introduce new features, improve the block editor, and enhance customization options. Staying current ensures you’re getting the best tools to run your business efficiently.
• Compatibility: If your core software is outdated, some plugins may stop working or cause conflicts. Keeping everything updated prevents breakdowns and keeps your site running smoothly.

Why Not Just Hit the “Update Now” Button?

You could do that, and more often than not, the update will turn out just fine. But if you have a lot of plugins and theme customizations on your websites, you have a higher chance of breaking your site with an update.

The most common issue is downtime. If an update crashes your site, even a few hours of outage can mean lost revenue, missed bookings, and frustrated customers. The impact is even worse for e-commerce stores or service-based businesses that rely on online leads.

When you have many plugins, the update could affect more elements. For instance, an update might make several major changes (like the WordPress 6.0 update, which included over 1,000 fixes) that may cause older plugins or themes to malfunction. Some vital site features—like checkout pages or contact forms—could suddenly stop working.

Many small businesses tweak their themes and plugins to suit their needs, but some theme updates can overwrite your customizations if they weren’t done using a child theme.

For those without technical expertise, there’s the fear of not knowing how to fix things if something goes wrong. If an update locks you out of your website or causes errors you can’t resolve, you might need to hire an expert — an unexpected cost and delay.

These risks are real, but they can be avoided with the right update strategy. Here are a few precautionary steps to follow.

Steps To Update WordPress Safely

The success of an update isn’t determined when you click the update button, but by the preparation you do beforehand.

Here’s the process that consistently works across different types of WordPress sites:

1. Review Update Release Notes

Never update mindlessly. When you see an update message on your dashboard, the first thing you should do is to read the changelogs for WordPress 6.7 core, plugins, and themes.

Developers highlight bug fixes, security patches, and compatibility changes. If an update introduces breaking changes, you can prepare accordingly or delay updates until patches are released. This will also help you learn WordPress and understand the inner workings and functions you may previously be unaware of.

2. Create a Full Backup

Every update carries some level of risk. If something breaks, a backup lets you restore your site instantly. Since it’s usually the plugins and themes that cause conflict with the update, a full backup helps you restore your site instantly in case something goes wrong.

You should have:

• A Database Backup: Your content, users, and settings; and
• A File Backup: Themes, plugins, media files, and configurations.

The easiest way to do that is to use a reliable backup plugin like UpdraftPlus.

It also lets you back up automatically before any update to the website so you can be rest assured that it’s all good.

Once installed, set it up to store backups in a secure location like Google Drive, Dropbox, or an external server.

To be absolutely certain that the backup worked, verify by downloading and inspecting the files from the backup zip file.

3. Set Up a Staging Site

Even with a backup, we don’t recommend updating on your live website.

A staging environment is a clone of your live site, allowing you to test updates before applying them. If your hosting provider doesn’t offer one, use WP Staging or create a separate subdomain for testing.

How do you create a staging site?

• If your web host offers staging (e.g., DreamHost), you just need to enable it from your dashboard.
• If not, use WP Staging or clone your site to a subdomain manually.
• Import your latest backup to the staging site.

Once you’re in the staging environment, update WordPress core, plugins, and themes, then thoroughly test site functionality. Look for broken layouts, missing content, and errors in the browser console. If anything breaks, you can troubleshoot it here without impacting your live website.

After you’ve tested everything and it all seems to work fine, you can safely move to updating your live website.

4. Disable Caching and Security Plugins

Caching and security plugins can interfere with updates. Some block update requests, leading to partial installations. While others cache outdated files, preventing changes from appearing immediately.

Some security plugins can also block update processes, leading to incomplete installations.

Temporarily disable caching mechanisms like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache, and pause security firewalls such as Wordfence to prevent false positives.

To disable caching:

• If you’re using WP Rocket, go to Settings > WP Rocket and disable caching.
• For Litespeed Cache, navigate to Plugins > Deactivate to deactivate caching temporarily.

You also want to deactivate security plugins to avoid breaking an update:

Deactivate firewall plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri under their respective settings.

Once the updates are complete, you can re-enable them one by one while making sure that one of these plugins isn’t causing a conflict.

Now you’re ready to run the WordPress core update safely!

5. Update Plugins

Go to Dashboard > Updates and check which plugins have available updates.

You should see a yellow bar below any plugin that has an update available. Click on the update now button to proceed with the update.

You can also run a bulk update by checking the boxes on the left for the plugins you want to update.

Then click the dropdown that says Bulk actions and select Update. Then click Apply.

Test after each update to ensure the site is still functioning properly.

If an update breaks something, roll back using WP Rollback or restore from a backup.

6. Update Themes

Navigate to Appearance > Themes and check for available updates.

If you’ve customized your theme, make sure you’re using a child theme before updating. The themes that have an update available will say and you can click the Update now button to complete the update.

After updating, check for any broken layouts or missing styling and if needed, restore your backup or manually reapply customizations.

7. Update WordPress Core

There are three common ways to update WordPress:

• One-click WordPress update via dashboard: Simply click the “Update now” button and WordPress takes care of everything behind the scenes. You still need to follow the precautionary steps outlined in this article, though.
• Manual update via FTP: Download the latest version from WordPress.org, upload via FTP, and replace core files while excluding “wp-content” to preserve themes and plugins.
• WP-CLI update: For advanced users, run “wp-core update” via the command line.

We’d suggest going the one-click update route. Before updating, disable caching plugins to prevent conflicts:

Go to Dashboard > Updates and then click Update to version <version number>.

Click Update Now in the WordPress dashboard when ready.

Keep an eye out on your site throughout the update process. If it gets stuck, refresh the dashboard or check for file permission issues or any other errors that may show up.

Post Updating WordPress Core, Plugins, and Themes

Your updates are complete, but your work isn’t over yet. Before assuming everything is running smoothly, you need to take a few final steps to ensure site stability, performance, and security.

1. Clear Cache

Caching speeds up your website by serving stored versions of pages instead of dynamically loading everything.

However, after updates, outdated cache files can cause display issues, broken layouts, or old scripts conflicting with new code.

To prevent this, clear caches at multiple levels:

• WordPress cache: If you use caching plugins like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache, purge all caches from their settings.
• Server cache: Some hosting providers (like DreamHost) have built-in server-side caching that helps you speed up your website. After updates, make sure you clear server-side cache as well.
• CDN cache: If you use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Cloudflare, log in and purge the cached files to ensure visitors see the latest version of your site.
• Browser cache: Encourage visitors and team members to hard refresh (Ctrl + Shift + R or Cmd + Shift + R) to load fresh content.

Once caching is cleared, reload your site and verify that updated styles, scripts, and functionalities appear as expected.

2. Check for Broken Functionality

Even though you tested everything on staging, you need to redo the thorough checks on your live websites. Make sure that the most important functions are working as expected.

These can include:

• Contact forms
• E-commerce checkout flows
• Custom scripts
• User logins

Once you know these are working fine, you can continue your testing for the rest of the non-critical functions and pages of your site. After this, you can start re-enabling your caching and security plugins one by one, so if the website breaks, you know what plugin caused the conflicts.

3. Monitor Your Site for Errors

The real test begins after updates go live. Even if everything seems fine initially, errors can appear later, affecting user experience, site speed, or search rankings.

To catch issues early:

• Use Google Search Console to check for crawl errors, broken links, or indexing issues.
• Set up New Relic or Query Monitor to track slow queries, PHP errors, and server response times.
• You can also use UptimeRobot to get alerts if your site goes down after an update.
• Ask real users to report issues, because automated tests don’t always catch everything.

If you spot a problem, check the error logs and roll back the problematic update using your backup.

Something’s Wrong? Troubleshooting Common WordPress Update Errors

Even with precautions, things can still break. Here’s how to fix the most common update issues:

White Screen of Death

Your site loads a blank white screen, with no error message. This usually happens due to a PHP conflict from a plugin, theme, or memory issue.

• Deactivate plugins: Access your site via FTP. Go to “/wp-content/plugins/” and rename the folder to deactivate all plugins. If the site returns, rename it and enable plugins one by one to find the culprit.
• Switch to a default theme: Rename your theme folder in “/wp-content/themes/” to force WordPress to use a default theme like “Twenty Twenty-Four.”
• Increase memory limit: Edit “wp-config.php” and add “define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');”

Stuck in Maintenance Mode

If your site shows “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance,” WordPress didn’t complete the update.

You can use FTP to delete the “.maintenance file” in your site’s root directory, and your site should be back almost instantly.

Plugin or Theme Conflicts

After an update, some parts of your site stop working — this usually means a plugin or theme isn’t compatible with the new version.

• Rollback to a previous version: If you suspect a plugin, use the WP Rollback plugin to revert to an older version.
• Check for updates: Some developers release patches quickly. Updating again may fix the issue.
• Find an alternative: If a plugin isn’t being maintained, consider switching to a more reliable option.

Database Connection Errors

Your site shows “Error establishing a database connection,” meaning WordPress can’t communicate with the database.

• Check “wp-config.php”: Verify that your database name, username, password, and host are correct.
• Repair the database: Add “define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);” to “wp-config.php” then visit “yoursite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php” and run a repair.

When To Call In the Experts

If you’ve tried troubleshooting but your site is still down, or if you’re not comfortable making these fixes yourself, it’s time to bring in professional help.

• Check with your hosting provider: Many hosts offer WordPress-specific support and can restore backups or identify server-related issues.
• Hire a WordPress expert: A developer can quickly diagnose and fix problems that might take hours for a non-technical user.
• Use the WordPress community: Forums and groups often have solutions for common issues, and someone may have faced the exact problem before.

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems. That means, if you get stuck, there will be someone on the internet who can help you fix it. But that still requires that you take precautionary steps before you make an update.

Best Practices To Prevent Breakage

• Use a child theme: Customizing parent themes directly makes updates risky. Always use a child theme to retain modifications and prevent overwrites.
• Limit plugin use: More plugins mean more potential conflicts. Stick to well-maintained, widely used plugins with frequent updates and active support.
• Delay major updates: Newly released WordPress versions may have undiscovered bugs. Consider waiting a few days so developers can release patches for any early issues.
• Choose a quality hosting provider: Managed WordPress hosts offer automatic backups, staging environments, and expert support during updates, reducing risk and downtime.
• Enable automatic backups: Even if your hosting provider offers daily backups, having an additional backup strategy ensures redundancy in case of failures.

Stay Updated Without the Hassle

WordPress updates don’t have to be stressful.

With the right approach, you can ensure security, stability, and performance without risking downtime. But if you’d rather skip the technical headaches, a managed WordPress hosting solution is an easier choice.

DreamPress by DreamHost takes care of WordPress updates, backups, and performance optimizations, so you can focus on growing your site instead of troubleshooting updates.

With built-in staging, automatic backups, and expert support, DreamPress ensures your site remains secure and fast — without the risk of breaking during updates.

WordPress updates are essential, but you don’t have to handle them alone.

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Here’s a look at some of the upcoming bug fixes and refinements.

Adding Speculative Loading Support

One proposed enhancement will integrate speculative loading into WordPress Core to improve page load performance. This technique uses prefetching or prerendering to load resources the browser anticipates users will need, resulting in faster page transitions and a smoother browsing experience.

The implementation will build on the functionality of the Performance Team’s Speculative Loading plugin. By default, resources would be preloaded in the background in a “conservative” mode to minimize potential issues. Also, developers would have the flexibility to customize this behavior using a new filter, “wp_speculation_rules_configuration.”

Integrating speculative loading into WordPress Core will bring measurable performance improvements. The preloading of anticipated resources will make site transitions faster and easier while also maintaining compatibility and user experience. When implemented properly, it’s a big step forward for WordPress’ performance optimization efforts.

Enhancements to the Style Book

The “Style Book,” an essential tool for managing and previewing WordPress block styles, will likely receive several needed improvements in WordPress 6.8. Sections like typography, colors, and individual blocks should automatically activate as you navigate the corresponding menu items, offering users a more intuitive and focused experience for fine-tuning their designs.

Instead of replacing itself, as the panel expands from left to right, it makes navigating the Site Editor through all available options easier and more straightforward, while previewing the changes in the panel on the right.

Addition of a Persistent Rendering Mode Selection per Post Type

Users can now choose whether the editor displays the site’s template while editing content or shows only the content being added. This preference persists between sessions.

The new option allows users to see how content will interact with the final published page by optionally rendering template blocks without making them editable. Since this setting is saved, users won’t need to reconfigure their preferred view each time they edit content, aligning with WordPress’s design philosophy of personalized experiences.

This rendering choice may impact performance, as loading template sections can increase editor startup time. Sites with complex templates containing heavy elements might experience longer loading times, though recent optimizations have significantly reduced this impact. Some users may need tutorials to understand how to manage this setting if they enable it accidentally.

Improved Starter Content Experience

Similarly to the Style Book, WordPress 6.8 aims to introduce a clarified approach to managing starter content by replacing the previously available modal with the “Block Inserter” panel. This enhancement streamlines the process of adding predefined content to your site, making it more consistent with the overall block editing experience.

This change allows users to explore and insert starter content directly through the Block Inserter interface. The updated workflow is more intuitive and aligns with how users interact with other blocks and templates within the editor. The onboarding process for new users will be smoother, and experienced site builders will benefit from increased productivity.

Adding Accessible Tooltips

This proposal introduces a standardized and accessible tooltip system to WordPress Core. Tooltips help improve accessibility and usability in WordPress by providing context or guidance in the user interface. Especially for WordPress 6.8, this initiative aligns with the platform’s goals of inclusion and better support for developers.

The proposed solution involves creating a core-supported tooltip mechanism that uses semantic HTML and ARIA attributes to ensure accessibility. This change would make tooltips readable by assistive technologies and improve usability for everyone, particularly users with disabilities.

In addition to accessibility, this proposal enhances the developer experience by providing a prebuilt, reusable tooltip API. Developers can save time, avoid fragmented implementations, and adhere to WordPress’s core standards.

Enhancing Security With Warning Alerts

To help administrators avoid potentially dangerous misconfigurations, another proposal adds a warning by default in the settings panel. An issue arises when open registration is enabled (allowing anyone to create an account) and the default user role is set to a high-level position, such as “Administrator,” “Editor,” or “Author.” If these settings are mistakenly combined, unauthorized users could gain too much access, leaving the site vulnerable to attacks.

An alternative will probably be to limit the roles that the administrator can select in a dropdown, as noticed in the “Remove administrator and editor from default role selector” issue.

This change enhances security without requiring significant development effort. By proactively alerting or limiting administrators to risky configurations, WordPress can prevent issues before they occur. This approach reduces the risk of privilege escalation and educates users — especially beginners — on how to secure their sites effectively.

Updates on Database Security 

WordPress 6.8 will strengthen password security by updating the hashing algorithm from phpass portable hashing to bcrypt, making password hashes more difficult to crack.

The update also shifts application passwords, user password reset keys, personal data request keys and recovery mode keys from phpass to BLAKE2b hashing via Sodium — a faster, more secure cryptographic option.

These security enhancements require no administrator action. Existing sessions remain valid, and users won’t be forced to change passwords. The system will automatically rehash passwords with bcrypt when users log in or update their credentials. Application passwords and security keys created before WordPress 6.8 will remain valid without automatic rehashing. Post passwords will continue using phpass hashing while developers conduct further research.

For additional technical details about these security enhancements, see the full article.

Adding Prefixes to Admin Notices

An idea has been put forward to add prefixes such as “Warning,” “Error,” “Success,” and “Info” to all WordPress admin notices. This small but impactful change will improve accessibility and clarity, particularly for users relying on screen readers or those with color vision deficiencies.

Currently, admin notices use color to indicate their type — red for errors or green for success — but this approach is ineffectual for all users. By including text-based prefixes, the notices can communicate their type more clearly, regardless of visual impairments, and make it easier for all users to understand the message’s purpose.

For example, instead of simply saying, “Your plugin has been deactivated,” the notice would read, “Error: Your plugin has been deactivated.”

The update has several advantages: the notices are user-friendly with screen readers and align with accessibility standards. Clearer messages reduce confusion by explicitly identifying the type of message. Also, it creates a standardized format for notices across WordPress, plugins, and themes.

Improving WP_Query Cache Keys

The goal of this initiative is to optimize how cache keys are generated by the “WP_Query” class to improve WordPress performance, reduce database load, and increase reliability.

Currently, the cache key system is inefficient, leading to unnecessary database queries. When cache key generation is refined, queries can be served more efficiently from the cache, resulting in faster page loads and reduced database strain, particularly for high-traffic sites. Additionally, standardizing the cache key system improves consistency, makes caching more predictable, and simplifies troubleshooting for developers.

This optimization has a broad impact since “WP_Query” is a core component powering many WordPress features. Enhancing its efficiency benefits the entire ecosystem, improving performance for all WordPress sites. Including this update in version 6.8 aligns with WordPress’s commitment to speed and scalability while posing minimal risk to compatibility. For large and high-traffic websites that rely on efficient caching to scale effectively, this change is critical.

Adding Border Support to Bundled Themes

Another proposed enhancement updates WordPress’s bundled themes by adding border customization options, allowing users to personalize their sites more easily. Currently, many default themes, such as Twenty Twenty-One and Twenty Twenty-Two, lack support for new Site Editor design tools like borders. This change improves customization and usability by enabling users to adjust the width, style, and color of borders directly in the editor without needing to code.

This update empowers users to create unique, visually appealing layouts with customizable borders without relying on custom CSS. It also modernizes bundled themes, ensuring they remain aligned with WordPress’s design tools while offering developers clear examples of incorporating block-based design features. The WordPress 6.8 upgrade, therefore, prioritizes user empowerment, theme modernization, and full-site editing.

Adding ‘Learn WordPress’ Links to the Dashboard Widget

A proposal has been introduced to integrate links to Learn WordPress resources into the “WordPress Events and News” dashboard widget. This update aims to encourage ongoing learning within the WordPress community.

Currently, the widget provides updates on upcoming events and WordPress-related news. Users can access valuable educational resources directly from their dashboard by adding links to tutorials, courses, and workshops from Learn WordPress. The goal of this initiative is to promote deep engagement with the WordPress ecosystem by highlighting the platform’s learning materials.

Ultimately, WordPress 6.8 improves performance, accessibility, and user experience while maintaining compatibility with the platform’s core functionality. With fewer new features, this release prioritizes optimization and usability, showcasing updates like speculative loading for faster page transitions, improved tools like the Style Book and starter content, and enhanced security measures.

These updates collectively strengthen WordPress’s ecosystem, making it more efficient, inclusive, and scalable for all users. Whether you’re a developer, site owner, or designer, testing and exploring these refinements is a valuable opportunity to contribute to WordPress’s continued evolution.

Help WordPress 6.8 become the best it can be by testing these features and sharing your feedback. Join us in making it happen!

The post WordPress 6.8: Release Squad, Timeline, and Focus appeared first on DreamHost Blog.

What does this mean for site owners, developers, and everyday users? No matter if you’re using a classic theme or embracing the excitement of full-site editing, WordPress is evolving to make customization more flexible and intuitive.

This post covers the latest on WordPress’s transition — what’s new, what’s changed, and what’s coming in 2025.

The Ongoing Transition to Blocks

As of January 2025, WordPress has significantly advanced its transition to a block-based editing experience, emphasizing flexibility and user control over site design and content management. Blocks are no longer limited to just posts and pages. They’re now a part of nearly every aspect of WordPress — from widgets to global settings.

The Role of Popular Page Builders in the Block Evolution

While WordPress is pushing the adoption of the “Site Editor,” some of the most popular page builders have also begun integrating block-like functionalities. Builders such as Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Divi have incorporated features that align with WordPress’s block system, making the transition smoother for users who rely on these tools.

Global Styles and Theme Building

Many page builders now offer global styling options similar to WordPress’s “Global Styles” in the “Site Editor.” These allow users to set consistent typography, colors, and layouts across their websites, reducing the need for manual adjustments on each page. This mirrors the block-based approach of Full-Site Editing, where styles can be managed site-wide without relying on theme customization options.

Reusable and Dynamic Blocks

Some builders have adopted reusable content elements that function similarly to WordPress’s reusable blocks. Users can create dynamic sections and templates that can be applied across different pages, ensuring consistency and streamlining site management.

Integration With Block-Based Features

To stay compatible with WordPress’s direction, many builders now allow users to insert WordPress blocks directly into their designs. This hybrid approach allows for more flexibility, letting users mix and match traditional builder elements with native WordPress blocks.

These advancements show that while WordPress is moving toward a native block-based experience, page builders are developing to complement and integrate with this shift rather than resist it.

Full Site Editing and the Site Editor Interface

The “Site Editor,” a central component of Full-Site Editing (FSE), empowers users to design and customize their entire website using blocks. You can edit templates, individual parts like headers and footers, and the site’s global styles for a streamlined and intuitive site-building experience.

Unlike the traditional theme system, which requires modifying theme files, the “Site Editor” allows for real-time customization within the WordPress interface. Users can create custom layouts, apply site-wide design changes, and fine-tune every aspect of their site — all without touching a single line of code.

Are There Plans to Stop Supporting Classic Themes?

As of January 2025, WordPress has not announced any plans to discontinue support for classic themes. Classic themes, which use PHP templates and traditional customization methods, continue to be widely used and supported within the WordPress ecosystem.

In May 2023, a proposal was introduced to retire older default themes — specifically, those that have been supported for a minimum of five years and are active on fewer than 1% of all WordPress sites. This proposal aimed to streamline maintenance efforts and focus on more modern themes. But, even for themes designated as “retired,” WordPress is committed to providing security updates to guarantee their continued safe use.

Note that “retired” in this context refers to a reduction in active maintenance, such as feature updates and enhancements, rather than complete abandonment. Users of retired themes can continue using them, but they’re encouraged to consider updating to newer themes to take advantage of the latest features and improvements.

So, while WordPress is actively promoting the adoption of block themes and the “Site Editor” interface, there are currently no plans to cease support for classic themes. Users can continue to use classic themes — though they may not receive the same level of feature updates as newer, block-based themes.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for WordPress?

As WordPress continues to advance, the block-based approach will probably become even more refined, with better performance, improved workflows, and new features aimed at making site creation more accessible.

Some expected developments include:

• More advanced block patterns that allow for sophisticated layouts with minimal effort
• Greater integration of AI-powered tools to assist in content generation and design
• Refinements in performance and accessibility, ensuring that the block and site editors work seamlessly for all users

WordPress is transitioning to a fully block-based system, giving users more control and flexibility over website design and content. No matter your level of involvement — site owner, developer, or casual user — adopting this change unlocks a more modern, powerful, and user-friendly WordPress experience.

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Google reCAPTCHA has been a go-to solution for protecting websites from spam and bots for years. However, with Google’s recent decision to start charging for reCAPTCHA usage, many website owners and developers are looking for free, privacy-friendly alternatives.

Luckily, there’s a great option available: Cloudflare Turnstile, a free and user-friendly CAPTCHA alternative that enhances security without compromising user experience. In this post, we’ll explore what Cloudflare Turnstile is, why it’s a great replacement for reCAPTCHA, and how you can easily implement it on your WordPress site.

Why Look for a Google reCAPTCHA Alternative?

While Google reCAPTCHA has been effective in blocking automated spam and abuse, its new pricing model is a dealbreaker for many small businesses, bloggers, and website owners. Here’s why an alternative makes sense:

• Cost: With Google charging for reCAPTCHA, websites with high traffic may face unexpected expenses.
• Privacy concerns: Google’s reCAPTCHA collects user data and interacts with Google’s services, which raises privacy concerns.
• User experience: Many users find reCAPTCHA frustrating, especially when dealing with image-based challenges.

Introducing Cloudflare Turnstile: A Free, Privacy-Focused CAPTCHA

Cloudflare Turnstile is a free and privacy-friendly CAPTCHA alternative designed to verify visitors without requiring interaction. Unlike reCAPTCHA, Turnstile doesn’t track users across the web — and doesn’t require solving puzzles.

Key Benefits of Cloudflare Turnstile:

✅ Completely free: No hidden fees, regardless of your website’s traffic.
✅ No Google dependency: Works independently of Google services.
✅ Privacy-friendly: Does not track or collect unnecessary user data.
✅ Seamless user experience: Automatically detects bots without frustrating human visitors.
✅ Easy integration: Works with WordPress forms, login pages, WooCommerce, and more.

Here’s the list of supported forms:

WordPress:

• Login Form
• Registration Form
• Password Reset Form
• Comments Form

WooCommerce:

• Checkout
• Pay For Order
• Login Form
• Registration Form
• Password Reset Form

Form Plugins:

• WPForms
• Fluent Forms
• Contact Form 7
• Gravity Forms
• Formidable Forms
• Forminator Forms
• Jetpack Forms

Other integrations:

• Elementor Pro Forms
• Easy Digital Downloads Forms
• Paid Memberships Pro Forms
• Mailchimp for WordPress Forms
• BuddyPress Registration Form
• bbPress Create Topic & Reply Forms
• MemberPress Forms
• Ultimate Member Forms
• WP-Members Forms
• WP User Frontend Forms
• wpDiscuz Comments Form
• CheckoutWC & Flux Checkout

This plugin is also compatible with WordPress Multisite, and most two-factor authentication (2FA) plugins.

How To Set Up Cloudflare Turnstile on WordPress

Adding Cloudflare Turnstile to your WordPress site is simple with the Simple Cloudflare Turnstile plugin. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Install the Simple Cloudflare Turnstile Plugin

Log in to your WordPress dashboard.Go to Plugins > Add New Plugin.

Search for “Simple Cloudflare Turnstile.” Click Install Now.

When installed, the “Install Now” Button will read “Activate.” Click Activate to continue.

2. Get Your Cloudflare API Keys

Visit the Cloudflare Turnstile Dashboard and create a free Cloudflare account if you don’t have one.

In the left-hand navigation, click on Turnstile.

Then click on Add widget.

In the “Widget name” box enter a tag you prefer to identify this widget. This will allow you to set up the specific way you want this turnstile to work.

Then in “Hostname Management” click + Add Hostnames to assign one or more domains you want to use this widget. Make sure you add the domain simply as “[DOMAIN].[TOP-LEVEL DOMAIN]” without “www” at the beginning.

So, for example:

• “domain.com”
• “mysite.me”
• “example.co”

You can then choose from three “Widget Modes.” This will determine how Turnstile behaves:

• Managed: CloudFlare will decide if a visitor has to complete a “challenge” of some sort to clear the captcha. 
• Non-interactive: Displays a progress bar while the user is scanned and authorized.
• Invisible: Will scan and authorize the user, but without the progress bar displayed.

Once you’ve filled in your options, click Create.

Cloudflare will display your “Site Key” and your “Secret Key.”

Keep this tab open. In the next step, you’ll navigate to WordPress to copy and paste these two keys.

3. Configure the Plugin In WordPress

Go to Settings > Cloudflare Turnstile in your WordPress admin panel.

Enter your “Site Key” and “Secret Key” from Cloudflare.

Once you paste the keys, you’ll receive a notice asking you to “test” the setup. The system will let you know if it’s correct after a few seconds.

Scroll down and choose which forms you want to have Turnstile enabled (e.g., login page, comments, WooCommerce checkout).

Save changes and test the CAPTCHA on your site!

Conclusion

With Google reCAPTCHA shifting to a paid model, now is the perfect time to switch to a free and privacy-friendly alternative like Cloudflare Turnstile. It’s easy to set up, improves user experience, and helps keep your WordPress site secure — without extra costs.

If you’re a DreamHost customer, you can use Cloudflare Turnstile on any of our WordPress hosting plans to keep your site protected while ensuring a seamless experience for your visitors.

Ready to make the switch? Download the Simple Cloudflare Turnstile plugin and start protecting your site today!

Need more help?

At DreamHost, we’re committed to helping you build secure, high-performance websites. If you have questions or need assistance with your WordPress security setup, check out our WordPress hosting plans or reach out to our expert Support team!

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A WordPress contact form helps by routing inquiries into one place. Instead of scattered messages showing up from unknown email addresses, visitors simply fill out a short form, and you get the details you need within the dashboard.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll see how to add a no-code contact form to your WordPress site and how to optimize it for the best results.

Why Use WordPress Contact Forms?

A site represents your brand.

When people want to reach you, a form sends a message that you value communication. An open email link can add unnecessary obstacles to reaching your team and even lead to spam.

A form‌ is a single channel that keeps requests organized and often filters out junk with CAPTCHA or anti-spam plugins like Askimet.

Also, contact forms capture the required details upfront. For instance, a real estate agent might want prospective clients to share their budget range, home requirements, or preferred areas. Or an online shop might need an order number so they can quickly check the shipment status.

A contact form captures these details quickly, saving time, reducing guesswork, and making your business look more polished.

Best Tools To Create a Contact Form (No-Code Plugins)

Most WordPress users rely on plugins to avoid writing code. You’ll find many form builders, each with a slightly different approach.

WPForms, Contact Form 7, and Ninja Forms are a few popular examples. They’re known for user-friendly options and the ability to add a form to any page or post.

• WPForms stands out for its visual drag-and-drop builder and quick setup. It includes built-in templates like a standard contact form, a feedback form, or a newsletter signup. This is often the first pick for new WordPress users. 
• Contact Form 7 is free and well-loved, though it looks dated by default and it can take some effort to make it look good. 
• Ninja Forms is another drag-and-drop choice with a wide range of add-ons.

Picking a plugin usually depends on your experience and needs.

If you only want a simple contact form, you can’t go wrong with any of these.

If you plan to add payment gateways, registration forms, or advanced features, check each plugin’s add-on library before you decide.

Step-by-Step: Setting Up a WordPress Contact Form

Plenty of new WordPress users worry they need coding skills. That’s not the case with a well-built form plugin.

Here’s a closer look at each phase, using WPForms as an example.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

Go to your WordPress dashboard, which should be <yourdomain.com>/wp-admin — unless you’ve changed it to strengthen security.

Click Plugins on the left > Add New Plugin.

Type “WPForms” in the search bar and hit Install Now.

When WordPress is done installing, click Activate. WPForms will now appear in your dashboard menu!

Step 2: Create Your First Form

Click the WPForms menu link and then select Add New.

The plugin shows you a few templates, like a simple contact form or a newsletter signup.

Pick the basic contact form to start. You’ll see fields such as “Name,” “Email,” and a big text box for the message.

If you need extra fields (maybe a dropdown to let users pick a topic), you can drag and drop them from the left panel.

Step 3: Configure the Form Settings

Select Settings within the form builder. You’ll see choices for “Notifications” and “Confirmations.”

Click Notifications to set the email address where messages should go.

If you want a certain subject line, add that too. You can use something like “New Inquiry from WordPress Form” so you know when a new inquiry drops in your inbox from this contact form.

Then check Confirmations.

That’s the message visitors see after they submit. You could say, “Thank you for contacting us. We’ll reply soon!” or customize the message according to your brand voice.

Step 4: Embed the Form on a Page or Post

Go to the WordPress editor for any page or post.

If you’re using the block editor, you’ll see a WPForms block. Insert it, then pick your form from a list.

Here’s another method: copy the shortcode from WPForms and paste it into the editor.

It looks like [wpforms id=”1234″]. Save or publish your changes.

Voila, your form is live!

Step 5: Test the Form

A quick test avoids headaches later. Open the live page and fill out the form with a test name, email, and a short message. Click Submit.

The page should show the confirmation you set up. Then check your email to see if the notification arrived.

If you don’t see it, look in your spam folder or verify that your email address is correct in the plugin settings.

Sometimes hosting providers or email clients filter out automated messages. If that’s an issue, you can add a plugin like WP Mail SMTP to improve email deliverability.

Contact Us Templates That Work

The perfect Contact Us page gives visitors the sense that you’re approachable. It doesn’t need to be fancy.

Here’s a Contact Us page from Swab the World. See how it reminds the visitor to share a note and they’ll be reading it all?

That’s pretty much all you need. A line or two to help the reader know there’s someone who will read their message.

Here are a few ideas you can adapt:

• Friendly: “We’re here to help. Send us your questions, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.”
• Business-like: “Have questions about our services? Please fill out the form below, and we’ll respond promptly.”
• Warm and personal: “Drop us a line if you need anything at all. We love hearing from you and will do our best to assist.”

If you have a dedicated support team, you can even mention their usual response time to set expectations.

Pro Tips To Optimize Your Contact Form

Adding a form is the first step. Optimizing it can increase the number of useful leads and reduce spam or confusion. Here are a few suggestions to consider:

Focus on Mobile Users

Plenty of people browse on their phones these days. The form should look neat on smaller screens.

WPForms and other modern builders create forms that automatically adjust, but you can still preview them on a phone or tablet.

Make sure the text is large enough, and the buttons are easy to tap.

Filter Spam With CAPTCHA and Akismet

Spam submissions are annoying. CAPTCHAs test whether a visitor is a real person, while tools like Akismet scan messages for suspicious phrases.

Combine both if you notice a spike in unwanted submissions. This approach frees your inbox of nonsense.

Keep Only What You Need

Overly complicated forms scare people away. If you only need a name and email address, stick to those fields. If you must have a phone number or shipping address, add them.

Just remember that the more fields you include, the less likely people are to fill them out.

Offer a Clear Confirmation

When visitors click “Submit,” they want a sign that the message went through. That can be as simple as “Thanks for contacting us!”

You could also use the confirmation page to direct them to common questions or a link to your blog for more reading.

Let that be a smooth transition rather than a dead end.

Track Form Submissions

Form submissions might be a key part of your marketing or customer support workflow. Tracking them can show how well your site is doing. Google Analytics or a specialized plugin can log each submission, giving you a way to measure conversion rates.

If you learn that only a few people submit the form per month, you might test changes to the form fields, your calls-to-action, or your page design.

Ready To Get Visitors To Reach You?

Each time you make your site easier to use, you improve your connection with visitors. A WordPress contact form is an easy win because it creates a clear path for questions, leads, or support requests.

You can install a simple plugin, create fields that fit your business, and post it on your site without editing code.

But why stop at just adding a contact form? With the right tools, you can take your site to the next level.

At DreamHost, our mission is to make your site management as simple and seamless as possible. That’s why we offer WordPress hosting designed specifically for WordPress users. Check out our DreamPress-managed WordPress hosting plans to learn more!

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