Are Agencies Using The Gutenberg Block Editor?

If you’re wondering if WordPress agencies are really using the native (Gutenberg) Block Editor, the answer is yes. Yes, they’re using it. 

Let’s define terms for those of you new here.

The Gutenberg Project refers to the initiative by WordPress to modernize and simplify the content editing experience. Introduced in WordPress 5.0 (December 2018), Gutenberg aims to replace the traditional TinyMCE editor with a more user-friendly, block-based approach. This project is named after Johannes Gutenberg, the printing press inventor, to symbolize the shift in how users create and design content on WordPress.

The Gutenberg Block Editor (also referred to as the Block Editor) is the central component of the Gutenberg Project. It replaces the old editor with a block-based system for building content. Instead of writing all content in a single, monolithic text area, you create pages and posts by stacking blocks.

WordPress Full Site Editing (FSE) is an extension of the block-based approach introduced with the Gutenberg Editor, but it expands beyond posts and pages to the entire WordPress site. With FSE, you can use blocks to design and customize all aspects of your site, including the header, footer, sidebar, and more.

Before FSE, users were dependent on themes for site structure and would need custom PHP or third-party plugins for advanced layout changes. FSE changes this by allowing everything to be edited visually using blocks.

The ongoing updates and new features in the Gutenberg Block Editor are a hot topic, especially among developers and content creators. If you already use the Block Editor, please share this article with your friends and colleagues. If you’re new to it, you should check out how switching from your old page builder to the Block Editor can make your life — and your clients’ lives – so much easier.

If you’re new to WordPress, the Gutenberg Project’s Block Editor uses a block-based approach that simplifies content creation. With features like drag-and-drop functionality and real-time previews, it enables you to easily add and customize text, images, and layouts.The Block Editor is perfect for both beginners and experienced users to build great-looking websites quickly.

What that means is you can scrap that extra layer page builders add to your site. Quick win? The Block Editor helps speed up your site and make it more accessible (and less expensive).

The Rise of the Gutenberg Block Editor

WordPress is block-based. As WordPress continues to evolve, the Block Editor remains at the forefront of its development.

Gutenberg, introduced in WordPress 5.0, replaced the classic editor with a block-based visual interface. This change has significantly improved how users create web content, whether it be a simple blog post or a complex eCommerce buyer’s journey.

The Block Editor is changing the way we work in WordPress, offering a more intuitive and visual approach to content creation. It allows you to create content using modular blocks for text, headings, images, and widgets, offering a more intuitive, WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) experience.

“Who doesn’t love a WYSIWYG editor? This was always the intent for Gutenberg circa 2017 and now it’s coming to life.”

Rocket.net – What’s New in the WordPress 6.6 Update?

Understanding the Gutenberg Block Editor

Gutenberg designed the Block Editor to replace the classic TinyMCE editor with a more flexible, block-based approach. 

Each piece of content, whether it’s a paragraph, image, or video, is treated as a block that can be easily manipulated and customized. The Block Editor gives you greater flexibility and control over the layout and design of pages and posts.

Key Features of the Block Editor

Strictly speaking, the Block Editor is a visual editor that gives you page builder capabilities. The best part is that it’s a sustainable page builder. Why is that important?

Compared with the many popular third-party page builder plugins in WordPress, this is finally a basis on which you can build with confidence. Why? It’s native to WordPress Core, so it is virtually guaranteed to run for years to come. That’s important. If you are using WP Core, you’re working in a stable environment.

There is a huge advantage to keeping your work as close to WordPress Core as possible. Plugins that are not compatible with Core will eventually be dropped. Not having to deal with multiple interfaces and compatibilities means stability. System stability is crucial for businesses.

That’s the best feature. Here are some others:

• Block-based editing – and blocks aren’t just the future of WordPress, they’re the present state of WordPress. Content is created using modular blocks for text, headings, images, and widgets, which can be easily rearranged and customized.

• The visual interface offers a more intuitive, WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) experience compared with the classic editor.

• We are in a full-site editing (FSE) world now, folks! The Block Editor allows for greater design flexibility without the need for custom CSS or page builder plugins. Easier for WordPress agencies and easier for their clients.

• Gutenberg offers dynamic content handling. This enables the creation of personalized and more engaging user experiences.

Improved responsiveness: Blocks are designed to be mobile-friendly and accessible. Accessible is more than a mobile website, but a responsive website is a great place to start. It’s 2024, after all.

Gutenberg’s Advantages and Challenges

The overall tone from businesses we’ve talked to suggests that agencies are increasingly embracing Gutenberg. And why not? The continuous improvements and added features make it an attractive option for agencies looking to streamline their workflows and offer more efficient solutions to clients.

The trend seems to be moving towards fuller adoption of Gutenberg, especially as it becomes more integrated with other aspects of WordPress site building. Like site templates!

“Site Templates? If you’re using patterns or Gutenberg blocks, those are templates.”

Rocket.net – How to Streamline Your Business With WordPress Templates

Advantages of The Block Editor for WordPress Agencies

It makes no difference if you are a full-service eCommerce agency or a niche blogger; if you’re looking to speed up your workflow, the Block Editor offers many advantages.

Enhanced Creative Flexibility: The block-based approach allows for more creative freedom in designing content. You can offer more customized solutions to your clients.

Streamlined Workflows: Features like block patterns and reusable blocks streamline the content creation process, saving you time and effort. This is crucial if you’re managing multiple projects or on a tight timeline.

Improved Client Satisfaction: This should be at the top of the list, right? With WordPress’s Full Site Editing and other user-friendly features, clients can easily make changes to their sites without extensive technical knowledge. A happy client is tomorrow’s client.

Future-Proofing: At the same time you’re ensuring clients are here to stay, you need to stay updated with Gutenberg. Ensuring that client sites remain compatible with the latest WordPress developments, means keeping ahead of the competition.

Increased Efficiency: We just said that, but it’s worth repeating. The Block Editor’s intuitive interface will improve your design and content creation efficiency. Result? Faster project turnaround times and increased productivity.

Challenges Agencies Face with The Block Editor

While Gutenberg offers many benefits, agencies may face some challenges in adoption, particularly for complex enterprise websites. Like any change, the migration process from classic editors or page builders to Gutenberg can present initial hurdles. However, the long-term benefits outweigh the challenges. 

• Users need to get used to the Block Editor’s user interface and functionality.
• Existing content created with a page builder may need to be manually converted.
• The current theme may need to be customized.
• Existing workflows may need to be customized, and clients or team members need to be trained.

Despite some challenges, agencies we’ve talked with expressed high satisfaction with their switch to Gutenberg, particularly when used in conjunction with software like Toolset and Greyd.

Agencies cited improved site-building capabilities and efficiency in handling complex projects as the most important takeaways.

You’re probably not still using the classic WordPress editor, but you may know someone who is. Our friends over at WPMarmite have you covered: 4 steps to migrate from the classic editor to the block editor (Gutenberg). 

Gutenberg vs. Page Builders: The Agency Dilemma

The comparison between WordPress and some commercial page builders is an important consideration. Gutenberg’s continued evolution is narrowing the gap between WordPress FSE and third-party page builders like Elementor, Divi, BeaverBuilder, and others.

“Do you need a WordPress Page Builder to create and launch a functional, easy-to-use, and beautiful website in WordPress? No. If you want one, that’s different.”

Rocket.net – Should I Use A WordPress Page Builder or Not?

What are some of the pros and cons of Page Builders vs the Gutenberg Block Editor?

Gutenberg is WordPress core and is, therefore, significantly faster and more lightweight than a Page Builder, which executes additional scripts and involves more source code.

Many test reports and experiments have compared the speeds of page builders and the Block Editor. But let’s take a standard WordPress website: in most cases, it will always deliver better performance using the block editor than any page builder. And the Block Editor is free.

The Block Editor Pros
Part of WordPress: Since Gutenberg is the default WordPress editor, it is seamlessly integrated, not requiring any additional plugins. Block-based design: Gutenberg uses a block-based system that makes it easy to combine different content elements such as text, images, and videos. Powerful and flexible: Gutenberg allows users to create custom layouts and reuse blocks. Compatibility: Gutenberg is compatible with most WordPress themes and plugins.

The Block Editor Cons
Limited design options: Compared to some Page Builders, Gutenberg offers fewer design and customization options out of the box. However, there already are great block plugins out there that extend the Block Editor to full design capacities, including animations. Learning curve: Users who are used to the classic editor might need some time to get used to it.

Page Builders (e.g. Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder) Pros
Visual design: Page Builders offer a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create complex layouts without coding knowledge. Advanced customization options: They offer ‘the bling’, like animations Templates: Many page builders come with a variety of pre-built templates that speed up page creation.

Page builders (e.g. Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder) Cons
Performance issues: Some Page Builders can slow down website load times, especially if many plugins are used. Cost: Many of the advanced features of page builders are only available in the paid versions.ing knowledge. Advanced customization options: They offer ‘the bling’, like animations Templates: Many page builders come with a variety of pre-built templates that speed up page creation.

Whether you opt for a Page Builder or the Gutenberg Block Editor, both tools streamline creating and organizing content, offering user-friendly interfaces and flexible design options. And in a modern, user-friendly way.

Weigh the native integration and future development of Gutenberg against the workflows and features of page builders you’re already using. Test them out in production. Let your clients test them too. Ultimately, deciding which tool to standardize for client projects means deciding what’s best for you together.

“FSE, a.k.a. Gutenberg is here to stay, and that is great news for all serious WordPress agencies. Because WordPress stability and site speed are both crucial. This is something that many companies, especially on Enterprise level already understand. Both the Site Editor and Block Editor have been widely adopted by larger organizations. Focusing on mastering a single system streamlines workflows and saves time. And when you ensure that the blocks and block themes you use, output accessibility-ready code, you’re on the winning team!”

Anne Bovelett

Wrapping Up: Embracing the Change

Despite some challenges, the overall satisfaction with Gutenberg is high. GBE’s improved site-building capabilities, efficiency in handling complex projects, and continual evolution make it an essential tool for WordPress development.

As Gutenberg continues to mature, it’s clear that it’s changing the game for digital agencies and developers. GBE offers new opportunities to create efficient, flexible, accessible, and user-friendly websites.

The future of WordPress is block-based. As Block Editor websites evolve, so should your approach to web development and content creation. Embracing change is essential to stay competitive and deliver the best possible product to your clients. 

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