Performance Enhancements Lead the Charge in WordPress 6.3
Any WordPress designer, developer or SEO who’s wrestled with Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) issues in Google’s Core Web Vitals will be overjoyed to learn the bugs responsible have been fixed. So theme designs that are more image heavy will see much improved load times and higher benchmark scores. The planned release date is Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
Signifigant Improvements in Lazy Load Functionality
Lazy load is a technique used in general web development to improve page loading speed. It involves delaying the loading of certain elements, such as images, until they are needed — say if an image is lower on the page and not in the viewport, it does not to load until the user scrolls down to that section of the page. Previously WordPress would load all images at once. In version 6.3, lazy load can now detect which images need to render when, with only the necessary content, and then loads additional content as the user scrolls down the page. This helps to reduce the initial load time and improve the overall user experience.
Want to Really Get Under the Hood of WordPress 6.3?
Recommended reading for WordPress developers, code aficionados and the fearless only. Here’s the official announcement from Felix Arntz of the WordPress Core development team.
From WordPress: WordPress 6.3 Beta 4 is ready for download and testing. This version of the WordPress software is under development. Please do not install, run, or test this version on production or mission-critical websites. Instead, you should evaluate Beta 4 on a test server and site. If you’re new to testing a WordPress beta build, this detailed guide is a great place to start.
Live Product Demo on July 20th
Save the date. A live product demo scheduled for Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 16:00 UTC (11:00am EST) (Zoom link) will be a great opportunity to join the WordPress community to celebrate the accomplishments of 6.3. Following the demo, there will be a Q&A session, and you may submit questions in advance via Slack.
The Two Most Frequently Asked Questions About SEO Services
Whenever the subject of SEO comes up with an interested entrepreneur or small business owners, the initial queries we field are no surprise. How much? And how long?
Let’s start with ‘how much?’
The cost of SEO services can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including:
- The type of SEO work. This includes on-site optimization (improving website content, meta tags, etc.), off-site optimization (link building, social signals, etc.), or technical SEO (improving site speed, mobile-friendliness, etc.).
- The size of your website. Larger sites with many pages often require more SEO work than smaller sites.
- The competitiveness of your industry. More competitive industries often require more intensive SEO strategies.
- The SEO agency’s pricing model. Some SEO agencies charge an hourly rate, while others charge a flat monthly fee. Some offer project-based or performance-based pricing.
- The agency’s expertise and reputation. Established SEO agencies with a track record of success tend to charge more.
SEO services could range from a few hundred dollars per month for basic services for a small business, up to several thousand dollars per month for comprehensive services for a larger business or a particularly competitive industry. Keep in mind that SEO is an investment, and while cost is a consideration, the potential returns from improved organic search visibility can be significant.
How long does it take to see results from SEO?
This question is common because businesses often seek tangible results from their investments in SEO. The answer, however, isn’t straightforward. SEO is a long-term investment, and it can take several months to a year or more to see significant results. Factors that affect the timeframe include the website’s current SEO, the competitiveness of the industry, the chosen keywords, and the amount of ongoing effort invested into the SEO strategy.
Bottom line is that it is not easy to get on page one of Google search results, but when you do it’s a game changer — assuming your website is optimized to convert visitors to customers — as the chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link. Make sure there are no weak links in your chain.
What Are the Most Competitive Industries in the SEO World? Several industries are well-known for their competitiveness in terms of SEO — which definitely affect the timeline of SEO strategy efforts to kick in. These include:
- Legal Services. Lawyers and law firms often compete fiercely for top spots in search engine rankings. This is particularly true for personal injury law, where a single high-value case can justify substantial SEO investment.
- Real Estate. In competitive housing markets, realtors and real estate agencies rely on SEO to attract potential buyers and sellers.
- E-commerce/Retail. Online retailers, particularly in popular niches, often face stiff competition. This can be especially true for industries like fashion, electronics, or home goods.
- Financial Services. Banks, lenders, credit card companies, and insurance providers all vie for visibility in search results.
- Healthcare. Doctors, dentists, and other healthcare providers, especially in larger cities, often compete for patients, making SEO important.
- Local Services. Businesses such as plumbers, electricians, HVAC, locksmiths, and more are often highly competitive on a local SEO level.
It’s important to note that competitiveness can vary not just by industry, but also by location. For example, SEO competitiveness for a personal injury lawyer will be much higher in a large city than in a rural area. Similarly, the competitiveness can also shift over time as more businesses invest in SEO, or as search algorithms and consumer behaviors evolve.
WooCommerce Roundup
The coming WooCommerce update in the second half of 2023 features a serious speed and performance upgrade — on both sides of the experience. Customers will experience a more streamlined and faster checkout process, while store owners will see faster order processing on the back end. These refinements have been in the works by the WooCommerce dev team since early last year and have been extensively tested. Stay tuned for details.
