The quicker way to do it
Things I see people do the long way on their sites, and the Astra or Spectra setting that does it in one go. Each tip links to the videos that show the clicks. Save any of them to read later.
All tips
Delete form entries from your website automatically
Every form someone fills in on your site is also saved in its database. Set your form plugin to delete entries after a few days, so a hack has less to steal.
Article Tip · WordPressDelete the WordPress themes you don't use
Most major WordPress updates install the year's new default theme. If your site runs on Astra and a child theme, delete the extras so your theme list stays clean.
Article Tip · WordPressUpdate plugins weekly, but wait on major releases
A weekly update day keeps a WordPress site safe. The exception is a big new version of a plugin: let a few fix releases come out first.
Article Tip · Website careMonitor your website for a keyword, not just uptime
A hacked website is usually still up, so an uptime check won't tell you. Check for a word that's always on your page as well.
Article Tip · Website careKeep your privacy policy up to date without rewriting it
Privacy laws change, and a policy copied from a template doesn't change with them. Termageddon writes your policies and updates them for you when the law moves.
Article + 2 videos Tip · AstraUse a child theme so Astra updates keep your changes
Edit Astra's own files and the next theme update wipes your changes. Put them in a child theme instead, and Astra can update as often as it likes.
Article Tip · Website ManualTeach someone your website with one link
Got a new team member to show around your website? Save the videos they need, share the list, and they open one link and start watching.
Article + 3 videos Tip · SpectraUse one Info Box instead of four separate blocks
A heading, an image, some text and a button is the most common section on a small business site. Spectra's Info Box block builds all four as one block.
Article + 3 videosOn the way
- Put the excerpt box in your Astra blog template, and it becomes your TL;DR
- Give each kind of content its own hub: podcast, articles, jobs
- Name your Containers so you can find them in List View
- Add a call to action after every post without touching each post
- Turn on FAQ schema in the Spectra FAQ block
- Use synced patterns for sections that repeat on many pages
- Pick colours from the Astra palette, not hex codes
- Copy styles from one block and paste them onto the rest
- Set your mobile header breakpoint so the menu never wraps
Is there a job you always do the long way? Tell us and we'll see if there's a tip for it.