Anyone who works in WordPress support knows the classic questions about the world's most important CMS. What is the best way to implement cookie banners, simple backups, the right image sizes or update plugins and themes? And how do you find support in an emergency?
You can find out this and more in our interview with Jonas Tietgen. With his WordPress community WP Ninjas, he helps to make WordPress and WooCommerce even easier to understand on a daily basis.
Implement cookie banners correctly
Jonas, you often get the following question: How do you install a cookie banner in WordPress that really works? What are your best tips and plugins?
There are many plugins and tools for WordPress to integrate a cookie banner or opt-in that is as compliant as possible with the GDPR. And I've worked with almost every one of them. My first tip is that you shouldn't be afraid to invest some money in this topic. Although there are free plugins, they usually either lack important functions or are anything but easy to use.
In my experience, Real Cookie Banner is currently the best cookie banner plugin for WordPress. I use it myself on my websites and recommend it to my customers. Probably the biggest advantage of this plugin is that it comes with an extensive template library. Over 90 cookies and services are integrated here. If you select one of these templates, all technical information and legal texts are automatically filled in.
In addition, "Real Cookie Banner" offers more options for meeting the necessary legal requirements than any other plugin or tool I know of. If you need help setting up the plugin, I can recommend my instructions. There is also a voucher for the purchase.
A good alternative is the Borlabs Cookie Plugin, which I also used for some time. However, it unfortunately doesn't have as many templates on board, which can make the setup more time-consuming. No matter how the opt-in or cookie banner is created: Don't underestimate the effort and skills required to do this. You need to know and be able to check which external connections are established and which cookies are set. If in doubt, it is best to seek competent support.
Cookie banner: What you should consider legally
Insert jump labels and jumplinks
Likewise, many of you want to know how to link to individual sections within a page or post in WordPress, also known as a jump link or anchor link called. What is your solution here?
Many paths lead to such a so-called jumplink. If a PageBuilder (e.g. Thrive Architect, Divi, Elementor etc.) is used, you usually don't need any programming knowledge to implement this. In Thrive Architect, for example, an integrated function allows you to click to select where a link should lead within the page.
When editing an element or section in PageBuilders, there is always a field for an "ID", "CSS ID" or similar. You can now enter anything you like here to designate this section. Let's take a section with a contact form as an example and enter "contact" in this field. A link can then be set at the desired location, which refers to "#contact". This link then leads to the desired location.
If you are not using PageBuilder and are working with the Gutenberg or Classic Editor, this can be implemented quite easily with a little bit of HTML. To do this, the ID is set using HTML. Let's stick with the example of a section with a contact form and place it in a div element with an assigned ID:
<div id=”kontakt”></div>The link leading to this section can then be set in the usual way and refers to "#contact".
Create and restore backups securely
How do you create a backup of a website as easily as possible? And above all: how do you restore it in a way that is easy on the nerves?
Since not everyone who uses WordPress has the technical skills to manually download all the files and export the database, I am happy to recommend a plugin for this. In my many years of experience, the free UpdraftPlus plugin is really perfect for this purpose. Once set up, it automatically creates backups of the entire website at a predefined interval so that you no longer have to worry about it.
And setting it up is also very simple and quick, as only two settings need to be made. Should the worst case scenario occur, UpdraftPlus allows you to restore the backup with just a few clicks. At least if you can still log into the WordPress backend.
If there is no access to the backend, you have to import the database manually and upload the files via FTP. Depending on the problem, importing the database may already be sufficient.
Of course, it's even better and easier if you host the website with you. Your daily backups are reliable and, above all, can be restored with a single click. This is of course very convenient if the worst comes to the worst. Because regardless of whether the WordPress backend is still accessible or not, the backup can be restored directly via the Raidboxes interface.
If you host with Raidboxes, another backup solution is not necessary in my opinion. That's why I don't have another one active on my website and rely entirely on you.
Carry out updates correctly
A hotly debated topic with WordPress: What should you bear in mind when updating plugins and themes?
The most important point is the one that is probably the least hotly debated: Carry out the updates promptly! My recommendation is always to carry out updates in the following order:
- Perform backup
- Deactivate caching plugin
- Update plugins
- Update themes
- Update WordPress
In my experience, this can greatly reduce the risk of problems. And if something does go wrong, you have an up-to-date backup available.
The right image sizes
Some of your customers want to know in which size or pixel dimensions they should upload their images to WordPress. What do you have to consider here?
This is definitely a point that comes up again and again, so I'll try to summarize it as briefly as possible: Ideally, images should be uploaded in the pixel dimensions in which they will be used on the website. This means that they must be cropped with an image editing program before uploading.
The size in which the image is displayed is either specified by the theme used or is adjusted manually. The displayed size of an image can be viewed via the developer console. If no plugin for image optimization such as ShortPixel or Smush is used in WordPress, it should be resized with tinypng before uploading. This reduces the file size without any visible loss of quality.
If you want to go one step further and be more future-proof, you can output the images in WebP format with the help of a plugin such as ShortPixel Optimizer. This reduces the file size even further. The use of .svg files is also a good option for smaller file sizes. However, WordPress does not currently support the integration of these vector files.
Which SEO plugin for WordPress?
The question Yoast vs RankMath SEO plugin is a hotly debated topic in our magazine. What are your plugin recommendations for search engine optimization?
In my eyes, RankMath has the edge. It is better programmed, offers more options (especially with regard to schema markup) and, in my subjective opinion, is clearer. As a result, it is currently the number 1 SEO plugin for me for influencing the usual SEO parameters for which you need a plugin.
It is also a good idea to include a table of contents for longer articles. I can recommend the free Easy Table of Contents plugin for this if the PageBuilder and theme you are using do not offer an integrated option for a table of contents. Of course, there are many other plugins that support optimization for search engines. However, the majority of this takes place in the content itself.
Increasingly important: content marketing
If I were to mention another tip that is rather unknown, then I would like to mention the LinkWhisper plugin. It supports an often underestimated SEO measure: internal link building.
The WordPress plugin analyzes all pages and posts to provide an overview of how often they are internally linked and internally linked. The plugin can also make suggestions as to where further internal links can be placed. This saves a huge amount of time and provides you with important data. I promise that you will be very surprised how few internal links point to important pages and posts!
Managed WordPress hosting
You recommend our managed WordPress hosting to your customers. What makes Raidboxes so efficient for you?
For me, a host is efficient if it saves me time. And that is very much in the foreground with your WordPress hosting. For me as a user, your focus on WordPress hosting ensures that a lot of things happen automatically that are a lot of work for other hosters. Updating the PHP version, automatically creating backups, easy access to the server resources used, to name just a few.
In addition, there are functions that have to be retrofitted in WordPress installations with other hosters using a plugin or are simply not possible. I love the staging function with you and have used it for small tests but also for larger redesigns, super easy and included free of charge.
It is also useful to be able to deactivate the plugins and themes in the Raidboxes backend. If something goes wrong and you can no longer log in, this is a great option. Especially for those who use WordPress and are not familiar with technical things like FTP.
Oh yes, I almost forgot, but as we all know, the best is saved for last: Having worked with what feels like 50 different hosters, I can say with absolute certainty that your team is not only the nicest and fastest, but also by far the most competent!
Your support has already helped me a lot at various points, which has saved me a lot of time. It is the basis for my confidence that I will not be left alone if the worst comes to the worst. At this point, best regards and many thanks to Jan, Tino, Neele, Johannes, Milva and anyone else I may have forgotten 😉
Find WordPress support
Many companies seek help with WordPress support. But unfortunately, not all providers have real expertise in WordPress. How do you find the right service provider or suitable freelancers?
This is actually not an easy question to answer. For larger orders or projects in particular, I would recommend taking your time to select a service provider. I would check whether the chosen agency or person has published videos or articles, as this often gives you a good impression. Is the content understandable, do you feel comfortable watching the video and do you see the other person as trustworthy? But you can still fall victim to black sheep here too...
In any case, there should be a short introductory meeting, preferably not only with audio, but also with video. This gives you an impression of whether the collaboration is a good fit on a personal level. The classic method that works best is good old word of mouth. If someone has done a good job, he or she will be recommended to others. Of course, you shouldn't blindly rely on what other people say, but it is a very good way of doing so.
You can get recommendations from various places. For example, in Facebook groups, although I would recommend a group that is not about WordPress. You are usually in at least one group that deals with the topic of your own business and can ask there. Another option for qualitative recommendations are curated directories.
The first thing that comes to mind is your partner directory. Because anyone who works with you has to bring a certain quality to the table. That's why I'm delighted to be represented in your directory myself!
The most important plugins for WordPress
You have written a new e-book "WordPress Toolkit" with the most important plugins and tools for WordPress. How did you select the plugins? And where can I get the e-book?
The WordPress Toolkit was created because I am often asked in my members area which plugins, providers and tools I use and can recommend. I want to help you find the right ones in the ocean of WordPress plugins. And at the same time save you the time spent on tedious research and trial and error.
My selection is based on my many years of experience. To be more precise, it is based on the following parameters:
- Usability: The plugin must be easy to understand and use
- Support: Support should be competent and accessible
- Value for money: A good price-performance ratio is also important.
- Further development
The plugin also needs to be updated regularly. These things are very important to me. And I think everyone else who uses WordPress does too. You can find the WordPress Toolkit here on my website. I'm giving it away to all subscribers to my newsletter. But since not everyone wants to subscribe to the newsletter, you can alternatively buy it for 9€ net.
A few words about you and WP Ninjas?
I'd love to! I founded WP Ninjas in 2016 to help self-employed people edit, maintain and optimize their WordPress websites on their own. So my approach is mainly to help self-makers help themselves, to offer an alternative to expensive agencies, which many lone fighters in particular cannot afford.
There are more than 100 tutorials on my blog on how to work with WordPress and optimize your own website. The heart of WP Ninjas is now the WP Ninjas Dojo. This is my members' area, where I am always available to provide advice, answers and tips in an exclusive forum. Every month there is a live webinar, two co-workings and much more.
The community that has now formed here also supports each other. They exchange ideas and - despite the sometimes strenuous work with WordPress - above all have fun. I myself like to fill my time away from WP Ninjas with sports, motorcycle trips, walks and WordPress.
