Tips Tuesday – WP 7.0.2 Security Release, Classic Block Going Away, New Metrics in GSC
Tips this week include:
- WordPress 7.0.2 released – do this now!
- WordPress 7.1 big Block change coming
- Classic Blocks’s days are numbered
- Updating old content
- Thank you for not using AI on your site
- New social and video metrics in GSC
- Use Shorts videos for max reach
WordPress Tips
WP 7.0.2 Released
7.0.1 fixed 31 bugs, but they later found 1 critical and 1 high security issue.
It should have auto updated for you, but if not, please manually update now, due to these fixes being security issues.
WP 7.1 Big Block Change Coming
The next major release of WordPress will be August 19 with version 7.1.0.
And there is one big change coming to Blocks.
If any are still based on API v2, they will break with the update.
So, WP is STRONGLY encouraging Block devs to start testing NOW on the Beta version that is already available instead of waiting for the RC (Release Candidate) to become available in early August.
Let’s hope they do!!!
FYI, if you’re wondering why this change is necessary, see this post from The Gutenberg Times about how the blocks render on the front-side vs the admin page editor. The editor needs to render in an iframe too, like the front-side does.
Classic Block’s Days are Numbered
I’m actually surprised that WP has maintained support for the Classic Block all these years.
But the push is on to get rid of it.
There was even a proposal to drop support for it in the WP 7.1 release, but that has been pushed back.
So, let this be fair warning that if you still have any content on your site that is in Classic Block, it may or may not work well with future WP releases.
Updating Old Content
So, does this mean we need to start updating super old content that is still in the Classic Block now?
Maybe not.
For WP 7.1, they may be adding a better conversion/migration tool that will automatically convert our older content.
So, let’s wait and see how well that tool works before we give ourselves a bunch of work.
The current Convert to Blocks tool is a little uneven in how it works on pages/posts that have complex layouts. Maybe this new tool will be better.
But keep in mind that they may drop Classic Block support in the WP 7.2 release which may be out in December. And the conversion may be automatic after that upgrade, but who knows how well it will work on your posts/pages.
So, it could be a gamble to wait too long. I honestly don’t know how to call this one, y’all.
FYI, back when I had my themes changed over to Kadence I remade ALL of my pages so that everything was in Blocks. That helped immensely with column layouts. And it also helped me create Accessibility compliant buttons and such too.
But, I most certainly have not updated all of my super old posts that are still in the Classic Block. I’ve only converted the ones where I also had a need to update the content. And I suggest you start taking that approach if you have not done so already. Just convert while you’re already refreshing the post.
Thank You For Not Using AI on Your Site
AI development in and for WordPress is taking off like a rocket since they added the API connectors back in WP 7.0.
I truly appreciate that y’all aren’t going for the “shiny new thing” and are still using AI off your sites for now.
FYI, my concerns with integrating AI on your site are not security based if you are using the API to connect to things like ChatGPT or Claude or such directly. That’s safe now.
My concerns lie with all of the AI-coded plugins that are popping up in droves now. While free plugins on the WP repository go through a mild security check, those that you purchase privately do not.
And I’m 100% positive that a lot of these new vibe coders know nothing about security and proper version control.
So, let’s continue to keep those off the site, please.
SEO Tips
New Social and Video Metrics
You may recall earlier this year that I reported Google experimenting with a new metrics set for Google Search Console.
Well, now they are rolling it out to everyone!
It’s called Platform Properties and it shows “which search terms lead people to your Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube content on Search, and see exactly how your audience is interacting with your posts.”
I don’t have it yet, but I’m guessing I will soon. And I’ll be putting together a tutorial and workshop on it for the DIY SEO course. I’ll also be looking into how to integrate it with EZ Metrix.
Video Tips
Use Shorts for Max Reach
There are LOTS of things you can do with Shorts videos to maximize eyeballs on your content, including pointing folks to your long-form content, which is the main way I use them.
See this post on the YouTube blog for a BUNCH of great ideas on how to use Shorts, including the new Live streaming for them.
