Hi everybody

I just freshly registered here and I am looking for some posts about best use of WordPress for creating low data websites, fast uploads, good SEO practice but can't see anything related to this new trend here. There are big concerns about the fast increase of data use and energy consumption.

And I can't find here any posts about it.

Does anyone know which other forum(s) would be more relevant to use to talk about these essential questions?
or am I not using the right keywords?

Thanks!

Hi @Gene,

Not really sure what you are asking. A properly configured WordPress install with the right theme, limited plugins and optimized media will be fast. SEO comes from your content and site structure. Get local hosting, don't use the cloud and keep anything AI away from the site.

It's not complicated,

Hi
I am using Divi and it’s too heavy, so wondered if anyone knew a good lightweight page builder to create greener websites. Just would have loved to read some good debate on the subject…

 

 

If you want a green website don't use a page builder. Build your own theme with all the features you need built in. That way you won't need to install any plugins.

There is no good debate, the trick to being green is not eat up bandwidth and to use a host that is local and uses renewables to power the datacentre.

It also means not using Adobe and other corporate products to edit and manage content.

For who are you building this website? What is the purpose of the website?

 

Thanks for your answer.  I know it's really hard to be green when you are a web / graphic designer! But to reduce a bit the energy consomption and data transfer, I feel I can do my bit and the clients are very happy if they have a low data page label on it, they are usually also very keen to use green hosting.
It's for few non-profit orgs, so it makes sense  for me ti change my tools.

To come back to your anwer, what woudl I sue to build my own theme? Is for example gutenberg not a light weight block builders? I am not familiar with java script, php,  but with html and CSS.

 

 

2 hours ago, Gene said:

I am not familiar with java script, php,  but with html and CSS.

Then learn. I did. There are loads of tutorials on both languages

And wordpress has an excellent developer handbook:

https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/getting-started/

 

To be honest with you, I may be too old to learn two new languages.
I would rather get a flexible ready made theme or a good advise on which lightweight block system to use

Thanks so much for taking time to answer my questions.

I didn't start learning until was 50+

Didn't take long.

Most of the themes you get for free with wordpress are lightweight. You can then just use any of the many available blocks to build the layout and add a bit of CSS to customise where necessary.

The real key to being green is choosing the right host. And tell you clients not to use social media or fill their site with videos or have offices  - make everyone work from home.

13 hours ago, Gene said:

To be honest with you, I may be too old to learn two new languages.

If you start at a gentle pace - and simply keep it up - you'll be astonished at what you achieve in a few months time!

You can do it, Gene 💪

I always used to hand code websites. I then added in a little bit of JS and learnt enough php to create header and footer files. I then added a contact form with validation. Small steps.

I then discovered WordPress way back in 2007 and decided I could do a better job than the standard themes. Back then you could download a set of templates and I just went from there. Many years later I'm still learning but there is so much support if I get stuck I just ask for help.

The exhilaration of building a php function that does what you want it to is something joyful.

I'm now at the state when I don't bother building websites anymore, it's far more lucrative building plugins. And best of all you don't have to deal with clients.

You can download a starter theme here:

https://underscores.me/

20 hours ago, fisicx said:

I didn't start learning until was 50+

Didn't take long.

Most of the themes you get for free with wordpress are lightweight. You can then just use any of the many available blocks to build the layout and add a bit of CSS to customise where necessary.

The real key to being green is choosing the right host. And tell you clients not to use social media or fill their site with videos or have offices  - make everyone work from home.

OMG that's so re-insuring. Your message really made my day! thanks so much

19 hours ago, Jogeta316 said:

If you start at a gentle pace - and simply keep it up - you'll be astonished at what you achieve in a few months time!

You can do it, Gene 💪

Thank you so much Jogeta! I will start today. Your message is so refreshing!

I started building sites in 1997-8, back then most sites were hand coded and it was a case of learning as you go. The more you practice the better you get. My first site was very basic but over time I improved it with the new skills I learnt.

Also back then we only had "slow" dial-up connections (no broadband) so building low data sites was essential - I remember optimising the hell out of images to save a few kilobytes because that made a huge difference with how fast pages loaded.

I'd suggest building some dummy sites and using various tools to monitor performance so you get an idea.

10 minutes ago, BlueDreamer said:

I started building sites in 1997-8, back then most sites were hand coded and it was a case of learning as you go. The more you practice the better you get. My first site was very basic but over time I improved it with the new skills I learnt.

Also back then we only had "slow" dial-up connections (no broadband) so building low data sites was essential - I remember optimising the hell out of images to save a few kilobytes because that made a huge difference with how fast pages loaded.

I'd suggest building some dummy sites and using various tools to monitor performance so you get an idea.

Hahha! BB-EDIT?? Same for me! It was the time of Director for interactive presentations - CD-rom before the internet started being all over

I am testing Kadence block, but it's expensive to try the pro version to get proper idea.. 
Wondered if anyone can advise me on which one is good?

3 hours ago, Gene said:

Hahha! BB-EDIT?? Same for me! It was the time of Director for interactive presentations - CD-rom before the internet started being all over

I tried BBedit but couldn't get on with it. My first editor was HoTMetaL Pro which had a good suite of tools for creating (static) sites. After that was discontinued in the early 2000's I moved to WeBuilder which was a better all round editor which supported most coding languages. Then, after I moved to Mac's, I used a mixture of Coda, Sublime, Atom and Visual studio for general coding, as well as using the inbuilt template editor in my specialist CMS which I found quicker to build up CMS powered sites - for me it was easier to create channels/fields etc in one place rather than keep switching apps.

15 hours ago, Gene said:

I am testing Kadence block, but it's expensive to try the pro version to get proper idea.. 
Wondered if anyone can advise me on which one is good?

Why?

For most sites just use the built in WP blocks and add your own classe/styles. Adding plugins will make the site less green.

This was a quick experiment with standard block:

https://tradesman-theme.co.uk/block-examples/

There are now many more I haven't even tried yet.

On 9/13/2024 at 6:58 AM, fisicx said:

Why?

For most sites just use the built in WP blocks and add your own classe/styles. Adding plugins will make the site less green.

This was a quick experiment with standard block:

https://tradesman-theme.co.uk/block-examples/

There are now many more I haven't even tried yet.

oh ok. I understand. Thank you!

On 9/13/2024 at 6:58 AM, fisicx said:

Why?

For most sites just use the built in WP blocks and add your own classe/styles. Adding plugins will make the site less green.

This was a quick experiment with standard block:

https://tradesman-theme.co.uk/block-examples/

There are now many more I haven't even tried yet.

And thank you so so much for your time. So nice!