(This post was set up using Gutenberg blocks)

As I was preparing this week for my workshop at Winter Writers Weekend  — I decided it was time to make the change on silverhoopedge.com to incorporate the new blocks system provided by the Gutenberg plugin. The Gutenberg plugin is a tool that allows site owners and content creators to try out the new editing experience coming to WordPress.

Most of my adjustments turned out to be non-dramatic. I chose to streamline the content layout of some of my pages. To replace the widgets used for Conductor Plugin and Ninja Forms, I used the available Gutenberg shortcode block as a transition tool.

There will be questions from existing site owners about how to handle the changes that will come with when the blocks from Gutenberg plugin become the normal editing experience for sites powered by WordPress.

While the new editing experience is under active development there are a few preliminary steps that existing site owners can take without changing anything which would impact the website visitor experience.

Preliminary steps:

• Learn how to create a backup of your files and database-pick an automated tool or manually copy you files regularly
• Learn how to properly restore your files and database if something goes wrong
• Ask your current webhosting vendor if a staging site is included with your plan 
• Are there any users that should no longer have a author, editor or administrator role on your site?
• Themes:
  • If you have purchased a premium theme: do you have a valid licence key to access to support?
  • If you are using a free theme: is it still actively supported?
  • If you are using a completely custom theme: is the original theme creator reachable?
• Review your installed plugins:
  • Delete plugins that are not used
  • Are your active plugins supported and compatible with the most recent WordPress version?
    
  • Ask plugin authors what the plan is for becoming "Gutenberg compatible"