The Importance of Utilizing A Current Wordpress Theme
Earlier this week, I ran into a bit of a glitch with my "Surviving Cancer" blog. I had added AdSense to my site a few weeks ago, and while these ads were getting clicks, I was getting the feeling that Google's auto AdSense ads were a bit too spammy, so I decided to switch to utilizing the AdInserter plugin, so I could have full control over where my ads were placed.
Needless to say the removal of the auto ads created a series of events that at first, I thought were the result of the ads themselves, but in reality was the result of something else.
After watching Marion's "Easy Adsense Ads with AdInserter" training, I realized I first needed to get rid of the existing ads on my site. Needless to say was easier said than done.
I removed the widget from my sidebar that contained AdSense code, and then went to the theme HEDR and removed the same code. Yet, after removing the code from both these areas, the ads STILL remained. I had seen in the comments on Marion's training that someone else had gone through a similar issue. The fix was to toggle site speed off an on in an effort to clear the website "cache". And if that didn't work, to disable the "Insert Header and Footer" plugin.
Needless to say, the cache clearing didn't work, so my last resort was to disable the plugin, even though the AdSense plugin did not live in there. Once I disabled that plugin, the issues with my site began.
My site had developed a glitch. At first, I worried that I might have removed too much code from the HEDR file, so I checked my site on multiple browsers, and it displayed fine, so I knew that couldn't be the issue. I soon noticed that these changes only affected my Wordpress dashboard.
I reached out to SiteSupport, and after trial and error on my side, clearing my browser cache, and restarting my browser, it seemed that my issues were related to my browser, so I told Support that the issue appeared to have resolved itself, but I would reach out again if it returned.
I attempted to log back on to my site the following morning, and the issue had returned. Symptoms were as follows:
1. Clicking the Logon button from my WA account would result in a white screen
2. I could go directly to my website, and click dashboard, and it would appear
3. Once in my dashboard, functionality was hit or miss. Clicking on AdInserter would result in a white screen, yet I could go in and modify posts without a problem.
I had reached back out to SiteSupport, but while taking a break for lunch I popped into the WA chat to see if anyone had any ideas as to what my issue was. Thoughts could be that I made an error when deleting the code from the HEDR file, plugin incompatibility with the current WP version, and a few other things I cannot recall.
There was already a secondary theme installed on my site that I wasn't using, so I switched to it, while keeping my existing theme installed, and the issue remained. I futzed with disabling the AdInserter plugin, thinking that may be an issue, but the issue remained.
I then deleted my old theme, and while on my secondary theme, the issue seemed to go
away. So thinking there may have been a glitch with my previous install, I went in search of a fresh install, and that is when I stumbled upon the potential issue. My site had been using the Sugar & Spice theme, and when I searched it on Wordpress, I found it hadn't been updated in 2 YEARS!!!! I downloaded it anyways, as a test, as it had worked prior to my playing with AdSense, and the issue returned. Unexpectedly I found myself in a position of having to find a new theme, sooner rather than later.
After much searching I landed upon the Ashe theme. I immediately installed it, and deleted Sugar & Spice, and all my issues went away. I have since updated to the Pro version of Ashe, as I had fallen in love with one of the templates that was only available in the pro version.
So, the moral of my story is simple. If your site has started to develop glitches that cannot be explained, your theme could be to blame. Just like our computers, Wordpress is constantly updated to fix bugs, as well as add new functionality, and sometimes older themes may not be compatible with the new changes.
Before you start playing with plugins, and settings on your site, check and make sure you are using a current Wordpress theme. If it's no longer available for download via your dashboard, then it may just be time to find a new one.
Recent Comments
21
Wow, sorry to hear about your problems, Jennifer. You make an excellent point about making sure you are using a current Wordpress theme.
Wayne
Thanks! Sometimes we don't realize that there could potentially be an issue until something goes wrong.
Thanks, very good post and great message. Glad you got your issues sorted, must have been a huge relief after all the work you had to do, great example for us all of perseverance, hudson
Yes, it was quite frustrating, especially when part of me thought I did something wrong when I removed the AdSense code from the HEDR file, but at the same time knowing that I didn't delete any more than I should have, otherwise my site would no longer work. And if that was the case, re-installing the theme would have solved that issue. It was just so strange, the theme worked perfectly fine, until I tried to make this change, and it was at that point that all hell broke loose. I now have a better understanding of why so many use the Pro themes because at least those tend to be maintained, as opposed to the free ones. I will admit I am a little disappointed, as I really did like the Sugar & Spice theme, and I'm sad they couldn't be bothered to keep it updated.
I had on-going problems with woo-commerce plug-in and my client was losing customers who couldn't place orders. I read all the forums looking for resolutions, posting my own questions and waiting for suggestion, but nobody ever responded. I wasted hours and hours researching, and wasted days waiting for replies to my posts, but hardly a note. Once it was suggested to use the health site plugin for a diagnosis but even that didn't help much.
I uninstalled all my plugins one by one to see if there was a conflict between plugins and my theme, and while a google maps plugin seemed to be the answer, the same plugin and same theme was working fine for another client of mine. Three months of trouble.
Reluctantly, I finally changed themes. I didn't want the hassle to fix the site back up and fill in missing pieces that can happen when you switch themes. Too bad I didn't do that before! It took less than a week to settle all the theme differences and I ended up liking it much better than before.
Themes. Pick wisely.
Wow! That was a lot of time and effort. I have to admit, it's so nice when our sites work as expected, but when something goes wrong, they are not necessarily the easiest to troubleshoot. I actually utilize WooCommerce on another site, but I'm currently using their "recommended" Storefront theme. And luckily "knock on wood", I haven't had an issue with that site yet. I should have remembered back to my college days of computer programming, that more times than not when the system throws an error, the location of the error is not where the actual problem is, but somewhere before that. Glad to hear you at least got everything figured out.
I am curious, as to which theme you ended up choosing?
Thank you for your extensive expose on getting the right theme, and keeping it updated. I'm about to change a theme for my website and I will now be looking carefully to make sure I choose a current WordPress theme.
Like I mentioned to someone else, I find it easiest to look here for themes:
https://wordpress.org/themes/
That way you can easily read reviews and see when the most recent update was. Then if you find something you like, you can easily search for it in the Themes section of your WP dashboard.
Good luck in your search. Picking a theme has always been a struggle for me because I always seemed to never be able to make my site match up to their "sample" template.
Always happy to help! I never realized that all the issues could be caused by something as simple as the plugin. Luckily my site didn't suffer major issues.
Hi Smokey
I am glad that you figured it all out.
Right now on my dashboard there is a update for the theme. When this shows up should I go ahead and update? I happen to like the image for 2017.🙂
Thanks for the heads up.
Maxine
Just like with your PC, whenever there is an update in WP, whether to WP itself, one of your plugins, or the theme, always go ahead and do those updates. I would also suggest deleting any themes that you are currently not using on your site, as there is no need to update those if they're not in use.
Jennifer,
Thank you this is something I will be bookmarking for future
reference I am hoping that in the future I will be able to purchase
a few themes but until then working with the ones in Word Press
I will keep an eye on to make sure they are updated.
The one I purchased wasn't overly expensive. It was a free theme, and it cost under $30 for the Pro features, and supposedly that includes lifetime support. I wanted to purchase their bundle of multiple themes from the same company, but while it was only $59, I didn't have the funds.
That is one thing holding me up I am new to WA and I live on a fixed income at the moment. Once everything starts to work for me then I will not have to struggle as much as I do now. At least that is my prayer :)
That's completely understandable. I don't work due to health issues, but luckily my husband does. There are a lot of Free Themes that are awesome, in my opinion, it's easier to search for them here: https://wordpress.org/themes/
That way you can get detailed info, and see the reviews all in one spot. And if you find one you like, you can then search for it in the Themes section on your WP site.
Stick with the training, and be consistent and success will come :-)
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Jennnifer after reading your post here, I decided to follow you. You have strong determination, and of the various members, I have followed very genuine in your approach overall. see you around WA. Take care
Awe, thanks! That has always been my goal, to be as honest as possible when it comes to my online endeavors. Whether here at WA or on my website, if I just help one person, then I've done my job.