Are Gutenberg blocks easy to use. When you add a few extras to the basics WordPress goes into a whole new dimension
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
- What are Gutenberg blocks and why are they important
- I tried Gutenberg and never went back
- When Gutenberg is not enough
- WordPress is a basic structure supported by free and paid applications
- There just had to be a better app
- Generate blocks
- PublishPress
- Coding is Ok with an editor
- The quote generator
- Using grids to build your page
- With any new endeavor start with training
- Conclusion
- Are Gutenberg blocks easy to use by Peter Hanley
What are Gutenberg blocks and why are they important
You will understand this yourself when you find out how easy it is to build with blocks.
A bit of history to start this WordPress story. In the olden days, we needed coding experience to build a website.
Because this was too hard a few companies developed templates you could follow. It would help if you had an arts degree to do it properly but it worked.
WordPress had a sort of way that was easy but not pretty so they introduced the classic editor. This was boosed with another app called Elementor and made things easy.
In 2018 they trialed a whole new page-building method called Gutenberg. (named after the famous printing company).
In fact, my Brother was a printer and his Gutenberg press was like a temple to God it was held in such high esteem
Interestingly 5 million websites were built using the classic editor and are now changing over.
The problem was change. Gutenberg was radically different and required a significant mind shift. Many would not, and still have not made the leap of faith. However, support stops sometime in 2022 which may help the transition.
I tried Gutenberg and never went back
My transition was setting up a dummy site and using as many elements as I could in an average post. After a couple of hours of learning and online practice, I had pretty well mastered the procedure.
You click a little + sign and select the element you want. It is that easy.
That's but a very small sample of the 100 or so elements under your control.
WordPress is used by 42.8% of the top 10 million websites as of October 2021.
Wiki
It is used in Blogging through to eCommerce so it covers a very broad spread of applications…importantly WordPress is extremely active in upgrades and changes to make it better.
When Gutenberg is not enough
The internet is a fast-changing world that requires adaption at the speed of sound and my block builder was no different.
it just wasn't enough and I wanted more.
WordPress is a basic structure supported by free and paid applications
Plugins drive many applications and the following are some of the ones I use.
Yoast SEO added some great blocks to the editor
I regularly use several of these in my posts to add that extra look and feel.
The related links I place at the bottom so I guarantee I have internal links for my SEO count.
There just had to be a better app
As we said WordPress is built on plugins, little soldiers that do all the hard work for you. However, you must be careful because too many will slow your site down.
Furthermore, they can conflict with each other.
Generate blocks
The grids and containers are really good for setting up page split and multi-column pages.
However, the Headlines don't show up in a Yoast table of contents.
PublishPress
This is a killer solution offering advanced applications on many blocks.
You can make a lot of changes and enhancements to a basic block
for example a WordPress
However, I want more than that, and Publish press has that in an advanced button. They do also have a Pro version for those wanting to go a step further
The next one is a testimonial and I add one for fun
Gordon
Job Position
A little description of this person will show up here.
Coding is Ok with an editor
Many Affiliate companies use HTML coding for their image and link details. Yes, there is a block for this and it is a simple cut and paste insertion.
Here I have used an example of an email site I promote
The quote generator
Another that is important is a Quote generator. Taking words from other sites is often viewed as plagiarism however it is fundamental to research. Therefore showing it as a quote overcomes the Google concerns and builds your authority score.
“WordPress is the most popular CMS on internet. It is third most used technology for web development the popularity of WordPress based on…know more..”―
Freelancinggig
Using grids to build your page
As many columns
as you desire.
Choose shape size amount
Even color
Spread them where You
want them
Add pictures Graphs or HTML code
Not my best attempt at columns but it will get the idea across.
You will see at the top of the page the Reading time and Table of contents. Both can appear on the page in a position of choice. Here I have placed them at the beginning.
This is fun, it is not hard and you can achieve great things.
There is much more you can do as I have covered only a sample of it.
Furthermore, anyone can do it. It is just putting the pieces together like a Jigsaw puzzle.
With any new endeavor start with training
You can try and wing it however it takes so much more trial and error work. Plus, a lot of Google searches. And then it won't be quite right.
Not just any training but the best available and it's free to start.
Wealthy Affiliate is a blogging site that uses WordPress exclusively so they have a good understanding of what is going on.
Furthermore, the Chat group is designed to help you with the myriad of problems you are likely to encounter. Hosting problems, WordPress problems, affiliate questions even plugin problems.
Conclusion
I wrote this blog because so many people have a fear of change. Gutenberg is not all that different, it is just a lot easier to use.
Because the internet is one of change. Therefore staying at the top of your game means going with it.
Finally, WordPress has changed and will again because it stays with the trends. You should as well.
Are Gutenberg blocks easy to use by Peter Hanley
