ASE Pro and How It Changed My WordPress Workflow Forever
When you’ve been building WordPress sites as long as I have, you start to notice patterns — and problems. For me, one of the biggest has always been plugin overload. Each plugin adds a little convenience, but over time? You end up with 25+ tools all doing one tiny thing, dragging down performance, cluttering the dashboard, and multiplying maintenance headaches.
That all changed when I discovered Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE Pro). This single plugin completely reshaped how I build, maintain, and optimize WordPress websites — both for my own projects and for clients through MKS Web Design. In fact, I broke down the full workflow impact in my detailed MKS article: ???? ASE Pro: The WordPress Multi-Tool That Changed How I Build Kansas Websites
The Problem with Plugin Bloat
Before ASE Pro, my workflow relied on dozens of tools — ACF Pro for custom fields, Code Snippets Pro for small scripts, SVG support, SMTP mailers, login security, and so on. Each one did its job well, but it was a house of cards: too many moving parts, too many licenses, and too many updates to babysit.
When you’re building custom sites for Kansas clients (many of them small local businesses), that level of complexity doesn’t make sense. They need fast, reliable, low-maintenance websites — not a plugin jungle.
How ASE Pro Simplified Everything
ASE Pro condensed what used to be 20+ separate plugins into a single, modular system.
Out of its 68 modules, I use a handful on every build:
- Custom Content Types (Pro) – Full custom post type + field management
- Admin Menu Organizer – Simplifies client dashboards
- Code Snippets Manager – Add CSS, JS, or PHP directly in the backend
- SVG Upload & Security – Properly sanitized vector uploads
- Custom Login URL – Quick win for security
- SMTP Email Delivery – Solves reliability issues instantly
That’s not just convenient — it’s transformational for WordPress workflow. Each feature cuts down friction, saves plugin licenses, and keeps the entire site cleaner under the hood.
Integration with Bricks Builder
I build almost exclusively in Bricks Builder, and ASE Pro integrates beautifully. When I create a custom field group in ASE, those fields automatically show up in Bricks’ dynamic data — no connector plugins, no workarounds. For developers, that’s an efficiency boost you can feel immediately.
Why It Fits My Philosophy of “Less, But Better”
Running MKS Web Design has always been about balance: using tools that make the web faster, more human, and easier to manage. ASE Pro fits that philosophy perfectly. It consolidates complexity without cutting corners — and it scales from simple Kansas small business sites to full-featured builds with custom post types and dynamic templates.
My Takeaway
If you’re a WordPress professional, freelancer, or creative building client sites — ASE Pro is worth your attention. You can read my full Kansas-centered write-up over at MKS Web Design:
???? Read the full ASE Pro deep dive
For me, ASE Pro isn’t just another plugin. It’s the foundation of a modern, efficient WordPress setup — one that prioritizes speed, stability, and simplicity over endless add-ons.
TL;DR: ASE Pro is an all-in-one plugin that replaced 20+ tools in my workflow — including ACF, Code Snippets, and SMTP plugins. It’s clean, fast, integrates perfectly with Bricks Builder, and reflects everything I value in efficient web design. It’s a staple for both my personal builds and client projects at MKS Web Design.
