View profile

Tidbits from Brian - Issue #8

Brian Jackson
Brian Jackson
@brianleejackson
WordPress 6.0 “Arturo” is here!
I love software updates. Whether it’s WordPress or a Mac app, it’s fun and exciting to test new features and watch things improve over time. Glad to finally see performance taking more of a front row. It’s needed for WordPress to continue to scale and grab market share. 
Here are a few things I like about the WordPress 6.0 update:
  • Performance increase for sites with large user counts (source).
  • New additions to the WordPress Caching API (source).
  • Performance improvements to taxonomy term queries (source).
  • New Webfonts API to more easily load custom fonts locally (source).
  • Now possible to select partial text across multiple blocks. Finally! 😅
  • Better theme export: now includes edits made to your templates and styles (source).
  • Global styles switching with a single click (source).
If you want a more in-depth overview, I recommend checking out Carlo’s post on what’s new in WordPress 6.0. And remember to take a backup before updating your sites.

WordPress 6.0
WordPress 6.0
Updates ✍️
I’m not a huge fan of Facebook or Linkedin, but I regularly use Twitter. I’ve been putting together a list of my favorite Twitter marketing tips, including my most recent habit, which is writing Twitter threads. If you like Twitter, you might find it useful.
Before getting into WordPress plugin development, my background was SEO. I see so many people obsessed only with backlinks, but they forget about the most important thing: quality content and promotion. Check out these tips and tricks I use.
Talking about WordPress plugins, we just pushed out Perfmatters version 1.9.1. We’re excited that it includes a highly requested feature to lazy load background images within (CSS) stylesheets. This works with things like GenerateBlocks, Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, Oxygen, etc.
Lazy load CSS background images
Lazy load CSS background images
Interesting things 🔎
Misc.
  • 1Password 8 for Mac is here, and it’s beautiful! I was worried about it being Electron, but doubts are gone. Also, autofill at the OS level is a game-changer. 🔒️
  • Somehow I just now discovered Voice Isolation. Great for when there’s a baby in the background.
  • Christian Nellemann posted saying working from home will kill your career. I gave quite a direct response. I still wonder if he was just doing it for engagement and didn’t actually believe that.
  • Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo are 50% off! I moved from Adobe years ago and never looked back.
  • RIP Shoeless Joe Jackson. ⚾️ Ray Liotta was such a great actor and will be missed.
  • If you listen to a lot of music, I highly recommend the MusicHarbor Mac app to follow new releases from your favorite artists.
WordPress
  • Happy 19th birthday to WordPress! weDevs put together a great summary of the history, stats, and thoughts from WP community members. 
  • Andy Feliciotti launched a cool new WordPress plugin, MightyShare. It auto-generates beautiful social media images. Check it out!
  • WordPress community attributes declining market share to performance issues, complexity, and slow full-site editing rollout.
  • What should happen when a WordPress theme or plugin license expires? Eric dives into the issue.
Performance
  • Kinsta added three new data centers in Europe: Paris (🇫🇷), Madrid (🇪🇸), and Milan (🇮🇹). Remember, the closer your server is physically located to the bulk of your visitors, the lower the TTFB will be.
  • Trello finally launched an M1-supported app for Mac. It’s much faster now! Now they just need to finish fixing smart links.
Marketing
  • Google has launched a new search tool to help you more easily remove personal information from SERPs.
  • Ahrefs just got new pricing. It might be advantageous for some. 
  • The May broad core update for Google SERPs is live. Hold on! 😅
  • Love this quote from Mark Yusko about bootstrapped companies and why they usually do better than over-funded companies.
Crypto (not financial advice)
—
I just paid $76.00 to fill up one tank of gas. Things are starting to get real.
Inflation sucks
Inflation sucks
If you’re ever in the Scottsdale, AZ area, hit me up, and we can grab a coffee! ☕️👋
Did you enjoy this issue? Yes No
Brian Jackson
Brian Jackson @brianleejackson

I've learned, failed, and succeeded as an entrepreneur. I share tidbits of actionable advice about marketing, WordPress, web performance, and Bitcoin. Take strategic leaps forward! 💡 Once a month, no spam.

In order to unsubscribe, click here.
If you were forwarded this newsletter and you like it, you can subscribe here.
Created with Revue by Twitter.
forgemedia LLC, 7340 E Legacy Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255