IEdesign-Poma https://poiemadesign.com/ Blog on site development and promotion Mon, 29 Sep 2025 11:39:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://poiemadesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cropped-template-1599663_640-32x32.png IEdesign-Poma https://poiemadesign.com/ 32 32 Top WordPress Plugins for Website Optimization in 2025 https://poiemadesign.com/top-wordpress-plugins-for-website-optimization-in-2025/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 11:39:16 +0000 https://poiemadesign.com/?p=148 WordPress powers more than 40% of the web, and its flexibility remains unmatched in 2025. From small business websites to global e-commerce platforms, WordPress continues [Read More...]

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WordPress powers more than 40% of the web, and its flexibility remains unmatched in 2025. From small business websites to global e-commerce platforms, WordPress continues to thrive because of its rich plugin ecosystem. With thousands of plugins available, choosing the right tools for optimization is critical to ensure your website runs smoothly, loads quickly, and delivers the best possible user experience.

Optimization in 2025 goes beyond simple caching or image compression. It now includes advanced SEO, AI-driven personalization, security, accessibility, and privacy-first solutions. In this article, we’ll explore the top WordPress plugins for website optimization in 2025 and explain how they can transform your site into a high-performing digital asset.

Why Website Optimization Matters in 2025

Modern users have high expectations: fast load times, responsive design, and clean interfaces. Search engines, too, are more demanding than ever, ranking websites based on Core Web Vitals, security protocols, and accessibility compliance.

A poorly optimized website not only risks lower rankings but also damages user trust. This makes the right choice of plugins a cornerstone of digital success.

1. WP Rocket – Advanced Caching & Speed

Caching remains the foundation of optimization. WP Rocket is still one of the most effective all-in-one caching solutions in 2025.

  • Features: Page caching, cache preloading, lazy loading for images and videos, database optimization, and compatibility with most hosting providers.
  • Why It Matters: With Google’s algorithm focusing heavily on loading speed, WP Rocket ensures Core Web Vitals benchmarks are met.
  • Bonus: The plugin requires minimal configuration, making it beginner-friendly.

2. Imagify – Smart Image Compression

High-resolution visuals are crucial for modern websites, but they can slow down performance. Imagify optimizes images without compromising quality.

  • Features: Automatic image compression, next-gen WebP format support, bulk optimization.
  • Why It Matters: Reducing image weight improves both user experience and SEO rankings.
  • 2025 Upgrade: AI-powered compression now adapts quality to the type of content (e.g., sharper text images vs. softer photographs).

3. Rank Math SEO – AI-Powered SEO Optimization

In 2025, SEO requires more than inserting keywords. Rank Math combines AI with analytics to guide content creation and optimization.

  • Features: Schema markup, AI-driven keyword suggestions, on-page SEO analysis, integration with Google Search Console.
  • Why It Matters: Ensures visibility in search engines while adapting to evolving AI-driven search results.
  • Edge Over Competitors: Its AI features help create better-structured content tailored to your audience.

4. Perfmatters – Script Management & Performance Control

Even small scripts can affect performance. Perfmatters gives you granular control over what loads on each page.

  • Features: Disable unnecessary scripts, manage Google Fonts locally, control emoji scripts, and preload critical resources.
  • Why It Matters: Reducing “script bloat” is key to improving load times.
  • Pro Tip: Perfect for developers who want total control over page optimization.

5. Sucuri Security – Protection & Monitoring

Website optimization isn’t only about speed—it’s also about stability and security. Sucuri protects against malware, hacks, and DDoS attacks.

  • Features: Website firewall, malware scanning, blacklist monitoring, brute force protection.
  • Why It Matters: A fast site is useless if compromised. Security is an essential layer of optimization.

6. WP Accessibility Helper – Inclusive Design

In 2025, accessibility is no longer optional. Websites must comply with WCAG standards to serve all users.

  • Features: Screen reader optimization, keyboard navigation support, color contrast adjustments, font resizing.
  • Why It Matters: Improves usability for all audiences and ensures compliance with global accessibility laws.
  • SEO Benefit: Search engines reward accessible websites with better rankings.

7. WooCommerce Booster – E-Commerce Optimization

For online stores, WooCommerce remains the leader, but performance can lag. WooCommerce Booster enhances speed and reliability.

  • Features: Cart optimization, product filter enhancements, dynamic pricing tools, checkout customization.
  • Why It Matters: Ensures smoother shopping experiences, reduces cart abandonment, and boosts conversions.

8. Broken Link Checker – Fixing Site Integrity

Nothing hurts user trust like broken links. This plugin scans for broken links and missing redirects.

  • Features: Automated detection, email notifications, bulk fixes.
  • Why It Matters: Keeps your site functional and SEO-friendly.
  • 2025 Update: AI predictions highlight links most likely to fail in the near future.

9. LiteSpeed Cache – Server-Level Optimization

For sites hosted on LiteSpeed servers, this plugin delivers performance improvements beyond what WP Rocket offers.

  • Features: Server-level caching, database optimization, image optimization, QUIC.cloud CDN integration.
  • Why It Matters: Combines speed optimization with scalability for high-traffic websites.

10. Ad Blocker Awareness Plugins – Respecting User Preferences

A surprising yet positive trend in 2025 is the rise of WordPress plugins that integrate smoothly with users who rely on ad blockers. Instead of blocking access to content or pushing intrusive banners, these plugins help websites adapt:

  • Features: Detect ad blocker usage, provide alternative monetization options, or display lightweight, user-friendly sponsorships.
  • Why It Matters: Users increasingly install ad blockers like AdLock to improve browsing speed and safety. Respecting this choice enhances trust and long-term engagement.
  • Positive Impact: By accommodating visitors who value clean browsing, sites become more user-friendly and resilient.

This reflects a broader shift in the industry: ad blockers are not obstacles but opportunities to rethink monetization in ethical, user-first ways.

Choosing the Right Mix of Plugins

While each plugin listed above serves a specific purpose, the key to success is selecting the right combination based on your website’s needs. For example:

  • A blog may prioritize Rank Math SEO, WP Rocket, and Imagify.
  • An e-commerce store may need WooCommerce Booster, LiteSpeed Cache, and Sucuri Security.
  • A corporate site may benefit most from Perfmatters, WP Accessibility Helper, and Broken Link Checker.

Avoid “plugin overload,” which can harm performance. Instead, focus on plugins that directly support your goals.

The Future of WordPress Optimization

By 2025, optimization isn’t just about technical fixes—it’s about creating seamless, ethical, and inclusive experiences. AI-driven insights, accessibility, and privacy-first design are shaping the future.

Plugins will continue evolving to address new search engine algorithms, stricter data protection laws, and rising user expectations. But the core principle remains unchanged: fast, secure, and user-friendly websites always perform best.

Conclusion

WordPress optimization in 2025 is a blend of speed, security, accessibility, and adaptability. Plugins like WP Rocket, Imagify, Rank Math, and Sucuri remain essential, but new trends—such as ad blocker awareness—are redefining how websites engage with audiences.

The most successful websites will be those that respect users, provide value beyond ads, and leverage the best tools available to create exceptional experiences.

By carefully selecting the right WordPress plugins, you can ensure your site not only keeps up with 2025 standards but sets the bar for performance and trust in the digital age.

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How Ad Blockers Impact Website Design and Monetization in 2025 https://poiemadesign.com/how-ad-blockers-impact-website-design-and-monetization-in-2025/ Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:24:33 +0000 https://poiemadesign.com/?p=144 The internet in 2025 looks vastly different from what it was just a decade ago. As websites became more complex and monetization strategies increasingly reliant [Read More...]

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The internet in 2025 looks vastly different from what it was just a decade ago. As websites became more complex and monetization strategies increasingly reliant on digital advertising, users began searching for ways to protect their browsing experience. This shift led to the widespread adoption of ad blockers. Today, ad blockers are not merely browser extensions—they are part of a broader movement toward user-centric web design, privacy, and a safer digital experience.

Instead of seeing ad blockers as a threat, businesses and web designers are starting to recognize their potential for reshaping how websites are designed and monetized. This article explores how ad blockers influence design trends, user expectations, and revenue strategies in 2025, with a particular focus on the positive outcomes they bring to both users and the web ecosystem.

Why Ad Blockers Became Mainstream

The early internet was full of intrusive banner ads, auto-playing videos, and pop-ups that disrupted browsing. This created frustration and distrust. As privacy concerns grew and users demanded control over their data, ad blockers became essential tools.

In 2025, the use of ad blockers will not be limited to tech-savvy audiences. Every day, users install them on their browsers, mobile devices, and desktops to reduce clutter, avoid malicious ads, and enjoy faster browsing. Modern ad blockers also integrate with privacy tools, filter out trackers, and even improve device performance. A reliable ad blocker for PC, for example, not only removes disruptive ads but also shields users from malware hidden in advertising networks.

Positive Impacts on User Experience

From a user’s perspective, the benefits of ad blockers are undeniable. Here are the key ways they improve online experiences:

  1. Cleaner Interfaces – With fewer pop-ups and banners, websites appear more professional, minimalistic, and user-friendly.
  2. Faster Loading Speeds – Ads and trackers can double or even triple loading times. By blocking them, pages load almost instantly.
  3. Better Accessibility – Removing clutter allows people with disabilities or cognitive challenges to navigate more easily.
  4. Enhanced Trust – Users feel more secure knowing their browsing is less likely to be tracked or exploited by malicious ads.

This improved experience pushes web designers to adopt cleaner layouts and prioritize what matters: valuable content and smooth navigation.

How Web Designers Adapt in 2025

Ad blockers are forcing a design evolution. Rather than treating them as enemies, forward-thinking designers are leveraging the trend to build better websites:

  • Minimalist Aesthetics: Heavy, ad-packed pages are out. Clean, responsive layouts dominate.
  • Native Advertising Integration: Sponsored content is seamlessly embedded into the e-sign without being disruptive.
  • Privacy-First Design: Designers now factor in user consent, data protection, and clear cookie policies from the very beginning.
  • Performance-Oriented Builds: Speed optimization through lazy loading, lightweight scripts, and compressed visuals is no longer optional.

The result? Websites that deliver value first, without depending on invasive advertising formats.

Rethinking Monetization Beyond Ads

For many businesses, ad revenue has long been the primary income source. The rise of ad blockers has accelerated the need to diversify monetization models. By 2025, the most successful websites combine several strategies:

  1. Subscription Models – Premium content is accessible through affordable monthly or yearly fees.
  2. Affiliate Marketing – Instead of banners, content naturally integrates affiliate links within relevant guides or reviews.
  3. E-Commerce Integration – Many publishers add digital products, merchandise, or services directly into their sites.
  4. Sponsored Content – When clearly labeled, in-depth sponsored articles can add value rather than frustrate users.
  5. Microtransactions – Small one-time payments for exclusive content are becoming increasingly common.

Interestingly, this push away from aggressive advertising has created healthier revenue streams for businesses that build trust and loyalty.

The SEO Perspective

Ad blockers also have indirect effects on search engine optimization (SEO). Pages overloaded with ads usually load more slowly, which negatively impacts rankings. By optimizing websites with fewer ads, developers meet Google’s Core Web Vitals benchmarks more easily.

Moreover, sites that respect user privacy and reduce intrusive elements tend to have lower bounce rates and higher engagement—two signals that positively influence search performance. Thus, ad blockers indirectly encourage SEO-friendly design.

Privacy and Security Benefits

Another major advantage of ad blockers is the role they play in security. Malvertising—malicious software distributed through ad networks—remains a real threat. By filtering ads, users drastically reduce exposure to harmful scripts.

For businesses, this creates an opportunity to build trust. A website that functions well even with ad blockers on demonstrates that it values security and accessibility over aggressive monetization tactics. This helps strengthen brand reputation in a competitive online landscape.

The Ethical Side of Web Monetization

Ad blockers bring up an important ethical discussion. Users want free content, but publishers need revenue. The solution in 2025 lies in balance and transparency.

Websites that communicate openly with their audience—explaining why subscriptions or sponsorships are necessary—often succeed more than those that rely on hidden trackers. The rise of ethical design practices ensures that monetization no longer comes at the cost of user trust.

In this way, ad blockers indirectly push the industry toward healthier digital ethics.

What Businesses Should Do in 2025

To adapt, businesses and designers can embrace the following best practices:

  1. Audit Revenue Models – Don’t rely solely on advertising. Explore subscriptions, e-commerce, or partnerships.
  2. Prioritize UX – Ensure websites deliver value first. Content, speed, and design must outweigh monetization.
  3. Invest in Native Ads – When relevant and transparent, native ads feel more like content than interruptions.
  4. Build Trust – Clearly communicate data usage, provide privacy controls, and avoid dark patterns.
  5. Test With Ad Blockers – See how websites look and perform with blockers enabled to ensure functionality.

Looking Ahead

By 2025, ad blockers have become a natural part of the internet ecosystem. Instead of harming digital growth, they are pushing it toward a more sustainable, user-friendly model. Websites that adapt will not only survive but thrive in this new environment.

Ad blockers are not the enemy—they are catalysts for progress. They encourage designers to embrace minimalism, businesses to diversify revenue, and the web as a whole to move toward greater privacy and security.

Conclusion

The conversation around ad blockers has shifted from fear to opportunity. Far from killing online business, they are driving innovation in design, monetization, and trust-building.

For users, ad blockers mean faster, safer, and cleaner browsing. For businesses, they serve as reminders to focus on genuine value instead of intrusive tactics. As the web continues to evolve, one thing is clear: ad blockers are shaping a digital future that benefits everyone.

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7 Advantages of a Custom WordPress Theme for Your Business https://poiemadesign.com/7-advantages-of-a-custom-wordpress-theme-for-your-business/ Fri, 15 Dec 2023 14:16:55 +0000 https://poiemadesign.com/?p=129 Nearly two decades since its initial launch, WordPress (WP) continues to be the leading content management system (CMS) worldwide. WP is incredibly versatile and used [Read More...]

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Nearly two decades since its initial launch, WordPress (WP) continues to be the leading content management system (CMS) worldwide. WP is incredibly versatile and used for a wide range of websites from personal blogs and nonprofits to online stores. It’s the CMS of choice for globally recognized companies like Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, and Bloomberg. But what makes it so universally adored?

WP is an open-source platform that’s simple to install and manage, with a vast community backing it. It boasts thousands of pre-made plugins to support virtually any business function, alongside a plethora of themes to select from.

While a WP site’s features are crucial, a visually appealing and functional theme can significantly influence a business’s success. In this article, we’ll discuss why a custom WordPress theme is preferable to WordPress theme customization.

What exactly is a Theme? What Kinds of Themes Exist?

 A WP theme is a collection of files that determine a website’s appearance and layout. These files include CSS stylesheets, templates, images, JavaScript files, PHP files, among others.

In basic terms, a theme is a container waiting to be filled with your content.

Three options are available when it comes to acquiring themes.

  • You can download a free WP theme from the official site https://wordpress.org/
  • You can buy a premium theme on various platforms. 
  • You can employ a professional designer and developer to craft a custom theme tailored to your specifications. 

Although you can customize a free or paid theme by adjusting its code, creating a theme from scratch offers more benefits for your business. Here’s why.

Benefits of Opting for a Custom WordPress Theme for Your Project 

#1: A Custom WordPress Theme Will Perfectly Align With Your Company’s Goals, Vision, and Content 

While there are countless attractive themes, particularly premium ones, modifying their look and layout may not reflect your business goals or vision. This delicate task is best left to seasoned WordPress development experts.

Choosing the right colors or fonts isn’t sufficient. There’s a series of questions that need answers before touching a single HTML or PHP tag, such as:

What are your website’s business objectives? Is it for representation, lead generation, or selling products/services? 

  • What content will your main page contain? 
  • Who is your target audience? 
  • What do you know about them? 
  • Why would they visit your site?

Only after thorough research, analyzing your business data, and understanding your primary business needs can a custom WordPress theme developer start coding. Customizing an existing theme to the required extent may take considerable time with no guarantee of the desired result.

#2: A Custom WordPress Theme Will Set You Apart from Your Competitors 

If you use the same theme as another business, even with color and content changes, potential customers may not remember you or revisit your website.

You might believe that buying a premium theme and tweaking it to your liking will distinguish you from other businesses in your field. Unfortunately, nearly 15% of the market uses just three premium themes. 

This means that even after extensive modifications to your purchased theme, its layout and features will resemble many others in the market.

In contrast, a custom WordPress theme will stand out from your competitors, as it sports a unique design that you’ve crafted. This leads to improved brand recognition, customer engagement, and ultimately, better sales.

#3: A Custom WordPress Theme Will Enhance Your Security

Security should be a top priority for any business, especially in the digital landscape, where cybercriminals constantly look for opportunities to exploit website vulnerabilities. WordPress (WP), despite its popularity, has been a frequent target for hackers, with 90% of all hacked sites a few years back being WP-powered.

Cybercriminals typically gain access to a WP site by downloading a free or premium theme and dissecting its code to identify weaknesses. Once they locate these, they search the web for sites using the same theme and infiltrate through the discovered security gaps.

However, a custom theme’s code is not accessible to hackers. While it doesn’t ensure absolute protection against cyber attacks, it certainly offers greater security than if you were using a free or premium theme.

For some valuable insights on the main reasons why WordPress websites get hacked, visit this post.

#4: Custom WordPress Themes Are SEO-Friendly 

Want your website to appear on the first page of Google’s search results? Then, you need an SEO-friendly website. While most pre-made WP themes, especially premium ones, come with SEO features, you’ll still need to put substantial effort into customizing them to meet SEO standards.

Alongside keywords, a website’s structure greatly influences its search engine visibility. With a custom WordPress theme, you can design its structure from scratch, ensuring crawlers can easily index your content.

#5: A WordPress Custom Theme Ensures Optimal Performance 

Many premium themes are packed with unnecessary features that can slow down your site. For a business website, loading speed is critical. If your site takes more than two seconds to load, you risk losing visitors, which can hurt your sales and SEO rankings due to increased bounce rates.

A custom theme only contains features specific to your business, making it lighter and faster, resulting in improved user experience. Plus, you can trust that your custom theme’s code has undergone thorough testing to remove any bugs, something not always guaranteed with premium or free themes.

#6: Access to Direct Support from the Theme’s Developer 

Issues can arise with pre-made themes, whether free or paid. For instance, the theme might be incompatible with certain plugins, causing your site to malfunction. In such cases, you’ll need professional support.

However, if thousands or even millions of websites are using the same theme, their owners might be experiencing similar issues and also requiring technical assistance. As a result, you may have to wait for a long time to get your issue resolved.

With a custom theme, you can expect immediate, high-quality support if something goes wrong. The developer who created your theme is always available to make any necessary changes or fix bugs in your custom WP site.

#7: A Custom WordPress Theme Can Be Easily Updated 

Updates are crucial for all software, including WP themes. They ensure that your theme has the latest features and security patches, offering better protection against cyber threats.

However, over time, a premium theme provider may neglect updates, putting your website at risk. With a custom WordPress theme, you simply need to notify the developer when an update is required, ensuring a stable, secure, and up-to-date website.

To Sum Up

A custom WordPress theme offers significant advantages that could greatly enhance your website’s performance, security, and overall user experience. Custom themes are created to reflect your specific business vision and objectives, setting you apart from competitors and enhancing your brand recognition. 

They offer superior security as their code isn’t readily accessible for hackers to exploit. Custom themes are also SEO-friendly, contributing to improved visibility on search engine results. Importantly, they ensure optimal performance and provide direct developer support for any issues or updates needed. 

In essence, investing in a custom WordPress theme is investing in the long-term success of your business online.

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3 Easy Ways Beginners Can Install a WordPress Theme https://poiemadesign.com/3-easy-ways-beginners-can-install-a-wordpress-theme/ Wed, 13 Dec 2023 15:26:20 +0000 https://poiemadesign.com/?p=126 WordPress is undeniably a top choice among content management systems. If you’re planning to join the ranks of millions of WordPress users building their websites [Read More...]

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WordPress is undeniably a top choice among content management systems. If you’re planning to join the ranks of millions of WordPress users building their websites with this platform, it’s important to familiarize yourself with WordPress themes.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

  • what a WordPress theme is,
  • where to find free and premium themes,
  • how to select a theme,
  • and how to install a theme on WordPress.

You’ll discover comprehensive instructions and clarifications. Hence, even if you’re a WordPress novice, you can pick the most appropriate method. 

What Is a WordPress Theme and Why Do You Need It?

A WordPress theme is a set of files that dictate the look and functionality of your website. These files incorporate coding, visuals, and style sheets. With a theme, there’s no need to develop page styling from the ground up. When selecting a theme, you can preview the overall style of components like typography, spacing, etc.

Additionally, a theme allows you to manage your website elements. For example, the presentation of products in an e-commerce store will differ from the display of posts on a blog or news site. Themes make it simpler to achieve the desired appearance.

Where Can You Get a WordPress Theme?

There are numerous resources where you can find both free and paid WordPress themes. The WordPress theme directory itself offers a massive assortment of free themes.

Besides WordPress, many companies provide free and premium themes. Themeforest, Themify, CreativeMarket, TemplateMonster are just to name a few. 

How to Select the Right Theme?

If you’re still undecided about a theme, consider these tips to assist you in making the best choice. 

Free or Premium Themes: Which Is Superior?

Free Themes by WordPress

The primary benefit of themes available at WordPress.org is their quality. To be listed in the WordPress directory, themes must undergo thorough vetting by developers. This ensures that you’ll receive a dependable theme. 

Additionally, you can read reviews and see feedback on each theme. Also, free themes by WordPress are guaranteed to be compatible with all free plugins available in the directory.

However, free themes by WordPress have limited design and support. Typically, these themes only include basic pages (homepage and blog post samples) that you can modify. Moreover, it can be challenging to receive quick support if needed. Similarly, free themes may not be updated as frequently as their paid counterparts. 

Third-party Sources: Free and Premium

Many companies offer both free and premium WordPress themes. For premium themes, you have the option of a one-time purchase or a subscription, which usually offers more frequent updates for optimal functionality.

Furthermore, premium themes often come with a larger selection of pre-designed pages for customization. In some cases, you might find similar pages with different colors or styles within the same theme.

Specialized Themes

If your business caters to a specific niche, you might want to consider a WordPress theme designed for that particular niche. These themes are crafted with the unique needs of various businesses in mind, tailoring their layout and functionality accordingly. 

For instance, there are themes designed for medical clinics, salons, restaurants, logistics firms, cleaning services, and more. As an entrepreneur, you have the opportunity to explore numerous designs within your field to achieve the desired website look.

In a similar vein, you might want to look into e-commerce themes tailored to different types of stores, including food, beauty products, clothing, and more. 

Unique Features

In addition to being niche-specific and responsive, WordPress themes are distinguished by several other features.

For starters, themes offer varying degrees of customization options. Generally, free themes provide a limited set of features that can be modified, whereas premium themes offer a broader range of variability.

Secondly, if your business involves transactions (not just limited to online stores but also booking services), it’s crucial to ensure that your chosen theme is compatible with WooCommerce.

Thirdly, WordPress themes may come with a variety of custom widgets. These widgets complement the overall theme style while offering additional customization options.

Moreover, features that facilitate social sharing can be crucial, especially for news sites and blogs where high user engagement is key to success. 

Trustworthy Sources

When hunting for the perfect WordPress theme, it’s important to consider the reliability of the sources. Some websites like Colorlib, provide WordPress themes developed by their own team. This means you can contact the team for support after purchasing or downloading a theme.

Other sites, such as TemplateMonster, function as marketplaces where various vendors sell their products. When choosing a theme from a marketplace, you should consider:

  • The number of products offered by the vendor (usually, the more reliable a vendor, the more products they offer)
  • The number of sales
  • The support options available for the theme
  • Customer ratings and reviews (to get an honest perspective on what customers think about the theme)

The image below displays educational WordPress themes available on the TemplateMonster website.

Typically, you can preview demo versions of themes before making a purchase or download to get a feel for what to expect. 

Mobile-Friendly Design

A responsive design ensures your website appears and operates optimally across all devices. Given the increasing number of people accessing websites through mobile phones, search engines prioritize mobile-friendly sites in their search engine results pages. Therefore, it’s not just about aesthetics.

While most companies offer responsive themes, some do not regard responsive design as a priority. We strongly advise verifying this point before installing a WordPress theme. 

Theme Support

As previously mentioned, free themes typically do not offer comprehensive support at all times. However, even with premium themes, support can sometimes be limited. When selecting a theme from a marketplace, it’s important to understand the level of support the vendor offers.

Transitioning to a New Theme: Key Considerations

If you’re contemplating switching from your current custom theme to a new one, there are several steps to ensure a seamless transition.

  1. Create a Backup of Your Existing Website

Prior to implementing a new theme, it’s wise to back up your existing website. This way, you preserve your posts, pages, databases, and media content.

  1. Preserve Tracking Codes

If you’ve incorporated analytics or advertising codes into your theme files, ensure to duplicate them before the new theme installation.

  1. Ensure Compatibility with Functions and Plugins

When migrating to a new theme, maintaining current functions is essential. Hence, verify that your new theme supports all necessary functions. Similarly, confirm compatibility with the plugins you intend to use. Also, remember to uninstall any unnecessary plugins. 

Steps to Install a WordPress Theme

Here are the primary techniques for installing a WordPress theme.

#1: Using the WordPress Admin Theme Search for Installation

If you aim to install a theme from the WordPress directory, the built-in theme search option is the easiest route.

Once you’ve logged in to your WordPress admin panel, navigate to the Themes submenu under the Appearance menu on your dashboard. Click the ‘Add new‘ button.

You’ll then be presented with available themes. You also have the option to organize the themes by:

  • featured
  • popular
  • latest
  • favorites

Additionally, you can locate a specific theme by name or apply feature filters.

Feature filters are an excellent tool to select the most fitting WordPress theme for your needs. These filters allow you to search by:

  • subject (like e-commerce, education, news, etc.)
  • required features
  • theme layout (if you prefer a particular website layout, such as three columns or left sidebar)

Upon receiving your search results, you’ll find the themes that align with your search criteria. You can then preview these themes and learn more about them.

If you open the Details and Preview window, read the provided information, and decide to install that theme, simply click on the ‘Install’ button.

If you opt not to preview the theme, you can simply hover your mouse and click ‘Install’ directly from the search results page.

Upon successful installation, you’ll see an ‘Installed’ message on your Themes page. The final step is to click the ‘Activate’ button.

Some themes might necessitate further settings. You may receive a message suggesting the installation of additional plugins for simpler customization. Follow these instructions and add the suggested features.

You can then begin customizing your theme. To do this, either press the ‘Customize’ button or select the ‘Customize’ submenu in the Appearance menu on the dashboard. 

#2: Using the Upload Method from WordPress Admin to Install a Theme

The first method outlined above is only applicable for themes available in the WordPress repository. If you’ve downloaded a free or premium theme from elsewhere, you can install it via uploading. Here are the steps for this process.

Navigate to the Appearance – Themes submenu on the dashboard and click the ‘Add new‘ button (as previously discussed). On the following screen, click the ‘Upload Theme’ button.

Next, an instruction will appear prompting you to upload a theme file. This should be a .zip file stored on your computer. Once you’ve uploaded it, click on the ‘Install Now’ button.

Upon completion of WordPress’s installation process, a notification confirming its success will appear along with links to preview and activate the theme.

#3: Theme Installation via FTP

This technique is ideal for installing intricate themes with large files or bespoke themes. Apart from knowing how to incorporate a theme into WordPress, you’ll also need proficiency in handling FTP clients. Here are the steps to follow.

Firstly, download the theme onto your computer and extract the .zip file into a folder.

Secondly, access your website (or your hosting account) using an FTP client. If you lack an FTP client, download and install one onto your computer.

Thirdly, once connected to the site, navigate to the /wp-content/themes/ folder. This contains the folders of the themes already installed on your site.

The subsequent step is to locate the folder housing the theme files you wish to install (you’ve extracted the theme file into this folder on your computer).

Next, right-click on the relevant folder and select ‘Upload’. The FTP client will commence the uploading process.

Upon completion of the theme upload, navigate to the Appearance – Themes menu on your WordPress dashboard. Here, you’ll find a list of installed themes. Click on the new one you want to apply and select ‘Activate’. 

Free Theme vs. Premium Theme: Installation Differences

As previously mentioned, the theme installation process hinges on the source of the theme rather than whether it’s free or paid.

Free themes from the WordPress repository can be installed using the theme search method in the admin panel. However, both free and premium themes from alternative sources necessitate installation either by uploading or using an FTP client.

To Sum Up

Transitioning to a new WordPress theme requires careful preparation and purposeful steps. Firstly, it’s crucial to back up your existing website to avoid losing any content. Secondly, any tracking codes that have been incorporated need to be preserved before installation of the new theme. Compatibility with important functions and plugins should also be confirmed. 

Installation methods vary based on the source of your theme. Themes from the WordPress repository can be added via the admin theme search while themes from external sources require either uploading or FTP. 

Whether a theme is free or premium doesn’t affect the installation process; the source does. Understanding these intricacies will ensure a smooth and successful theme transition.

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Advantages of search engine optimization https://poiemadesign.com/advantages-of-search-engine-optimization/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 13:47:23 +0000 https://poiemadesign.com/?p=72 Website promotion is a technically complex process that consists of many tasks and stages that require a professional approach.

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Website promotion is a technically complex process that consists of many tasks and stages that require a professional approach. The main goal is to increase traffic and improve the position of the company’s web resource. Different strategies can be used for promotion, but one of the most effective is search engine optimization (SEO).

SEO is characterized by the following advantages:

  1. High competitiveness. You can’t succeed in online business if you neglect SEO. If you do not care about search engine optimization, your potential customers will find goods and services on the websites of your competitors. Working with SEO allows you to bring your website to the top for certain queries.
  2. Sustainable results. If the search engine promotion strategy is chosen correctly, you can achieve good results in maintaining high positions. Once your company is in the TOP, it will be able to get customers steadily for a long time.
  3. Good return on investment. In the long run, high coverage of potential customers will allow your company to make an order of magnitude more sales with much less investment in SEO. It doesn’t take much time, effort, and money to maintain your position in the top rankings. For comparison, contextual advertising costs generally remain at the same level throughout the entire advertising campaign. If it is a competitive niche, you have to raise your bids to get the best results.
  4. Increase the reach of potential users. To search for a particular product, a person usually needs to browse dozens of pages with results. As practice shows, users usually pay attention to the stores that are on the first and second pages of the search results. If your site is not there, then even if you offer high-quality and affordable goods, you will lose to your competitors.
  5. Increase brand loyalty. Website promotion provides an influx of higher quality traffic from search engines compared to that provided by contextual advertising. People trust organic search results more. Recently, users are quickly getting tired of advertising because it often does not meet their expectations. If a person is looking for a certain product and finds it through search, it increases trust and loyalty to the store or company.

Search engine promotion increases conversion and brand awareness. A well-implemented strategy will attract steady traffic to your website.

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What other ways can you promote your website? https://poiemadesign.com/what-other-ways-can-you-promote-your-website/ Sun, 21 May 2023 13:50:00 +0000 https://poiemadesign.com/?p=75 You can also promote your website through social networks, and in most cases it gives a good result. The first stage of promotion is free.

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Social networks

You can also promote your website through social networks, and in most cases it gives a good result. The first stage of promotion is free. To get started, it is enough to create an account and regularly post there with a direct link to the site. It should also be present in the account description.

If you create interesting, engaging content, the number of subscribers will gradually increase, and with them the number of potential customers. In this case, it is recommended to work for those who use social media as an auxiliary tool for developing and maintaining their brand.

Affiliate programs

Affiliate programs involve two parties:

  • sponsor: a business that organizes an affiliate program to promote its products or services;
  • partner (agent): a program participant who places promotional materials on his or her website.

The format of cooperation and payment model may vary. It all depends on the company’s business goals:

Increase brand awareness – the sponsor pays for the ad impressions;
traffic to the website – the partner earns on each click from the user’s resource to the advertiser’s website;
direct sales – an agent receives a reward if a person follows his or her referral link and places an order.

Display advertising

Display advertising campaigns provide advertisers with a great opportunity to announce their product to the target audience and thus significantly increase traffic to their websites. In practice, it looks like placing promotional content on side resources. Usually, popular online publications, news sites, movie trackers, and other frequently visited resources are used for this purpose.

Unlike contextual advertising, display advertising does not work to sell “here and now” but to increase brand awareness.

Types of display advertising:

  • banners
  • video clips;
  • page branding.

Launching this type of advertising involves spending significant budgets: because this type of promotional materials should be placed on donor sites with big names and high popularity among Internet users.

Email marketing

Sending emails can be an unobtrusive reminder of the company’s product to the customer. However, there is one important condition: the recipient must first consent to the newsletter, otherwise it will be considered spam.

Price aggregators

Price aggregators are websites that collect offers from hundreds of online stores in the country, with the ability to filter products by popular criteria and choose the best option.

In order to increase the competitiveness of goods or services on similar resources, it is necessary to constantly monitor the level of declared prices compared to other offers, as well as to track the quality of customer reviews.

Successful website promotion is the result of the work of a whole team of specialists who work together to develop a promotional strategy and implement it correctly. At this stage, it is important to eliminate those methods that will definitely be unproductive and focus on the most promising options.

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Main types of contextual advertising https://poiemadesign.com/main-types-of-contextual-advertising/ Thu, 11 May 2023 13:44:00 +0000 https://poiemadesign.com/?p=69 Contextual advertising can be classified according to several criteria, but in general, it is divided into large groups.

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Contextual advertising can be classified according to several criteria, but in general, it is divided into large groups. These are search and thematic advertising.

Search advertising. The peculiarity of this type is that ads are shown based on queries. Search advertising is considered to be the most effective because the subject matter of the ads fully corresponds to the current interests of the user.

It looks similar to regular search results, and its effectiveness depends on the correct selection of keywords, i.e. queries for which ads will be displayed in the search. The number of ads will depend on the device used to access the Internet.

Today there are several options for placing search contextual advertising:

  • Special placement unit: ads are placed above the search results and bring the largest number of clicks;
  • guaranteed display unit: ads are placed below the search results or to the right of them;
  • Dynamic display unit: usually located below the search results on the second and subsequent pages, and ads are displayed in rotation with ads of other users.

Thematic contextual advertising (display network). Ads that are relevant to the user’s interests are displayed on the page of a website that is a member of the Partner Network of advertising systems. These can be both thematic portals and news sites, blogs, and much more.

Ads are displayed both on the main and internal pages. As a rule, resources with higher daily traffic are chosen for this purpose.

For example, when a user is looking for information about landscape modeling software, they visit a website. And there he can see ads for the sale of garden plants, water pumps, and other products related to the topic.

Thematic contextual advertisingThematic advertising, unlike search advertising, is less user-focused because the user is not interested in immediate results. The user can click on a link, but he or she may skip it.

The following technologies have been developed to display thematic ads:

  • Topical targeting: the system reads the content of website pages and displays ads that are most relevant to the content of the pages;
  • behavioral targeting: relevant ads are selected based on the analysis of user search queries;
  • remarketing/retargeting: ads will be seen by users who have already visited a particular website but have not made a purchase.

Contextual advertising is also distinguished depending on the format. It can be of the following types:

  • Textual. Advertisements look like plain text with a hyperlink. They can be open or in the form of a text fragment.
  • Banner. Users are shown graphic images of an advertising nature. It can be just a picture or a picture with text and a link. Images can be static, dynamic, interactive.

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How contextual advertising works and its features https://poiemadesign.com/how-contextual-advertising-works-and-its-features/ Sun, 12 Mar 2023 13:35:00 +0000 https://poiemadesign.com/?p=66 Ads are displayed on the necessary pages due to the presence of keywords in the settings. That is why they become relevant in each case.

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Ads are displayed on the necessary pages due to the presence of keywords in the settings. That is why they become relevant in each case. By clicking on a link to the advertiser’s website, the user can see ads that are also related to his or her interests to some extent.

The visitor can stay a while, familiarize himself with the offered products, place an order, or come back later. In any case, the potential client has learned about the site, and its owner has not paid for a click in vain. This means that one of the functions of contextual advertising is to notify users about a new brand (resource, product, etc.), i.e. to expand the potential clientele.

User loyalty, as well as their transition from potential to real customers, also depends on the quality of the landing page of the site to which the buyer lands. If it is easy to view, with a clear product catalog and relevant advertising, it will increase the chances of the visitor performing the targeted action.

Online business owners who have decided to use contextual advertising are primarily interested in its cost. It depends on several factors:

  • the subject of placement (some of the most expensive, for example, are finance, tourism, real estate, construction, etc;)
  • selection of keywords (contextual or non-contextual, high or low frequency);
  • selection of the ad display position (special placement, 1st place, dynamic or guaranteed display);
  • time of ad display (day and night), working days or weekends;
  • setting up geotargeting (regional contextual advertising is usually cheaper);

You should also keep in mind that the cost of contextual advertising is determined on a promotional basis, i.e. in comparison with the prices at which competitors buy clicks. Of course, ads of advertisers who paid a higher CPC will be displayed in higher positions.

At the same time, high-quality ads, even if their CPC is set lower, can occupy a higher position in the SERP. This happens because the systems take into account the ad’s conversion rate (CTR).

Increasing sales and business development is the main goal of launching an advertising campaign. These are the results that are intended to justify all advertising costs. Of course, you should keep in mind that not every website visitor will place an order. After all, not everyone leaves a brick-and-mortar store with a purchase. But if you manage to get them interested, you will know where to look for the right product next time.

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What is the optimization and promotion of sites in search engines? https://poiemadesign.com/the-optimization-and-promotion-of-sites-in-search-engines/ Fri, 06 Jan 2023 13:31:00 +0000 https://poiemadesign.com/?p=63 Website optimization involves a set of measures aimed at improving various aspects, such as loading speed, accessibility, usability.

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Website optimization involves a set of measures aimed at improving various aspects, such as loading speed, accessibility, usability. And the task of website promotion is to increase its visibility in search engines. However, they have a common goal – to increase traffic and attract more users, and hence business revenues. How to do it correctly?

Search engine optimization and website promotion: how does it work?
Website optimization includes different ways and algorithms of action. Let’s talk about the main ones.

Page load speed. This indicator is important for users and affects search engine results. It can be improved by optimizing image files and reducing page size.

Improving page structure and navigation. This helps users find what they are looking for and understand how the page is organized.

Optimize content. It should be attractive and useful to users. It’s worth making sure to use keyword promotion to better position the page.

Improving accessibility

There are many methods to promote the site in Google and other search engines. The most popular and effective are SEO and advertising.

Is it possible to independently promote the site in search engines?

Theoretically, with knowledge and effort, you can independently promote the site on search queries. This is especially true for small towns. However, in order to succeed, you need to master a whole algorithm of actions. The presence of a website does not promise an increase in sales and number of users. To attract potential customers, you need to:

  • Create an attractive offer;
  • stand out against the background of competitors;
  • take care of a unique content;
  • to keep the visitor’s attention.

These elements are the basis of effective positioning. If a site does not generate enough traffic and cannot be easily found, it is almost as if it does not exist at all. Given the importance of optimization and promotion, it is obvious that this work is better left to professionals and order services for the promotion of sites in a reliable company that can provide excellent results.

Effective Internet marketing can be seen with the naked eye – a real increase in profits, the number of customers, inquiries and sales.

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What programming languages should a designer know? https://poiemadesign.com/what-programming-languages-should-a-designer-know/ Mon, 17 Oct 2022 12:53:00 +0000 https://poiemadesign.com/?p=51 There are already many articles proving that everyone should be able to program, and the designer is no exception.

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There are already many articles proving that everyone should be able to program, and the designer is no exception. Today I want to talk about what programming languages he may need.

Layout: HTML and CSS.

Let’s start with something simple. To be frank, it’s not yet programming. HTML is Hypertext Markup Language. It defines the structure of pages and the elements that make them up. These elements are defined by tags: headings, text, links, lists, etc. An important task of tags is to define the semantics of web documents. For example, the first level heading (h1) should be a single heading, and the correct layout of structural elements (header, footer, article etc.) will facilitate the reading of the code and its reading by search engine crawlers (and not only).

CSS language is needed to style HTML-writing. The name stands for Cascading Style Sheets. . Cascading Style Sheets is because the language uses inheritance from parent to descendant, going down through the elements. With CSS we can position elements, resize them, set rules for typography, create animations, and more.

HTML handles structure, CSS handles layout
The ability to layout will help you create a realistic and implementable design, communicate with developers, and make your work come to life. Moreover, this skill is already a market standard in Europe and the USA and will help you comply with its requirements.

JavaScript

This language was originally created to be executed in a browser, making web pages “live”. It can create and delete HTML tags, send requests to the server, fetch data without reloading the page, respond to user actions and much more.

SQL

If a lot of people have already heard about the necessity of the page makeup and JavaScript knowledge before my article, they might hear about the SQL for the first time. If you are doing UX research, you cannot do without data manipulation, and SQL will be exactly the help you need. SQL stands for Structured Query Language.

R

R is a programming language that was created about 20 years ago exclusively for academic research in data analysis. Since the language is closely related to statistics and applied data analysis, it can be a useful tool for the UX analyst. The language allows you to apply basic statistical analysis techniques: t-test, correlation, variance and regression analysis, etc.

Python

Python is a high-level programming language focused on code readability and developer productivity. The language adheres to its distinct philosophy, called “The Zen of Python”, which states (in a nutshell) that any program in the language (like the language itself) should be simple and not ambiguous. Because of its simplicity, Python is the first programming language that many students around the world learn.

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