Are You Ready to Move to Full Site Editing?

Making the move to Full Site Editing (FSE) isn’t as terrifying as most might think. By now, everyone using WordPress should be adapted to using the Block Editor system. 

The truth is, though, that many are reluctant to use the newer editor system as the Classic Editor continues to rank in the top five frequently used plugins. The newer integration, however, is a far more powerful alternative. 

The features of the new Block Editor are what make it the preferred approach to drafting content. That’s because they no longer require separate widgets for integration. Creation tools such as columns, tables, graphs, and rows can now be added to a post with ease. 

This makes the Block Editor systems smarter, simpler, and more user-friendly. Making sense of the new Block Editor system becomes even easier over time. The more you use it, the more comfortable you become. Practice makes perfect, after all. 

The latest update to WordPress 6.1 recently dropped in November and it means you can now go a step further when using Full Site Editing. The question is, are you ready for that?

This article meets the concerns of the masses head-on and looks below the surface of this new approach to web design and creation. We will do this by breaking down the fundamentals of FSE, the benefits therein, and how using it to create on WordPress is the better choice. 

What is Full Site Editing?

First things first, let’s talk about what Full Site Editing is. The short answer is that it’s a collection of new styling block-focused features for WordPress. These new additions expand to all areas of website design on the platform vs being available solely in the content creation areas. 

This new approach to site building will begin to make its way to the top of that aforementioned list of plugin preferences. But as it still serves as a deterrent for some, the curiosity surrounding Full Site Editing remains. 

Originally, modifying website pages and themes meant needing to modify each one separately. Tweaking elements such as fonts, headers, and footers were only doable by using the Customizer Tool or by editing the styles.css file.

This tool grants the creator the ability to preview any changes ahead of publishing. The downside to that is this tool is only available for compatible active themes. Further, if a theme is directly modified or updated, any previous changes to the webpage may be lost in the process. 

Full Site Editing, however, is truly the future of WordPress. FSE allows for both content and theme to be modified and saved simultaneously and from the same place. Giving the feature its name since it allows for more control of the entire website during the editing process. 

Key concepts of Full Site Editing

Let’s dive deeper into the key concepts to help determine whether or not you are ready to move to Full Site Editing. 

• A Styles interface – Allows the selection of default styles and individual blocks for a website. 

• Reusable template parts – Structural blocks within the template that can be re-used at will.

• Full-page templates – Layouts that include header and footer areas within the content.

• Block patterns – Design unique elements for as many web pages and websites as needed.

• A Site Editor interface – Create, edit, preview, or remove templates at will.

• Theme.json – Theme configuration files with defaulted settings and styles for Block Editing which greatly reduces CSS. 

• Site building block – Including titles and logos for websites.

• Template editor – Create and edit blog posts and web page templates. 

• Block Management – Control over the available block options.

The goal of FSE is to build on block functionality and to enhance the site editing experience. Each of the above concepts feeds directly into how Full Site Editing can benefit the content and web development process. 

The Benefits of Full Site Editing

Full Site Editing is now a core feature of WordPress. One that has been long awaited for many. For those that have yet to utilize the Gutenberg Block Editing system, the sooner you begin to familiarize yourself with its ins and outs, the better. 

The most obvious benefit is the idea of having full control over the editing and design of the webpage. The ability to do this without any coding skills or assistance from extraneous quick fixes is exciting, to say the least. 

Remember, Block Editor, formerly known as Gutenberg, and FSE are constantly evolving. This fact is what makes FSE such a powerful tool to familiarize yourself with. Who wouldn’t want to create an engaging and alluring webpage that attracts ideal clients? 

Understanding the impact that Full Site Editing can have on website design and development may serve as powerful motivation to take that leap to Full Site Editing for your website. To help encourage this crucial step forward, allow us to highlight the benefits of FSE.

Community

The community of WordPress designers and creators runs deep. With millions of users worldwide, solution sharing and networking make adapting to FSE a drop in the bucket. 

Have a question? Ask it in the forums. Stuck and in need of a resourceful solution? The WP community has got your back. There’s not another page-building platform out there that can say the same.

Global Styles

Have a specific font for your brand? Great! When designing with FSE, you can store that font, and access it quickly and easily when designing new web pages. The “global” element of this feature allows you to modify the font globally across the website with a singular click of the mouse.

No more page-by-page modifications are necessary. Before FSE, the theme in place dictated functionality. When designing with FSE you automatically save yourself tons of time. 

Reusable Blocks

As you create your web page, save the blocks created to reuse at your leisure anywhere else on the website. This is another stellar time-saving benefit to designing with FSE. It’s the end of redesigning the same elements over and over during the creation process. 

Speed

Feeling the need for speed? Moving to Full Site Editing means using fewer third-party plugins, which means faster loading times. Before FSE, every plugin used meant a slightly slower site speed. 

This is a no-no when it comes to SEO and should be avoided when possible. Full Site Editing delivers clean and compact codes which allow the site to load with ease. 

These four benefits speak volumes, but there is always a balance, right? Let’s touch on some of the disadvantages of designing with Full Site Editing — it’s only fair. 

The Downsides of Full Site Editing

Not everything is sunshine and rainbows in the world of website design. The same goes for Full Site Editing. Although FSE is a champion addition to WordPress, there is still some room for improvement.

E-Commerce Sites

Unfortunately, if you’re operating an e-commerce website, FSE may not be able to deliver all of the excellent features available. Your theme will need to be leveraging the new functionality and given the intricacies of an online store, you may not be able to readily change themes.

Tough on beginners

Full Site Editing with Gutenburg can be difficult for some beginners to successfully navigate. Common complaints include how confusing the interface can be and how much room it has available for error. 

Upgrades necessary

Any designer or creator not currently utilizing a block theme on their website will require an upgrade. If your website’s theme is highly customized, Full Site Editing may require you to start with a new theme. 

Attempts to switch themes as a resolution could lead to severe compatibility issues so be weary. Another notable disadvantage is that current block themes are limited and may not align with your branding.

Now that the pros and cons are on the table, it’s time to digest the question at hand…

Is the Move to Full Site Editing Right For You?

Only you know the answer to this pressing question. The adaptation may seem like a huge shift or like a commitment larger than you’re ready to accommodate. Or perhaps you may see it as a no-brainer for the advancement of your business goals. 

Regardless, the important thing is that we’ve got you thinking about it. And by supplying you with both sides of the spectrum — the benefits, and the disadvantages. 

Those that choose to give it a go will soon discover that anyone can comfortably use Full Site Editing in no time at all. Some of you might still be wondering where you go for web design inspiration. If so, worry not. Pixel Jar is here to help.