If you’re still on a Genesis Child Theme you’ve no doubt experienced challenges with integrating the block editor, conflicts with old or insecure plugins and a failing core web vitals grade.
And we know that the content creation space is more competitive than ever: competitive SEO, difficult keywords, high user expectations, low tolerance for ads, and zero tolerance for slow pages.
Today a new theme for WordPress, not only must look pretty, it also needs to pass core web vitals tests, provide customization options for landing pages and calls-to-action, load quickly on any device and of course sell widgets (or show ads).
Design Requirements
The older Genesis themes were great in their time. We recommended and used them exclusively. However since the advent of the WordPress built-in block editor in 2019 Genesis has failed to keep up. At first we waited with them – to see how the block editor would play out. But around 2020 we went all in on the block editor too. And it meets the requirements of our blogging clients, specifically the following.
A modern blogger’s theme needs the following:
- custom call to actions
- ability to load/lazy-load video & images
- custom caching
- custom signup boxes connected to email marketing software
- custom ad placement within and without posts
- custom blocks for posts in different categories
- branding templates
- blocks that maintain branding – always
- easy to add pages and block patterns
- category landing pages (aka pillar content or cornerstone content)
Behind the scenes the same theme also needs:
- css processing, and removing unused css
- javascript processing and caching
- pre-loading and font-loading
- webp or avif image formats*
- src set image creation
- content delivery network*
- secure code
- core web vitals compliant
- accessibility compliant
Genesis was extremely flexible in it’s day. We created custom pages, templates and widgets for everything! We created custom plugins to separate the design from function – it was all just like chef’s kiss! Not so much anymore. Those widgets and templates and plugins are disabling basic functions that are built-in to WordPress.
Is it time to switch?
If you answer yes to any of these, then yes! It is time to upgrade!
Now that you know if you need a new theme or not, let me talk about Kadence – and why we recommend this theme.
Why Kadence?
We propose Kadence WP for several reasons, listed in order of importance:
- Speed
- SEO
- Ease of Customization
- Built for WordPress Block Editor
- Longevity
- Support
- Price
Read more about our switch to Kadence here and compare DIVI & Kadence here.
Start the Process
Use a clear and attention-grabbing short paragraph to engage your audience and draw them into reading the rest of your content.
If you are using a recipe plugin or WooCommerce or any other added function – those stay the same. The colors are changed but the functions remain the same.
Launch the Kadence Theme
After the edits are done, we launch your site for you, overwriting the old one.
Hosting: The new site is on your existing hosting, with all your content. Nothing is lost, no links are changed.
No Downtime: There is no downtime. All you get is a fancy new theme with modern fast, seo-friendly code. And the easiest block editor ever to create your new pages and posts.
Opt-ins: If you have email marketing forms already integrated – they stay integrated. Nothing changes with them (not even the colors if those are created on the email marketing software).
Ads: Ad management companies like Raptive and SheMedia will want a heads up and they will need to reset the ad placement. This is usually done on their side. So it’s best to notify them of your launch day too.
With a site that is faster and easier to navigate, more readers will find you in Google, and your pageviews and time-on-page should increase.
Post Launch: Support
For 30 days after the site is created, we offer unlimited email support. Of course this can be extended if you wish to purchase more support.
If you have your own Kadence license you may contact Kadence for support. If you are using our license (as part of an ongoing service for maintenance or hosting) then you must use our support desk.
We have switched close to 100 themes into Kadence and look forward to getting yours up too!
New! Welcome-Email AI Agent
Looking at email marketing? Don’t forget a welcome series – folks are 4x more likely to open the first email than any other email that you send! Enter your email and we’ll send you to our custom AI Agent that will help you craft five highly converting emails in a welcome series! Then see this post for the tutorial.
Cathy Mitchell
Single Mom, Volunteer, Lifelong Learner, Jesus Follower, Founder and CEO at WPBarista.