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Your Favorite WordPress Theme in 2023?
Introducing Blocksy, a lightweight WordPress theme built with the latest web technologies. Read this Blocksy theme review to find out if you should use it for your next WordPress website.
Blocksy theme is well-rated by users from around the globe. It is a popular choice when it comes to creating professional-looking websites. A growing number of reviewers even call it the best WordPress theme on the market!
To help you make an informed choice, this Blocksy WordPress theme review includes:
- An Overview
- Blocksy’s Key Features
- Pricing
- Pros and Cons
- Alternative Products
Blocksy theme review
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Features
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Ease of Use
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Performance
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Price
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Customer Support
Summary
Blocksy theme is a first-rate choice for users who want to create business websites, online stores, and blog sites. Built with the latest web technologies, it includes user-friendly designs, professional-looking templates, a range of enhancing features, and reliable customer support. But be aware that you may have to invest in extra plugins and customization options. Get Blocksy here!
Pros
- Fast loading
- Customization options
- Responsive design
- Regular updates
- Online documentation, video tutorials, and dedicated support forums
- Compatibility with popular WordPress plugins
- Translation-ready
Cons
- The free version has limited functionality
- Certain features are only available with the Blocksy Companion plugin
- Customization options and features can seem complicated
- Compatibility issues with certain plugins and custom codes
What is Blocksy – An Overview
Developed by Creative Themes, Blocksy is a multi-purpose WordPress theme, perfect for business websites, online stores, and blog sites.
The theme was launched with WordPress 5, which replaced the classic WordPress editor built on TinyMCE.
If you are a fan of Gutenberg, you will love Blocksy. This theme has seamless integration with the WordPress Gutenberg block editor.
Each line of Blocksy’s code is thoughtfully written and open to changes. It is important to note that having “clean code” makes it easier for developers to maintain a theme. This feature can also improve the website’s performance, with less risk of errors that can slow things down.
No time to read the whole article? Get Blocksy here.
Blocksy’s Key Features
Being one of the newer themes on the market, Blocksy stands out from its competitors because of its ease of use and speed.
An array of customization features allow you to personalize every part of your website.
- A global color palette with five colors includes primary, hover, para text, title and headings, and an optional color. Light and dark mode options ensure the ultimate viewing pleasure.
- A header and footer builder is included with the Blocksy free package. The Pro version of this WordPress theme has advanced header builder elements such as a language switcher, contacts element, desktop menu drawer, search box, and widgets. And you can design a beautiful footer with ease with features for logos, search boxes, and buttons.
- Content blocks create distinct block sections across a WordPress website and hook to other areas of the site.
- The custom sidebar in Blocksy’s Pro version allows you to display custom widget configurations on any page, post, category, post type, or archive page.
Added to these key features, the following elements have contributed to the ever-growing popularity of Blocksy among WordPress users.
Speed
While Blocksy’s core performance enhancements ensure maximum speed, there is a customized Performance Pane for developers who want to adjust the standard settings. Adjustment options include:
- Outputting the CSS inline (not recommended as this limits optimization options)
- Disabling WordPress’ built-in Emojis script
- Turning on the Image Lazy Loading feature
While we are on the topic of speed, it is always a good idea to test the speed of your website. You can get an accurate picture of your site’s performance with free tools such as PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.
Built to Work With Your Favorite Page Builders
Blocksy Theme works with the best WordPress page builders available on the market. These plugins include:
- Gutenberg WordPress Theme
- Elementor
- Brizy
- Beaver Builder
Code-Splitting
You can use Webpack for dynamic bundle imports when you need them. The code can be loaded on demand or in parallel by breaking up larger chunks of code into smaller, more manageable pieces. Code-splitting goes a long way toward improving a website’s speed and performance.
eCommerce Ready
Build and customize your online store within minutes, and start selling your products like a seasoned pro.
Some of the eCommerce features included with Blocksy are:
- Integration with popular eCommerce plugins, such as WooCommerce, that allows users to easily set up and manage their online stores. Adding new products, processing orders, and managing inventory are now easier than ever before.
- Customizable product pages to match the branding and style of the user’s website.
- Product filtering and sorting options make it easy for potential customers to find and browse products on the website.
- Support for multiple payment gateways such as PayPal and Stripe.
- Responsive designs that are compatible with a range of mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets.
Translation Ready
Blocksy is a flexible and customizable theme that makes it easy for users to create a multilingual website, regardless of their language or localization needs. The theme can be translated into any language and doesn’t contain hardcoded strings.
Blocksy integrates with WPML, an advanced plugin. WPML converts single-language websites into multiple languages. This, together with other features, makes website translation easier.
Features include support for RTL (right-to-left) languages and options for customizing the language switcher. This functionality allows site visitors the option to switch between languages provided on multilingual sites.
Live Preview
A live preview feature gives users real-time updates while the website is being worked on. This means you can see the website’s appearance and function before it goes live.
The Live Preview feature allows you to:
- Customize the layout and design of a website, including the color scheme, font style, and other elements
- Update content on pages, posts, and media
- Preview different templates and designs to see how they will look on the live website
Fully-Responsive
Responsive design is important for modern websites, as it ensures that a website looks and works great on any device, regardless of the screen size or resolution. This allows users to access and interact with a website on any device.
It can also help improve the SEO of a website, as search engines favor mobile-friendly websites.
To achieve a fully-responsive design, Blocksy uses a combination of flexible grid-based layouts and media queries, which allow the theme to adapt to the size and resolution of the device it is being viewed on.
Blocksy Companion
Blocksy Companion is a plugin that adds additional functionality to the Blocksy WordPress theme. It was developed by the same team that created Blocksy and is intended to be used in conjunction with the theme. Some of the features that Blocksy Companion provides include custom:
- Widgets for the WordPress sidebar (and other widget areas)
- Shortcodes for adding custom content to posts and pages
- Post-types for creating custom content types in WordPress
- Templates for a single post and page layouts
When you install Blocksy Companion, you can extend the capabilities of the Blocksy theme. This makes creating even more unique and customized websites easier than ever before. It is important to note that Blocksy Companion is a premium plugin and requires a separate purchase.
Blocksy Review – Customer Support
As it does for all its products, Creative Themes provides hassle-free and reliable support for the Blocksy WordPress theme.
Whether you have a question or need some help with a theme, the Blocksy team’s support center is on hand to help and guide you every step of the way. The support center’s average response time is 24 hours (Monday to Friday). However, in most cases, agents respond within three hours.
Alternatively, fellow users are always on hand with product advice on Blocksy Facebook Community.
Customers can also contact Creative Themes via their website or by email to request online support.
Documentation
Customers can easily access support literature, tutorials, and other resources to help them use and customize the theme. The documentation is designed to be comprehensive and easy to follow. This provides users with all the information and resources they need to use and customize the theme.
A demo site has been added to give you a practical glimpse of the theme. Additionally, short video tutorials are available to help you set up, customize and master the technicalities quickly and effectively.
This resource will help users understand and get the most out of the theme, whether they are experienced users or new to WordPress. Blocksy documentation includes:
- Installation and setup guides that provide step-by-step instructions for installing and setting up the theme on a WordPress website.
- Customization guides that have information on how to customize the various elements of the theme. This would include layout, color scheme, and other design elements.
- Troubleshooting and FAQs that share common issues and questions users may have when using the theme. This also includes solutions and best practices for addressing them.
Support Forum
Ask questions and get help with any issues from a Facebook support forum monitored by the Creative Themes team.
Although the team strives to respond to inquiries within 24 hours, many users report fantastic turn-around times of as little as three hours!
How Much Does the Blocksy Theme Cost?
Blocksy gives you a choice between a free WordPress theme and a Pro package theme.
The free Blocksy theme comes with basic functionality. Download it and give it a try.
If you want to receive access to all the great features for designing the most advanced WordPress site, you have the option to buy into the Pro functionality. This option includes starter sites and premium sites designed to meet the needs of category-specific users.
The Blocksy theme packages include:
- Personal Use
- Professional for Online Businesses
- Agency for Freelancers and Agencies
Furthermore, there is also an option for annual or lifetime subscriptions. By selecting the latter, you won’t have to deal with yearly price increases.
Read on to learn more about Blocksy’s pricing and package features. We also add an impactful review of each package.
Personal Use
- Cost – $49 per year or $149 one-off lifetime fee
- Includes one site license
Blocksy Personal Use is ideal for personal websites, blogs, and influencers.
Key features of Blocksy Personal Use include:
- Customization options
- Pre-designed templates
- Support from the developers and users with any issues or questions
Professional for Online Businesses
- Cost – $69 per year / $199 one-off lifetime fee
- Includes five site licenses
Blocksy Pro is a premium version of the Blocksy WordPress theme. It includes extra features and functionality specifically designed for professional online businesses.
Key features of Blocksy Pro include:
- Integration with popular e-commerce platforms such as WooCommerce makes it easy to sell products and services online
- The ability to customize the appearance of your site using the included visual builder tool
- Pre-designed templates that you can use to create professional-looking websites, fast
- A range of plugins and extensions that you can use to add functionality to your website (this includes forms, e-commerce functionality, and more)
- Support from the developers and a large community of users
Agency for Freelancers and Agencies
- Cost – $99 per year / $299 one-off lifetime fee
- Includes unlimited licenses
Blocksy Agency is a premium version of the Blocksy WordPress theme that includes more features and functionality specifically designed for freelancers and agencies.
Key features of Blocksy Agency include:
- A range of customization options, including the ability to customize the appearance of your site using the included visual builder tool
- Templates that are designed to let you create professional-looking websites, quickly
- Plugins and extensions enhance website functionality (forms, e-commerce functionality, and more)
- White labeling options allow you to remove the Blocksy branding from your website and replace it with your branding
- Support from the developers, as well as a large community of users, are on hand to help you with any issues or questions you may have
Free Version
If you want to test-run Blocksy before you “add to cart,” Creative Themes does offer a free version of Blocksy that users can try out before purchasing a license. This version has limited features.
Blocksy Free includes a starter template and a limited set of features and options. It can’t be compared to Blocksy Pro, but it can still be used to create a functional website.
Although this has been called the best free WordPress theme, users who want access to the full range of features included with Blocksy will need to buy a license.
Blocksy Theme Review – Pros and Cons
Like any WordPress theme, Blocksy has pros and cons to consider when deciding whether it is suitable for your website.
Pros
- Loads quickly on a variety of devices
- Customization options include a header builder and footer builder
- Responsive design adapts to different screen sizes and resolutions
- Clean semantic code that is easy for search engines to understand
- Regular updates with new features and bug fixes
- Detailed online documentation, video tutorials, and dedicated support forums
- Compatibility with many popular WordPress plugins
- Translation-ready, allowing users to select their preferred language
Cons
- The free version is fairly limited
- Certain features are only available as part of the Blocksy Companion plugin
- The customization option and features can be overwhelming for users who are new to WordPress or unfamiliar with the theme
- Compatibility issues with certain plugins and custom codes
Blocksy Alternatives
The Blocksy WordPress theme has many alternatives. The best alternatives are based on verified reviews, community votes, and other factors.
If you are interested in researching or comparing WordPress themes, here are a few alternatives you might consider.
Astra
Astra theme is one of the most flexible and fastest WordPress themes available. It is intuitive and offers deeper integration with WooCommerce. With Astra’s unique features and countless customizations, you can build a store that matches your brand.
Want to know if Astra is the best theme? Read our Astra theme review.
Besides design, speed, and endless customizability options, there are many other reasons to consider the Astra theme, which we will touch on below.
Pricing
- Astra – Free
- Astra Pro – $47 / $227 (annual fee/lifetime access)
- Essential Bundle – $137 / $677 (annual fee/lifetime access)
- Growth Bundle – $187 / $937 (annual fee/lifetime access)
Five Key Features
- A lightweight theme advertised as being less than 50KB when gzipped
- A vast library of over 200 starter templates suitable for a multitude of niches
- Compatibility with existing page builders (Elementor, Beaver, Brizy, and Gutenberg – the default WordPress block editor)
- Customization options via the WordPress Customizer
- Clean and developer-friendly code
GeneratePress
GeneratePress is a lightweight WordPress theme that focuses on speed, stability, and accessibility. Whether you’re a hobbyist, freelancer, or agency, using this theme will launch your website on a good note.
Read our GeneratePress review to see just how fast it is.
Pricing
- GeneratePress – Free
- $59 – annual fee
- $249 – lifetime access
Five Key Features
- Focused on performance optimization and clean code
- A multipurpose theme that can be used to build any type of website for any niche
- Flexible option in the real-time WordPress Customizer
- Page-level controls to adjust content on a piece-by-piece basis
- Access to over 80 importable demo sites covering a range of niches, including business websites, eCommerce stores, and blogs
OceanWP
OceanWP is the perfect theme for your project. Lightweight and extendable, it will enable you to create just about any type of website. This includes business, portfolio, blog websites, and WooCommerce storefronts with beautiful and professional designs. Clean and elegant, it’s a responsive theme that scales to your screen perfectly.
Pricing
- OceanWP – Free
- Personal (three sites) – $43 / $178 (annual fee/lifetime access)
- Business (six sites) – $71 / $285 (annual fee/lifetime access)
- Agency (50 sites) – $127 / $509 (annual fee/lifetime access)
Five Key Features
- Single post customization options with the free OceanWP Extras add-on, allowing individual posts to be engineered to suit your business and target audience
- Options to enable and disable specific individual JavaScript scripts and CSS snippets to improve how fast your website loads
- An array of hooks and conditionals make it easy to insert content into different areas of your site without needing to edit the theme’s code
- Deep WooCommerce integration
- Additional free and premium extensions, as well as tons of other helpful functionalities
Conclusion – Blocksy Theme Review
Wrapping up the Blocksy WordPress theme review, we conclude that Blocksy is one of the fastest WordPress themes. It is suitable for a wide range of website types and industries.
Be aware that while Blocksy is a powerful and feature-rich theme, it may not be the best choice for users looking for a simple, out-of-the-box solution. If you aren’t willing to invest in additional plugins or customization, it is best to reconsider your options.
Yet, for those willing to buy in, the user-friendly design, professional-looking websites, and range of features make it a popular choice.
After reading this Blocksy review, we hope you are inspired to go ahead and try the Blocksy WordPress Theme for yourself.
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Your New Favorite Way to Develop WordPress Locally – WordPress.com News
Say goodbye to manual tool configuration, slow site setup, and clunky local development workflows, and say hello to Studio by WordPress.com, our new, free, open source local WordPress development environment.
We’ve built Studio to be the fastest and simplest way to build WordPress sites locally.
Designed to empower developers, designers, and site builders, Studio offers a seamless solution for creating and running WordPress sites directly on your local machine, as well as showcasing work-in-progress sites with your clients, teams, and colleagues.
Check out a few of our favorite features in the video below:
A new way to develop WordPress locally, available for free
Studio is now available to use for free on Mac*, and you can get up and running with a new local site in just a few minutes:
- Download Studio for Mac.
- Install and open Studio.
- Click Add site, and you’re done!
Once you have a local site running, you can access WP Admin, the Site Editor, global styles, and patterns, all with just one click—and without needing to remember and enter a username or password.
You can even open your local sites in your favorite development tools, such as VS Code, PhpStorm, Terminal, and Finder, making it even easier to add Studio to your existing development workflow.
Plus, Studio is open source; feel free to fork away on GitHub.
*A Windows version of Studio is coming soon, and you can request early access here.
Effortlessly share your work and keep moving forward
In the realm of web development, showcasing local work has often been a challenge when projects live solely on your machine. With Studio’s demo sites, you have a convenient, built-in solution for sharing your progress with your team, clients, or designers.
These publicly-accessible demo sites, hosted on WordPress.com, are a convenient way to share your work without the need for complex server setups or lengthy deployments. In less than 15 seconds, you can have a shareable link to your local site that stays active for seven days.
The best part? Demo sites can be refreshed to reflect your latest build, allowing you to easily convey any updates or changes!
Breaking free from traditional constraints
Unlike traditional local environment tools like MAMP or Docker, Studio takes a fresh approach to local WordPress development. Studio is a lightweight and efficient solution that minimizes overhead and maximizes simplicity by forgoing the need for web servers, MySQL servers, or virtualization technologies.
Behind the scenes, Studio uses WordPress Playground, the WebAssembly-powered PHP binary. Thanks to this technology, there is no need to use a traditional web server, making your development experience much quicker and smoother.
Say goodbye to complex setups and compatibility issues. Studio makes it easier than ever to build and manage WordPress sites locally.
Let’s get building
At WordPress.com, we’re committed to making your website management experience seamless. In the last few years alone, we launched staging sites with synchronization features, SSH and WP-CLI access, global edge caching, GitHub Deployments, and more.
Studio is yet another powerful feature to add to your toolkit. Stay tuned for more exciting updates, and remember to follow our blog to stay in the loop.
And, of course, download Studio today. Your local development workflow will thank you.
Major kudos to the Studio team on this launch! Antonio Sejas, Antony Agrios, Kateryna Kodonenko, Philip Jackson, Carlos García Prim, David Calhoun, Derek Blank, Siobhan Bamber, Tanner Stokes, Matt West, Adam Zielinski, Brandon Payton, Berislav Grgicak, Alexa Peduzzi, Jeremy Massel, Gio Lodi, Olivier Halligon, Matthew Denton, Ian Stewart, Daniel Bachhuber, Kei Takagi, Claudiu Filip, Niranjan Uma Shankar, Noemí Sánchez, and our beta testers.
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Smooth Transition: A Comprehensive Guide to Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify
Are you considering migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify but feeling overwhelmed by the process? Fear not! This comprehensive guide is designed to walk you through every step of the migration journey, ensuring a smooth transition for your online store. Whether you’re looking to capitalize on Shopify’s user-friendly interface or seek better scalability for your growing business, this guide has covered you. Let’s dive into the essential steps and strategies for seamlessly migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify.
Understanding the Migration Process
Assessing Your Current WooCommerce Setup
Before embarking on the migration journey, take a thorough inventory of your current WooCommerce setup. Identify your products, categories, customers, and any customizations you’ve made to your store. This assessment will provide a clear roadmap for transferring your data to Shopify without missing any crucial elements.
Choosing the Right Shopify Plan
Shopify offers a range of plans tailored to different business needs, from basic to advanced. Take the time to evaluate your requirements and select the plan that aligns best with your budget and growth goals. Whether you’re a small startup or an established enterprise, Shopify has a plan to suit your needs.
Preparing Your Data for Migration
Backing Up Your WooCommerce Data
Before initiating the migration process, creating a backup of your WooCommerce data is essential. This ensures that you have a safety net in case anything goes awry during the transition. Export your product listings, customer information, order history, and other relevant WooCommerce data.
Importing Your Data into Shopify
Once you’ve backed up your WooCommerce data, it’s time to import it into Shopify. Shopify provides tools and apps that streamline the data migration process, making it easy to transfer your products, customers, and orders seamlessly. Follow the step-by-step instructions provided by Shopify to upload your data accurately.
Additionally, if you’re migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify, it’s crucial to understand the specific steps involved in this process. Ensure that you follow the recommended procedures and utilize the available resources to facilitate a smooth transition.
Designing Your Shopify Store
Choosing a Theme
One of the perks of migrating to Shopify is access to a wide range of professionally designed themes. Browse Shopify’s theme library to find a design that reflects your brand identity and complements your products. Whether you prefer a minimalist aesthetic or a bold, eye-catching layout, Shopify has a theme to suit your style.
Customizing Your Theme
Once you’ve selected a theme, customize it to align with your brand’s look and feel. Shopify’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to tweak your theme’s layout, colors, fonts, and imagery without any coding knowledge required. Experiment with different customization options until you’re satisfied with the overall design of your Shopify store.
Configuring Your Settings and Features
Setting Up Payment Gateways
Shopify offers a variety of payment gateways to accommodate different customer preferences. Configure your preferred payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and more, to provide a seamless checkout experience for your customers. Ensure that your payment gateways are integrated securely to protect sensitive customer information.
Managing Shipping Options
Streamline your shipping process by configuring your shipping settings in Shopify. Set up shipping zones, rates, and fulfillment preferences to ensure accurate shipping costs and delivery times for your customers. Shopify’s built-in shipping tools make it easy to manage your shipping logistics efficiently.
Launching Your Shopify Store
Testing Your Store
Before going live with your Shopify store, thoroughly test its functionality to identify and resolve any issues. Conduct test transactions, navigate the checkout process, and review your store’s performance on different devices and browsers. Address any bugs or discrepancies to ensure a smooth launch for your Shopify store.
Announcing Your Launch
Once you’re satisfied with the functionality and design of your Shopify store, it’s time to announce your launch to the world. Generate excitement among your audience by promoting your new store on social media, email newsletters, and other marketing channels. Offer exclusive deals or discounts to incentivize customers to explore your new Shopify storefront.
Post-Migration Optimization
Monitoring Performance Metrics
After migrating to Shopify, monitor your store’s performance metrics to gauge its success. Track key metrics such as traffic, conversion rates, and average order value to identify areas for improvement. Use Shopify’s built-in analytics tools or integrate third-party analytics platforms to gain valuable insights into your store’s performance.
Continuously Improving Your Store
Optimize your Shopify store based on the insights gleaned from your performance metrics. Experiment with different marketing strategies, product offerings, and user experience enhancements to maximize your store’s potential. Continuously seek customer feedback and iterate on your store’s design and functionality to stay ahead of the competition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify can be a manageable task. By following the steps outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can navigate the migration process with confidence and ease. From assessing your current setup to launching your new Shopify store and beyond, this guide equips you with the knowledge and tools to make a smooth transition. Embrace Shopify’s opportunities for scalability, flexibility, and growth, and watch your online business thrive in its new home.
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WordPress Block Patterns Give You Superpowers – WordPress.com News
Few WordPress features offer more return on your learning investment than block patterns.
With the power of block patterns you’ll be a WordPress superstar in no time, whether you’re an establish pro or just starting out. Block patterns are professionally designed layouts that you can add your site in a single click. What makes them especially powerful is that once they’re inserted, you can edit and customize every aspect. (Or, you can leave them be!)
In today’s Build and Beyond video, Jamie Marsland walks you through everything you need to go to become a block pattern expert, in under four minutes.
Get started on your site today with a free trial:
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