That’s it. Just two pixels. A five-second fix, right?

Twenty minutes later, your footer has vanished, your mobile menu is showing up on desktop, and somehow your contact form is now displaying in Portuguese. You didn’t even know your site had Portuguese language settings.

Welcome to WordPress page builders.

If you’ve ever felt like editing your website requires a computer science degree and the patience of a monk, you’re not alone. We’ve built hundreds of WordPress sites at Web321, and we’ve watched countless business owners struggle with the same question:

“Why is this so hard? I just want my website to look professional without breaking every time I touch something. I really should change over to Squarespace!”

The truth is, your page builder is probably the problem.

Today, we’re going to settle this once and for all. We’re comparing the three major players in the WordPress builder arena:

• Gutenberg – The default (that nobody really asked for)
• Elementor – The popular giant (that’s starting to feel its weight)
• Breakdance – The modern challenger (and our not-so-secret weapon)

Full Disclosure: We Have a Favorite (And We’re Not Sorry About It)

Let’s get this out of the way upfront: this isn’t a neutral comparison.

We’re Web321. We’ve built hundreds of WordPress sites. We’ve debugged thousands of page builder disasters. We’ve migrated clients from every platform imaginable, and we’ve seen what works and what makes grown adults cry into their keyboards.

After all that experience, we’ve chosen a clear winner: Breakdance.

In fact, we’re so confident in this choice that we’re listed as Certified Experts on the official Breakdance website. We didn’t just learn this tool—we’ve mastered it, and we’ve even built our own comprehensive Breakdance Knowledgebase to help others do the same.

But we didn’t always use Breakdance. We’ve been in the trenches with Gutenberg and Elementor (and Divi, and Beaver Builder, and every other builder that promised to make WordPress “easy”). We know their strengths, their quirks, and their frustrating limitations.

So let’s break down what actually matters: which builder lets you build a professional website without wanting to throw your laptop out the window?

Gutenberg: The “Default” Disappointment

The Promise

When WordPress introduced Gutenberg in 2018, the pitch was compelling:

• It’s built directly into WordPress! No plugins needed!
• It’s the future of WordPress editing!
• It’s free!
• It’s “modern” and “intuitive”!

The Reality

Gutenberg is like being handed a box of mismatched LEGO bricks and being told to build the Taj Mahal.

Sure, technically, you can build something. But will it look professional? Will it match your vision? Will the backend editing experience remotely resemble what visitors see on the frontend?

Spoiler: No, no, and absolutely not.

The “Block” Problem

Here’s what actually happens when you try to build a real business website with Gutenberg:

1. You realize the default blocks are incredibly limited
2. You install a “Blocks Add-on” plugin to get more design options
3. That plugin doesn’t have the exact block you need
4. You install another blocks plugin
5. Now you have 5 different block plugins, each with their own slightly different interfaces
6. Your site is bloated with code from multiple developers who never talked to each other
7. You’re back where you started, except now your site loads slower

Gutenberg forces you into a paradox: to keep it “lightweight,” you have to install plugins that make it heavy.

The Design Frustration

Ever tried to create a custom header in Gutenberg? Or build a complex pricing table? Or make your homepage look like anything other than a basic blog?

You’ll quickly discover that Gutenberg’s idea of “design freedom” is:

• Choose between left-aligned, center-aligned, or right-aligned
• Maybe add a background color (if the block supports it)
• Cross your fingers and hope the mobile version doesn’t completely break

The Verdict

Gutenberg is great for exactly one thing: typing blog posts.

If you’re running a simple blog with minimal design needs, Gutenberg works fine. You type, you publish, you’re done.

But if you’re running a business website—if you need professional layouts, custom headers, product showcases, or literally anything beyond “text with an image”—Gutenberg will frustrate you daily.

It feels like beta software that never grew up. It’s the promise of simplicity that delivers complexity in the worst possible way.

Elementor: The Chubby Giant

Why It’s Popular (And Why That’s Part of the Problem)

Let’s be fair: Elementor became popular for good reasons.

When it launched in 2016, it was revolutionary. Drag-and-drop editing that actually worked! Visual feedback! A massive template library! An ecosystem of add-ons that could do literally anything!

Elementor is the Windows of page builders—it has the biggest market share, the most tutorials on YouTube, and the largest community of developers building add-ons and extensions.

But just like Windows, it carries a lot of baggage.

The “Divitis” Disease

Here’s a dirty secret about Elementor that most people don’t understand until it’s too late:

Elementor wraps everything in layers of unnecessary code.

Every time you add a section, you’re adding a <div>. Every time you add a column, you’re adding another <div>. Every time you add inner sections or custom positioning, you’re adding more <div>s.

Before you know it, your simple “About Us” page has 47 nested <div> containers, all wrapping each other like Russian nesting dolls.

Why does this matter? Two reasons:

1. Google hates messy code. Search engines prefer clean, semantic HTML. Elementor’s <div> soup makes it harder for Google to understand your content structure.
2. Your site gets slow. All those extra HTML elements have to be loaded, parsed, and rendered. It adds up fast.

The Speed Tax

We’ve migrated dozens of Elementor sites to Breakdance, and the pattern is always the same:

The old Elementor site:

• Google PageSpeed score: 35-50 (mobile)
• Loads in 4-7 seconds
• Requires 3-4 caching plugins just to be “acceptable”
• Still feels sluggish on mobile

The new Breakdance site (same design, same content):

• Google PageSpeed score: 85-95 (mobile)
• Loads in 1-2 seconds
• Needs minimal optimization
• Feels fast and responsive

The Elementor sites aren’t slow because the developer did something wrong—they’re slow because Elementor’s code is inherently heavy.

The “Nag” Factor

If you use Elementor Free (which most people do), you’re subjected to constant upselling:

• Dashboard notifications about the Pro version
• “Get Elementor Pro” buttons in the interface
• Features locked behind the paywall
• Template library filled with “Pro” badges

It’s like using the free trial of software that constantly reminds you you’re using the free trial. It works, but it’s exhausting.

The “Add-on Hell” Problem

Elementor’s strength is also its weakness: its ecosystem is massive.

Want a better testimonial widget? There’s an add-on for that.
Want advanced forms? There’s an add-on for that.
Want better WooCommerce integration? There’s an add-on for that.

Before long, you have:

• Elementor Pro
• Essential Addons for Elementor
• Premium Addons for Elementor
• Ultimate Addons for Elementor
• Happy Addons for Elementor

Each one adds CSS files, JavaScript files, and their own update cycle. Your plugins page becomes a graveyard of “for Elementor” extensions.

The Verdict

Elementor is the Windows Vista of WordPress builders.

It works. Millions of people use it. It has the biggest ecosystem and the most third-party support. But it’s heavy, slow, and starting to show its age compared to modern tools.

If you already have an Elementor site and it’s working fine, there’s no urgent need to rip everything out and start over. But if you’re starting fresh, or if your Elementor site feels sluggish and bloated—there are better options now.

Breakdance: The Sanity Saver (And Why We Switched)

Full transparency: Breakdance is our preferred tool at Web321.

We didn’t arrive at this conclusion casually. We spent years building sites with Elementor. We gave Gutenberg multiple chances. We tested Divi, Beaver Builder, Oxygen, and every other builder that promised to solve WordPress design problems.

Then we tried Breakdance, and everything clicked.

The “Clean Slate” Advantage

Breakdance was built in 2021 by developers who learned from the mistakes of Elementor, Divi, and the other legacy builders.

They asked the right question: “If we could build a WordPress page builder today, knowing everything we know now, what would we do differently?”

The answer was Breakdance.

No 10 years of legacy code. No backward compatibility with deprecated features. No bloat from trying to be everything to everyone.

Just clean, modern, performant code that does exactly what you need.

Performance First (Not Performance as an Afterthought)

Here’s the difference in philosophy:

Elementor’s approach: Build the features, then optimize later if you have time.

Breakdance’s approach: Build the features to be fast from day one.

The result? Breakdance sites consistently score 90+ on Google PageSpeed Insights without needing specialized caching plugins or performance optimization wizardry.

When we migrated one of our clients from Elementor to Breakdance—same design, same content, same hosting—their Core Web Vitals scores went from red to green overnight. Their bounce rate dropped by 23%. Their conversion rate increased by 18%.

The only thing that changed was the builder.

Full Site Editing (That Actually Works)

One of WordPress’s biggest promises in recent years has been “Full Site Editing”—the ability to design your entire site (headers, footers, templates) visually, without touching code.

Gutenberg tries to do this. It’s… not great.
Elementor added it later as Theme Builder. It works, but it feels like duct tape on an old foundation.

Breakdance was designed for full-site editing from the ground up.

Want a custom header that looks different on your homepage vs. your blog? Easy.
Want a footer with different content for logged-in users? Done.
Want dynamic post templates that pull in custom fields? Built-in.

All of it is intuitive, visual, and—here’s the kicker—actually works the way you’d expect it to work.

WooCommerce Magic

If you sell products online, this alone might convince you:

Breakdance’s default WooCommerce pages look incredible.

No joke. Install WooCommerce, activate Breakdance, and your shop pages, product pages, cart, and checkout all look professionally designed—without touching a single setting.

Compare that to Elementor, where you need:

• Elementor Pro (for WooCommerce widgets)
• A separate WooCommerce theme or template pack
• Hours of styling to make it look professional
• Probably a WooCommerce add-on plugin or two

With Breakdance, it just works.

We’ve saved literally dozens of hours on client projects by not having to custom-style WooCommerce pages from scratch.

The “One Tool” Philosophy

Here’s what you don’t need with Breakdance:

❌ Essential Addons for Breakdance
❌ Premium Addons for Breakdance
❌ Happy Mega Ultimate Addons for Breakdance

The core tool has everything you need:

• Advanced header/footer builder
• Full dynamic content support
• WooCommerce styling
• ACF and custom field integration
• Global styles and design system
• Responsive design controls
• Animations and interactions
• Form builder
• Popup builder
• Everything else you’d actually use

One license. One plugin. One interface to learn. No add-on hell.

The Interface That Makes Sense

Look, we’re developers. We can figure out any interface if we have to. But we shouldn’t have to.

Breakdance’s editing interface is logical:

• Want to style text? Click the text, style it.
• Want to change spacing? Hover over the element, see the spacing controls.
• Want to see what it looks like on mobile? Click mobile. The preview updates instantly.

No hunt-and-peck through nested menus. No wondering if a setting is in the “Advanced” tab or the “Layout” tab or hidden under “Custom CSS.”

The interface gets out of your way and lets you design.

Comparison Table: At a Glance

Why Web321 Bets on Breakdance (And Why You Should Too)

We Don’t Just Use It—We’re Certified Experts

When we say we know Breakdance, we’re not exaggerating.

Web321 is listed as an official Certified Expert on the Breakdance website. We’re not just users—we’re recognized specialists who’ve mastered every aspect of the platform.

We chose Breakdance because it makes our jobs easier and our clients’ sites better.

Since making the switch, we’ve noticed:

• ✅ Client sites rank higher in Google (better performance = better SEO)
• ✅ Sites break less often (cleaner code = fewer conflicts)
• ✅ Clients can edit their own sites without panicking (better UX = more independence)
• ✅ We spend less time troubleshooting and more time building (better efficiency = better value)

We’re Writing the Manual (Literally)

We believe in Breakdance so much that we’ve built an entire Breakdance Knowledgebase to help others master the platform.

Free tutorials. Step-by-step guides. Real-world solutions to common problems.

Why? Because when our clients succeed with Breakdance, everybody wins.

Real Results from Real Migrations

We’ve migrated dozens of sites from Elementor and Gutenberg to Breakdance. Here’s what typically happens:

Before (Elementor):

• PageSpeed Score: 45-55 (mobile)
• Load Time: 4-6 seconds
• Client complaint: “Why is my site so slow?”

After (Breakdance):

• PageSpeed Score: 88-94 (mobile)
• Load Time: 1.5-2.5 seconds
• Client reaction: “Wow, this is so much faster!”

Same design. Same hosting. Same content. The only variable was the builder.

We Stand Behind Our Recommendation

If we’re going to recommend a tool, we use it ourselves and stand behind it.

Every site Web321 builds in 2024 and beyond is built with Breakdance (unless there’s a specific client requirement for a different tool).

Why? Because we know it works. We know it’s fast. We know our clients can manage it without calling us every time they want to change a headline.

And when they do need help, we’re experts—not just “familiar with it.”

The Final Decision: Which Builder Is Right for You?

Let’s make this simple:

Choose Gutenberg If:

✅ You’re running a simple blog with minimal design needs
✅ You literally only need to write and publish text posts
✅ You have zero budget and zero design ambitions
✅ You like frustration (kidding… mostly)

Choose Elementor If:

✅ You already have an Elementor site and it’s working fine
✅ You need a specific third-party add-on that only exists for Elementor
✅ You don’t mind slower load times in exchange for a massive ecosystem
✅ You’re willing to manage multiple plugins and updates

Choose Breakdance If:

✅ You want a fast, professional website that ranks well in Google
✅ You want design freedom without the code bloat
✅ You want full-site editing that actually makes sense
✅ You sell products online and want WooCommerce pages that look amazing
✅ You want one tool that does everything instead of 12 add-ons
✅ You value your time and your sanity

If you’re starting fresh or ready to upgrade from an aging Elementor site, Breakdance is the clear winner.

Ready to Build (or Rebuild) Your Site the Right Way?

Option 1: DIY with Breakdance

If you’re comfortable managing your own site:

1. Grab a Breakdance license ($149/year or lifetime options)
2. Check out the Web321 Breakdance Knowledgebase for free tutorials
3. Start building fast, beautiful sites

Option 2: Let Web321 Handle It

If you’d rather have experts build your site (or migrate your existing site):

We offer comprehensive Breakdance services:

• ✅ New site builds from scratch
• ✅ Elementor → Breakdance migrations
• ✅ Gutenberg → Breakdance conversions
• ✅ Custom Breakdance template development
• ✅ Ongoing support and maintenance

Our $321/month WordPress support plans include:

• Expert Breakdance development and support
• Weekly updates and security monitoring
• Performance optimization
• Canadian hosting with PIPEDA compliance
• Unlimited small tasks and content updates

📞 Call us: 1-844-4-WEB-321
📧 Email us: contact@web321.co
🌐 Learn more: web321.co

The Bottom Line

Life’s too short to fight with clunky page builders.

You deserve a website that:

• Loads fast
• Looks professional
• Doesn’t break every time you edit something
• Actually helps your business grow

Breakdance delivers all of that. And Web321 knows how to make the most of it.

Stop pulling your hair out. Start building with Breakdance.

About Web321: We’re a Canadian WordPress development and support company specializing in Breakdance page builder websites. As official Certified Breakdance Experts, we’ve built hundreds of fast, beautiful WordPress sites for businesses across North America. Based in Saanichton, BC, we’re proud to offer Canadian data hosting with full PIPEDA compliance. Explore our Breakdance expertise at web321.co

The post Gutenberg vs. Elementor vs. Breakdance: Which Builder Won’t Make You Pull Your Hair Out? appeared first on Web321: Your Best WordPress Support.

Every second counts when a potential customer wants to contact you. Quick Contact Buttons ensures your contact information is always just one tap away – no matter where visitors are on your page.

Built by WordPress development professionals at Web321 Marketing Ltd., Quick Contact Buttons follows WordPress coding standards and best practices:

• PHP 8+ compatible
• Uses native WordPress APIs
• Lightweight jQuery implementation
• No external dependencies
• Clean, commented code
• Regular updates and support

Free Features, Premium Results

Quick Contact Buttons is completely free and includes:

• ✓ Unlimited contact buttons
• ✓ Full color customization
• ✓ Mobile responsive design
• ✓ No branding or attribution required
• ✓ Regular updates
• ✓ Support documentation

Privacy-Focused

Quick Contact Buttons:

• Stores only your contact information (numbers/email you provide)
• Collects no visitor data
• Makes no external API calls
• Respects user privacy
• PIPEDA and GDPR friendly

Feature Highlights

Instant Visibility

• Appears automatically as visitors scroll (configurable threshold)
• Fixed positioning keeps buttons in view at all times
• High z-index ensures visibility above all content

Multi-Channel Contact

• Phone button with direct tel: linking
• SMS button for text message conversations
• Email button with mailto: integration
• Choose one, two, or all three methods

Design Flexibility

• Customizable background colors
• Customizable icon/text colors
• Circular button design fits any aesthetic
• Smooth animations and transitions

User Experience

• Collapsible interface (X → + toggle)
• Session memory of collapsed state
• Mobile-optimized button sizes
• Touch-friendly 44-56px targets

Performance

• Lightweight CSS and JavaScript
• No impact on page load speed
• No external dependencies
• Efficient scroll detection with debouncing

Developer Friendly

• Clean, well-documented code
• WordPress coding standards
• Easy to customize
• No theme conflicts

Benefits

For Business Owners

Capture More Leads
Every visitor who wants to contact you can do so immediately – no forms to fill out, no pages to navigate, just instant communication.

Reduce Bounce Rates
When visitors can easily reach you, they’re more likely to stay engaged rather than leaving to find a competitor who’s easier to contact.

Mobile-First Revenue
With 70%+ of web traffic on mobile devices, one-tap calling and texting converts mobile browsers into paying customers.

For Web Developers

Client-Ready Solution
Give clients a professional contact system without custom development hours. Set up in minutes, customize in seconds.

Theme Agnostic
Works with any WordPress theme – Divi, Elementor, Breakdance, custom themes – without conflicts or compatibility issues.

Maintenance-Free
Once configured, it just works. No ongoing tweaks, no client support calls, no compatibility headaches.

For Visitors

Frictionless Contact
No hunting through menus, scrolling to footers, or filling out forms. See the buttons, tap the button, connect instantly.

Privacy Respected
Choose your contact method. Prefer email over calls? No problem. Just SMS? Use that button. You control how you connect.

Non-Intrusive
Don’t need them? Collapse them. They stay out of your way until you need them, and they remember your preference.

Use Cases & Examples

Local Service Businesses A plumbing company uses Quick Contact Buttons to capture emergency calls. Mobile visitors searching “plumber near me” can call immediately without navigating complex websites.

Real Estate Agents Property listings feature Quick Contact Buttons, allowing interested buyers to call or text about a listing while they’re viewing photos – capturing interest at the peak moment.

E-commerce Support Online stores add Quick Contact Buttons for pre-sale questions and customer support, reducing cart abandonment by making help instantly accessible.

Professional Services Consultants, lawyers, and accountants use Quick Contact Buttons to convert website visitors into consultation bookings with minimal friction.

Healthcare Providers Medical and dental offices enable quick appointment booking via phone or text, meeting patients where they are – on mobile devices.

Comparisons

vs. Traditional Contact Forms:

• No form fields to fill out
• Instant communication start
• Native device integration
• Better mobile experience

vs. Chat Widgets:

• No ongoing costs
• No staffing requirements
• Direct human connection
• Privacy-focused (no third-party tracking)

vs. Other Contact Button Plugins:

• Cleaner, more modern design
• Better mobile optimization
• Canadian-developed with data sovereignty focus
• Actual WordPress professionals behind it
• Lightweight code, better performance

Developed by WordPress Experts
Created by Web321 Marketing Ltd., a Canadian WordPress development company with 28+ years of CMS experience and 15+ years specializing in WordPress.

Following Best Practices

• WordPress Coding Standards compliant
• Regular security updates
• Performance optimized
• Accessibility considered

Canadian Data Sovereignty
Developed in Canada with respect for PIPEDA, GDPR, and privacy-first principles.

Active Support
Professional support team ready to help with configuration, customization, and troubleshooting.

Technical Specifications Summary

• Minimum Requirements: WordPress 5.0+, PHP 7.4+
• Optimal Performance: WordPress 6.0+, PHP 8.0+
• File Size: ~15KB total (CSS + JS combined)
• Database Impact: Minimal (5 option rows)
• Theme Compatibility: Universal
• Page Builder Compatibility: Divi, Elementor, Breakdance, Beaver Builder, and all others
• Translation Ready: Yes (text domain: quick-contact-buttons)
• RTL Support: CSS prepared for RTL language

Version Roadmap (Future Features)

While Quick Contact Buttons is feature-complete and ready to use, potential future enhancements could include:

• WhatsApp integration
• Custom button icons
• Position customization (left vs. right)
• Animation style options
• Display rules (show on specific pages/posts)
• Analytics integration
• Additional button types (Messenger, Telegram, etc.)

Have a feature request? Let us know!

The post Quick Contact Buttons appeared first on Web321: Your Best WordPress Support.

The post WordPress Website Maintenance Mode appeared first on Web321: Your Best WordPress Support.

Discovering that your website is down can be both alarming and frustrating. Whether it’s affecting your business operations, personal blog, or online portfolio, getting your site back up is crucial. This comprehensive guide will help you identify common reasons why your website might be offline and provide actionable steps to resolve the issues.

0. Get A Fast Answer

We have a tool, https://whatiswrongwithmy.website/. Try it out and see if it provides any answers to what’s wrong with your website.

1. Check Your Domain Name

Your domain name is the gateway to your website. Issues with your domain can lead to your site appearing offline, displaying errors, or even showing an entirely different website.

Action Steps:

• Verify Domain Registration: Ensure that your domain registration is current and hasn’t expired.
• Review DNS Settings: Check your Domain Name System (DNS) records to confirm they are correctly pointing to your hosting server.
• Consider DNS Propagation: If you’ve recently made changes to your DNS settings, remember that it can take up to 48 hours for changes to propagate globally.

2. Confirm Your Hosting Plan Is Active

An expired or suspended hosting plan can cause your website to go offline or display incorrectly.

Signs of Hosting Issues:

• Missing plugins or themes.
• Inability to upload new content or media.
• Error messages when attempting to access your site.

Action Steps:

• Check Hosting Account Status: Log in to your hosting provider’s dashboard to verify your account is active and in good standing.
• Renew or Upgrade Plan: If necessary, renew your hosting plan or consider upgrading to a plan that suits your current needs.
• Contact Support: Reach out to your hosting provider’s customer service for assistance if you’re unsure about your account status.

3. Test Your Internet Connection

Sometimes, the problem isn’t with your website but with your local internet connection.

Action Steps:

• Website Availability Check: Use online tools like “Down for Everyone or Just Me” to determine if others can access your site.
• Restart Networking Equipment: Turn off your modem and router for about 10 seconds, then power them back on to reset your connection.
• Try a Different Network: Attempt to access your website using a different internet connection or mobile data.
• Check for Network Restrictions: If you’re on a corporate or educational network, certain websites might be blocked. Consider using a VPN to bypass these restrictions.

4. Identify and Resolve Critical Errors

Installing or updating plugins and themes can sometimes introduce conflicts or errors that take your site down.

Common Error Message:

“There has been a critical error on your website. Please check your site admin email inbox for instructions.”

Action Steps:

• Check Administrative Emails: Look for any messages from your website system detailing the error and possible solutions.
• Enable Debug Mode: If you’re using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, enable debug mode to identify the source of the error.
• Disable Recent Additions: Access your site’s files via FTP or your hosting control panel to deactivate recently added plugins or themes that may be causing the issue.
• Restore from Backup: If available, restore your website to a previous state before the error occurred.

5. Review Essential Plugins and Extensions

Certain plugins or extensions are critical for your website’s functionality. Issues with these can lead to downtime.

Action Steps:

• Ensure Key Plugins are Active: Verify that essential plugins or extensions are installed and active.
• Update Plugins and Extensions: Outdated software can cause compatibility issues. Make sure all components are up to date.
• Check for Conflicts: Sometimes, plugins can conflict with each other. Try deactivating all plugins and reactivate them one by one to identify any problematic ones.

6. Restore a Backup

If you’ve recently made changes that caused your site to go down, restoring a backup can be a quick fix.

Action Steps:

• Access Backup Tools: Use your hosting provider’s backup and restore features or a backup plugin you’ve installed.
• Select a Restore Point: Choose a backup from a date when your website was functioning correctly.
• Perform the Restore: Follow the instructions provided by your backup tool to restore your website.
• Verify Functionality: After restoration, check your website thoroughly to ensure everything is working as expected.

7. Check for Server-Side Issues

Sometimes, the problem lies on the server side due to maintenance, crashes, or other technical difficulties.

Action Steps:

• Review Server Status: Check if your hosting provider is experiencing any outages or maintenance periods.
• Error Logs: Access server error logs through your hosting control panel to identify any server-related issues.
• Resource Limits: Ensure your website hasn’t exceeded server resource limits like CPU usage, memory, or bandwidth.

8. Contact Your Hosting Provider

If you’ve exhausted all other options and your site is still down, it’s time to seek professional help.

Action Steps:

• Gather Information: Document any error messages and steps you’ve already taken to resolve the issue.
• Submit a Support Ticket: Contact your hosting provider’s technical support with detailed information.
• Follow Up: Keep in communication with support staff and provide any additional information they might need.

Website downtime can significantly impact your online presence, but most issues can be resolved with systematic troubleshooting. By methodically checking each potential problem area, you can often identify and fix the issue quickly.

Remember: Regular website maintenance, including updates and backups, can prevent many common issues that lead to downtime.

The post Why Is A Site Down? appeared first on Web321: Your Best WordPress Support.

The White Screen of Death (WSOD) displays a blank white page instead of your WordPress website. Users see no content, error messages, or admin panel.

The post The White Screen of Death appeared first on Web321: Your Best WordPress Support.

1. Promotes Ethical Content Use By making it easy to attach copyright notices, links to the original creator, and Creative Commons terms directly with an image, your plugin fosters a culture of respect and ethical use of digital content. This not only helps in protecting creators’ rights but also educates users about the importance of acknowledging others’ work.
2. Enhances SEO and Credibility: Proper attribution can significantly impact SEO as it may lead to backlinks from reputable sources, improving a site’s credibility and search engine ranking. This plugin simplifies the process of adding such attributions, making it an invaluable tool for enhancing online visibility.
3. Legal Protection: Using images without proper authorization or attribution can lead to legal complications. Your plugin provides a straightforward solution to add necessary copyright information, reducing the risk of unintentional copyright infringement and potential legal issues.
4. Supports Creative Commons: Creative Commons licenses are vital for the free and legal sharing of digital content. Your plugin’s ability to attach Creative Commons terms to images simplifies the process of legally sharing content, encouraging a more open and connected digital world.
5. User-Friendly: The plugin’s ease of use ensures that anyone, regardless of their technical expertise, can implement proper copyright attribution. This accessibility broadens its appeal and utility across a wide range of WordPress sites.
6. Community Support: Although the plugin is offered for free, which democratizes access to essential copyright management tools, the option to donate supports the ongoing development and maintenance of the plugin. This community-supported model ensures the plugin remains up-to-date and effective.

Using this plugin not only safeguards creators’ intellectual property but also enhances the integrity and professionalism of your website. It’s a small step towards building a more ethical and legally compliant digital environment. The ability to contribute through donations ensures that this invaluable tool can continue to evolve and support the diverse needs of the digital content community.

This plugin fosters a more respectful, legally sound, and interconnected digital world. Embracing it is a win-win for creators, users, and the broader digital community.

The post Copyright Attribution By Web321 appeared first on Web321: Your Best WordPress Support.

You might be thinking, “Hire someone to construct the whole thing from the ground up with a custom WordPress theme makes it exactly how I want it.” The same people would never buy a custom coffee maker, a custom car or a custom word processor think nothing of going for a custom theme.

Standardization is key to success: everything from units of measure to railways are built with standardization. They allow for features to be added on known factors. People with standardized skillsets can take on work without much of a learning curve. When something goes wrong with a commercial theme, Googling an answer can resolve issues quickly. A bespoke design has no community support.

Why a Custom WordPress Theme is a Bad Idea for Your Web Project

Some reasons why a custom theme can be problematic.

1. To Bake A Cake, First You Need To Create The Universe
   That’s what Carl Sagan believed and I agree with it. Everything that creates the final input needs to be accounted for. The theme needs to interact with as many existing WordPress functions as possible
   • Here’s a list of what a WordPress theme needs.
     • Display for a post
     • Display for a page
     • Display for archives, or lists of posts
     • Custom post type support
     • CSS theming elements
     • Javascript theming elements.
     • WordPress Theme Customization Support
     • Heading support (sizing, styling and font face)
   •  Here’s a list of nice to see built into a theme.
     • Caching controls
     • Template building
     • Error log system
     • Header addition
     • Footer controls
     • LD-JSON controls
     • Meta-data control
     • Integration to third party plugins (popular ones like
     • Integration to third party services (social media, etc.)
2. You need to keep paying for updates.
   Sure, you might have set aside funds for the initial development of the custom theme, but have you considered the ongoing costs for code updates? Without regular code reviews and updates by a developer, your custom theme could be susceptible to bugs, security issues, and compatibility problems.
   It’s crucial that your website is compatible with the latest versions of PHP. For instance, PHP 7.4 was highly recommended for WordPress and offers numerous performance improvements compared to older versions.
   If your theme isn’t compatible with PHP 7.2, and your server’s PHP version is updated to 7.2, this mismatch could cause significant issues for your website. But hang on: most servers have upgraded to PHP 8.1 and some are onto PHP 8.2.
   WordPress core updates are something to keep an eye on. As new WordPress versions are on the horizon, Beta and Release Candidate versions are made available for developers to test their themes and plugins. If your custom theme isn’t actively updated, it may not function properly once the new WordPress version is live.
3. Who’s Checking Out The Security?
   When you purchase a commercial theme license, it comes with support and updates: vital for site security. As security flaws are identified, theme developers update their code to address these vulnerabilities. However, with a custom theme, unless you’re paying for regular security checks, your theme is probably not being updated or examined for security issues.
4. Incompatibility with Popular Plugins
   One of the frequent issues we resolve for sites under our care at Web321.co is conflicts between plugins and themes. Well-established commercial themes are tried and tested with top WordPress plugins, either by the developers or by the community.In contrast, a custom theme won’t undergo these tests until you attempt to use the plugins on your site – and they might just break your website.
5. Missing Opportunities with Popular Plugins
   When I roll out a site, Yoast, ACF Pro and a handful of other plugins are a given. There is a suite of plugins that make WordPress work really well. If someone is making a custom theme, these plugins need to be considered– how could they integrate with the theme. If there isn’t work put in to make a custom theme work well, the case for a custom theme gets all the weaker.
6. The Coding Quality Might Be Weak
   With commercial themes used on multiple websites, users consistently report issues to developers. Developers familiar with a theme’s code often communicate with the theme developer to address any problems.However, for a custom theme used solely on your site, the only scrutiny it gets is from you and the developer. This limited oversight can let bugs slip through, the code could perform poorly or your site could be prone to malware.
7. No Community Support
   One of the perks of using reputable commercial themes like Divi or Beaver Builder is the support from the developer and an active user community that shares advice and lends a helping hand.When I, as a Divi builder, get stumped I hop of the Elegant Themes support and work through the problems with them.In contrast, a custom theme doesn’t have a community of developers experienced with that theme. This means that whenever the theme requires maintenance or modifications, you’re likely going to incur extra costs.
8. Go Boldly… Where Everyone Has Gone Before
   Creating a completely custom theme essentially means redoing what others have already achieved and refined. Regardless of the developer’s expertise, they remake features that likely exist in a commercial theme. Setting skills aside, consider the labor and time to launch. A commercial theme typically involves over 1000 hours of labor. If one developer tackles it, they would need 25 weeks of full-time work to deliver the theme. Save 20 to 24 weeks of development and launch faster by building a child theme, which is much easier. Almost all commercial themes worth using support child themes.
   A child theme lets you enjoy the benefits of modifying a commercial theme and demands less coding compared to building one from scratch. The savings in time and cost are significant. You can allocate the development budget saved from not reinventing the wheel to theme enhancements, performance improvements, and quicker delivery time.

Compared to some IT projects, $10k or $30k may seem tiny in comparison, but it’s unnecessary and it’s a poor value proposition compared to using a well-supported commercial theme. Our specialization at Web321 is working with the Divi theme. We spend every day getting the most out of the system and bending it to our will. We’ve encountered plenty of sites hobbled by an outmoded or inefficient theme. We’ve worked with them to make their site work better by replacing their theme with a Divi deployment.

For those who have a hate on for commercial themes, there are open source starter themes available:

• Underscores – A theme meant for hacking, to use to build next, most awesome, WordPress theme out there.
• Understrap – WordPress starter theme framework that combines the aforementioned Underscores and Bootstrap.
• Joints WP – JointsWP is a blank WordPress theme built with Foundation 6. It’s a go-to for many agencies as it looks like custom theme build.
• WP Bootstrap Starter – It’s a starter theme that like some of the above use the Twitter Bootstrap, Font Awesome along with some other libraries.

If the idea of delving into a custom theme concerns you, your concerns are valid. At Web321, we assist companies through technology consulting. Our wide range of services includes WordPress support and web design. We would be happy to provide insights on your theming decisions and demonstrate the possibilities with a commercial theme like Divi.

From speed optimization, unlimited website edits, security, support, our experts are here to assist. Collaborate with Web321: a team that provides every facet of exceptional WordPress support services. Involve us as webmasters who are ready to deliver advice on the best path to realizing your online strategy.

The post Why Custom WordPress Themes Are A Mistake appeared first on Web321: Your Best WordPress Support.

Client Spec

In the case of the spec we recieved, the existing website contained the following functions & features which will need to be duplicated by the new site:

• ~17 informational pages detailing company services & projects
  • We suggest possible addition of child pages providing more information on individual services & projects
• Blog page & migration of ~25 posts
• Contact us page
• Chatbot integration
• Social media follow buttons
• Newsletter signup area

Proposed Solution

Web321 proposes to build using WordPress, the most powerful, elegant content management system (CMS) available on the web today. WordPress currently powers over a third of all websites on the internet, including big names like Disney, Sony & Target.

The site will be themed using the Divi theme system (the most widely-used premium WordPress theme and website building framework). Divi is a user-friendly, endlessly flexible website scaffolding & design system that allows Web321 to build sites faster and with built-in responsiveness for all screen sizes.

As with all our builds, Web321 will ensure that the site is secure, easy to update, high-performance and search-engine compliant. To create the desired functionality, Web321 will deploy the following integrations and premium plugins on the site:

• Gravity Forms & Advanced Custom Fields to allow a more dynamic collection and display of information on the site
• Tidio Chatbot & Live Chat to carry over the chat functionality from your pre-existing site
• Google Analytics will be deployed to track and understand website traffic trends

We include as part of our development & maintenance services access to our premium plugin licenses as long as you remain a Web321 subscriber. Should you choose to part ways with Web321 at the end of your contract, you will need to renew these licenses at your own cost going forward.

Proposed Budget

Web321’s payment model allows clients to get a design discount based on the duration of the support commitment. The support agreement bundles in the cost of your premium plugins, site maintenance and content update fees.

WordPress support plans include the following maintenance features:

• daily site backups, stored for 90 days
• uptime monitoring & immediate site recovery
• ongoing core, theme & plugin updates
• 24/7 security monitoring & malware cleanup
• Google Analytics and Google Page Speed setup & reporting
• keyword tracking for up to 50 chosen keywords
• ongoing SEO & site speed optimization as needed
• unlimited small (30-minute) tasks (content updates, add new RVs, image optimization, plugin installation, etc.)

If you’d like to see everything that’s included in this plan you can view it here: https://web321.co/services/plans-pricing/

When the contract term is up, you’d have the option to keep it going on a month-to-month basis, and as part of that, we would include a complimentary complete design refresh on the site every 3 years. Otherwise, you could terminate the contract and either move maintenance in-house, to a provider of your choice, or we could continue to provide a la carte support at our current support rate.

We do strongly recommend some kind of ongoing site support, as neglected software updates can leave your site open to exploits, and a lack of proper backups & security checks can mean months of lost updates and work by your staff if there’s a problem.

For companies with legacy systems, we wanted to advise that, should a client choose to leave Web321 before the contract is up, our client will be able to take their site to another provider after paying out the balance of fees. WordPress sites are built to be extremely portable and can be hosted almost anywhere. 

Since we operate on a lease-to-own model, we will simply bill you for the remaining balance of your website design fee (available from us at any time upon request) and the site and all its assets will be released to you. See our FAQ for more info on this as well as how our design and revision process works to ensure you’re satisfied.

The post Building A Website For An Electrical Contractor appeared first on Web321: Your Best WordPress Support.

Beautiful, user-friendly, responsive and powerful. Our websites earn their keep. Depend on Web 321 for your Chicago website development needs. We design for businesses: offering website design services for: website redesign, e-commerce, new website design, website maintenance, and video.

Have you been abandoned?

Web designers come and go. Sometimes they can disappear and leave no trace. What do you do when your hosting and support goes away? You get help. We’re happy to help customers who have been abandoned by their previous web designer.
If you need help with rescuing an abandoned website, contact us!

What’s special about a Web321 website?

We build lean, effective designs that highlight your brand and impress your visitors. Responsive sites, built to look stunning on any device. Mobile-friendly web designs driven by user behaviour, anchored with strong calls to action that convert leads into clients. We know what works and what doesn’t. The majority of your web traffic is coming from cellphones and tablets. We pride ourselves on our mobile-friendly design.

Check out some examples of our Web design work.

Some graphic designers have a hard time grasping how the Web differs from print media. We build our designs to work for the end user and deliver the same design impact by making a design that adapts to the user instead of building the design to only look good in the mock-up phase. Our web designs are smart and pretty.

We can add some predictability and peace of mind. By using our WordPress support system, we take the stress of website management off of your hands throughout the lifespan of your website. We stay with your website, keeping it up to date and well cared for.

Our sites inform your customers, keep your visitors in touch, and drive home your key messages. In short – we build websites that work, and that make you look great.

With almost 30 years experience in web design and development, our team has the skills and expertise to take your web presence to the next level.

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfZXh0cmFfY3RhIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfYW5vdGhlcl9saW5lIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9uIn19@

Learn more about our WordPress web design services:

Learn more about our WordPress Support services:

Recent Examples Of Our Work

How The Magic Happens

While Web321 opened for business in 2020, we’ve been working in Web Design since 1996. We know what works.

These are some features that come standard with every WordPress site we deliver:

Elevate your business with our cutting-edge websites. Seamlessly integrate dynamic pages and news, schedule content, and clear navigation. Benefit from continuous innovation through open-source development, bringing you the latest features to scale with your enterprise through the power of WordPress.

Realize your business potential. Our plans includes many premium plugins and the capacity to add thousands of free plugins, catering to everything from image galleries and content management to industry-specific solutions. Enhance your site with premium content like videos, presentations, and Google Maps, all easily embedded for a richer user experience.

Full website control with our advanced editor, designed to supercharge WordPress functionality, adding extensive capabilities for editing text, images, and media, including the creation of engaging galleries.

Our comprehensive package includes top-tier social media tools to maximize your search engine visibility. WordPress, renowned for its SEO prowess, is augmented with specialized plugins and training provided by us to boost your online presence further.

Some of Our Web Design Services

Custom Website Design with WordPress

Branding and Content Building

Onpage SEO Optimization

Website Maintenance and Support

Our Toolkit

We have a list of plugins, tools and technologies that help us build a successful web design for you.

• WordPress
• Divi Theming System
• Gravity Forms
• WooCommerce
• PHP
• MySQL
• HTML
• JQuery
• Responsive CSS
• Public Domain Stock Images
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Google Analytics
• Google Business Pages
• Google Adwords

We Care About The Lifespan Of Your Website

We deliver website solutions for any organization. We work non-profits, government, B2B, B2C. We know what works for our clients and their audience. A website is the foundation of digital success. We build websites to deliver your message. After we launch your website, we have a solid plan for how to manage, it nurture it and make it work best for your audience. Our web designs, when backed up with ongoing WordPress support is your path to success. We take care of everything throughout the entire process of presenting and drawing traffic to your brand online, including website design and maintenance, search engine optimization, social media, online advertising and more. Whatever your needs, Web321 delivers. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfZXh0cmFfY3RhIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiPHA+IiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiI8L3A+IiwiZW5hYmxlX2h0bWwiOiJvbiJ9fQ==@

Responsive Web Design: We Ensure Your Website Works Everywhere

What is Responsive Web Design?

Responsive web design solves a critical challenge for businesses: creating websites that look perfect on every device. W3schools.com defines it as using HTML and CSS to automatically adjust a website’s layout, ensuring optimal viewing across different screens.

Why Responsive Design Matters

Modern internet users access websites through:

• Desktop computers
• Tablets
• Smartphones
• Various screen sizes and resolutions

Your website must perform flawlessly on all these devices. A poorly designed site can:

• Drive away potential customers
• Reduce user engagement
• Harm your brand’s professional image

The Evolution of Responsive Design

In the past, creating a website that worked across multiple devices was:

• Technically challenging
• Extremely time-consuming
• Expensive to develop

Today, responsive design has become a standard practice. Web development platforms and content management systems like WordPress now include built-in responsiveness features.

Our Responsive Web Design Approach

We specialize in creating websites that:

• Adapt seamlessly to any screen size
• Load quickly and efficiently
• Maintain crisp, clear visual design
• Provide excellent user experience across all devices

Key Benefits for Your Business

1. Wider Audience Reach: Your website becomes accessible to users on any device.
2. Improved User Experience: Visitors can easily navigate your site, regardless of their screen size.
3. Better Search Engine Performance: Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in search rankings.
4. Cost-Effective: One website design works for all devices, reducing development and maintenance costs.

Technical Foundations

Our responsive design process includes:

• Fluid grid layouts
• Flexible image scaling
• CSS media queries
• Mobile-first design principles

Ready to Transform Your Web Presence?

Contact us to discuss how we can create a responsive website that represents your brand professionally across all devices.

Professional Web Design Starts With a Plan

Web designs begin by getting an understanding of your current situation– new business, established businesses, a business adapting to online, or even a new client bringing over their website. We look at your competitors in the field (similar field, neighbouring area). Our findings are compiled in a business review to expose your position in your marketplace. In addition, the review gives a view into weak spots that a competitor may have missed (which we can help with, by capitalizing on those opportunities).

In today’s tech-driven world, your business cannot fall behind when everyone else is using the Web to land new clients and handle the on-boarding tasks.

Web312 is ready to help your business hit your strategy goals. Contact us and see why we’re among the best web design firms serving Chicago-based businesses and professionals .

Our Web Design Process

A project progresses like this:

• Fill out the Get Started form.
• We deliver a quote for your approval
• When accepted, we share a service agreement to cover the scope of work and the duration of the support agreement.
• We meet to discuss the specifics of your project.
• We gather what we need (logins, company information, images).
• We arrive at a design for the new site,
• We carry out the work involved, sharing updates as we hit project milestones
• When the design is complete, we carry out testing: messagging, functionality, performance, responsive appearance and other important elements of a successful website.
• After the testing passes, we launch the website.
• Following the site launch, we perform ongoing maintenance and support.

Continuity Of Care

We work to make sure your website remains in good standing: you can reach us (contact@web321.co). In cases where we inherit a site that has disappeared, we work to bring back your Internet presence and get a business back online.

Staying engaged in the success of your website is key to keeping your online presence strong.

We follow-up our design work with a period of support lasting 12 to 48 months depending on the complexity of the design, the amortized portion of the web design fees and the desire to keep us on the team, supporting your online presence.

Our Pricing Model

The Internet is 24×7. Our websites are designed to serve your audience. Your website needs to be available 24×7.

We quote our web designs with two components: design and maintenance. The design fees reflect most of the costs involved in a project; but some of the expense is amortized into the support phase of your website.

We stay actively involved in the success of your website through our web maintenance program.

Web321 Web Design

We make your business look amazing online

The post Chicago Web Design appeared first on Web321: Your Best WordPress Support.

A number of school and school board websites running “Breeze For Teachers” have been reporting issues. We’re ready to help those organizations and deliver a new solution for those wishing to move away from the Breeze for Teachers platform that was developed by PathFive last decade. We have a system in place to pull in a healthy amount of the old website content and we stand ready to help.

We Know What An Education Site Needs

We understand what an education site needs to succeed.

• Connect with parents and students
• Connect with teachers and staff
• Offer documents online
• Provide forms and interactivity for prospective and current students
• Stay in touch via email newsletters.

Your staff and customers need to find an ease of use in your website:

• Event and program scheduling
• Facility bookings and rentals
• Fees and discounts that are simple and easy to manage
• Citizen registration that takes seconds
• Waiting lists and great attendance tracking
• Payment gateway for tuition and other registration fees.
• Lead online courses through powerful software.
• Clear reporting and dashboards

What We Deliver

Complete solution for staff, students and educators.

• Built on the foundation of the most popular CMS on the Internet.
• Website editor tools
• Lean effective web design
• Facilities
• Programs
• Reporting

Why Work With Web321?

Our team has over 25 years of experience in Web Design. Our core team have lived in Victoria or Nanaimo for most of our lives. We know our business and your region.

We build websites that perform well. A fast, beautiful site will build credibility with your potential customers. We create websites that speak to your audience and put your venue into the best light.

We offer WordPress support plans. After we launch your new site, we maintain your site to make sure it stays in good repair. We are on speed dial to answer technical questions and help you nuture your connections through other booking systems and reputation management.

We build our sites with a list of key features:

• Responsive designs that look good on mobile devices and desktops.
• Lead and contact forms
• Connections to third party systems and tools.
• Turn key designs that are easy to use, easy to manage.

What’s special about a Web321 website?

We build lean, effective designs that highlight your brand and impress your visitors. Responsive sites, built to look stunning on any device. Mobile-friendly web designs driven by user behaviour, anchored with strong calls to action that convert leads into clients. We know what works and what doesn’t. These are some examples of our work.

Some graphic designers have a hard time grasping how the Web differs from print media. We build our designs to work for the end user and deliver the same design impact by making a design that adapts to the user instead of building the design to only look good in the mock-up phase. Our web designs are smart and pretty.

We are a website design subscription company. A subscription-based design service is a terrific way to take the edge off of the upfront design fees by amortizing some of those costs throughout the lifespan of a website. We stay with your website, keeping it up to date and well cared for.

Our sites inform your customers, keep your visitors in touch, and drive home your key messages. In short – we build websites that work, and that make you look great.

With over 25 years experience in web design and development, our team has the skills and expertise to take your web presence to the next level.

Our Toolkit

We have a list of plugins, tools and technologies that help us build a successful web design for you.

• WordPress
• Divi Theming System
• Gravity Forms
• WooCommerce
• PHP
• MySQL
• HTML
• JQuery
• Responsive CSS
• Public Domain Stock Images
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Google Analytics
• Google Business Pages
• Google Adwords

We Care About The Lifespan Of Your Website

Your website is the foundation of your online marketing. It’s your online mother-ship, home base and corner of the Internet. After we launch your web design, we have a whole plan to manage it. What makes us unique: we deliver this for an affordable price that doesn’t deliver the sticker shock.

With subscription web design (aka managed Web presence), we take care of everything throughout the entire process of presenting and drawing traffic to your brand online, including website design and maintenance, search engine optimization, social media, online advertising and more.

We Start With a Plan

Web designs begins by getting an understanding of your current situation– new business, established businesses, a business adapting to online, or even a new client bringing over their website. We look at your competitors in the field (similar field, neighbouring area). Our findings are compiled in a business review to expose your position in your marketplace. In addition, the review gives a view into weak spots that a competitor may have missed (which we can help with, by capitalizing on those opportunities).

Our Web Design Process

A project progesses like this:

• Fill out the Get Started form.
• We deliver a quote for your approval
• When accepted, we share a service agreement to cover the scope of work and the duration of the support agreement.
• We meet to discuss the specifics of your project.
• We gather what we need (logins, company information, images).
• We arrive at a design for the new site,
• We carry out the work involved, sharing updates as we hit project milestones
• When the design is complete, we carry out testing: messagging, functionality, performance, responsive appearance and other important elements of a successful website.
• After the testing passes, we launch the website.
• Following the site launch, we perform ongoing maintenance and support.

Continuity Of Care

Staying engaged in the success of your website is key to keeping your online presence strong.

We follow-up our design work with a period of support lasting 12 to 48 months depending on the complexity of the design, the amortized portion of the web design fees and the desire to keep us on the team, supporting your online presence.

Our Pricing Model

The Internet is 24×7. Our websites are designed to serve your audience. Your website needs to be available 24×7.

We quote our web designs with two components: design and maintenance. The design fees reflect most of the costs involved in a project; but some of the expense is amortized into the support phase of your website.

We stay actively involved in the success of your website through our web maintenance program.

Get A Quote

Let’s start with some basic information:

The post Making Life For Teachers A Breeze appeared first on Web321: Your Best WordPress Support.