Modernizing a WordPress Site: Key Observations and Recommendations
- Hosting environment is slow and lacks advanced features
- Current setup suitable only as an interim solution, not ideal for long-term use
- Theme is overridden by multiple layers including:
- Child theme
- Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
- Mega menu plugin
- Custom templates
- Numerous unique navigation patterns across the site
- Navigation elements are difficult to edit due to being buried in CSS and plugins
- Current theme is a limited version of a more robust product
- Upgrading theme preserves existing layout work while unlocking advanced features
- Rebuilding headers and footers in the upgraded theme is strongly recommended
- A single global footer is already in place, simplifying that aspect
- Header structures are fragmented and require cleanup
- Full-screen mega menus are outdated and difficult to dismiss; simple dropdowns are preferable
- Use of ACF and mega menus was common 4–5 years ago but now largely outdated
- ACF-driven elements can now be handled natively by the upgraded theme
- Visual editing and control is greatly improved in the upgraded theme
- Modern design goals may be better achieved with alternative platforms
- Suggested design inspirations include clean, responsive SaaS templates
- Alternative platforms offer superior control, speed, and modern aesthetics
- Recommended workflow for modernizing the WordPress site:
- Set up a clean hosting environment
- Migrate existing site to a staging environment
- Upgrade to the advanced theme version
- Remove hardcoded headers and footers
- Rebuild those elements using the theme’s visual tools
- Resolve identified issues
- Point DNS to the new build
- Continue refining the site post-launch
- Many current design elements rely on scattered CSS and plugin dependencies
- Performing this work in the current hosting environment would result in unnecessary delays and inefficiencies due to limited support and slow performance
This checklist serves as a roadmap for migrating from a legacy WordPress setup to a modern, maintainable, and visually flexible site structure.
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