You know, running a site like this, dedicated to helping folks unlock their potential through personality tests, career tools, and a bit of life guidance, means it’s gotta evolve. And boy, has it been evolving this month. October 2025 hit me like a freight train of inspiration, and I dove headfirst into updating richardstep.com. We’re talking everything from sprucing up the look and feel to squashing bugs that’ve been lurking since who knows when. I wanted to make the site not just functional, but a joy to poke around in… whether you’re on your phone during a coffee break or deep-diving on your laptop.
Why the big push? Well, honestly, the world moves fast. People are accessing sites from all sorts of devices, and if your page loads like it’s from 2010, folks bounce. Plus, I’ve been getting feedback (and yeah, some gentle nudges from analytics) that things could be smoother and more engaging. These updates aren’t just cosmetic; they’re about making self-discovery easier and more fun. I poured hours into this because I believe in what the site stands for: quick, reliable insights into who you are, without the fluff or sign-ups. Let’s break it down, shall we? I’ll walk you through the changes, why I made ’em, and what it means for you.
TL;DR: The Quick Scoop on What’s Fresh
If you’re short on time (hey, I get it… life’s busy), here’s the highlight reel:
- Revamped Pages for a Modern Vibe: The main Tests page and DOPE Bird Personality Test landing are now fully responsive, looking sharp on any screen. No more squinting or zooming like it’s 2005.
- Streamlined DOPE Quiz: Faster script, better sharing options, and a results page that’s easy on the eyes and mobile-friendly.
- Bug-Busting Bonanza: Fixed a mountain of errors: old code, broken widgets, deprecated stuff… to pave the way for future awesomeness.
- New Sales and Navigation Goodies: Fresh sales pages for the DOPE Bird, Jungian 16-Types, and Strengths Tests; updated menu, footer, and homepage for smoother sailing.
- Gumroad Glow-Up: Updated product pages with editorial tweaks, new links, extra content (for instance, 6 more pages in the DOPE workbook), and snazzy new art / thumbnails.
- Custom Plugin Power: Built a “Google Ads Enabler” for WordPress to smartly handle ads without messing up any pages or test results.
- Site-Wide Polish: Redid the front page, styling, privacy / contact / about / guarantees pages; revived the Faith section; and debuted a brand-new logo.
- Jung Test Triumph: Finally got the script running smoothly, with an updated test page to boot.
Whew, that’s the gist. But stick around, the full story’s way more fun.
Kicking Things Off: Modernizing the Core Pages
Let’s start where it all began this month. On the 7th, I tackled the main “Tests” page: the hub where folks land when they’re curious about our personality assessments. This page was solid back in the day, but let’s be real: it wasn’t playing nice with mobile devices. Pictures stretched weird, buttons bunched up, and navigation felt clunky on smaller screens. I mean, over half my visitors are on phones these days… who wants to pinch-zoom their way through self-reflection?
So, I gave it a full responsive overhaul. Using modern CSS frameworks (Tailwind – new to me, but I like it for that clean layout), I made sure it adapts seamlessly to any device. Now, whether you’re on a desktop or scrolling on your commute, it looks polished and professional.
Why bother? Because accessibility matters. If someone’s eager to take a test and the page fights them, they might bail, and I don’t want that. This update cuts load times, improves SEO (Google loves mobile-friendly sites), and just feels better. It’s like giving the page a fresh coat of paint and new furniture. And hey, the user might actually ENJOY it more, too, right?
Right alongside that, I refreshed the DOPE Bird Personality Test (DPT) landing page. For those new here, the DOPE test is this fun, bird – themed take on personalities: Dove (peaceful, team player), Owl (analytical, detail – oriented), Peacock (expressive, social butterfly), and Eagle (bold, goal – driven). It’s based on established psych models but simplified for quick insights… perfect for teams, leaders, or anyone figuring out their style.
The old landing page was static and dated; now it’s dynamic, with responsive elements that pop on any screen. I added subtle animations for engagement (nothing flashy, just smooth transitions) and optimized images so it loads lightning-fast. Reason? User experience is king. Folks come for the test, not to wait around. This ties into the site’s ethos: data-driven results in under 5 minutes, no email required. Now, the page better showcases why DOPE rocks for team dynamics or personal growth.
“In a world of endless quizzes, DOPE stands out by turning complex traits into relatable birds; making self-awareness as fun as watching nature flourish.”
And speaking of the quiz itself…
Streamlining the DOPE Quiz Script: Faster, Sharper, Shareable
Still on the 7th (busy day, huh?), I dove into the backend of the DPT quiz script. This is the engine that powers the questions and spits out your bird type. The old version worked, but it was bloated: redundant code, outdated methods that slowed things down. I streamlined it, cutting unnecessary steps so it runs smoother and quicker.
I also swapped in modern sharing code. Before, sharing results meant clunky links or screenshots; now, it’s one-click to post on socials with custom thumbnails and snippets. Why? Because insights are better shared. Imagine taking the test, getting “Peacock” (hello, charisma!), and easily looping in your team for a laugh or discussion.
Finally, the results page got the responsive treatment too: modern fonts, clean layouts, and mobile optimization. No more results squished into unreadability. This matters because the payoff is in the results: actionable advice on leveraging your type for career or relationships. If it looks meh, the impact dims. Now, it’s crisp, engaging, and ready for the modern web.
The Great Bug Hunt: Clearing Out the Cobwebs
By the 10th, I was in full detective mode. The site had accumulated a ton of errors over the years: old code from plugins that no longer exist, broken widgets that threw warnings, legacy formats incompatible with current WordPress, deprecated PHP methods… it was a mess. Think of it like an old house with creaky floors and leaky pipes; functional, but risky.
I spent hours auditing logs, testing pages, and fixing one by one. Why go through this pain? Stability. Broken stuff leads to crashes, slow loads, or worse… security holes. Plus, it was blocking bigger updates; you can’t build on shaky foundations. Post-fix, the site’s snappier, errors are gone, and it’s primed for mega-updates down the line. For you, that means fewer “oops” moments and a more reliable experience. No more random glitches mid-test… promise!
Sales Pages and Navigation Nirvana: Making It Easier to Explore
October 11th was a marathon. I created brand-new sales pages for the DOPE Bird Test, Jungian 16 – Types Personality Test (JT), and RichardStep Strengths Test (ST). These aren’t just “buy now” pitches; they’re detailed hubs explaining each test’s value.
Take the Jungian one: It’s rooted in Carl Jung’s theories, mapping you to one of 16 types (like INTJ “Architect” or ESFP “Entertainer”) based on cognitive functions. The old page was bare-bones; now it’s rich with examples, benefits for career/relationships, and calls to action. Same for Strengths Test… my take on uncovering natural talents for purpose-driven living… and the DOPE Test, of course.
Why new pages? Old ones were outdated, not converting well. Fresh designs highlight what’s included: PDFs, workbooks, guides. It helps users see the ROI. Better self-understanding leads to better decisions.
I also revamped the menu, footer, and main landing page. The menu’s now intuitive, with clear categories like Tests, Blog, Articles, etc. Footer’s got quick links to privacy/contact/guarantees. Homepage? Streamlined hero section promoting top tests, recent articles. Updated the DPT script again for good measure. All this for better navigation: less clicking around, more finding what you need.
Oh, and I synced these with Gumroad updates: refreshed sales pages there for DOPE, Jung, Strengths. Consistent branding means trust.
Plugin Wizardry: The Google Ads Enabler
Mid-month, I got techy and built a custom WordPress plugin: “Google Ads Enabler.” It auto-injects ad code into all posts (gotta keep the lights on), but with a twist: a quick toggle in the Pages list for “enable ads.” Bulk edit too.
Why create this? Gutenberg editor was mangling manual ad code on pages, and I didn’t want ads everywhere (like privacy pages: tacky and against TOS). This plugin’s a time-saver: one switch per page, preserves old setups. It’s handy for site owners like me juggling content and monetization without headaches. For users? Relevant ads, better experience.
Product Deep Dive: Updates to Tests and Workbooks
On the 14th, I polished the products themselves: DOPE Test, DOPE + Workbook, Jung Test, Jung + Workbook. Editorial tweaks for clarity, checked/updated all links (no dead ends), formatting fixes for better readability.
The star? The DOPE Workbook got 6 new content-packed pages: exercises on applying your bird type to real life, team scenarios, growth tips. Why add more? Workbooks turn tests from “fun quiz” to “life tool.” Users asked for depth; now there’s more.
Gumroad’s all synced: new product art (vibrant thumbnails matching the birds/types), updated descriptions. This boosts appeal… visuals sell, and fresh content keeps things relevant.
The Big Site Refresh: From Front Page to Faith
Holy moly, the 17th was epic. Front page redo: hero images, clearer calls to action, integrated recent articles (like our latest on burnout or mentoring… check ’em out!).
Styling everywhere: consistent fonts (modern sans-serif for readability), colors (calm blues/grays for that growth vibe), better spacing. Integrated ad code smartly via the plugin.
Completely overhauled privacy, contact, about, guarantees pages. Privacy now details data handling clearly (GDPR – friendly); contact’s a simple form; about shares my story; guarantees emphasize satisfaction or refund.
Reworked the Faith section: made it usable, started populating with resources. Why? Site’s about holistic growth; faith fits for many. It was neglected; now it’s inviting.
Crowned it with a new main logo: clean, symbolic of steps forward. Updated Gumroad leftovers too.
Why all this? Cohesion. A site that feels unified builds trust. Plus, fresh styling boosts engagement—dwell time up, bounces down.
Wrapping It Up: Jung Test Goes Live
Finally, on the 20th, the Jung Test script is humming – FINALLY! It was finicky before: timing issues, result calculations… but now it’s solid. Updated the test page with better instructions, responsive design.
Why the focus? Jung’s 16 types offer deep insights into cognition, great for career paths or relationships. Delaying it bugged me; now users can dive in seamlessly.
Final Thoughts: Why This Matters and What’s Next
Phew, that’s the October saga. These changes make richardstep.com faster, prettier, more user-friendly. Ultimately, better at helping you grow. Whether you’re a Dove harmonizing teams or an INTJ strategizing your empire, the site’s got your back.
Thanks for sticking with me; here’s to stepping up!
| Test | Key Features | Why Try It? |
| DOPE Bird Personality | Bird archetypes, quick quiz, workbook with exercises | Fun for teams; spot strengths/weaknesses fast. |
| Jungian 16 – Types | Cognitive functions, 16 profiles | Deep dive into mindset; career/relationship gold. |
| Strengths Test | Talent – focused, actionable guide | Find purpose; leverage what you’re naturally good at. |
Stay awesome, folks, and thanks for reading!
-Richard