Welcome to the world of website building with Kadence! Before diving in, it’s important to understand a few key concepts about WordPress, themes, hosting, and Kadence tools. This guide will help beginners get up to speed so you can create your website with confidence.
WordPress Basics: What You Need to Know
WordPress is one of the most popular platforms for building websites, but it comes in two forms:
WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org
- WordPress.com:
- A managed platform where your site is hosted for you.
- Limited customization options unless you’re on higher-tier plans.
- You will need to be on the WordPress Business hosting plan in order to use the Kadence Plugins.
- WordPress.com can be limited depending on the pricing plan that you currently have. Currently, WordPress.com only allows you to use 3rd party themes and plugins if you have a Business or E-Commerce plan. If you have the Personal or Premium plan, you will not be able to upload 3rd party Themes or Plugins to the website.
- WordPress.org:
- A self-hosted platform that gives you full control over your website.
- Requires a hosting provider where your website lives (like a virtual garage for your files).
- Kadence is fully compatible with WordPress.org and is designed to help you build fast, professional sites.
If you’re unsure which WordPress version you’re using, contact us! We’re here to help.
What is a WordPress Theme?
A theme controls your website’s overall design, including layouts, colors, typography, and styles.
- The Kadence Theme provides a flexible, lightweight foundation for any website.
- Kadence Pro enhances the theme with advanced features like header/footer builders and dynamic content.
👉 Learn More About the Kadence Theme
What Are Blocks?
WordPress uses a block-based editor (Gutenberg) to design pages and posts. Blocks are individual pieces of content, like text, images, buttons, or galleries.
- Kadence Blocks expands Gutenberg with advanced tools to create beautiful, functional layouts.
- Add-ons like Kadence Blocks Pro unlock premium features for enhanced design and functionality.
What is Hosting? Why Do You Need It?
A hosting provider is where your website “lives” on the internet. It’s a server that stores your files and makes your site accessible online.
Recommended Hosting Provider: Nexcess
Kadence partners with Nexcess to provide:
- Fast and secure hosting optimized for WordPress.
- Easy site management with staging environments (sandbox sites).
- Excellent customer support for troubleshooting hosting issues.
Get Started with Nexcess Hosting: 👉 Learn More About Nexcess Hosting
What is a Sandbox Site?
A sandbox site is a temporary environment where you can test features, experiment with designs, or demo Kadence tools without affecting a live site.
- Kadence Free Demo: A temporary demo site where you can try out Kadence features.
- Current limit: 3 hours. We’re exploring ways to extend this timeframe!
What Happens if My License Lapses?
If your Kadence license expires:
- Your site will continue to function.
- You’ll lose access to premium features, updates, and support.
- Renewing your license restores access to all features and ensures compatibility with the latest WordPress updates.
What Happens if I remove Kadence downloads from my site?
- Your site will not function without the Kadence Theme, Kadence Blocks, or other premium tools you may be using.
- Maintaining an active license for Kadence ensures your site’s full functionality and security.
Order of Operations: Installing Kadence Tools
Setting up Kadence is easy. Install the following in order for a seamless experience:
- Kadence Theme (Free): Provides the core design foundation.
- Kadence Theme Pro: Unlocks advanced design tools (install as a plugin).
Kadence Blocks (Free): Adds powerful design tools to the block editor.
Kadence Blocks Pro: Enhances your layouts with premium features.
See Installation Guide
What Are Kadence Add-Ons?
When purchasing a Kadence bundle, you’ll receive access to add-ons that enhance your website’s capabilities:
- Kadence AI Starter Templates: Quickly create sites with AI-generated content and layouts.
- ShopKit for WooCommerce: Advanced tools for eCommerce stores.
- Kadence Conversions: Popups, slide-ins, and call-to-actions for lead generation.
- Child Theme Builder: Create reusable themes for rapid project launches.
- Pattern Hub: Pre-designed patterns and blocks for easy customization.
- Kadence Recaptcha: Add spam protection to forms.
Still Unsure? We’re Here to Help!
If you’re new to WordPress or unsure about your setup, our Customer Success team is here to assist you. Whether it’s figuring out WordPress.org vs. .com, installing Kadence tools, or choosing the right add-ons, we’ll guide you every step of the way.
Start your website-building journey with confidence using Kadence! 🚀
