{"id":44819,"date":"2021-08-26T15:04:55","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T20:04:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/layout\/?p=44819"},"modified":"2024-01-01T06:18:30","modified_gmt":"2024-01-01T12:18:30","slug":"full-site-editing-what-does-it-mean-for-web-designers","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/full-site-editing-what-does-it-mean-for-web-designers\/","title":{"rendered":"Full Site Editing: What Does it Mean for Web Designers?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re tapped into the world of WordPress, you may be familiar with Full Site Editing\u2014a new approach to site building that\u2019s gradually finding its way into WordPress Core.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you\u2019re unfamiliar with this new editing model, or it\u2019s something you\u2019ve been curious about as the conversation has picked up in recent months, you\u2019re certainly not alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aim of Full Site Editing is to build upon block functionality that was introduced with the Gutenberg editor<\/a> and extend it across the larger site editing experience. It represents a major shift in the way WordPress sites can be created, and web designers are naturally eager to learn more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll dive deeper into Full Site Editing, what it means for WordPress overall, and how it can benefit web designers specifically. We\u2019ll also show you how to start experimenting with the new editing model right now. Here\u2019s what we\u2019ll cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

The \u201cBuilding Blocks\u201d of WordPress<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the launch of Version 5.0<\/a> in December 2018, WordPress (unofficially) became \u201cblock country.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The major release, named for<\/a> Cuban jazz pianist Bebo Vald\u00e9s, saw the block-based Gutenberg editor replace the Classic Editor as the default WordPress editing experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some have continued to use the Classic Editor as their preferred method for content creation, Gutenberg is very much the WordPress many of us know today (and if you\u2019re among the ~90% of WordPress sites now using Version 5.0+<\/a>, it\u2019s likely the current back-end editor you have in place).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Classic WordPress Editor<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even with major updates and additions, the Classic Editor remained a consistent, albeit basic HTML experience from 2003, when WordPress first launched, until 2018, and it provided a solid foundation for millions of websites throughout that duration.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the introduction of Gutenberg was a game-changer\u2014it charted a new course around HTML and shortcode with a block-based, modular approach that simplified content creation. Suddenly, WordPress users were able to add text, headers, images, videos, and a wide variety of other rich content elements to their web pages…with the click of a button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Gutenberg Editor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As pre-launch FUD gave way to steady Gutenberg adoption, the library of free and premium or custom blocks<\/a> began to proliferate, with everything from advanced layout features<\/a> to social media integrations becoming available in block form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast-forward to 2021 and the block-based approach to content creation has become widespread. Gutenberg is now relied on by millions of designers, developers, marketing professionals, and WordPress users of every skill level for fast, convenient, and repeatable content creation. And because it replaces the need for custom code with a menu of blocks you can choose from as you build your content, it\u2019s winning over more users every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As that momentum continues to build, Full Site Editing has arrived to expand on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is Full Site Editing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Full Site Editing is an emerging WordPress editing model that extends Gutenberg\u2019s block-based functionality beyond page or post content to include all parts of your website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With options for customizing headers, footers, sidebars, and other site-wide content elements, Full Site Editing can be viewed as a WordPress theme made up entirely of blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While not dissimilar to the functionality found in popular page builder plugins like Beaver Builder<\/a>, Divi<\/a>, or Elementor<\/a>, Full Site Editing is baked directly into WordPress, and once it\u2019s fully available, it won\u2019t require additional plugins or other integrations to use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, the new editing model isn\u2019t fully available, yet, and unlike Gutenberg, it won\u2019t become the default editing experience for your WordPress site once it is. Currently, most users probably won\u2019t even notice that Full Site Editing has been enabled in their WordPress admin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Will Full Site Editing Affect WordPress Users?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As noted above, Full Site Editing may be available on your site (depending on your current version of WordPress) but you have to opt-in to use it. We\u2019ll dive into how you can do that below, but given the voluntary nature of Full Site Editing, it will only affect your site directly if you want it to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, this is a different scenario from the launch of 5.0, which prompted WordPress users to plan for the introduction of Gutenberg and decide if they were going to use the new editor or not. Full Site editing should be viewed as a new approach that\u2019s available for you to adopt, but only if choose to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, there are definitely benefits to diving in with the new editing model. Overall, it aims to replicate the Gutenberg model of circumventing (manually-added) code beyond the post and page level, which means it can provide you with an incredibly fast and agile way to create and customize websites.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that regard, Full Site Editing has the ability to affect the overall WordPress user workflow, it can have an effect on agencies and the way they build WordPress sites for clients<\/a>, and it can become an incredibly powerful tool for freelancers who need to maximize every ounce of time they put into a project.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But going beyond the ability to quickly create sites and replicate those efforts at scale, how might Full Site Editing affect the purely creative side of web design? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Does Full Site Editing Mean for Web Designers? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While everyone from developers to content creators can find excellent use cases for adopting Full Site Editing into their workflows, web designers have a ton to gain from this new model for website creation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s certainly true for designers who already rely heavily on WordPress for the sites they create, but even those who don\u2019t use WordPress might just be swayed by the new flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the whole, gaining block-based access across the sites you build will allow you to streamline your design workflow. And with the ability to create customizable templates specific to unique design requirements, you can set up repeatable client projects and then use them at scale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clients can also edit blocks and templates without affecting the brand or design guardrails you put in place. This not only empowers clients to make small updates without breaking important style settings, it frees you up from the busy work that comes from constantly making minor site changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a look at the major pieces of Full Site Editing for a better idea of the specific elements you\u2019ll be able to control. You can check on the current status and availability of each here<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n