One of the best parts about building WordPress sites for clients is when they log in after launch and say something like, “Oh wow, this is so easy to update.”
That’s not an accident. Over the years, I’ve learned that the handoff phase of a project is just as important as the build itself. If a client can’t manage their own content without calling me every time they want to change a phone number or headline, then something’s broken.
That’s where Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) comes in.
Why I Always Use ACF
By default, WordPress gives you pages and posts with a big content editor and maybe some custom post types. That works fine for basic sites. But once you start designing more complex layouts or repeating patterns, the native experience can quickly get confusing for clients. They either end up in the code view trying not to break anything or avoid touching the site altogether.
ACF lets me build a back-end experience that’s tailored to exactly what the client needs to manage—no more, no less.
Replacing Plugins with Custom Fields
One big advantage of ACF that doesn’t get talked about enough: it can replace a lot of bloated, unnecessary plugins.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve logged into a client’s existing site and seen a plugin for something like testimonials, FAQs, or sliders—each with its own custom admin UI, shortcode system, and quirks. Clients have no idea where to go to update that content because it’s tucked away in some plugin panel that doesn’t look or feel like the rest of WordPress.
With ACF, I can recreate those same features—testimonials, FAQs, image carousels, location maps, whatever—but in a way that integrates directly into the WordPress admin in a clean, consistent way.
And it’s not just content plugins. For something as simple as adding Google Analytics, instead of installing a third-party plugin that injects scripts, I’ve built a lightweight Theme Settings panel using ACF. It gives clients a place to paste scripts in three common locations:
- Inside the
<head> - Right after the opening
<body> - Just before the closing
</body>
That means less overhead, faster load times, and one less plugin to keep updated.
Making Things Client-Proof (Without Being Overly Restrictive)
My goal with every project is to give clients the flexibility to update what they need, without the risk of accidentally blowing up the layout. That usually means creating custom fields tied to pages, post types, or specific template parts.
Here are a few ways I use ACF on real client sites:
- Hero sections: I’ll create fields for the headline, subhead, background image, and CTA button—all in plain English. No digging through shortcodes or custom HTML.
- Team bios: Instead of hardcoding bios into a page, I set up a “Team Member” post type with fields for name, title, headshot, and bio. Clients can add, remove, or reorder bios easily.
- Flexible content blocks: For clients who want more control, I’ll use ACF’s Flexible Content field to create reusable layout components (testimonials, image grids, text + video, etc.) they can stack as needed.
- Repeater fields: For logos, FAQs, or anything list-based, ACF’s repeater field is gold. Clients can add new items without touching code or layout.
A Cleaner WordPress Admin
I also use ACF to clean up the WordPress admin. Clients don’t need to see every default meta box or random plugin settings page. I’ll hide the clutter and organize their custom fields into tabs or groups so they only see what’s relevant to them.
And to protect the setup, I hide the ACF plugin from everyone except myself. That way, clients can’t accidentally open it up and start editing field groups or configurations they don’t understand. They get a clean interface—and I get peace of mind knowing nothing’s going to break behind the scenes.
Custom, But Not Complicated
It’s important to strike the right balance. I don’t want to give clients so much flexibility that they can accidentally wreck the design. But I also don’t want them to feel boxed in. ACF lets me design an editing experience that feels natural for them and sustainable for me.
And when updates do come in down the road, it’s way easier for me to jump back into a well-structured ACF-powered site than to unravel a mess of raw HTML someone pasted into the block editor.
Final Thought
Clients aren’t WordPress experts—and they shouldn’t have to be. With ACF, I can build beautiful, flexible front-end designs and give my clients a back-end that actually makes sense to them.
It reduces confusion, eliminates the need for a bunch of third-party plugins, and results in a site that’s more stable and easier to maintain long term.
If you’re a freelancer or agency and you’re not using ACF yet, I highly recommend giving it a shot. It’ll save you (and your clients) a ton of headaches.
Leave a Reply