In the coming weeks, WordPress’ core version will be updated to 5.0

The main part of this update will be that Gutenberg WordPress Editor will replace the classic WordPress editor. Designed to integrate with WordPress core itself, this will be a major change in the way you edit posts and pages.

Gutenberg encourages you to customise your content using ‘Blocks’

Some of the most common blocks available are:

• Audio
• Gallery
• Heading
• Image
• List
• Paragraph
• Quote
• Video

Embedding content will also become easier, with options for (but not limited to)

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Reddit
• SoundCloud
• Spotify
• Twitter
• TED
• Vimeo
• YouTube

Here at Classic Lines, we envisage some of the ways in which people will benefit from this update to be:

• Undo / Redo functions – These weren’t possible before, meaning people used to rely on ‘Revisions’ or (attempt to) go ‘Back‘ in their browser.
• A more accurate preview whilst editing – The back-end of a Post / Page will look a lot more like the Preview / Live link.
• The ability to save and reuse blocks – Potentially saving you a lot of time.
• Faster website: Better SEO – Gutenberg produces nice, clean HTML code compared to other site builders.

What’s more: Some of your favourite (and most-used) blocks can be accessed with time-saving shortcuts – as explained in this demonstration by Yoast:

Download this handy guide from the good people at iThemes Security, for more information about WordPress 5.0 and the Gutenberg WordPress Editor.

Contact Arran if you need some assistance with the latest Gutenberg update from WordPress. If you prefer not to use the new Gutenberg Editor at all, we can help you install the WordPress Classic Editor as a separate plugin.

Although it’s worth nothing:

The Classic Editor plugin will only receive support until 31st December 2021; so it’s worth getting to know Gutenberg as soon as possible.

The post ‘Gutenberg WordPress Editor’ is becoming the default page builder appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

Hanbury-based sculptor Steve Hawkesworth approached us to help him turn his long-time hobby into a profitable business.

eCommerce website design and brand identity

Our first task was to create a brand identity for the local artist. – A loose approximation of a country cottage, complete with the artist’s initials ‘S,‘ and ‘H.’

Along with the PayPal integrated eCommerce website itself, our brief included pack-shot photography. We set up a scoop in our Bromsgrove studio, then with a Nikon D7000 fixed by a tripod; carefully shot all of Steve’s intricate creations.

www.stevehawkesworth.co.uk

The post Latest eCommerce website design for local artist Steve Hawkesworth appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

You can achieve this with: Search Engine Optimisation.

Most people’s first port-of-call when looking for a service or product, is of course: Google.

It’s for this reason, Search Engine Optimisation should be a vital part of your web marketing strategy. To put it simply: The higher you appear on Google*, the more traffic you’ll receive. Therefore, the more traffic comes through: the more sales you’ll get.

There are a few ways in which you can achieve higher Google rankings.

• Interesting, relevant information – Google’s job is to provide the customer with the exact information they are searching for.
• Quality back-links – If you have taken care of the above, more people will want to share your story.
• Fresh, unique content – Search Engines reward sites with higher rankings, which are kept up to date.
• Usability – Websites with dead-links, and ones which aren’t responsive (optimised for mobiles and tablets) will be ranked poorly by Google.
• Meta SEO – Make sure the snippets of information Google displays in its listings (see image above) are as good as they can be.
• Social Media – Direct more people to your specific web pages.

These are just some of the ways to improve your website’s SEO. Contact us to see how we can improve your website’s SEO, so you’ll appear higher up on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP.)

*other less popular Search Engines are available.

The post How good is your Search Engine Optimisation? (SEO) appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

Why is it so important to have ZERO broken links?

• Broken links will annoy your existing customers, they’ll get frustrated and leave the website (possibly forever!)
• All your hard work and professional copy-writing is rendered obsolete. As people won’t be able to find the pages and information they are looking for.
• Major Search Engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo punish websites which have dead-links, with a low ranking.
• Last but not least: It looks bad. If people cannot trust your website, chances are they won’t value your service or product either.

What has caused these invalid hyperlinks?

The larger and more complex a website becomes, the more likely you are to find Page Not Found messages, or Error 404 codes. So please be weary when deleting a page without checking if any other pages are still trying to link to it.

In addition to this, if you have a WordPress website / blog: take care when renaming your existing Pages and Posts.

Remember, each page’s Page Title may be different to its Permalink. Not to mention any Menu items, and Footer / Sidebar links.

How can your company keep on top of this?

By ‘check your website‘ – we don’t just mean have a quick click through a couple of your main pages, you’ll need to do a full scan of every page you have ever created. The good news is, there are tools which can help you with this. Our favourite being: Broken link checker.

Therefore, speak to Classic Lines Design today, if you need any help improving your website’s reputation, usability, and Search Engine Optimisation.

The post Do you regularly check your website for broken links? appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

Updated design portfolio feat’: 3CF, A1R, Alison Young, Ambirad, Binks, Blue Marble, CGM, Lorita’s Bakehouse, Thomas Lister pic.twitter.com/lGUWblhcEB

— Classic Lines Design (@ClassicLinesCLD) December 7, 2015

The post A design for life appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

Proud to unveil http://t.co/RCEAL4pWov -a Web #App to calculate industrial #HeatLoss. Designed for: @AmbiRad @NORDYNE pic.twitter.com/LUzlLS5fxm

— Classic Lines Design (@ClassicLinesCLD) August 28, 2015

The post Appy days appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

Announcing our #redesign of the Air Technology Systems #responsive #WordPress website: http://t.co/zBlIup6fR4 | #Jetflo | #ventilation

— Classic Lines Design (@ClassicLinesCLD) May 11, 2015

The post Fresh Air (…Technology Systems website) appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

@BlueMarbleTeam – Proud to announce our #redesign of the Blue Marble Properties #responsive #WordPress website: http://t.co/93PkWEMMzl

— Classic Lines Design (@ClassicLinesCLD) May 8, 2015

The post Blue is the colour appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

Download the brand-new @ClassicLines design #Android #app for your #smartphone today! – simply scan this #QRcode. pic.twitter.com/xkuhLDGUl0

The post App-ease appeared first on Classic Lines Design.

The team behind world-class Olympic sailor Alison Young have selected Classic Lines to design her promotional material, in the form of:

• Website
• Twitter page
• Facebook page
• Brochure (printed / online)

As a member of the Great Britain sailing team, Alison receives basic funding but requires additional support to help her achieve her sporting goals. Extra funding would enable her to increase training time with her coach, compete more often against world class sailors in the most testing waters and experience sailing conditions in Rio.

Alison Young website – Campaign Rio 2016

The post We are sailing appeared first on Classic Lines Design.