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2023 in Review + 2024 Sneak Peak

WHC News & Events

2023 flew by at WHC. Our team rolled up their sleeves and worked hard to improve your experience with Canada’s favorite web host. Let's take a look back at what we did before getting a sneak peek at what's coming your way in 2024! 🚀🎉

2023 in Numbers

First, a quick look at some numbers that provide insight into what keeps our team busy throughout the year, and why so many Canadians put their trust in us.

2023 year in review

As you can see, our team keeps busy, whether it's communicating directly with you, posting tips and tricks to help you succeed online or keeping our platform running smoothly.

Follow us to stay informed and connected! And don't forget to check out our blog for the latest tech news and never miss updates on what's new for you at WHC. Dive into our top articles of 2023: How to add Captcha to WordPress forms, 5 AI tools to create content and Get your free green badge to show your site is eco-friendly.

Continue reading to ensure you're fully caught up with everything 2023 had to offer at WHC. We're here to make sure you didn't miss a beat!

Major Milestones

WHC Celebrates 20 Years!

In 2023 we hit a major milestone: 20 years in business! It’s been an incredible privilege to be able to provide Canadians and their businesses with a reliable home for their online projects. Here’s to the next 20!

WHC Achieves SOC2 Certification

WHC is proud to have achieved SOC 2 certification, beefing up our commitment to security and reliability to you, and confirming our status as a trusted Canadian provider for your online infrastructure and business service.

A New Client Area for you

In March, WHC launched its brand new Client Area, designed for simpler and more efficient online management. Enjoy quick access features, an optimized service interface, intuitive navigation and better support ticket management. It's all about making your hosting and domain management smoother and more user-friendly. Experience the upgrade and see the difference for yourself! Take it for a spin today.

100,000 .CA Domains Under Management

WHC is proud to have crossed the 100,000 mark in .CA domains under our wings! A heartfelt thank you for trusting us with your Canadian online presence. 

Launch of the new Domain Club

In January, we launched The Domain Club, an exclusive savings program for clients with 25+ domains. The free membership offers unique perks and significant savings on domain renewals. Plus, the domain division is spearheaded by Frank, our Chief Domain Nerd.

New & Improved Domain Auctions

WHC’s backorder platform got a facelift in 2023. The new Domain Auctions provide a simpler, fairer process, with week-long public auctions and lower initial bids. This makes it easier for Canadians to acquire high-quality .CA domains the minute they expire and become available for re-registration. 

WHC Offers Premium Domains

In the world of domains, some stand out as more valuable – these are premium domains. Looking for a standout domain for your business? WHC now offers Registry Premium Domains. Identified by a black label in search results, these valuable domains are ideal for those seeking a distinctive online identity. 

A more modern WordPress & cPanel Experience

We've also been busy ensuring our platform stays up-to-date. We rolled out several key updates: WordPress 6.4 (Shirley), the latest one bringing new features and improvements to enhance your website's functionality and design. Alongside, we’re now at cPanel 110, a version that offers more robust and user-friendly web hosting management. 

Additionally, our MariaDB database was upgraded to version 10.6, ensuring faster and more secure database operations. These updates are part of our commitment to provide you with a reliable, high-performing online platform. 💻🚀

SiteMojo: A new site builder

This new, easy-to-use website builder is perfect for anyone who needs to get a simple website online in no time. It features a drag-and-drop interface, mobile-responsive templates, and supports multiple languages. The best part? SiteMojo is free with all our web hosting plans, making website creation accessible and efficient.

PHP X-Ray: A new performance monitoring tool

To help speed up your website, we've launched PHP X-Ray, a performance monitoring tool that identifies and helps resolve website performance issues. Available at no extra cost with our Web Hosting and Reseller Hosting plans, PHP X-Ray is your go-to for keeping your site running smoothly.

WHC Got Out & About

This year, the team hit the road, attending major industry events to stay ahead in the web hosting world and local events too. Each event was a chance to connect, learn, and bring back fresh ideas!

2023 year in review

Cloudfest, March 21-23, Europa-Park, Germany

We joined partners and industry giants to exchange ideas and explore new trends in web hosting and cloud services. This was, by far, the biggest and loudest CloudFest so far. 

Transform March 27-29, Las Vegas 

We stopped by Vegas for an HR conference and gathered insights on team growth and innovation strategies, essential for WHC's progress. 

Canadians Connected, Oct 5, Montreal 

Of course we were gonna pop in and show support to our friends at CIRA at this networking event organized by Canada’s official registry. Plus, it was a short metro ride away.

infra/STRUCTURE Summit, Oct 4-5, Toronto 

While we represented our hometown of Montreal, Emil traveled to Toronto to speak at a tech and infrastructure summit. 

WHC Got Together & Gave Back

At WHC, we believe in working hard and celebrating harder. This year, we marked our 20th anniversary with a memorable retreat in the Laurentians, reflecting the unity and strength of our team. 

2023 year in review

Giving back to the community is an important part of being a responsible social citizen. In 2023, WHC gave back with charitable donations to Sun Youth, a community organization in Montreal.

2023 year in review

And once again, we're proud to be recognized as a Great Place to Work, a testament to our vibrant and supportive work culture. 🎉🏞️🏆

2023 year in review

2024, Here We Come!

We have one mission in mind here: helping Canadians and their businesses succeed online. We plan on continuing on this mission with renewed energy and vigor in 2024. Here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect:

  • A new website experience, to connect you with the services and information that matter to you
  • A new and improved product onboarding experience in your client area, to help you get more from your hosting, email and domains services, faster
  • An improved Cloud infrastructure, to help deliver better performance, resilience and security for your online projects
  • A better customer support experience, so you can get the answers and support you need, even faster
  • An improved Technical Account Management team to help entrepreneurs and enterprise clients grow and succeed online
  • Better accessibility, so that all Canadians can properly leverage and use the tooling and content we (and our clients!) publish
  • Enhanced online security, with more stringent accreditations and controls
  • Additional tooling for developers, including an API interface to leverage WHC services automatically
  • Improved marketing service, to help you and your business gain more traction online
  • Enhanced AI adoption & tooling, to help you leverage the latest technologies available, both with WHC and for your own clients

From all of us at WHC, we wish you a 2024 filled with love, joy and peace. We’re excited to embark into the new year with you!

Influencer marketing

What’s influencer marketing?

Small Business Success

It's no longer a secret: the meteoric rise of social networks and the internet is opening up a host of new opportunities for businesses. These include a wide range of marketing strategies, such as influencer marketing.

The term "influencer" is sometimes seen in a negative light. Often, we think of influencers who make headlines or dance on TikTok. Things have changed, however. Today's influencers are increasingly sincere and authentic. They create relevant, quality content, rather than just promote products.

And often, their audience is tuned in and highly engaged! So why not harness this engagement to promote your brand? Here's what you need to know:

What is influencer marketing?

Influencer marketing is a marketing strategy based on collaboration between a brand and certain individuals, commonly referred to as "influencers", to promote said brand, product or service. The idea is to use the notoriety and credibility of influencers to reach and persuade their audience. These influencers will promote a product or service, whether through video or in writing, by talking about the product or integrating it into their daily lives.

Unlike other forms of marketing such as affiliate marketing, SEO and content marketing, influencer marketing can illustrate, in a more immediate and convincing way, the impact of a product or service in consumers’ daily lives.

In Canada, influencer marketing has proven to be a particularly effective strategy for many digital campaigns. According to a study by Ressac and Leger, 73% of Canadian internet users who follow influencers have changed their behaviour or made a purchase following exposure to influencer content.

Canadian consumers value recommendations from credible and familiar sources on various social platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, giving influencer marketing considerable power.

Types of influencers

We often have this notion of influencers with 500,000 subscribers. But did you know that there are different types of influencers, and that not all of them have hundreds of thousands of subscribers? Here's a short summary of the different types:

Influencer follower tiers

Obviously, this is an average, as there are no precise figures to quantify each type of influencer. However, here's an interesting fact: nano-influencers, those with the fewest followers, have the highest engagement rates. They're often the most accessible, too.

The role of brands and agencies

Brands and agencies have key roles to play in an influencer marketing campaign. Brands are responsible for identifying their marketing objectives, defining their target audience and selecting influencers that match their values.

Agencies specialized in influencer marketing will act as a relay between a brand and an influencer. They can find the best influencer for a given campaign. They also negotiate contracts, design campaigns and measure performance.

A partnership between these two entities will certainly result in a more successful campaign.

The benefits of influencer marketing

We're not telling you anything new when we say that influencer marketing has many advantages. Still, here are just a few of them:

Increasing your visibility

For this type of campaign, when you target an influencer who has a large community of followers – or few followers but who are highly engaged – you expose your company to lots of potential customers. Provided you choose the right influencer, of course.

Building brand trust

When choosing an influencer, make sure they are honest and authentic. That way, they'll be talking about your product or service in the way only a fan could. Their community will trust them, and therefore, your brand.

Benefitting from an engaged community

Influencers are seasoned content creators who publish regularly. It's safe to say that their algorithms are constantly primed and ready! Therefore, a publication from them can quickly go viral. Their subscribers will like, comment on and share their publications. This is even truer in the case of nano-influencers, as they are often the closest to their community. They may have fewer subscribers, but their followers are far more active and engaged. So as soon as they share an opinion on a product or service, people will take note.

Maximizing your chances

To reap the benefits of an influencer campaign, it's important to be well-prepared. Above all, that means effectively targeting the campaign's objectives: make sure to choose the right audience and the right influencer to create a close relationship with that audience.

Choosing the right influencer

This step is crucial to the success of a campaign. A wrong choice may result in an unforeseen, negative impact.

High cost

If you don't take the time to accurately target influencers who match your brand and values, you risk spending large sums of money with no return on investment. A very popular influencer may charge you exorbitant rates, but perhaps their subscribers aren't your target audience at all. It's the same with poorly structured, unclear contracts.

Imagine, for example, that you're collaborating with an influencer on a new product. This person creates quality content, which attracts thousands of followers and significant visibility for your product. However, after the campaign, disagreements arise over the rights to use the content, and intellectual property rights have not been clearly established in the contract. You could end up with legal disputes, and therefore substantial legal costs that could have been avoided.

Influencer controversy

Who hasn't read about an influencer controversy? Remember the Sunwing debacle? Influencers often make the headlines, and not always for the right reasons.

If you don't want to end up with controversial partnerships, be cautious and select people who have the same values as you. Otherwise, partnering with an influencer at the center of a controversy could damage your reputation, and consumer trust or, even worse, result in campaign cancellations.

Lack of authenticity

It's often talked about, but it's a crucial point! Did you know that "61% of consumers believe that authenticity is the most important quality an influencer should have"? Lack of authenticity in influencer marketing risks compromising the trust between the influencer and his or her followers.

And it's so important to be authentic, especially these days! The proof? “Authentic” has been named Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2023.

Picture the following scenario: an influencer chooses to promote a poor-quality product that doesn't correspond to their values, or push a dangerous or counterfeit product without even having tested it. What will happen? The campaign will be perceived as a scam by subscribers. And of course, when the influencer promotes their next product, their community will be much more suspicious, even at the risk of not trusting the product in the first place. Imagine being the company behind that next product!

Hence the importance of reaching out to influencers who maintain a high level of credibility and authenticity. This is also why we often recommend giving an influencer almost "carte blanche" in a campaign. They know their audience better than you do, and they'll know how to talk to them. And the more authentic the content, the more likely it is to pay off!

How to reduce the risks associated with influencer marketing?

To ensure a successful campaign while minimizing the inherent risks, we recommend that you select your influencers carefully, ensure they are diverse and, above all, draw up clear agreements with them.

Of course, even with these measures in place, situations may arise that are beyond your control. But if you put all the odds on your side, there's a better chance that the collaboration will pay off for both parties.

Influencer marketing costs

Many factors can influence (!) the costs of influencer marketing:

  • The influencer's reputation
  • The number of subscribers
  • The type of content to be produced (text, video, photo, etc.)
  • The desired engagement
  • The number of posts etc.

Obviously, all this will be discussed and drawn up in the contract.

To give you an idea of the real cost of an influencer campaign, the Metricool website offers the following rates, based on the number of subscribers: 

A base rate of $10 for 1,000 subscribers
To this standard rates are added:

+ $100 for every 10,000 subscribers
+ $1,000 for every 100,000 subscribers
+ $10,000 for every 1,000,000 subscribers

You can also use the rate calculator offered by Influence Marketing Hub to find out the approximate costs on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.

Is influencer marketing for me?

Yes, without a shadow of a doubt, companies will benefit from influencer campaigns in 2023. As long as they're done right.

You can also encourage UGC – user-generated content – which is less costly, more authentic and more diverse. This means encouraging consumers to talk about your product via videos, forums and Google reviews.

It's always possible to work with influencer agencies to find the influencer who best suits your needs. But above all, don't forget to plan a social networking strategy to avoid spreading yourself too thin!

Stay tuned for our next article on influencer marketing!

Update WordPress

6 reasons to update WordPress

WordPress

In the fast-paced world of website management, keeping your WordPress site up-to-date is more than just good practice—it's essential. 

Doing your WordPress updates regularly means having the peace of mind that your site is healthy and safe. Here’s why the reverse could have catastrophic consequences for your online presence. 

Why is it so important?

WordPress continually evolves, bringing new features, improvements and security patches with each update. In 2023, while over 75% of WordPress sites used version 6, nearly 25% were still on older versions, exposing them to security risks and completely missing out on new features. 

Regular updates ensure your website remains secure, performant, and compatible with the latest web standards. 

Here are 6 reasons why you should update to the latest WordPress version asap:

1. Keep a good website reputation (it’s important!)

Outdated websites are more vulnerable to being infected by malware allowing online criminals to use your website in order to mass-attack high-level websites such as financial institutions, streaming sites like Netflix, social media platforms such as Facebook, etc. This could quickly get you blacklisted by Google Safe Browsing, by most anti-virus software or by major browsers. 

2. Enhance your website security

Security is a top priority in website management and anywhere online, really. By updating WordPress, you equip your site with the latest security patches, significantly reducing the risk of hacking or data breaches. WordPress's open-source nature makes it a target for hackers, but updates include vital fixes for known vulnerabilities, ensuring your site's safety.

3. Get access to new features

Regular updates provide access to the latest WordPress features and functionalities, enhancing your website’s capabilities and offering more customization options. Each update brings advancements like the Gutenberg block editor and the Site Health tool, which are continuously refined to enhance your website experience.

4. Boost your website’s speed

Running your website on an older version of WordPress will likely slow it down. Each new version of WordPress brings performance improvements that enhance your website's speed and user experience. This is crucial as website speed directly impacts visitor behaviour. 

In fact, 40% of visitors will leave if it takes more than 3 seconds for an e-commerce website to load. Faster websites not only offer a better user experience but also rank higher in search engine results, making updates crucial for your site's SEO success.

5. Resolve bugs and issues

Updates are vital for fixing bugs that may occur in major releases, enhancing your site's stability and functionality. Even minor WordPress releases focus on resolving specific issues, which is essential for a seamless user experience.

Proof that this is crucial, WordPress forums often suggest updating as the first step in troubleshooting bugs, emphasizing the importance of running the latest version for a bug-free experience.

6. Maintain compatibility

Updating all WordPress components (themes, plugins, WordPress core) regularly ensures they’re all from the same “generation’ and compatible. Updating some components more often than others may lead to incompatibilities and break your website.

If you have a complex website that uses several plugins, we recommend waiting a few weeks before upgrading as major upgrades may break some plugins/themes. 

How to update your WordPress site

When you’re ready to upgrade, you can do so from either your WordPress dashboard or cPanel. You can follow a pretty straightforward process and do it yourself or reach out to your webmaster or web developer. 

Ensure you have a working backup before making any changes. This way, you can quickly revert to your previous installation if any problems occur.

If you use one of our Pro Managed WordPress plans, you can create a staging site to test out the new version. This will create a copy of your live website in a separate staging environment for testing (that won’t affect your production site).

What to consider before updating

Even though updating WordPress is critical, it's important to proceed with caution as there are potential risks. Consider these essential points before starting the process:

  • Plugin/Theme Incompatibility: Be aware that not all plugins or themes may be compatible with the newest WordPress update. This mismatch can sometimes cause issues with your website's functionality.
  • Watch Out for Bugs: Remember, new updates might bring their own set of bugs. These are generally addressed in subsequent updates, but it's something to be mindful of.
  • Importance of Backups: Always back up your site before implementing any updates. This step is your safety net, allowing you to restore your site to its previous state if any problems occur.
  • Utilize a Staging Site for Testing: Particularly for complex websites with numerous plugins, testing updates on a staging site first is highly recommended. This approach helps identify and resolve issues before they impact your live site.

How to know when there’s an update

Keeping track of every new WordPress release can be a challenge but there are several ways to stay informed:

However, there’s a simpler and more streamlined solution: make sure to open our monthly newsletter! We send these at the end of every month and if there's a new WordPress update or anything important regarding your hosting or your website, you'll find it right there.

Updating WordPress: Auto vs. Manual

In the world of WordPress updates, think of it like this: go ahead and auto-update the little stuff, but for the big changes and fussy plugins, it's better to roll up your sleeves and update manually. Here are our handy suggestions to show you exactly what fits where!

  • Minor and Major Versions: Auto-update is recommended for minor versions. For major versions, manual testing is advised before updating.
  • Plugins: Auto-update is recommended for plugins that are reputable & trustworthy.
  • Plugins with Dependencies: Auto-update is not recommended for plugins with dependencies (e.g. WooCommerce).
  • Custom Themes: Auto-update is not advised for custom themes, especially those with child themes.

Act Now: Elevate Your Online Presence

It's time to take action and check if your WordPress site is up to date. If not, do so and embrace the latest features and security enhancements. You'll secure your site, be able to accomplish more. It’s a win-win.

Updating your WordPress is a crucial step in your journey to digital excellence. Should you have any questions, our support team is always ready to assist. 

Last words: Out with the old, in with the new WordPress update.

Have yourself a good WordPress update day!

Divi vs Elementor: Which WordPress page builder is better?

WordPress
When it comes to creating websites, a content management system (CMS) is usually a must. And in terms of CMS, WordPress is undoubtedly the international leader. Obviously, to be able to create a WordPress site that packs a punch, you need to know how to use the right tools. It's also no secret: there are plenty of tools, plugins and builders available for making a WordPress site, but unfortunately, not all of them work. In this article, we present two tried-and-tested themes: Divi and Elementor. When it comes to building a dynamic site with ease, a page builder is the way to go. But which one to choose? Let's take a look at the following comparison.
Logo Divi

Divi Builder

First of all, it's important to remember that Divi, like the Pro version of Elementor, is much more than a page builder. It's also a theme and a theme builder, making it a one-stop-shop for users looking to create dynamic websites. This also, by the way, makes it one of the most popular WordPress themes in the world.
Page builder: a tool for creating attractive website layouts, without coding. Theme: a set of files that determines the look and layout of a WordPress site. Theme builder: a tool that lets you create your own WordPress theme without having to write any code. In a nutshell, a page builder is used to create individual layouts, a theme governs the overall look of the site, and a theme builder offers in-depth customization of the WordPress theme as a whole.
In this article, we'll focus on the page builder.

Features

Despite all the options on offer, the Divi builder has a rather intuitive interface, and allows you to create highly dynamic pages. Not only does it boast an extensive library of templates to help you design these pages, but it's also easy to use, thanks to its drag-and-drop functionality. The possibilities are almost endless. Screenshot of the Divi interface where the user can insert a module

Pros

  • Advanced block page customization makes for unique sites
  • Design options are highly flexible
  • Mobile compatibility is easy to set up
  • The option of working in Front-End mode means you can see the changes you've made in real time
  • The integrated page templates, available in the library, make it super easy to get started
  • Single license payment is ideal if you have several websites
  • Very efficient customer support, available 24/7 via chat, where the technician can actually take over the site to help make changes; in addition, Divi offers an extensive database of video tutorials

Cons

  • The price tag is quite high, as you'll have to spend over $250 for the license; however, this is a one-off payment and you'll have lifetime access to build as many sites as you like
  • The learning curve can be steep for beginners, especially with so many customization options
  • Customer support is only available in English
  • Divi-designed sites slow down considerably if you don't optimize images and content
Logo Elementor

Elementor

Elementor is a prominent page builder for WordPress, known for its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options. Ideal for both beginners and experts, it simplifies website creation, enabling users to design responsive, visually appealing sites with minimal effort. Let's delve into the features that make Elementor a great builder for WordPress website creation.

Features

Like Divi, Elementor offers an intuitive interface, despite the many options available. This page builder also lets you create dynamic sites thanks to its drag-and-drop functionality. It offers a variety of tools for tailoring your site to your needs. Screenshot of the Elementor interface where the user can insert a block

Pros

  • The free version of Elementor may be adequate for building basic sites
  • Like Divi, it can work in Front-End mode, allowing you to preview, in real time, how your site will appear to users
  • Elementor offers a mobile-specific editing mode, allowing users to check and adjust the appearance of their site for phones and tablets
  • There are fewer options than with Divi, which makes Elementor much more intuitive and concrete, whether you're a beginner or an expert
  • Customer support is available by e-mail and chat 24/7, as are a host of articles, videos and frequently asked questions (FAQ) that answer many basic queries.

Cons

  • The free version of Elementor will plateau rather quickly; to access many of the advanced features, you'll need to pay for the much more comprehensive Pro version
  • Even with the Pro license, the number of sites you can design is limited: $199 per year, for instance, will allow for a maximum of 25 sites
  • As with Divi, customer support is only available in English

Comparison table

The following table summarizes the tools' key features.
DIVI BUILDER ELEMENTOR
User interface Divi Builder is intuitive, but requires a steep learning curve due to the complexity and diversity of its options. Elementor's interface is intuitive and suitable for beginners and more seasoned users alike.
Price Divi Builder offers a one-time payment for lifetime access. Although the initial cost is high, it can pay off in the long run, especially if you create several sites. Elementor offers a free version, but functionality is limited. The paid Pro version is more affordable for those planning to create a single site.
Creative flexibility Divi Builder offers flexibility and wide-ranging design options. Thanks to advanced customization, you'll be able to create a unique site. Elementor also offers great flexibility, with simplified options to suit both beginners and experienced users.
Themes Divi is a WordPress theme in itself, as well as a page builder. It lets you design a site from A to Z, without adding an external theme. There's a basic theme designed for Elementor called Hello Elementor. You can start with this theme or choose from a range of free or paid themes.
Template library Offers a wide choice of pre-designed templates to suit different business sectors. Offers a vast library of templates available for customization.
Performance Sites designed with Divi offer stable performance, but are reputedly slower. Optimizing images and content is essential to maintain fast loading times. Similarly, with optimized images and content, Elementor delivers solid, fast performance – even with the most advanced features.
Adaptive (Responsive) design Divi offers adaptive design options to ensure your site is responsive across different devices. Like Divi, Elementor offers features to optimize adaptive design. It's even possible to see changes in real time.
We consider the two builders equivalent in terms of the following:
  • Mobile compatibility
  • Real-time site editing (Front-end)
  • Block page customization
  • Customer support

In the end, do I go for Divi or Elementor?

Ultimately, we're not going to recommend one tool over the other. However, we suggest you try out the free versions of Divi and Elementor to familiarize yourself with both. After that, you'll find it much easier to decide. As you can see, each has its own advantages and disadvantages, even though the two builders are very similar. Perhaps you'll choose to look at other page builders? Here's a non-exhaustive list of other tools you can use to create your site’s layout: Obviously, these aren't our first choices; if you've got the budget, we suggest you concentrate on Divi and Elementor. We'd also love to hear from you. Are you on Team Divi or Team Elementor?

WordPress 6.4 “Shirley” is here

WordPress
On November 7, 2023, WordPress introduced its third major update of the year — WordPress 6.4, affectionately named "Shirley" in honor of the jazz virtuoso Shirley Horn. Inspired by Shirley's musical finesse, this new version blends sophistication with usability. Bringing you a new default theme, major enhancements and many new features for a better, more seamless website creation experience. Let’s take a look at what’s new with WordPress 6.4.
As usual, if you have a complex website that uses several plugins, we recommend waiting at least a few weeks before upgrading to 6.4. Major upgrades may break some plugins/themes.

What’s new with WordPress 6.4?

WordPress 6.4 arrives with exciting updates that make building your website easier than ever. Expect improved templates that make designing your site straightforward, enhanced writing tools for effortless creation of content, and expanded features that empower you with greater creative control. Whether you're building your first website without any coding knowledge or you’re a seasoned developer who builds websites from scratch, WordPress 6.4 makes the process more user-friendly and efficient. Let’s unpack all this…

Twenty Twenty-Four: A sexy new default theme

WordPress 6.4 welcomes Twenty Twenty-Four as its new default theme, and we love it at WHC! This versatile and adaptable theme is designed to meet diverse needs, offering more than 35 templates and patterns ideal for bloggers, artists, and business owners. Curious? Experience how flexible the theme is on the live demo website. Switch through different site demos for Entrepreneurs, Bloggers and Photographers in the top right menu to see how Twenty Twenty-Four can transform to suit different website styles. Try it for yourself or get a visual feel of Twenty Twenty Four below. Screenshot of the new Twenty Twenty-Four WordPress theme

An easier writing process

WordPress 6.4 smooths out the writing process with several bug fixes and Core Editor Improvements like new keyboard shortcuts, smarter list integrations, and refined hyperlink controls. The updated toolbar for Navigation, List, and Quote Blocks streamlines your workflow, making content creation more efficient and enjoyable. Screenshot of the new toolbar in WordPress

A more intuitive Command Palette

The Command Palette is a powerful tool that first appeared in WordPress 6.3. It accelerates your building process, allowing you to find features swiftly and apply block-specific actions with ease. In this version, the Command Palette has been revamped with a sleek design and additional commands. You can find the command palette at the top of the Site Editor. Or simply press either ⌘+k on your Mac, or CTRL+K on your Windows keyboard. Screenshot of the refreshed Command Palette in WordPress

Create, organize and filter Patterns

Patterns allow you to copy/paste beautiful pre-designed layouts to any WordPress site. The power of patterns is unleashed further in WordPress 6.4, allowing you to categorize and filter them effortlessly. Find the perfect pattern with ease, thanks to the advanced filtering options in the inserter. Screenshot of the Site Editor's patterns in WordPress

More design tools

WordPress 6.4 brings new design tools to improve your website’s look. Add background pictures to sections for special effects and use placeholders to keep image sizes just right. Also, you can now easily add buttons to menus without needing to code.

Additional Features

  • Better performance: This update boosts speed with over 100 performance improvements. Key upgrades enhance theme loading, smarter script handling, and optimized data fetching for a smoother experience.
  • Enhanced accessibility: Every release is committed to making WordPress accessible to everyone, and this one does not disappoint: List View updates, Navigation block labels, better admin UI button positioning, and clearer Site Health announcements.
  • Images that stand out: Lightbox functionality means that your visitors can now enjoy full-screen, interactive images in one click.
  • Streamline Group Blocks: Easily rename Group blocks, like "Hero Area," to tidy up and track content sections in List View. multiple blocks, and an interface that’s now embedded into the title bar.
  • Quick Image Previews: Spot images swiftly with new previews for Gallery and Image blocks directly in List View.
  • Portable Patterns: Transfer your custom patterns between sites with ease using the JSON import/export feature in the Site Editor.
  • Dynamic Block Placement: This one will make developers’ lives easier with the ability to insert blocks dynamically with Block Hooks, offering site-wide block management while maintaining user control over content.
  • PHP support: PHP 8.1 or 8.2 are recommended for use with WordPress 6.4
Curious to learn more? Check out the official 6.4 release notes for additional info about this release.

Upgrading to WordPress 6.4

WordPress 6.4 is available on our Web Hosting and Managed WordPress plans.
If you have a complex website that uses several plugins, we recommend holding off for a few weeks before upgrading, as major upgrades may break some plugins/themes. When you’re ready to upgrade, you can do so from either your WordPress dashboard or cPanel. See Manually Update WordPress and WordPress Plugins for more information. If you use one of our Pro Managed WordPress plans, you can create a staging site to test out the new version. This will create a copy of your live website in a separate staging environment for testing (that won’t affect your production site).
Ensure you have a working backup before making any changes. This way, you can quickly revert to your previous installation if any problems occur.

Until next time

We hope this article gave you some insight into the exciting new changes WordPress 6.4 brings. Want to see what’s coming ahead in future versions? Check out what’s planned for 6.5! If you have any questions about how the upgrade may affect you, reach out to our friendly support team. We’ll be happy to assist!