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Special kind of episode today! I'm sharing a segment from the recent Media Corps mid-term goal updates from Josepha Haden Chomphosy. You can watch the full recording on YouTube, so you can get a feel for what the Media Corps team does and listen to all of the Q&A segment from other attendees. 

Sadly I missed this one, but intend to be on the next one! Will I see you at WordCamp? Tweet at me if you're going @mattmedeiros

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In this episode of WP Minute+, I sat down with Mark Szymanski to discuss the recent buzz surrounding WordPress.com's "content models" experiment. 

This feature, which briefly excited the WordPress community, promised to bring custom post types and fields to the core WordPress experience. However, the excitement was short-lived as Automattic announced that the feature wouldn't be coming to core WordPress after all.

One of the most intriguing parts of our discussion was the broader implications for WordPress.com and WordPress.org. We touched on the potential future of WordPress development, including the possibility of WordPress.com offering enhanced features as a way to differentiate itself and generate revenue. 

This led to an interesting debate about the balance between open-source development and commercial interests in the WordPress ecosystem.

Throughout the conversation, it became clear that this incident highlighted some of the ongoing challenges in WordPress development and communication. While we both expressed hope that the feature might still find its way into WordPress in some form, we agreed that clearer communication and expectation management are crucial for the platform's future.

Key takeaways for WordPress professionals:

• Prototypes and experiments can generate significant community interest and should be communicated carefully.
• The relationship between WordPress.com and WordPress.org continues to evolve and may lead to differentiated features.
• Clear communication is crucial when showcasing potential new features to avoid confusion and disappointment.
• The WordPress community is eager for improvements in custom post types and fields within the core experience.
• The balance between open-source development and commercial interests remains a complex issue in the WordPress ecosystem.
• User experience and ease of implementation are critical factors in the adoption of new WordPress features.
• The future of WordPress development may involve more native app-like experiences, such as WordPress Studio and Playground.

Important URLs mentioned:

• WordPress.com
• GitHub repository for the content models prototype
• WordPress Playground
• WordPress Studio

Chapter titles with timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction and initial reactions to the content models prototype

[00:05:00] The excitement and potential of the new feature

[00:10:00] Confusion and disappointment following Automattic's announcement

[00:15:00] Implications for WordPress.com and WordPress.org

[00:20:00] The future of WordPress development and commercial interests

[00:25:00] Communication challenges in the WordPress ecosystem

[00:30:00] Exploring the prototype and its potential impact

[00:35:00] Closing thoughts and hopes for the future of WordPress

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In this episode of WP Minute+, host Matt Medeiros sits down with Kevin Geary, founder of Geary.co and creator of the Automatic CSS product. Kevin, known for his strong opinions on WordPress and Gutenberg, shares his insights on the current state and future of WordPress, focusing on several key areas that are crucial for developers and agencies.

Key Takeaways for WordPress Professionals:

• The importance of adhering to web design fundamentals, even when using page builders
• Concerns about the direction of the Gutenberg editor and its departure from traditional web design practices
• The value of education in elevating web design skills and understanding
• The potential risks and benefits of using various page builders
• The importance of data portability and avoiding vendor lock-in
• The need for clear communication and vision in WordPress development
• The role of AI in web design and its current limitations

Important URLs mentioned:

1. Kevin Geary's website: geary.co
2. Kevin's YouTube channel: youtube.com/@gearyco
3. Automatic CSS: automaticcss.com
4. Kevin's Twitter: twitter.com/thekevingeary
5. Digital Gravy (Kevin's agency): digitalgravy.co

Chapter Titles with Timestamps:

1. [00:00:00] Introduction and Kevin's WordPress Background
2. [00:07:31] Criticisms of Gutenberg and WordPress Leadership
3. [00:14:21] Page Builders vs. Core WordPress Development
4. [00:23:51] The Vision for the Block Editor and Its Challenges
5. [00:35:28] WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com and Serving Different Markets
6. [00:46:14] Scaling Businesses with Page Builders
7. [00:54:00] Technical Challenges with the Block Editor
8. [01:04:26] The Future of WordPress and Competition
9. [01:18:02] Gutenberg's Potential Beyond WordPress
10. [01:21:50] AI's Impact on Web Design and Development

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In this episode of WP Minute+, we sat down with Brendan O’Connell, a WordPress agency employee, freelancer, and content creator. Brendan shared his journey in the WordPress ecosystem, from his early days with Divi to his current role at an agency and his transition to using the Bricks builder.

Brendan’s story is a testament to the evolving landscape of WordPress development and the challenges faced by agencies and freelancers in adapting to new tools and technologies. He offers valuable insights into the world of page builders, the importance of community involvement, and the future of WordPress.

Key Takeaways for WordPress Professionals:

• Transitioning between page builders can be challenging but may lead to improved workflows and client satisfaction.
• Staying up-to-date with core WordPress developments, including Gutenberg and site editor improvements, is crucial.
• Creating content (like YouTube tutorials) can lead to unexpected business opportunities and community growth.
• Attending local WordPress meetups can provide valuable insights into user struggles and needs.
• Balancing multiple roles (agency work, freelancing, content creation) requires careful time management and focus.
• The WordPress ecosystem benefits from a healthy third-party plugin and theme community.
• AI will likely impact the industry, but human interaction and interpretation remain essential in web development.

Important URLs mentioned:

1. Brendan’s YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@BrendanOConnellWP
2. Brendan’s Website: brendan-oconnell.com
3. Bricks Builder: bricksbuilder.io
4. Pine Grow (Custom Block Builder): pinegrow.com/wordpress

Chapter Titles with Timestamps:

1. [00:00:00] Introduction and Brendan’s WordPress Journey
2. [00:04:00] Transitioning from Ruby on Rails to WordPress at the Agency
3. [00:08:00] The Shift from Divi to Bricks Builder
4. [00:15:00] Page Builders vs. Core WordPress Development
5. [00:20:00] Evaluating and Choosing Page Builders
6. [00:24:00] WordPress Onboarding and Hosting Considerations
7. [00:27:00] Brendan’s YouTube Channel and Content Creation
8. [00:31:00] Future of WordPress and Exciting Developments
9. [00:32:42] AI in Web Design and Development

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In a recent episode of the WP Minute+ podcast, Matt Medeiros sat down with Nyasha Green, a WordPress developer, course creator, and podcaster, to discuss her new podcast, "The Hopeful Workspace." Nyasha shared her experience of being laid off twice within a year and how she turned this challenging situation into an opportunity to create a support system for others facing similar circumstances.

Nyasha's decision to start "The Hopeful Workspace" podcast stems from her desire to create a space where people can share their experiences, find support, and know they are not alone in their struggles. By choosing a podcast format, Nyasha aims to reach a wide audience and provide a platform for in-depth conversations and storytelling.

Despite the challenges of editing and producing a podcast on her own for the first time, Nyasha found the experience rewarding and fulfilling. Her goal is for "The Hopeful Workspace" to be a place where people can turn when they feel tired, frustrated, or on the verge of giving up, knowing that there is a supportive community ready to lift them up.

As the WordPress community continues to navigate the challenges of the current job market, stories like Nyasha's serve as a reminder of the importance of building connections, supporting one another, and finding innovative ways to showcase our skills and passions.

Key Takeaways for WordPress Professionals:

• Building a strong network within the WordPress community can help you find job opportunities during difficult times
• Social media can be a valuable tool for connecting with others and finding support
• Consider creating a side hustle or a portfolio of work to showcase your skills and passion
• Employers should consider normalizing and supporting employees' side projects as a way to foster growth and provide a safety net
• Sharing your story and experiences can help others feel less alone and more supported during challenging times

Important URLs Mentioned:

• The Hopeful Workspace
• Nyasha Green on Twitter
• Nyasha Green on LinkedIn

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In a recent episode of the WP Minute+ podcast, Matt Medeiros sat down with Kim Coleman, co-founder of Paid Memberships Pro, to discuss the often-challenging topic of raising prices for WordPress plugins. Kim shared valuable insights into why WordPress companies should consider price increases, how her team prepared for the change, and the market's reaction to the move.

Kim emphasized the importance of finding the right balance between providing value to customers and ensuring the long-term sustainability of your business. By carefully considering pricing strategies and communicating changes effectively, WordPress companies can successfully navigate price increases while maintaining customer loyalty.

As the WordPress ecosystem continues to evolve, plugin and theme developers must adapt their pricing strategies to remain competitive and support their ongoing development efforts. Kim Coleman's experiences with Paid Memberships Pro serve as a valuable case study for WordPress professionals looking to make informed decisions about their own pricing models.

Key Takeaways for WordPress Professionals:

• Regularly evaluate pricing against inflation, market competitors, and your target audience
• Slowly increase prices over time to avoid a significant jump that may deter customers
• Align pricing with the value your product provides and the type of customer you want to attract
• Experiment with different pricing models, such as introductory pricing, to find the best fit for your product
• Communicate price changes to customers in advance, honoring legacy prices and offering a grace period
• Consider offering an enterprise-level plan to cater to larger organizations and agencies
• Diversify your marketing efforts by attending events outside the WordPress community to reach a broader audience

Important URLs Mentioned:

• Paid Memberships Pro: https://www.paidmembershipspro.com/
• LifterLMS: https://lifterlms.com/
• Kim Coleman on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColemanK83

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n this episode of the WP Minute+, Matt Medeiros interviews Alex Standiford, the creator of Siren Affiliates, a new affiliate plugin for WordPress. Standiford explains that Siren Affiliates is designed to help businesses create diverse affiliate programs that go beyond traditional affiliate marketing, enabling collaboration and partnerships in various ways.

Standiford addresses the negative perception often associated with affiliate marketing, emphasizing the importance of building authentic relationships between businesses and affiliates. He believes that by focusing on sincerity and creating valuable products, businesses can develop successful affiliate programs that benefit both parties.

The conversation also highglights how service-based businesses, such as freelancers and agencies, can leverage Siren Affiliates to grow their client base and revenue. Standiford suggests creating affordable, fixed-scope products or services that affiliates can easily promote, which can lead to long-term client relationships and more substantial projects.

Standiford shares his strategy for finding affiliates, starting with networking within the WordPress community and gradually expanding to other verticals. He also discusses the plugin’s unique features, such as the ability to create multiple affiliate programs and a blog content bonus program that rewards contributors based on traffic and conversions.

Key Takeaways:

• Siren Affiliates enables businesses to create diverse affiliate programs that foster collaboration and partnerships.
• Building authentic relationships between businesses and affiliates is crucial for successful affiliate marketing.
• Service-based businesses can use Siren Affiliates to grow their client base by creating affordable, fixed-scope products or services for affiliates to promote.
• Networking within the WordPress community and expanding to other verticals is a key strategy for finding affiliates.
• Siren Affiliates offers unique features like multiple affiliate programs and a blog content bonus program.

Important URLs Mentioned:

• Alex on X
• Siren Affiliates website: https://sirenaffiliates.com/
• Alex Standiford’s interview on LMSCast

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In this episode of the WP Minute+, Matt Medeiros interviews Scott Stapley, CEO and co-founder of BigScoots, a managed WordPress hosting company. Stapley shares the story of how he and his business partner started BigScoots in 2010 while still in college, focusing on providing exceptional service in the hosting industry.

Stapley discusses the challenges of scaling a hosting business, especially as an infrastructure provider. He explains how BigScoots differentiates itself by owning and operating its own infrastructure, allowing them to offer more resource-abundant solutions at competitive prices while still delivering top-notch service.

The conversation also touches on the importance of customer service in the hosting industry. Stapley emphasizes that BigScoots has built its reputation on providing unparalleled support, which has led to a loyal customer base and minimal churn. He believes that the service gap in the industry is growing, and hosting companies must focus on delivering value through exceptional service to succeed.

Stapley also shares his thoughts on the potential role of AI in customer support, stating that while AI can be a valuable internal tool, BigScoots will never replace human interaction in their customer communication.

Key Takeaways:

• BigScoots was founded in 2010 with a focus on providing exceptional service in the hosting industry.
• Owning and operating their own infrastructure allows BigScoots to offer resource-abundant solutions at competitive prices.
• BigScoots has built a loyal customer base through unparalleled support, resulting in minimal churn.
• The service gap in the hosting industry is growing, and companies must focus on delivering value through exceptional service.
• AI can be a valuable internal tool, but BigScoots believes in maintaining human interaction in customer communication.

Important URLs Mentioned:

• BigScoots website: https://www.bigscoots.com/

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In this thought-provoking podcast, Matt and Mark dive into the current state of WordPress, discussing its target audience, marketing strategies, and potential challenges that lie ahead. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, offering insights into the future of the popular content management system.

Key questions and topics discussed:

1. Who is WordPress primarily built for - DIYers or professional developers?
2. How can WordPress better understand and cater to its end users?
3. The impact of the Gutenberg editor on WordPress' user experience and market position.
4. The role of Automattic and wordpress.com in shaping the future of WordPress.
5. The debate between using free vs. premium WordPress plugins and themes.
6. WordPress' position in the market compared to competitors like Wix and Squarespace.
7. The potential impact of AI on website building and the WordPress ecosystem.
8. The importance of the WordPress community and how it can continue to thrive.
9. The challenges of balancing the needs of different user groups within the WordPress ecosystem.
10. The future of WordPress pricing and the sustainability of the open-source model.

Throughout the conversation, Matt and Mark explore various scenarios and possibilities for WordPress' evolution, considering factors such as open-source development, commercialization, and the role of key players like Automattic. They also touch upon the importance of understanding and catering to the needs of different user groups, from hobbyists to professional agencies.

While no definitive answers are reached, the discussion highlights the complex nature of the WordPress ecosystem and the challenges that lie ahead as it continues to adapt and evolve in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

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In this episode of the WP Minute+, Matt Medeiros interviews Rafal Tomal, co-creator of the new Rockbase WordPress theme. Tomal, a renowned designer in the WordPress community, discusses his journey from working at Copyblogger and StudioPress to founding his own agency and eventually creating Rockbase with his partner, Chris Hufnagel.

Tomal shares his experiences working with clients, noting that the industry has evolved to better understand the distinctions between design and development. He highlights the importance of providing a complete service to clients, rather than just delivering a final product.

The conversation also touches on the rise of AI tools and their impact on the WordPress ecosystem. Tomal believes that while these tools are valuable for smaller websites and businesses just starting out, there will always be a need for custom design and development services as companies grow and require more advanced functionality.

Tomal explains the concept behind Rockbase's "playbooks," which are designed to provide users with a complete mini-website rather than just a child theme. He also shares his hopes for the future of the WordPress editor, emphasizing the importance of simplicity and user experience improvements without overloading the core with unnecessary features.

Key Takeaways:

• The WordPress industry has matured, with clients better understanding the distinct roles of design and development.
• Providing a complete service, including communication and guidance, is crucial for client satisfaction.
• AI tools and advanced WordPress themes are valuable for small businesses, but custom design and development remain essential for growth.
• Rockbase's "playbooks" offer users a complete mini-website solution, going beyond simple child themes.
• The WordPress editor should focus on simplicity and user experience improvements while avoiding feature bloat.

Important URLs Mentioned:

• Rockbase: https://rockbase.co/
• Rafal Tomal's previous interview on the Matt Report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5MhogzU0Y4

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In a recent interview on the WP Minute+ podcast, host Matt Medeiros sat down with Chris Vano, Senior Director of Product Management at Bluehost, to discuss the company's latest offering: Bluehost Cloud, a WordPress hosting solution powered by WP Cloud. Vano shared insights into the development process and key features of this new product, which targets agencies, freelancers, and professionals.

Vano emphasized the importance of customer feedback in shaping the Bluehost Cloud offering, revealing that the company conducted interviews with agencies and professionals to understand their specific needs and pain points. This research led to the decision to partner with Automattic, leveraging their proven WP Cloud platform to deliver a high-performance, WordPress-optimized hosting solution.

Key features of Bluehost Cloud include dedicated resources for each site, scalability, a global CDN, and a choice of data center locations with automatic failover. The solution also boasts a 100% guaranteed network uptime, backed by a promise to refund customers if they experience downtime. Additionally, Bluehost Cloud incorporates Jetpack features such as backups and malware scanning at no extra cost.

Vano also discussed the role of Bluehost's core contributor team in optimizing the Cloud solution and the company's plans to expand the offering to cater to enterprise customers in the future. The product launch is supported by a dedicated WordPress expert support team, setting it apart from competitors in the market.

Episode Takeaways:
- Bluehost Cloud is a WordPress hosting solution powered by WP Cloud, targeting agencies, freelancers, and professionals.
- Customer feedback played a crucial role in shaping the product's features and offerings.
- The solution offers dedicated resources, scalability, a global CDN, and multiple data center locations with automatic failover.
- Bluehost Cloud guarantees 100% network uptime and includes Jetpack features like backups and malware scanning.
- The company plans to expand the offering to cater to enterprise customers in the future.
- A dedicated WordPress expert support team is available to assist Bluehost Cloud customers.

Important Links:
- Bluehost Cloud landing page: https://bluehost.com/hosting/cloud
- Webinar recording with Chris Vano and Devin Sears (to be added to show notes)
- Matt Medeiros' interview with Jesse Friedman about WP Cloud (to be added to show notes)
- Chris Vano's Twitter profile: https://twitter.com/tallkidzdad

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Matt Medeiros, host of the WP Minute+ podcast, recently had an engaging conversation with Adam Zielinski, the creator of WordPress Playground, a revolutionary tool that allows users to run WordPress entirely in their browser without the need for a server or hosting environment. The discussion delved into the technical aspects, potential use cases, and future prospects of WordPress Playground.

The conversation highlights the significant potential of WordPress Playground in shaping the future of WordPress development, education, and user experience. As the tool continues to evolve and gain traction within the community, it may well become an essential resource for WordPress professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Key points from the conversation:

1. WordPress Playground is a browser-based tool that enables users to run a fully functional WordPress instance without the need for a server or hosting environment. It operates using static files and can even function offline once loaded.

2. The tool is designed to make WordPress more accessible and to streamline the learning and development process. It allows users to experiment with themes, plugins, and code without the hassle of setting up a local development environment.

3. Adam Zielinski envisions a future where WordPress Playground could synchronize data with actual WordPress instances, enabling seamless staging and deployment workflows. He also foresees the possibility of running WordPress on edge servers and exchanging data between instances in real-time.

4. WordPress Playground offers a range of features, including the ability to switch between different PHP and WordPress versions, import and export content from GitHub, and share instances through pull requests.

5. The tool has the potential to revolutionize WordPress education by providing interactive examples and hands-on learning experiences directly within the browser.

6. Adam Zielinski emphasizes the importance of making WordPress more accessible and user-friendly for newcomers, especially in light of the increasing competition from other website builders and CMS platforms.

Important links mentioned:

- WordPress Playground: https://playground.wordpress.net
- WordPress Playground community space: https://wordpress.org/playground
- Adam Zielinski's Twitter: https://twitter.com/adamzielin
- WordPress Playground GitHub repository: https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-playground

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In this extended episode of WP Minute+, I sat down with Mark Szymanski for an in-depth discussion about the current state of WordPress, its growth trajectory, and the challenges it faces in marketing and community engagement. We explored recent developments in the WordPress ecosystem, including insights from industry leaders and data trends from the WP Product Talk episode.

This conversation was sparked by recent presentations and discussions in the WordPress community, particularly focusing on the apparent plateau in WordPress growth and the need for renewed community engagement. We analyzed Josepha Haden Chomphosy's WordCamp US presentation from a year ago, which highlighted the importance of human involvement in WordPress's future success.

Highlighting the complexities of WordPress's position in the market, comparing its growth trends with competitors like Wix, Squarespace, and Webflow. We discussed the unique challenges WordPress faces as an open-source project competing with commercial entities, and how this impacts its marketing and growth strategies.

A significant portion of our discussion focused on the potential for marketing initiatives within the WordPress community. We explored ideas for collaborative marketing efforts, the challenges of creating a unified message for such a diverse platform, and the potential role of content creators in promoting WordPress.

Throughout our conversation, we touched on several critical issues, including:
1. The balance between open-source ideals and commercial interests in WordPress
2. The need for better data and metrics to understand WordPress's market position
3. The challenges of creating a cohesive marketing strategy for a diverse platform
4. The role of Automattic and other major players in shaping WordPress's future
5. The potential for community-driven marketing initiatives

Key Takeaways for WordPress Professionals:
1. WordPress is experiencing a growth plateau, necessitating new strategies for engagement and growth
2. There's a growing recognition of the need for better marketing and community engagement in WordPress
3. The diversity of WordPress use cases presents both a strength and a challenge for marketing efforts
4. Content creators and community members play a crucial role in shaping perceptions of WordPress
5. There's potential for collaborative marketing efforts, but challenges in coordination and messaging remain
6. The open-source nature of WordPress provides resilience but also complicates marketing efforts
7. Understanding different user avatars is crucial for effective WordPress marketing

Important URLs mentioned:
1. wordpress.org/about/philosophy
2. wordpress.com
3. wix.com
4. squarespace.com
5. webflow.com
6. thewpminute.com/support
7. markszymanski.co
8. mjs.bio

Chapter Titles with Timestamps:
1. [00:00:00] Introduction and Recent WordPress Developments
2. [00:15:00] Analyzing WordPress Growth Trends
3. [00:30:00] The Challenges of Marketing Open-Source Software
4. [00:45:00] Community Engagement and WordPress's Future
5. [01:00:00] Comparing WordPress to Commercial Competitors
6. [01:15:00] Potential Marketing Strategies for WordPress
7. [01:30:00] The Role of Content Creators in WordPress Promotion
8. [01:45:00] Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

This episode provides a comprehensive look at the current state of WordPress from both a veteran's perspective and a newer community member's viewpoint. It highlights the ongoing challenges and opportunities within the WordPress ecosystem, offering valuable insights for anyone deeply involved in the WordPress community.

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Matt and Mark debate WordPress in 2024. Why open source, who is WordPress for, and should we care? Tune in to listen to the whole "debate!"

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Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to the WP Minute!
00:06 Expanding the WP Minute Audience
00:44 Upcoming Live Stream with Sam Harrison
01:33 Mark's Streamathon and Learning in Public
03:09 The WordPress Journey: Learning, Sharing, and Caring
05:11 Exploring WordPress: CMS, Open Source, and Community
12:18 The Open Source Debate: WordPress vs. Paid Tools
18:35 Contributing to WordPress and the Open Source Ecosystem
22:48 Understanding WordPress Politics and Open Source Challenges
27:23 The Evolution of WordPress and Its Community
27:48 Jetpack's Role and Community Reactions
28:35 Governance and the Push for WordPress Project Bylaws
30:00 The Importance of Open Source and Potential Threats
31:25 The Power of Forking in Open Source
32:00 Commercialization Concerns and the Future of WordPress
33:22 The Debate on Open Source Philosophy and Its Impact
37:18 The Future of WordPress: Predictions and Possibilities
44:24 The Significance of Open Source for Users and Developers
46:51 Closing Thoughts on Open Source and WordPress's Future

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Read the full show notes

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In this episode of WP Minute+, Matt Medeiros sits down with Mark Szymanski, the owner of FindIT Tech Agency, to discuss Mark’s journey into the WordPress space, his experience with page builders like Elementor and Bricks, and his thoughts on the future of WordPress.

Mark shares his background, starting his agency in 2019 and diving into the world of WordPress. He discusses his early experiences with themes and page builders, eventually settling on Elementor before discovering Bricks.

The conversation then shifts to the WordPress community and the challenges of catering to such a diverse group of users with varying needs and objectives. Matt and Mark discuss the importance of getting involved in the community, attending WordCamps, and contributing to the platform’s development.

They also touch on the sometimes contentious nature of page builder communities and the importance of focusing on providing value to clients, regardless of the tools used.

Throughout the episode, Mark offers his unique perspective as a relative newcomer to the WordPress space, while Matt provides insights from his years of experience in the community.

Key Takeaways:

• The WordPress community is diverse, with users ranging from DIYers to large agencies, each with their own unique needs and goals.
• Getting involved in the WordPress community through WordCamps and contributing to the platform’s development can help shape the future of WordPress.
• Page builder communities can sometimes become contentious, but the focus should always be on providing value to clients.
• As a WordPress professional, it’s essential to care about the customer and the product first, rather than just chasing quick profits.

Important Links:

Mark Szymanski’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@markjszymanski
Mark Szymanski’s Website: https://markjosephszymanski.com/
FindIT Tech Agency

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Read the show notes here: https://thewpminute.com/?p=15514

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In this episode of the WP Minute+ podcast, host Matt Medeiros sits down with Ben Ritner, the creator of the popular Kadence WordPress theme. Ben shares his journey from building websites for clients to creating the Virtue theme, which gained over 300,000 active installs at its peak. He discusses the evolution of the Kadence brand, which has been around for 10 years, and the launch of the Kadence theme four years ago as a Gutenberg-ready solution.

Ben and Matt delve into the challenges faced by theme developers when adhering to WordPress.org guidelines while trying to meet user demands. They explore the idea of allowing users to choose their site-building foundation, whether it be core WordPress or a third-party solution like Kadence or Elementor, to simplify the onboarding process and improve user experience.

The conversation also touches on the role of hosting companies in providing streamlined WordPress experiences and the difficulties in onboarding non-WordPress users. Ben shares his thoughts on the Kadence ecosystem, which includes a range of plugins focused on front-end performance, design, and marketing. He also discusses the integration of AI into Kadence products as an assistant to help users create content more efficiently.

Matt and Ben explore the topic of AI in the WordPress space, discussing the concept of AI credit fatigue and the importance of trust in centralized AI platforms. They also touch on the potential of open-source AI models and their integration into WordPress products.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Kadence brand has evolved over the past decade, with the Kadence theme launched four years ago as a Gutenberg-ready solution.
2. Theme developers face challenges in adhering to WordPress.org guidelines while meeting user demands for more control over their site-building experience.
3. Hosting companies have attempted to provide streamlined WordPress experiences, but onboarding non-WordPress users remains a challenge.
4. The Kadence ecosystem focuses on front-end performance, design, and marketing, with AI integration aimed at assisting users in creating content more efficiently.
5. Trust in centralized AI platforms and the potential of open-source AI models are important considerations in the WordPress space.

Important Links:

• Kadence WP: https://www.kadencewp.com/
• Ben Ritner https://twitter.com/BenjaminRitner

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In this episode of WP Minute+, Matt interviews Angela Jin, the Head of Programs and Contributor Experience at Automattic.

They discuss Angela’s work overseeing community training and events like WordCamps. Angela shares her perspective on making WordPress thrive, not just as a CMS but also as an open source community.

They talk about bringing younger generations into the WordPress world through education initiatives and pathways for contribution. Matt and Angela also discuss some of the challenges facing the community events, including rising costs and the increasing need for official roles like an incident response team.

Here are some key takeaways:

• Insight into Automattic’s vision for helping hosts and supporting the WordPress open source community
• Ideas for how to attract younger generations to learn and engage with WordPress
• Perspective on the rising operational complexity of running community events and governing a large open source project
• Commentary on gracefully handling conflict and disagreement within an open community like WordPress

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This episode of The WP Minute+ podcast features host Matt Medeiros in conversation with guest Marc Benzakein.

Marc is currently involved with two WordPress-related businesses – MainWP, a self-hosted WordPress site management plugin, and Site District, a managed WordPress hosting company.

Matt opens the show recapping his previous interview with Marc on The Matt Report podcast, where they discussed Marc’s former business ServerPress which has now shut down. Marc shares what he has been up to since closing ServerPress, including taking a 6 month sabbatical away from WordPress, before getting involved again working with smaller bootstrapped companies in the WordPress space.

Topics Discussed:

• The high sponsorship costs for events like WordCamp make things difficult for small companies in the WordPress ecosystem. Marc and Matt debate whether the platform can sustain if sponsors pull out.
• They discuss the necessary move towards block editors and full site editing for WordPress to stay competitive, even though some developers dislike it. The focus needs to be ease of use over speed.
• Marc highlights the existential threat of keeping websites relevant when social platforms like Facebook offer quicker user engagement. All of WordPress needs to address this issue.
• The dominance of big tech platforms and algorithms threatens the open web, as most content is now filtered through them rather than accessed directly. Podcasting faces similar challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• Opportunities for WordPress pros with strong personal brands to work with multiple niche companies rather than one big corporate roleNeed to make 
• WordPress site building competitive with social platforms for ease of use
• All of WordPress needs to band together to demonstrate the benefits of owning your data with a website

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Matt Medeiros interviews Vik Patel, General Manager of Pressable, a managed WordPress hosting company that is part of Automattic.

They discuss Pressable’s startup culture within the larger Automattic organization, how the various Automattic hosting brands work together, and the importance of WordPress being open source software.

Vik talks about Pressable’s focus on agencies and developers as their target customer base, and how they aim to provide a fast, unopinionated hosting platform. He mentions some updates coming to Pressable in 2024 like improved staging/production syncing, a UI for agencies to run mass actions across their sites, and security-focused auto updates.

Key Takeaways:

• Pressable maintains a startup culture within Automattic, moving fast to build new features without lots of internal coordination
• Automattic’s hosting brands refer customers to each other when another brand is a better fit, putting the customer’s needs first
• WordPress being open source provides freedom and control compared to closed platforms
• Pressable is focused on serving agencies and developers by providing great support and an easy-to-use, flexible hosting platform

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Host Matt Medeiros interviews Brent Lundell, an IT innovator at Bluehost, about optimizing WordPress performance and scaling on Bluehost’s infrastructure. They dive into the challenges of supporting a diverse WordPress landscape, from outdated plugins to complex WooCommerce stores.

“I came through those days and it wasn’t our best period. We’re better now and we’ve really put the work in to make that experience a lot more effective.”
Brent Lundell

With over 15 years at Bluehost’s parent company Newfold, Lundell provides unique insights into their cross-functional approach to WordPress optimization. If you run a WordPress site on Bluehost or are considering the platform, you won’t want to miss Lundell’s candor regarding their past struggles and recent improvements. Tune in to understand Bluehost’s dedication to the individual WordPress user’s experience.

Key Takeaways:

• Bluehost builds custom solutions for WordPress instead of relying on off-the-shelf configurations
• They optimize for complex WooCommerce stores as an indicator of overall WordPress performance
• A cross-functional “performance team” coordinates WordPress improvements across the company
• Bluehost partners directly with key players like Cloudflare, JD Goff at WordPress Core, and major plugin developers

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Cory Miller and I discuss how the WordPress community is impacted when “big issues” clash with Matt, Automattic, and other community members. How should we handle these moments of passion and strife?

It’s easy to label these issues as WPDrama, but in my opinion that’s not doing the WordPress community any favors. From the exterior, it’s categorized and shrugged off as “yet another drama issue” in WordPress land. Aren’t we all tired of that? Inside the community, or interior, it takes away from the actual pain or strife someone is experiencing.

Today’s episode unpacks how Cory and I decipher these issues and how Post Status + WP Minute members handle it when it comes up.

We’ll also discuss how we deal with Matt Mullenweg at the center of issues, leading the product, and leading the community.

Important links
- Cory Miller
- Post Status
- Matt Medeiros
- WP Minute

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In this episode of WP Minute+, I sat down with Derek Hanson, a Technical Account Manager at Automattic and emerging WordPress content creator. We explored his role within Automattic's Special Projects team, the current state of WordPress, and his personal journey into content creation.

Our conversation started with insights into Automattic's approach to content creation. Derek clarified that while there's no official internal initiative, there's a general ethos of sharing work openly and contributing to WordPress. This led us to discuss the unique position Automattic holds in the WordPress ecosystem and the challenges of balancing open-source ideals with commercial interests.

Derek provided fascinating insights into his work with Automattic's Special Projects team, detailing how they partner with "Friends of Automattic" to build and launch websites. 

Derek highlighted his content creation journey, his background in teaching, and his vision for creating content that focuses on website strategy rather than just technical how-tos. This led to a broader conversation about the essence of WordPress as a publishing platform and the potential for it to combat the challenges posed by social media and proprietary platforms.

Key Takeaways for WordPress Professionals:

1. Automattic employees are encouraged to share their work openly, contributing to WordPress improvement.
2. The Special Projects team at Automattic works on custom solutions, providing valuable feedback to product teams.
3. There's an ongoing effort to balance WordPress core functionality with opportunities for third-party innovation.
4. The future of WordPress themes may lie in offering unique patterns and designs rather than complete site structures.
5. There's a growing need for a streamlined, purpose-specific admin experience in WordPress.
6. ActivityPub integration is seen as a potential game-changer for content ownership and distribution.
7. The WordPress community continues to grapple with the balance between frequent updates and user stability.

Important URLs mentioned:

1. DerekHanson.blog
2. Automattic Special Projects
3. thewpminute.com/subscribe

Chapter Titles with Timestamps:

1. [00:00:00] Introduction and Automattic's Approach to Content Creation
2. [00:05:30] Inside the Special Projects Team at Automattic
3. [00:12:45] The Data Liberation Project and Migration Challenges
4. [00:18:20] WordPress Philosophy and Community Perceptions
5. [00:25:00] Derek's Vision for Content Creation
6. [00:32:15] WordPress as a Publishing Platform vs. Website Builder
7. [00:40:30] The Future of WordPress Themes and Admin Experience
8. [00:48:00] Closing Thoughts and Derek's Upcoming Projects

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I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Alex Panagis, CEO of digital growth agency Scalemath, on my podcast The WP Minute+. As a leader in the WordPress space with deep roots in the ecosystem, Alex had plenty of insightful perspectives to share.

A big topic we dug into was WordPress vs. closed platforms like Webflow. As you might expect, Alex is firmly in the open source WordPress camp. He sees the flexibility of WordPress as superior for most uses, allowing users to control more of their site without getting locked into a proprietary ecosystem.

That said, Alex doesn’t believe Webflow is necessarily bad if it enables someone to build a better site than they could with WordPress. The choice comes down to what works best for each user and their goals. The concern is more about avoiding vendor lock-in down the road.

We also discussed the impact of AI on digital marketing and content creation. While useful in certain applications, Alex believes AI raises the bar in terms of the quality and originality needed from human creators and strategists. Essentially, it forces everyone to up their game, which is ultimately a good thing.

Several other highlights that WordPress professionals may find interesting:

1. How Scalemath builds deep, long-term partnerships vs. the typical agency/client relationship
2. The importance of product development in scaling a services agency
3. Why most smaller WordPress firms don’t make economic sense for an agency to work with
4. Alex’s take on Basecamp’s upcoming Slack competitor and “pay once” software model

It was a wide-ranging and insightful chat with Alex!

Chapter Markers

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:02:00] Alex’s background and Scalemath
• [00:05:00] Working with clients and pricing
• [00:10:00] Ideal client criteria
• [00:15:00] Building the Scalemath brand
• [00:19:00] Pricing and value
• [00:25:00] Open source vs closed source CMS
• [00:30:00] SaaS pricing models
• [00:35:00] Basecamp’s new “pay once” model
• [00:37:00] The impact of AI
• [00:42:00] Disclosing AI written content

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The concept of being an online “creator” has exploded in popularity over the last decade. Spurred by platforms like YouTube and Substack, millions of people now aspire to build audiences around their content and make it a business. However, sustainably monetizing content and turning casual hobbyists into full-time creators is easier said than done.

I know better than anyone…

In an attempt to consolidate the creator toolset, Automattic recently launched a packaged offering called Jetpack Creator. For $119.40 the first year, it bundles relevant parts of Jetpack into an all-in-one product targeting creators. To learn more, I spoke with one of the leads behind Jetpack Creator – Mike Stott.

His startup produced a simple CRM plugin for small businesses called Zero BS CRM which was eventually acquired by Automattic. After being folded into Jetpack’s offerings, Mike now oversees product direction for various components like Jetpack CRM and the new Creator package.

We had an insightful discussion on the goals, competition, and differentiation of Jetpack Creator compared to other options creators have available. We also debated the level of effort required for creators to successfully monetize content through WordPress, even with streamlined offerings available on the market.

Key Takeaways:

• Jetpack Creator bundles existing Jetpack features at a discounted price, focusing on blocks, patterns, and creator networking
• The CRM feature in Jetpack emerged from Mike’s previous startup, with a goal of simple functionality for small businesses
• Creators need consistent content output to build an audience; Jetpack aims to streamline publishing but won’t replace that effort
• Monetization through WordAds, Stripe payments, and other tools can come later as traffic and subscriptions grow
• There is still fragmentation across WordPress products for creators; opportunities exist for more tailored user experiences

3 Reasons to Listen:

1. Learn how Jetpack Creator aims to compete with platforms like Substack and Ghost for creators
2. Understand Mike’s vision for unifying WordPress creator solutions
3. Get insight into the origin story of Jetpack CRM coming from Mike’s startup

Chapters:

• 0:01 Intro
• 0:35 Mike’s background with Zero BS CRM
• 1:52 Bundling existing features in Jetpack Creator
• 3:29 Competing with other creator platforms
• 5:16 Making money from creator content in WordPress
• 7:21 The challenge of consistent content creation
• 9:14 Unifying WordPress products for creators
• 11:34 Who is the Jetpack Creator customer?
• 13:52 Impact on the WordPress ecosystem
• 16:31 Tools for repurposing and amplifying content
• 19:14 Unlocking WordPress.com features for self-hosted sites
• 21:29 Defining what a “creator” is
• 25:54 The difficulty of creator sustainability
• 27:49 Ad revenue challenges on platforms like YouTube
• 30:25 Approaching content creation as a business
• 32:16 Additional ways to share and monetize content
• 34:09 Cryptocurrency payment options
• 36:06 Wrapping up

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I recently had an insightful discussion with Rytis Lauris, co-founder and CEO of the email marketing platform Omnisend, on the WP Minute+.

Even after nearly 10 years in business, Rytis described Omnisend as still being in "startup mode." He credits staying bootstrapped with helping maintain their agility to pivot based on customer feedback, rather than getting bogged down in bureaucracy like many older companies.

Omnisend is a Pillar Sponsor of the WP Minute. Part of the sponsorship agreement is to host an interview like this, in an effort to have a candid conversation about their company. 

We covered a wide range of topics relevant to any WordPress Professional, from competition to company culture to leveraging new technologies like AI. Here are 5 of my key takeaways from our conversation:

1. Laser focus on a niche is critical - By specifically targeting ecommerce merchants early on, Omnisend set itself apart from more generic marketing platforms. Really understanding customer pain points lets you build solutions tailored to their needs.
2. Community delivers long-term stability - Rytis believes platforms like WordPress have an advantage over solitary gatekeepers like Shopify thanks to open source's distributed model where no one entity controls the ecosystem.
3. Go where the customers are - Though initially focused on Shopify, Omnisend expanded into WooCommerce after seeing impressive organic traction there. Value creation trumps personal preferences.
4. Startup mindset stems from leadership - Maintaining ambition and efficiency despite company maturity comes from the top. Rytis still drives Omnisend's vision decade later.
5. AI should enhance abilities, not replace jobs - Omnisend judiciously uses AI to help humans be more productive. But Rytis believes strategic thinking still requires human creativity and intuition.

Beyond the key insights, here are 5 reasons why you should tune into our conversation:

1. We have 20+ years combined building digital companies so share informed perspectives on the industry.
2. Gain insider knowledge of the WordPress vs Shopify ecosystems from someone operating within both.
3. Learn how to scale your startup without sacrificing agility or customer centricity.
4. Hear a thoughtful approach to leveraging promising innovations like AI without going overboard.
5. Enjoy an insightful dialogue with the candid yet focused Rytis Lauris about business and personal growth.

I thoroughly enjoyed my talk with Rytis - his uniq

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Read the full blog post and get the transcript here.

Here are 5 key takeaways from the interview with Adrian of Groundhogg:

1. Groundhogg started as a plugin to help integrate Infusionsoft (now called Keep) with WordPress. It has evolved into a full-featured CRM and marketing automation platform for WordPress.
2. Groundhogg is focused on flat-rate pricing with no “success tax,” unlike some CRM competitors that charge based on metrics like number of contacts.
3. Self-hosting gives users control over their data. Adrian believes people are tired of getting “shafted” by SaaS providers in terms of pricing and potential data/account issues.
4. Most people switching to Groundhogg are surprised by how comparable it is to HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, etc. despite being a WordPress plugin. The data integration across WordPress plugins is a key differentiator.
5. Adrian is passionate about keeping Groundhogg self-hosted but is considering selective SaaS integrations in the future while still allowing self-hosting. An eventual exit is likely but he’d love to open a winery someday too.

Important links

• Adrian on Twitter
• https://groundhogg.io

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Read the full show notes and get the link here: https://thewpminute.com/?p=13199

Chapter Markers:

• What is WPTurbo and who is it for? [00:02:26]
• How does WPTurbo integrate AI into WordPress development? What are the benefits for developers? [00:01:59]
• Walk us through what it's like to use WPTurbo - do you need coding expertise? [00:04:17]
• Can I design WordPress websites with WPTurbo? [00:04:45]
• How does WPTurbo ensure high coding standards for performance, accessibility, SEO? [00:05:34]
• Where does WPTurbo increase efficiency for developers? [00:07:34]
• How does WPTurbo address security concerns with AI-generated code? [00:09:00]
• How do you see AI evolving for web development, and WPTurbo's role? [00:09:48]
• What's new and exciting coming up for WPTurbo? [00:10:21]

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From the early days of WordPress Media to the high-stakes game of balancing life, work, and passion; journey with us into the world of two WordPress veterans. Join Matt and Dustin as they reminisce about their beginnings, discuss the ever-evolving landscape of WordPress, and share insights about maintaining successful long-term projects. So buckle in, it’s time to dive deep into the riveting realm of WordPress.

Matt asks Dustin about his consistent content contributions to the WordPress community and the non-monetary benefits he derives from it. They delve into the challenges of balancing content production with a full-time job, family responsibilities, and other life events. 

Dustin discusses his aspiration to monetize his YouTube channel to generate enough income to upgrade his personal Apple devices. He explores the idea of sponsorships and generating income indirectly by optimizing his wife’s online businesses.

They also talk about the struggles of dealing with website management, as exemplified by Dustin's pain points in transferring their data from Sensei to LearnDash. Matt also commends Dustin for his maintenance of the Website Engineer brand and its informative value to the WordPress users. Toward the end, they soothe their creator challenges by reminiscing about the joy of being recognized and how they're influencing others because of what they do.

Here are some key links they referenced:

• Your Website Engineer podcast: yourwebsiteengineer.com
• Dustin’s YouTube: youtube.com/yourwebsiteengineer

Three key takeaways:

• Consistency is crucial in content creation, whether it's a podcast, a YouTube channel, or a blog. You cultivate credibility and a dedicated audience over time.
• Monetizing content creation is possible, but it requires strategy, persistence, and sometimes, disruptive thinking. Connections and sponsorship can be avenues for income generation.
• Keeping up with the evolving nature of content creation tools and platforms is important, even if transitioning between them poses challenges.

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I recently caught up with Pippin Williamson, who as many of you know was a prominent figure in the WordPress world for over a decade. He founded Sandhills Development and created popular plugins like Easy Digital Downloads before selling to Awesome Motive a couple years back. (Watch my previous interview on YouTube.)

I was curious to hear what Pippin’s been up to and also get his thoughts on the WordPress ecosystem since his exit. A few things stood out that I thought would interest you all:

First off, Pippin was very clear that his reason for moving on from WordPress boiled down to prioritizing time with family. After so many years of plugin development, he felt burnt out from being on that relentless “hamster wheel” of building and maintaining products. He had zero regrets about leaving.

When it came time to sell Sandhills Development, Pippin made finding the right steward for his team and products a top priority over price or other factors. He felt confident Awesome Motive was the best fit given their product focus. Although he does wish there had been less team turnover resulting from the acquisition.

And while Pippin keeps a very casual eye on WordPress these days, he did note how interesting it was to return to using it purely as an end user rather than a developer. Even being removed for a couple years, he immediately noticed some of the lingering friction between core, plugins, and the overall user experience.

Anyway, those were just a few WordPress-related nuggets I wanted to share. Let me know if you have any other thoughts or reflections on Pippin’s time in our community!

Visit Pippin’s Brewery: Sandhills Brewing

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North Commerce is a new ecommerce solution built specifically for WordPress. I recently had the chance to speak with Kelley, founder of North Commerce, to learn more about his motivation for building the platform and how he aims to position it in the WordPress ecosystem.

Kelley started developing North Commerce at the end of 2021 after recognizing limitations with existing ecommerce options like WooCommerce and Shopify. He was particularly inspired by the potential of the WordPress block editor and Gutenberg to enable fast, flexible ecommerce experiences.

Over the past year, North Commerce has steadily built up a community of users and refined the platform based on their feedback. They now aim to be a premium all-in-one ecommerce solution for WordPress, with a pricing model starting at $99 per year. This recurring revenue will support continued development and help them deliver dedicated support and community for merchants at higher revenue tiers.

Going forward, Kelley wants to optimize North Commerce as a block editor-first platform that takes full advantage of forthcoming advances like full site editing. He believes this approach will make it the fastest, easiest ecommerce solution available. At the same time, he wants to maintain simplicity and prevent “feature bloat”. Add-ons and extensions will be made available but not activated by default.

Key Takeaways

1. North Commerce aims to be a simplified alternative, not a replacement, for WooCommerce. It wants to provide another competitive ecommerce option tailored for WordPress.
2. The platform is built natively for WordPress, using PHP, JavaScript and WordPress best practices like a custom ORM system. This is to maximize flexibility, integration and avoid the limitations of off-the-shelf SaaS platforms.
3. They chose a paid model starting at $99/year to support an all-in-one feature set and higher-touch support at higher revenue tiers. This contrasts with most free/open source WordPress plugins.
4. North Commerce wants to be the fastest ecommerce platform by using the block editor, full site editing and modern WordPress capabilities. Simplicity is also a key goal.

Links Mentioned:

• North Commerce site: https://northcommerce.com
• North Commerce pricing: https://northcommerce.com/pricing/
• North Commerce free demo: https://instawp.io/northcommerce

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WP Minute+ News Round Table Episode 1. This will be a monthly series on WP Minute+ Podcast.

Read the full shown notes: https://thewpminute.com/?p=12987
Get the weekly newsletter: https://thewpminute.com/subscribe
Support the show! https://thewpminute.com/support

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Building a thriving suite of digital products is no simple feat. In this episode of The WP Minute Plus, host Matt Medeiros dives into the challenges and opportunities with WordPress entrepreneur Christian Raiber.

After getting his start by recognizing the potential of passive income through WordPress themes, Christian has built an impressive portfolio of niche plugins. He shares the method to his madness - how he identifies overlapping user segments to solve pressing problems. Christian also provides hard-won advice on balancing vision with user needs as products scale and evolve. Whether you're just getting started with your first commercial plugin, or looking to expand your product lineup, don't miss Christian's insights on the WordPress business landscape. 

Tune into the full episode to level up your product building game.

Full show notes: https://thewpminute.com/?p=12929

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In this extended episode of WP Minute+, I sat down with Mark Szymanski for an in-depth discussion about the current state of WordPress, its philosophy, and the recent developments in the WordPress community.

We explored the complexities of WordPress as both an open-source project and a commercial entity, touching on recent initiatives to engage with content creators and the challenges of maintaining WordPress’s core mission.

Our conversation was sparked by recent meetings with WordPress core contributors and Automattic employees, including Anne McCarthy’s initiative to unite WordPress YouTubers. Exploring the fundamental philosophy of WordPress, discussing its primary focus on being a publishing platform rather than just a website builder.

I shared my perspective on the importance of WordPress as a tool for democratizing publishing, emphasizing its role in enabling anyone to share their thoughts and ideas online. We also discussed the challenges of balancing this mission with the needs of professional developers and agencies.

Throughout our discussion, we touched on several controversial topics, including the recent appointment of a head of WordPress YouTube and the potential conflicts of interest that arise in the WordPress ecosystem. We also explored the challenges of maintaining transparency and fairness in decision-making within the WordPress project.

Key Takeaways for WordPress Professionals:

1. WordPress’s core philosophy remains focused on democratizing publishing, which may not align with all professional developers’ expectations.
2. There’s a growing initiative to engage with content creators to help promote and explain WordPress.
3. The relationship between WordPress.org and WordPress.com continues to be a source of confusion and debate.
4. The WordPress project faces challenges in attracting younger users and developers.
5. Open-source projects like WordPress often struggle with balancing community input and centralized decision-making.
6. Content creators play a crucial role in shaping perceptions of WordPress and its future.
7. The WordPress ecosystem continues to evolve, with new roles and initiatives emerging to address current challenges.

Important URLs mentioned:

1. Recording of the YouTube meeting with Anne McCarthy
2. wordpress.org/about/philosophy
3. thewpminute.com/subscribe
4. mjs.bio

Chapter Titles with Timestamps:

1. [00:00:00] Introduction and Recent WordPress Initiatives
2. [00:15:00] WordPress Philosophy and Core Mission
3. [00:30:00] The Challenges of WordPress’s Dual Nature
4. [00:45:00] Content Creation and WordPress’s Future
5. [01:00:00] The Role of Automattic in WordPress’s Development
6. [01:15:00] Community Engagement and Decision-Making in WordPress
7. [01:30:00] Reflecting on WordPress’s Path Forward
8. [01:45:00] Closing Thoughts and Contact Information

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It’s WordPress 6.4 release day, and I’m really excited for this new version of WordPress. I think it’s one of the most important releases for WordPress, especially through its new default theme, Twenty Twenty-Four. I also think this is a first milestone release of an”Apple way” of releases.

Meaning, just like iPhones and MacBooks, updates are iterative, and not groundbreaking at every release. I see WordPress settling into a similar feature/update cycle similar to Cupertino. So when I say it’s important, I mean, will this next year of development, building off 6.4, continue to bring WordPress into the future?

Read the full blog post here.

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Katie Keith from Barn2 joins the podcast to discuss her recents success running a WordPress & WooCommerce plugin business.

Key Takeaways

• Transitioning from client services to product business takes forethought about your ideal lifestyle and abilities.
• Know if you want to manage a team before diving in. Build a remote team culture by regularly checking in, being flexible, and celebrating shared wins – not just revenue goals.
• SEO success requires a balance between optimization best practices and creating content real humans love. Don’t over-optimize.
• Consider both logic and marketing impact before splitting brands and websites. Domain authority has tangible value.
• Providing bundled offerings can ease plugin pricing fatigue for customers with diverse needs.YouTube and content marketing are powerful sales drivers.
• Invest in what already works for your business.

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:00 Katie’s background
• 3:00 Transitioning from agency to product company
• 8:00 Remote team culture
• 10:30 SEO strategies
• 13:00 Document Library Pro success
• 15:00 Evaluating business models
• 17:00 The state of WooCommerce
• 21:00 Matt’s SEO frustrations
• 23:00 Marketing through content
• 25:30 Plugin pricing and bundles
• 28:00 Lifetime licenses debate
• 31:00 Podcasting strategies
• 35:00 Investing in YouTube

Important Links

• Barn2 Plugins – https://barn2.com
• WP Product Talk Podcast
• Ellipsis Marketing
• https://twitter.com/KatieKeithBarn2
• https://thewpminute.com/support

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In this episode of WP Minute+, Justin Ferriman discusses his business ventures, including founding LearnDash and his latest project, BrightGrowth.

We’ll also discuss GapScout, an AI tool for software businesses to analyze customer reviews, which didn’t go the way he had hoped. He’s now selling GapScout due to development hurdles and legal issues with review site policy changes, leaving him with a small taste of failure.

Ferriman has pivoted to consulting, using his strengths in marketing and strategy to coach startup founders, offering personalized advice and roundtable discussions, despite the approach’s intentional lack of scalability.

His key advice for WordPress entrepreneurs is to leverage personal strengths, be passionate about work, and be discerning in client and service selection for maintaining high standards.

Key Takeaways

• Justin explains how he is now selling his business GapScout after running into challenges building complex AI technology and changes to review site terms and conditions.
• The GapScout experience left Justin feeling defeated but taught him to focus on what really energizes him in business.
• Justin has transitioned to coaching and consulting for startup founders, playing to his strengths in marketing, growth strategies and maximizing profits.
• He is being very selective about who he works with through warm outreach and relationship building vs trying to scale massively.
• For WordPress entrepreneurs, takeaways are to focus on your strengths, cut out parts of business you dislike, and be selective about services you realistically can deliver at a high level.
• Justin leverages Medium for content marketing and gets great organic reach without having to worry about blogging or SEO himself.
• Overall it’s a story of reinvention, lessons learned from failure, and the importance of playing to your strengths as an entrepreneur.

Important links

• LearnDash – Justin’s previous business that was acquired: https://www.learndash.com/
• GapScout – Justin’s latest business that is now for sale: https://www.gapscout.com/
• Bright Growth – Justin’s current coaching/consulting business: https://www.brightgrowth.com/
• Justin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/justinferriman
• WP Minute Slack Group: [https://thewpminute.com/support
• Medium – Platform Justin is using for content marketing: https://medium.com/
• Pressnomics Conference – Where Justin and host previously chatted: https://www.pressnomics.com/

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In this episode of The WP Minute Plus podcast, host Matt Medeiros interviews Aaron Edwards about his AI products DocsBot.ai and Imajinn.ai.

Aaron shares his background working in WordPress for over a decade, including serving as CTO of WPMU Dev. He then discusses how DocsBot allows users to train chatbots with their own company data to use for customer support, sales, and internal knowledge. Aaron talks about the process of training the bots, pricing plans for WordPress businesses, and surprises when selling to enterprise customers.

Chapter Markers:

• 0:00 – Intro
• 1:01 – Welcoming Aaron Edwards
• 1:03 – Using this as an AI therapy session
• 1:24 – Aaron’s background in WordPress
• 2:22 – WPMU Dev’s white label reseller hosting plans
• 3:35 – Training chatbots with your own data
• 5:04 – Using retrieval to provide factual answers
• 8:07 – Letting chatbots index your content
• 10:38 – Typical Doc Spot customers and use cases
• 12:02 – The process for training a DocsBot
• 13:15 – Bringing your own OpenAI key
• 15:15 – Ethics of competitors using your content
• 16:41 – Focusing on driving intent vs. informational content
• 18:11 – AI-generated content and SEO
• 20:23 – Creating helpful content with or without AI
• 22:33 – Selling DocsBot plans to WordPress businesses
• 25:26 – Surprises when selling to enterprise customers
• 28:51 – Flexible ways to integrate DocsBot bots
• 29:36 – Potentially expanding to other AI services
• 32:42 – Where to find Aaron and his AI products

Other Important Links:

• The WP Minute Slack – https://thewpminute.com/support
• Aaron on Twitter – https://twitter.com/uglyRobotDev

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I recently had Jess Frick, Director of Operations at Pressable, on the WP Minute+ podcast. We had an insightful conversation about Pressable’s relationship with Automattic, how the company differentiates itself, and the benefits of Jetpack.

I appreciated getting Jess’s insider perspective on Pressable and how they balance being owned by Automattic while still maintaining their own identity and startup mentality in the WordPress hosting space.

Definitely check them out if you want managed WordPress hosting with great performance and infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• Pressable is owned by Automattic but operates independently with a startup mentality. They have more freedom to be “edgy” compared to other Automattic properties.
• Pressable builds on top of WP Cloud infrastructure created by Automattic. This gives them performance advantages that allow them to handle large websites.
• They work closely with Jetpack and see big value in including it for free with hosting plans. Security features are especially important.
• Pressable targets agencies, freelancers, and site owners who want great WordPress infrastructure without the rigidness of a company like VIP Hosting.
• They aim to be innovative and regularly improve the hosting experience like the recent updates to make staging -> live site migration easier.

Important Quotes

“We are thrilled to partner with you on this because I really believe in what you guys are doing. And I love the voice that you have in the community. It’s not like other voices.”“I think going forward, you can expect to see, more opinionated opportunities with [Jetpack] as well.” ★ Support this podcast ★

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I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Brian Jackson, co-founder of Forge Media and creator of the popular WordPress plugins NovaShare and Perfmatters. Brian has extensive experience building successful products and businesses in the WordPress space.

In our wide-ranging conversation, we discussed several important topics relevant to the WordPress community right now:

Using AI to Enhance Content Creation

Both Brian and I have begun experimenting with AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard to improve our content workflows. He uses a "hybrid approach", leveraging AI to generate ideas and drafts but still adding his own personal touch. I completely agree that carefully crafted prompts are key to getting good results from AI. Neither of us is yet comfortable publishing fully AI-written content.

The Impact of AI on the Future of WordPress

We speculated about how advanced AI could enable automated site building outside of WordPress in the future. However, Brian emphasized that niche complexities of WordPress will be difficult for AI to grasp anytime soon. 

Monetization and Support for Plugin Businesses

Brian explained why he avoids "lifetime deal" pricing for his products, despite it being common for WordPress plugins. While tempting for short-term revenue, it removes incentive for ongoing improvement. He believes subscribers should continue supporting developers to allow constant iteration. Still, he limits sales to just the major Black Friday promotion each year.

Key Takeaways

• AI can help generate ideas and drafts, but human refinement is still needed
• WordPress niche complexity means AI won't replace it soon
• JavaScript skills are critical for WordPress developers now
• "Lifetime deal" pricing removes incentive for ongoing development
• Limiting sales promotes sustainable growth over quick cash grabs

Quotables

"I don't think a lot of people know a hundred percent. You can't say yes or no, you know, will Google know this is written by me or not?""WordPress is just a mess, to be honest, for the people that are in the weeds every day, like grinding, like they know how messy WordPress is.""If you have a good product, like why do you need to constantly push sales? It doesn't make sense. ★ Support this podcast ★

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Launching a WordPress website can be daunting for new users. Between learning the platform, choosing templates, setting up your homepage, and establishing an online store, it’s a lot to take on. This is where Bluehost’s WonderSuite comes in.

In today’s episode, Matt interviewed Jocelyn Hendrickson, a Senior Product Manager at Bluehost, WordPress Commerce. We went deep into their WonderSuite product, especially how it impacts WooCommerce users. She gave great insight into how this new offering simplifies the website creation process for their customers.

In a nutshell, WonderSuite provides tools and guidance to get your WordPress site up and running smoothly. No more staring at a blank page wondering what to do next.

Jocelyn explained that WordPress experts like us understand the platform because we’ve been using it for years. But for beginners, it can be really confusing trying to figure everything out.

This is where WonderSuite comes in with features like templates to choose designs, placeholder content to match your theme, and a support portal for asking questions when you get stuck.

One of the key components Jocelyn highlighted is WonderCart, which makes setting up an online store a breeze. You don’t have to build promotions and sales pages from scratch anymore. WonderCart uses AI and pre-made templates to do it for you.

As Jocelyn put it, WonderSuite and WonderCart remove the burden of launching a customized, functional WordPress site. Instead of getting overwhelmed, you have tools to guide you through the process.

The next time you’re ready to recommend WordPress to a beginner user, keep Bluehost and WonderSuite in mind. Especially if you’re not going to be there to help them along every step of the way.

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I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jon Clark, Marketing Automation Specialist at StellarWP, who also has his own YouTube channel called Jon Automates where he discusses movies, pop culture, and video games. In this fun and insightful episode, Jon shares his expertise on email marketing automation, creating entertaining YouTube content, and his thoughts on recent video games like Elden Ring.

At StellarWP, Jon focuses on managing email marketing automation across their suite of WordPress products. He discusses best practices like avoiding email sends on Fridays, finding the optimal times to reach engaged audiences, and using dynamic content and segmentation to create more personalized, relevant messaging. Jon emphasizes focusing on whether an email campaign will entertain or provide value rather than just chasing metrics.

On his YouTube channel, Jon prioritizes creating entertaining content on movies, trailers, and pop culture over optimizing for the algorithm. He collaborates with a close group of "YouTube friends" who cross-promote each other's channels. Jon purposefully avoids "rage channels" and politics to foster a positive community where different opinions can be shared openly. He's considering starting a second channel focused just on creative film projects and cinematography.

Listeners can find Jon online on YouTube and Twitter.

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I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Nyasha Green about her experiences in the WordPress community. Nyasha is a talented developer, writer, and podcaster who has contributed tremendously to WordPress over the years.

In our conversation, Nyasha shared some great insights for new WordPress developers just getting started. Here are 3 key takeaways from our discussion:

1. Learn WordPress development through YouTube and Twitter. Nyasha explained how she learned WordPress and Gutenberg through YouTube videos and people live-tweeting their learning journeys. YouTube is a valuable resource for picking up WordPress skills. Following WordPress experts on Twitter can also connect you with people willing to teach and walkthrough concepts.
2. Contribute to WordPress in small ways. Nyasha talked about how anyone can contribute to WordPress, even in small ways like providing support, designing assets, and testing. Look for teams and projects seeking help wherever your skills allow you to pitch in. The process may seem intimidating but start small.
3. The WordPress community welcomes new developers. Nyasha stressed the WordPress community warmly welcomes both new developers and non-developers. It’s important to make new people feel comfortable when they lack knowledge on technical topics. Go out of your way to support and guide newcomers positively.

It was great having Nyasha share her open, honest perspectives on the WordPress community and new developer experience. Be sure to listen to our full conversation on the podcast and follow Nyasha on Twitter!

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Bluehost has launched a new suite of products called WonderSuite to improve the onboarding experience for new WordPress users. The goal is to simplify the initial setup process and eliminate common pain points that can be frustrating for beginners. WonderSuite includes tools like WonderTheme for easy customization, WonderBlocks for premade layouts, WonderCart for ecommerce features, WonderStart for tailored site building, and WonderHelp for AI-powered assistance. These features provide guardrails and helpful guidance so first-time users aren't overwhelmed learning WordPress.

WonderSuite makes use of AI in a couple ways. WonderHelp allows users to ask plain English questions and receive step-by-step tutorials. WonderBlocks uses AI to generate initial content tailored to the user's business, like a flower shop. The key is the AI is assistive, not taking full control. Users still have flexibility to modify all settings and content. Overall, WonderSuite aims to smooth the learning curve so new users can focus on their business instead of web development. It provides an easy onramp while still building on WordPress as the foundation.

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In this episode of WP Minute+, I sat down with Mark Szymanski, a rising WordPress content creator, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in WordPress content creation. We explored the changing landscape of the WordPress community, content strategies, and the various ways creators can monetize their work.

Our conversation kicked off with a reflection on the saturated WordPress content space. As someone who's been creating WordPress content for over a decade, I shared my perspective on how the influx of new creators has made it more challenging to retain audience attention. Mark, with his fresher perspective, offered insights into how he's navigating this competitive landscape.

Mark emphasized the value of personal branding and connecting with audiences on a human level. This resonated with me, as I've always believed in the power of genuine connections in the WordPress community. We also discussed the various content formats and how creators need to find what works best for them, whether it's video, podcasting, or written content.

One of the most interesting parts of our discussion was about monetization strategies. We explored different avenues like sponsorships, affiliate marketing, courses, and memberships. I shared my experiences with these various models, including the challenges of running a membership community. Mark brought up some interesting points about the importance of packaging offerings for potential sponsors, which is something I believe many creators overlook.

Towards the end of our chat, we touched on the struggles of indie product makers in WordPress. We both agreed that building relationships with content creators can be a valuable strategy for those who struggle with marketing their products. It was refreshing to hear Mark's empathetic take on this, as he understood the challenges faced by developers who may not have strong marketing skills.

Key Takeaways for WordPress Professionals:

1. Authenticity and personal branding are crucial in standing out in the saturated WordPress content space.
2. Diversifying content across multiple channels (video, audio, written) can help reach a broader audience.
3. Monetization strategies should be varied and may include sponsorships, affiliates, courses, and memberships.
4. Building relationships with content creators can be an effective marketing strategy for indie product makers.
5. Consistency and persistence are key in content creation, with most creators seeing significant results after at least a year.
6. Repurposing content and cross-promoting appearances can maximize the impact of collaborations.
7. Understanding your audience and tailoring your content to their needs is essential for growth.

Important URLs mentioned:

1. mjs.bio (Mark Szymanski's links)
2. thewpminute.com
3. thewpminute.com/subscribe
4. thewpminute.com/support

Chapter Titles with Timestamps:

1. [00:00:00] Introduction and WordPress Content Landscape
2. [00:15:00] Authenticity and Personal Branding in Content Creation
3. [00:30:00] Monetization Strategies for WordPress Content Creators
4. [00:45:00] Challenges of Running Membership Communities
5. [00:60:00] Marketing Strategies for Indie WordPress Product Makers
6. [01:15:00] The Importance of Relationship Building in WordPress
7. [01:30:00] Future Trends in WordPress Content Creation
8. [01:45:00] Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Mark Szymanski

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I’ve been skeptical about the AI tools I see emerging in my Twitter feed.

So many of my WordPress friends are using these tools to code, write articles, build websites, and even develop their own AI products. But I’ve been struggling to catch on. Until I saw a thread from Kim Coleman in Post Status about her success with better prompts in ChatGPT.

So like any podcasters would do — I invited her on the show to learn more.

The Right Prompts Unlock AI’s Potential

Both Matt and Kim initially struggled to get good results from ChatGPT and similar AI tools. They found the content too generic and not helpful for their WordPress needs. The breakthrough came when they learned to craft detailed, structured prompts to give the AI more context. Instead of just saying “summarize this blog post,” they give background like: “You are an expert WordPress content creator. Summarize this blog post in a conversational tone for our podcast listeners.” Kim shares prompts she uses to turn video transcripts into step-by-step tutorials, and to turn technical changelog notes into readable blog posts. Carefully shaping the prompt helps the AI stay on track.

Trying New AI Tools Yields Mixed Results

Matt has had more success using Claude.ai instead of ChatGPT to generate show notes by giving it two separate interview transcripts. The key is uploading both transcripts at once so the AI doesn’t confuse information between interviews. Kim experimented with some tools like ContentScale and others where you fill out forms instead of chatting. She didn’t find these as effective as crafting her own prompts in a chat interface. They agree that graphic and video AI tools like Midjourney are not yet ready for marketing assets, though they see potential in the future.

AI’s Role in WordPress’ Future

There is some debate around integrating AI directly into WordPress products. If it’s just a basic tool that pastes in text, it may not add much value and could even backfire if it provides bad results. More complex integrations like LifterLMS using AI as a “coach” to guide course creation show more promise. This takes into account the human goals instead of just spitting out generic content. Matt and Kim agree responsible humans are still needed to oversee AI tools, but they will likely continue shaping parts of the WordPress workflow. Using the right prompts unlocks the benefits while avoiding potential downsides.

Important links

Here are the important links we mention throughout the conversation:

• ChatGPT (chat.openai.com)
• Claude AI (claude.ai)
• ContentScale (contentscale.com)
• Midjourney (midjourney.com)
• Canva (canva.com)
• LifterLMS (lifterlms.com)
• Paid Memberships Pro (paidmembershipspro.com)
• The WP Minute Podcast (thewpminute.com)

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(Note: I had to record on Zoom and the audio quality isn't the greatest. Sorry about that!)

In this podcast episode, Matt and Clifton discuss Clifton's role as a web expert and his journey with WordPress. 

They talk about Clifton's YouTube channel and his approach to teaching WordPress step by step. They also touch on the evolution of website building using WordPress, the benefits of themes like StudioPress, and the introduction of Gutenberg. They discuss the future of WordPress, the concerns of agency owners, and the power of the WordPress developer ecosystem. Clifton shares his motivation for creating educational videos on his YouTube channel and his plans for the future. They also discuss video production techniques and the importance of prioritizing education in content creation.

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In this episode, Matt chats with James, an industry veteran in WordPress, about his new initiative TeamWP. They delve into James' experiences and insights, revealing the need for a more robust approach to team-building and culture within WordPress businesses.

James introduces TeamWP, a service aimed at fostering healthier and more productive work environments within these businesses. He discusses how they aid in obtaining candid feedback from employees, maintaining confidentiality, and promoting a psychologically safe space for open communication.

James shares his philosophy on company culture, underscoring the importance of balancing hard work with celebration and relaxation to avoid burnout. He also highlights some of the models and principles that he's developed over 15 years in the industry, including the Open Team framework and an employee engagement survey.

This engaging discussion ends with James emphasizing that his approach is interactive and guided, striving for sustainable improvement over quick fixes.

Important links

• https://twitter.com/jamesgiroux
• https://teamwp.co/
• https://thewpminute.com/support

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To honor WordPress’s 20th anniversary David Bisset has invited four charming and entertinaing community members to talk about some highlights in it’s history. Primary topics include: how WordPress has made an open source for the general community, what proposal or feature of WordPress over the years didn’t get attention or appreciation it deserved, and what WordPRess event has been the most noteworthy?

Just like other conversations - there is quite a few memory of about the community and forgotten WordPress features. Join us and you may recognize some of the things shared!

Shownotes

Guests w/ Shared links

• Francesca Marano
  • Helen Hou Sandí appearance at WCEU2016 (“not 2017 as I mentioned”) https://youtu.be/Nl6U7UotA-M?t=2380
  • “Multisite Roadmap that, I believe, was not given a fair chance” https://make.wordpress.org/core/roadmap/multisite/
  • [Feature project] “Updates on updating the updaters with Outcome 2 committed yesterday”
  • The Women of WordPress. “It's hard to mention just a few, because luckily there are many and hopefully many more to come. But if I had to pick only 3, Josepha Haden Chomphosy, Underrepresented in tech (gaming the system here :grimacing: ) and myself”.
  • Twitter: @FrancescaMarano
• Maitreyie Chavan
  • Introduction of REST API Endpoints in WP 4.7 - https://wordpress.org/news/2016/12/vaughan/
  • An all-women and non-binary release WordPress 5.6 - https://make.wordpress.org/core/2020/03/11/all-women-release-squad/
  • Launch of Learn WordPress - https://wordpress.org/news/2020/12/introducing-learn-wordpress/
  • WordCamp Asia 2023 - https://asia.wordcamp.org/2023/we-did-it/
  • https://twitter.com/maitreyie_c
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/maitreyie/
• Jason Cosper
  • https://wordpress.org/news/2008/10/usability-testing-report-25-and-crazyhorse/
  • https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/post-formats/
  • WordCamp 2016: “The Camp That Started It All” https://sf.wordcamp.org/2006/
  • Managed WordPress Hosting: “This is where WP moved upmarket… Sites started outgrowing and graduating from shared and VPS hosting and WordCamp talks and tracks started talking about the "business of WordPress".
  • https://wpwatercooler.com
  • https://simian.rodeo/@boogah
• Joshua Wold
  • ttps://joshuawold.com
  • https://onboardwp.io

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