7 WordPress Resources for March 2023

From better checkouts to preventing fraud to WordPress learning resources, this month’s roundup is packed with tools to help you create and maintain a great website. And if you are looking for a little design inspiration, check out the link to the Kadence Beat Podcast, where we are featuring a past episode with still relevant and actionable advice.

Here are 7 new design tools and resources to explore:

1. How to Create a Custom Checkout Page in WooCommerce

If you are like many other online stores, WooCommerce is likely the engine driving your sales platform. To make the most of its functionality, you can create a custom checkout page that goes beyond “out of the box” features for a shopping experience that matches your brand.

A custom checkout page helps provide a more personalized shopping experience and can ensure that customers only see what they need when checking out. This can make for an easier, quicker checkout or even help upsell related products. A smartly designed checkout page could help your ecommerce site increase its conversion rate by 35.26%.

Smart features can include everything from guest to login checkout or allowing coupon codes or seeing related options, or smart shipping that helps calculate costs quickly without user input.

WooCommerce has a lot of options to start, and you can further customize your checkout pages with Flux Checkout for WooCommerce. This plug replaces the default page with a super-fast and distraction-free option to get shoppers through their transactions with ease. (The best features include address autocomplete and visible progress cues for shoppers to know where they are in the checkout process.)

Not sure if this is the right option for your e-commerce site? The IconicWP article has everything you need to know about customization and how to use and install the plugin.

2. How Nonprofits Can Combat Spam Donations

Spam is more than just an annoyance for nonprofits, it can actually impact their livelihoods.

It’s getting more common for spammers to actually try to hit donation forms and pages as a way to collect sensitive information and even test stolen credit card information. For anyone managing a nonprofit website, this is a major issue that needs attention so that your organization does not run into issues.

This article from GiveWP dives into what spam donations are so you can understand, spot, and prevent them on your nonprofit website. While the information is aimed at nonprofits, the tips apply equally well to for-profit websites as well, including e-commerce sites or any websites that accept payments of any kind.

You’ll learn how to spot spam transactions and help prevent them with policies and website tools.

3. Designing the Perfect Home Page [Podcast]

This podcast episode is an oldie but a goodie. The founders of Kadence join the Kadence Beat Podcast to talk about what makes the perfect home page. (It’s a formula we’re all looking for!)

The episode takes a look at how to find the right content that turns site visitors into customers on your home page (by using a midwifery practice as an example). What questions do you answer, who is your target market, and how do you effectively get them to take the next step with your business?

You are almost guaranteed to learn a lot in this 30-minute episode from about this time last year. You can find it here or on your favorite podcast app.

4. WordPress Vulnerability Report

You need to keep up with WordPress issues to help keep your site safe and running smoothly. The WordPress Vulnerability Report shows all of the core issues that might pop up if you aren’t on the latest version of WordPress as well as vulnerabilities with plugins.

WordPress 6.2 Beta is ready for download and testing. The expected release is at the end of this month. With the arrival of WordPress 6.2, Phase Two of Gutenberg’s development will have ended. Phase Two focused on the Block and Site Editor features that allow deep customization of site designs and layouts.

Did you know one of the best things you can do to prevent these vulnerabilities on your website is to keep plugins up to date?

Some things to be on the lookout for in the latest report include vulnerabilities with these popular plugins: Updraft Plus, Popup Maker, Formidable Forms, 301 Redirects, WP Maps, and more.

Read all the WordPress Vulnerability Reports for February:

• WordPress Vulnerability Report – March 1, 2023
• WordPress Vulnerability Report – March 8, 2023
• WordPress Vulnerability Report – March 15, 2023
• WordPress Vulnerability Report – March 22, 2023

5. WordPress Plugin Roundup

If you want to keep up with everything happening in the world of WordPress, join the monthly Plugin Roundup.

Each month Nathan Ingram combs the WordPress plugin directory for interesting plugins that have been added or updated in the last 30 days and assembles a list of helpful and unique plugins for your WordPress website. And it’s free!

The next online event is on April 4th. Register for free today!

6. WordPress News Roundup

If you want to stay up-to-date on everything happening in the world of WordPress, join the monthly
WordPress News Roundup.

In this session, Ingram will discuss the latest developments in the WordPress ecosystem in this informational webinar. We’ll talk through this month’s WordPress news with plenty of interaction and Q&A.

The next event is on April 18th. Register today for free!

7. More From iThemes Training

WordPress 6.2 is set to release on March 28. Join Timothy Jacobs, iThemes Security Lead Developer, and WordPress Core Committer, on April 5, 2023, for a tour of the new features that will roll out. This version of WordPress is heavily focused on improvements that make the Block Editor even better and bring the Site Editor out of beta! This event is free, register today!

Wrapping Up

New tools and resources for WordPress are being released all the time, and we hope this list helps you discover new ways to improve your workflows. Make sure to check back next month for more new tools and resources.