They demonstrate how it works, discuss potential eCommerce uses, and share experiences using AI tools like Claude to speed up development. The episode also highlights collaboration, creativity, and fun within the WordPress community.

Top Takeaways:

• Image Roulette Plugin: Michelle’s accessibility challenge inspired Mark to create a plugin that randomizes images while preserving alt text and captions. Within hours, he developed a fully functional prototype that later became a public WordPress plugin.
• Accessibility at the Core: The plugin automatically uses each image’s existing media library fields (alt text, title, caption), ensuring accessibility is built-in rather than an afterthought — aligning with WordPress’s broader emphasis on inclusive design.
• Simplicity and Versatility: Image Roulette works via both a Gutenberg block and a shortcode, making it compatible with different site builders. It’s ideal not only for random prompts but also for creative and commercial applications, such as eCommerce product showcases.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Moo
• Image Roulette
• Insta WP
• Claude
• Cursor
• Angie
• WP World

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests online:

• Mark Westguard (Founder, WS Form)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways: 

• The Origins and Growth of WP Accessibility Day: WP Accessibility Day started in 2020 as an online accessibility-focused event and was significantly shaped by the pandemic, which allowed the team to attract international speakers. Founders Joe Dolson, Amber Hinds, and Bet Hannon built a volunteer-run organization that has grown into an annual, fully online 24-hour event, enabling global participation.
• Commitment to Accessibility for All: The event emphasizes true accessibility, not just compliance. It includes live ASL interpretation, live captions, and translated content (currently in Spanish, French, and other languages), ensuring participants with various disabilities and language backgrounds can fully engage. Accessibility is seen as a benefit for everyone, including those with temporary or situational disabilities.
• Valuing Contributors and Maintaining a Sustainable Model: WP Accessibility Day pays its speakers and translators to honor their time and expertise, despite being a volunteer-led nonprofit. Sponsorships and donations fund professional captioning, sign language interpreters, Zoom infrastructure, and post-production, balancing high-quality accessibility services with organizational sustainability.
• Real-World Impact and Awareness: The conversation highlights how accessibility challenges extend beyond the web to physical spaces and everyday life. Joe and Michelle emphasize the importance of listening to feedback from people with disabilities, including temporary ones, and addressing barriers proactively. The event and its materials serve as both an educational resource and a demonstration of inclusive design practices in action.

Mentioned Links: 

• WP accessibility day
• id24
• Bet Hannon
• Amber Hinds
• Vitaly Friedman
• Smashing Magazine
• Joe A Simpson Jr

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on socials:

• Joe Dawson (Co-Founder, WordPress Accessibility Day)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Accessibility and Customizability Are Core Priorities: SureCart places a strong emphasis on accessibility, including keyboard navigation, screen readers, and focus management. Every new feature undergoes extensive accessibility testing. At the same time, the platform is highly customizable, allowing users to modify templates for products, carts, checkouts, and even customer areas. This is particularly valuable for agencies building stores for clients with specific design requirements.
• Flexibility and Seamless Integration Simplify E-Commerce: SureCart supports multiple pricing options—including one-time payments, subscriptions, and installment plans—and integrates seamlessly with page builders like Elementor and Bricks. It eliminates the need for multiple third-party plugins, offering built-in shipping, taxes, upsells, affiliates, and abandoned cart recovery. Merchants can manage both digital products (like photography) and services, including instant checkout pages for streamlined selling.
• Advanced Reporting and Subscription Management: The platform provides detailed reporting dashboards with KPIs and subscription analytics, making it easy to track sales, refunds, churn, and growth. Subscription management is automated, including failed payment recovery and options to retain customers through discounts or pauses. Integrations with tools like Zapier allow merchants to trigger automated actions and workflows, enhancing customer retention and operational efficiency.
• Transparent Pricing, Scalable Plans, and Upcoming Features: SureCart offers a simple pricing model: free plan with a 1.9% transaction fee, or paid annual plans ($179/year for a single store) with all features included and no transaction fees. Plans scale from one store to unlimited stores, ideal for agencies. Upcoming features include starter templates, product reviews, automated fees and discounts, custom report builders, and integration with Razor Pay for international payments. The team maintains a customer-focused, approachable philosophy, prioritizing feedback and ongoing improvements.

Mentioned In The Show:

• SureCart
• WP Crafter
• CartFlows
• Elementor
• Bricks Builder
• Otto Kit
• Zapier

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Adam Preiser (Co-founder, SureCart)
• Andre Gagnon (Co-founder, SureCart)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• WPoptic is a fast, WordPress-focused browser extension: Remco Nieuwenhuizen developed WPoptic to quickly detect if a site is built with WordPress, along with its themes and plugins. Unlike broader tools like BuiltWith or Wappalyzer, WPoptic focuses specifically on WordPress and boasts near-instant detection speeds, currently identifying around 17,000 plugins with plans to expand to over 50,000.
• Development involved overcoming early challenges: The first version of WPoptic was built by an overseas developer but lacked scalability, security, and depth in plugin detection. After receiving feedback from a competitor-turned-collaborator, Remco decided to rebuild the tool from scratch, prioritizing speed, security, and accuracy. This pivot confirmed market demand and improved the product’s professional quality.
• Growth and monetization plans center on data and community: WPoptic has around 800 Chrome users and aims to monetize through features like an export function, AI-assisted plugin detection, and potentially dashboards for plugin developers to track installations and competition. Remco emphasizes organic growth, user feedback, and avoiding heavy reliance on advertising, preferring to fund development through his other business, WPSupporters.

Mentioned In The Show:

• WPoptic
• Wave
• Built With
• WPSupporters
• Wappalyzer
• WPfounders article about Remco Nieuwenhuizen
• Elementor
• WPBakery
• Divi

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests online:

• Remco Nieuwenhuizen (Founder, WPoptic)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Elementor Expands Beyond Page Building: Elementor is rapidly evolving beyond its roots as a page builder, expanding into a full suite of standalone tools that serve broader WordPress needs. These include utilities like Site Mailer for email deliverability, Image Optimizer for performance, Ally for accessibility, and the soon-to-launch AI assistant Angie. Importantly, many of these tools work independently of Elementor, making them accessible to all WordPress users regardless of their chosen builder.
• AI Integration is Shaping the Future of Elementor: A major focus for Elementor is integrating AI to streamline website creation and management. From Site Planner, which generates a full website structure from a prompt, to Ally’s AI-powered accessibility fixes, and Angie’s promise of automating time-consuming tasks, Elementor is positioning AI as a core part of the WordPress user experience. This not only increases efficiency but helps WordPress remain competitive and user-friendly in an AI-driven era.
• Performance and Speed Take Center Stage with Version 4: Elementor is addressing long-standing concerns about performance by refactoring its aging codebase. Version 4 (V4) of the page builder brings improvements in speed, cleaner code, and better development workflows. This overhaul is designed to benefit both end users, who will see faster websites, and developers, who will gain the ability to deploy new features more quickly and cleanly.

Mentioned in the Show:

• Elementor
• W3Techs
• Image Optimizer
• Ally
• Site Planner 
• Angie
• WP Accessibility Day
• Underrepresented in Tech

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Miriam Schwab (Head of WordPress, Elementor)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Typography Is More Than Just Fonts — It's a Core Element of Accessibility: Typography includes not only font choices but also layout, spacing, alignment, font weight, size, line height, tracking, and visual hierarchy. These elements together shape how readable and legible text is, directly affecting accessibility and user experience.
• Readability and Legibility Are Different, and Both Matter: Legibility is about how easily individual letters can be distinguished (e.g., clear letterforms, avoiding imposter letters like I/l/1). Readability refers to how easily blocks of text can be read and understood (e.g., proper line length, avoiding full justification, using appropriate spacing). Both need to be considered when designing for diverse users, including those with dyslexia or visual impairments.
• Alignment Strongly Impacts Usability and Conversion: Left-aligned text is significantly easier to read, especially online. Centered or poorly aligned text disrupts the reader's visual flow and can make content inaccessible.
• There Are No Universally "Perfect" Accessible Typefaces: Recommendations like "use sans-serif fonts" or “Arial is accessible” are oversimplified. Accessibility depends on how the typeface is used, whether it distinguishes similar characters clearly (e.g., capital I vs. lowercase L), and whether it's appropriate for your audience. Typefaces like Atkinson Hyperlegible are designed with accessibility in mind, but even these aren’t universally preferred.

Mentioned in the Show:

• Don't Make Me Think Book By Steve Krug
• Atkinson Hyperlegible
• Söhne Klim Type Foundry 
• National Klim Type Foundry
• Josef Albers
• Accessible typeface checklist – free resource
• Accessible Typography 101 course – 30% discount code: PODCAST30
• Better Accessibility Through Typography Masterclass – 30% discount code: PODCAST30

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Piccia Neri (Accessible Design Lead, Aligned Consulting Group)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• WordCamp Canada Fosters Community and Welcomes Newcomers: Clem Omotosho’s journey from student to WordCamp Canada volunteer highlights how welcoming and accessible the WordPress community is. With encouragement from experienced community members like Michelle and Mary, newcomers are not only embraced but quickly integrated into organizing teams and events. The spirit of connection, support, and shared learning was a central theme throughout the conversation.
• Hosting WordCamp on a College Campus Enhances Accessibility and Atmosphere: Returning to Carleton University in Ottawa, WordCamp Canada 2025 will benefit from a venue that naturally supports learning, accessibility, and social interaction. College campuses offer built-in amenities like classrooms, accessible pathways, and communal spaces, making them ideal for events focused on knowledge-sharing and community building.
• A Dual-Track Program Highlights WordPress’s Future and Foundations: The 2025 event will feature two main speaker tracks: one focused on practical sessions for users, developers, and business owners, and another forward-looking track exploring topics like AI, the fediverse, and the future of the open web. With keynote speakers like Dave Winer and Evan (surname TBD), the program aims to engage both seasoned professionals and curious newcomers alike.

Mentioned in the Show:

• WordCamp Canada

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on socials:

• Clem Omotosho (Technical Solutions Specialist/ Engineer, StackAdapt)
• Mary Baum (Owner, RacquetPress)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• WP Trail Buddies Is a Volunteer-Led Mentorship Program: Michelle Frechette created WP Trail Buddies as a free, volunteer-based initiative to pair WordCamp veterans with newcomers to help them feel more comfortable at large flagship events like WordCamp US. The program is powered by free tools like Google Forms and WordPress.com, and even includes GDPR-compliant data practices. Although unsponsored, some organizations like Newfold have volunteered to provide swag like stickers and pins.
• The Focus Is on Flagship and Large WordCamps—for Now: Due to Michelle managing the project solo, WP Trail Buddies is currently limited to larger WordCamps (typically 250+ attendees). While open to expanding to other events in the future—like WordCamp Canada—the priority is on keeping things manageable and scalable. She’s open to conversations with other camps that may want to adopt the model.
• WordCamps Are About Community and Belonging: Michelle emphasized how transformative WordCamps have been for her personally—from knowing no one at her first WordCamp Buffalo to attending nearly 100 events and mentoring others. She and Marcus both stressed that the true value of WordCamps lies in the friendships, mentorship, and support network built over time. Programs like Trail Buddies help foster this sense of inclusion from the start.

Mentioned In The Show:

• WP Trail Buddies
• WPIncludes.me
• The WP World

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Marcus Burnette (Founder, The WP World)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• From WordPress Roots to SaaS Expansion: Natalie MacLees and Nathan Tyler started with successful WordPress plugins like Simply Schedule Appointments and Draw Attention. Realizing some challenges couldn’t be solved within WordPress alone, they expanded into SaaS to build scalable tools that work both inside and outside the WordPress ecosystem.
• Introducing Aaardvark and Blink Metrics: Their new tools—Aaardvark and Blink Metrics—tackle accessibility and data overwhelm. Aaardvark offers automated and manual accessibility testing, with WordPress integration. Blink Metrics pulls data from multiple sources into a centralized, easy-to-read dashboard for small businesses, simplifying decision-making.
• Prioritizing Accessibility and Innovation:Accessibility is a major focus. Aaardvark is developing an AI tool to check color contrast in complex designs and supports multilingual websites. They’re also launching Aaardvark Circle, a community to help professionals improve accessibility in their work.
• The Marketing Challenge of SaaS vs. WordPress: Marketing SaaS is harder than WordPress plugins, which get exposure through WordPress.org. SaaS tools require outreach and education to build awareness. Natalie and Nathan are leaning into this challenge to grow beyond the WordPress bubble.
• Coexistence of Platforms and a Broader Mission: Though they’re expanding into SaaS, Natalie and Nathan still actively support their WordPress products. They believe in building tools that work across platforms, aiming to improve accessibility and usability for the entire web—not just WordPress users.

Mentioned In The Show:

• N Squared
• Draw Attention
• Simply Schedule Appointments
• Calendly
• AAArdvark
• Blink Metrics
• Simple Client Dashboard

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests online:

• Natalie MacLees (Co-Founder of NSquared)
• Nathan Tyler (Co-Founder of NSquared)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• Content Is King—Even with Imperfect Production: Across the discussion, Michelle and Sam stress that storytelling, relevance, and usefulness matter more than having flawless lighting, audio, or editing. Viewers are drawn to authentic, valuable stories, not just polished visuals. Imperfection is not a deal-breaker if the message resonates.
• You Don’t Need Expensive Gear to Get Started: Michelle began her podcast with just her built-in Mac mic; Sam started with a $12 lav mic. Both reinforced that starting with what you have—whether it’s free software like Audacity, basic webcams, or a phone—is more than enough. You can upgrade incrementally as your content and skills grow.
• Audio Setup and Environment Make a Big Difference: Simple adjustments like mic placement, soundproofing with rugs or curtains, and checking input levels (especially after software updates) can dramatically improve audio quality. Sam recommends keeping recording levels around 25–50% and watching for clipping using tools like OBS or native Mac settings.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Barn 2 Plugins
• Nomad With Us
• DaVinci Resolve
• Blue Yeti
• Sony a6400
• WordPress.org
• Elementor
• StreamYard
• Zoom 
• Adobe Rush
• Audacity
• Descript 
• GarageBand 
• iMovie 
• Screen Studio
• Mira teleprompter software

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Sam Waines (Video Editor & Content Producer, Barn 2 Plugins)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Attention to Detail Is a Key Marker of ProfessionalismFelix and Michelle emphasized that small details—like capitalizing the "P" in WordPress—may seem trivial but are taken seriously by seasoned professionals. This attention to detail reflects pride in one’s work and often becomes a litmus test for developers and marketers alike when assessing quality and seriousness.
• Thinking at Scale and Growing Gradually Are Crucial in Open Source Contribution: Felix discussed the importance of thinking at scale, especially when contributing to WordPress core. A feature might work well for a blog with 80 posts but break down on a site with tens of thousands. Additionally, contributors are encouraged to increase scope gradually, starting with bug fixes, so they can build trust, demonstrate commitment, and avoid burnout or disappointment when larger proposals stall.
• Personal Motivation Can Guide Your Niche in Open Source Work: Felix shared how his contributions to WordPress core initially grew out of real-world problems he encountered during freelance work. This insight reinforces the idea that contributors should follow their authentic interests and pain points when selecting where to focus their energy, making their efforts more sustainable and impactful.
• Relationships and Community Are the Heart of the WordPress Project: Michelle and Felix agreed that building personal relationships—whether at WordCamps, online, or through collaborative work—is not just rewarding personally, but also essential for project momentum. Felix shared how meeting someone briefly in person changes how online collaboration feels. Michelle told a moving story about how her community connections helped her navigate an inaccessible travel situation, underscoring the tangible power of WordPress friendships.

Mentioned in the Show:

• This Week in WordPress
• Felix-Arntz.me

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Felix Arntz (Senior Software Engineer, Google)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Speed Network Online Was Born from a Real Networking Challenge: The idea originated during a casual conversation where June expressed her struggles expanding her network at large events like WordCamps. Michelle immediately acted on the concept, purchasing a domain and jumpstarting the project. This quick collaboration shows the power of shared vision and execution between community members.
• The Format Focuses on Accessibility and Practicality: Speed Network Online is designed to be a virtual, low-pressure alternative to traditional networking events. It uses Zoom breakout rooms for one-on-one chats and provides participants with a spreadsheet of contact info afterward, eliminating the need for frantic note-taking. The event is purposefully inclusive, affordable at $20, and structured to reduce anxiety and improve accessibility.
• The Platform Encourages Relationship-Building, Not Just Pitching: Unlike speed dating or surface-level interactions, the goal is not to “close deals” or just market yourself but to build a lasting network of complementary professionals. The event supports deeper connections that may evolve into partnerships, project collaborations, or referrals over time.
• Speed Network Online Is Community-Driven and Evolving: June built the website from scratch, and they’ve begun promoting the project through a new Twitter (X) account: @SpeedNetOnline. They also encourage participants to create WP World profiles to make it easier to stay connected post-event. Michelle emphasizes that these types of grassroots initiatives are powered by genuine collaboration and shared community goals.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Backpocket Ace
• WP Accessibility day
• Speed Network Online
• The WP World
• Zoom
• Mark Westguard 
• WS Form
• Nathan Tyler
• N Squared
• Meet Michelle.online

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests online:

• June Liu (Marketing Consultant, backpocket ACE)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Sponsor Me WP was created to connect WordPress contributors with sponsors in a simple, transparent way: Michelle and Marcus collaborated to launch Sponsor Me WP—a platform where WordPress community members can share their contributions and availability for sponsorship. It was born from Michelle’s need to supplement her income after being laid off, combined with Marcus’s technical skills and his existing work on WP World. The site allows contributors to create a profile, import data from WP World, and indicate their available hours for sponsorship, while letting sponsors reach out directly—no intermediaries, no money flowing through the platform.
• The platform is intentionally simple, inclusive, and community-driven: The site avoids complex monetization, user gating, or financial processing. It’s designed to be lightweight and easy to use, with user control over profiles and direct sponsor-contributor communication. Michelle and Marcus emphasized that it welcomes both established and aspiring contributors, and they’ve taken steps to ensure fairness (e.g., randomized listing order) and community safety (e.g., ability to remove bad actors if needed).
• Michelle and Marcus are passionate about building community-first tools—and open to evolving based on feedback: They view this project (like WP World and WP Speakers) as a gift to the WordPress community. The hosting was donated, and their time volunteered. They’re also actively seeking ideas for improvement or expansion, especially from people with experience in seeking or providing sponsorships. Their approach centers on reducing friction, encouraging transparency, and enabling community members to support each other’s contributions meaningfully.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Kinsta
• WP World
• WP Speakers
• Underrepresented In Tech
• Sponsor Me WP
• GitHub
• Speed Network Online
• Pressable

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Marcus Burnette (Creator, The WP World)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• FAIR Is Reimagining Plugin Discovery and Trust for WordPress: FAIR is building a more open, decentralized ecosystem for WordPress plugin discovery—empowering both end users and developers. By enabling verified directories and authenticated plugin listings (via methods like DNS verification), FAIR provides an alternative to the limitations of the WordPress.org repo, while increasing transparency, user safety, and trust.
• Community Participation Is Central to FAIR’s Success: The FAIR initiative is deeply community-driven. Contributors are encouraged to get involved through GitHub Discussions, introduce themselves, offer help, or join working groups. The leadership team is intentionally building these groups based on people’s skills and availability, rather than predefined roles—making FAIR flexible, inclusive, and open to evolving needs.
• FAIR Encourages Innovation Outside Traditional WordPress Constraints: The project provides an alternative path for plugin creators who may not want to follow the traditional WordPress.org model (e.g., having to release a free version first). With FAIR, creators can request to be listed in aggregator directories that are more flexible, values-aligned, or niche-focused—fostering innovation and lowering barriers to entry.
• FAIR Is Still in Early Development—and Actively Growing: While the FAIR plugin and protocol are live (accessible via fair.pm), the ecosystem is in its formative stages. The team is prioritizing essential needs (the “MVP”) and building infrastructure to support future growth in documentation, marketing, design, development, and user testing. They welcome feedback on plugin issues, conflicts, and ideas, encouraging broad experimentation and iteration.

Mentioned in the Show:

• FAIR
• LinkedIn Learning
• Awesome Motive
• Lez Watch TV
• Human Made
• Aspire Press
• Gravatar
• Linux Foundation Project
• Bluesky
• WPCC
• Black Press
• Mastodon 
• Drupal
• Courtney Robertson
• Automattic
• MediaWiki
• Monster Insights
• Gravity Forms
• Fastly

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on socials:

• Carrie Dils (Independent Consultant & Web Instructor, Carrie Dils Consulting)
• Mika Epstein (Senior Developer, Awesome Motive)
• Ryan McCue (Director of Product, Human Made)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• TikTok is Being Used to Energize and Expand the WordPress Community: Michelle and Darian are using TikTok as a playful, engaging platform to showcase the global WordPress community. Their content captures behind-the-scenes moments at events like WordCamp Europe and aims to connect with younger, more diverse audiences in an authentic, unscripted way. The vibe is intentionally fun, personal, and accessible—not overly polished or corporate.
• Community and Team Collaboration are Key to Real-Time Content Success: The success of the TikTok initiative was made possible by the fast support of the Automattic team across time zones. From helping Michelle access the TikTok account while traveling, to teammates assisting with content ideas, the distributed team model enabled agile, in-the-moment content creation and reinforced the value of strong internal collaboration.
• Personal Joy, Humor, and Relationships Fuel the Project: Michelle and Darian’s enthusiasm and personal connection shine throughout the project. Their humor, openness (including joking about stunts and family involvement), and genuine love for the WordPress community create a sense of fun that draws people in. They prioritize joy and connection as central to their content and outreach.

Mentioned In The Show:

• TikTok
• Automattic 
• WordPress.org
• Adobe Premier
• Vid Cap
• Cap Cut
• WP Community Collective

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests online:

• Darian Lusk (Social Media Manager, Automattic)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Miruni is Built to Streamline Client Feedback for Agencies: Miruni enables clients to leave feedback directly on live websites by clicking and commenting, which then creates a structured request in the agency’s dashboard. This direct, contextual input eliminates miscommunication, reduces friction, and speeds up the revision cycle.
• Transparency and Communication Are Core to Its Value Proposition: One of the standout benefits is accountability: Miruni provides a record of what clients requested. Agencies get a traceable history of requests, improving trust and transparency.
• The Platform Is Actively Evolving Based on Real-World Use and Community Feedback: Miruni is addressing practical challenges like mismatched image formats, file size optimization, and the need for better reporting. The team is responsive to feature requests—like client change logs and multi-user identification—and is working to enhance collaboration tools, user roles, and automation without sacrificing human oversight or quality.
• The Miruni Team Is Approachable and Focused on Helping Agencies Succeed: Zach emphasized their openness to demos, direct support, and ongoing learning from users. Their hands-on, collaborative approach makes them a valuable partner for agencies navigating complex client relationships and content workflows.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Miruni
• Elementor
• Breakdance
• Bricks
• Divi
• Beaver Builder
• Hubspot

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Zach Hendershot (CEO, Miruni)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• GoDaddy Airo is an AI-Powered Productivity Boost for Web Professionals: GoDaddy Airo offers a suite of tools designed to help web designers and developers (a.k.a. “web dnds”) save time and improve quality. It helps with tasks like writing copy, generating SEO meta descriptions, creating alt text for images, and performing overall site optimization.
• The Site Optimizer Ensures Strong SEO and Accessibility Foundations: The Site Optimizer tool scans pages for SEO opportunities and accessibility issues—like missing alt text—and provides automatic or manual suggestions to improve them. It covers headline hierarchy, content structure, social sharing cards, and more.
• Client Management is Streamlined with Built-In Tools and AI-Generated Market Research: Each client entry includes a simplified project/task list covering everything from discovery to site launch and maintenance. The standout feature is AI-powered market research, which generates useful client-specific data like industry demographics and SEO opportunities—great for discovery calls and proposal prep.

Mentioned In The Show:

• WordPress.org
• GoDaddy 
• GoDaddy Airo
• Managed WP

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests online:

• Adam W. Warner (Director Of Field Marketing, GoDaddy)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Call for Speakers Now Open: WP Accessibility Day 2025 is currently accepting speaker submissions for its global, 24-hour virtual conference, scheduled for October 15th, 2025. The event focuses on accessibility within the WordPress ecosystem and is seeking approximately 75 proposals to fill 23 speaker slots plus one keynote. Submissions are open through May 26th. Organizers are especially encouraging talks from individuals with lived experiences of disability and welcome a wide range of accessibility-related topics.
• New Format: Pre-Recorded Talks with Live Q&A: This year, the event introduces a new structure featuring pre-recorded presentations followed by live Q&A sessions. This format offers greater flexibility for speakers while ensuring a more stable and inclusive experience for attendees. In appreciation of their time and expertise, speakers will receive a $300 honorarium.
• Commitment to Accessibility and Inclusion: Accessibility is at the core of WP Accessibility Day. The event will include live captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation to ensure it is accessible to a global audience. To support diversity and fairness, speaker applications are reviewed anonymously. The organizers are especially encouraging submissions from individuals in underrepresented regions and communities. Proposals promoting overlays or superficial fixes that do not adhere to true accessibility standards will not be considered.

Mentioned in the Show:

• WordPress Accessibility Day
• Second Melody

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on socials:

• Ryan Bracey (Organizer, WordPress Accessibility Day)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• Ploogins Aims to Be a Comprehensive, AI-Powered Plugin Discovery Tool: Ploogins is designed to help users—especially WordPress newcomers—discover relevant plugins using natural language search, not just keyword matching. It fills a significant gap by indexing both free and premium plugins (like Gravity Forms and LearnDash), which are often missing from the official repository or difficult to find via general search.
• Submission and Visibility for Developers Are Central: Plugin developers can submit their premium plugins for free. The team is currently indexing submissions manually but plans to build a developer dashboard with search analytics and performance metrics. This could eventually evolve into semantic-based analytics, giving plugin creators deeper insights into how users find and interact with their plugins.
• Community Involvement and Feedback Are Critical: Amadeu emphasizes that they need real-world usage and feedback from both novice users and veteran developers to refine the tool. Michelle suggests the importance of finding and showcasing lesser-known or premium plugins, and both agree on the value of making plugin discovery more inclusive and efficient for the broader WordPress ecosystem.

Mentioned in the Show:

• Ploogins
• WP Speakers
• WordPress.org
• Sirvelia

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Amadeu Arderiu (Co-Owner, Sirvelia)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• Theme Switcher Pro Simplifies Testing and Switching Between WordPress Themes: Theme Switcher Pro is positioned as a powerful utility for developers and agencies to easily preview, switch, and test multiple WordPress themes on a live site without affecting the frontend user experience. It removes the friction from theme testing, making it safer and faster to compare themes, especially during redesigns or audits.
• Built Specifically for Agencies, Developers, and High-Volume Users: Brad Williams emphasized that Theme Switcher Pro is not just a hobby plugin—it's designed for professional workflows. Agencies managing many client sites or developers constantly evaluating new themes are the target audience. Features are built with this high-usage context in mind, including the ability to bookmark themes, preview them privately, and manage theme stacks.
• Theme Switcher Pro Reflects Real-World Workflow Pain Points: The product emerged from Brad’s direct experience at WebDevStudios and feedback from others facing the same problem: managing and previewing themes across many sites was a repetitive, manual, and risky process. Theme Switcher Pro directly addresses these workflow inefficiencies and turns them into a smooth, controlled experience.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Web Dev Studios
• Theme Switcher Pro
• Ollie
• Aster
• Git Commit

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Brad Williams (CEO, Web Dev Studios)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• The Summit Is Exceptionally Accessible and Flexible: The Page Builder Summit is designed to be easy and low-pressure for attendees. With free access to pre-recorded sessions for 48 hours, viewers can tune in when it's convenient for them. The optional Power Pack gives extended access and extra bonuses.
• Visibility for Lesser-Known Creators and Speakers: One of the summit’s highlights is giving a platform to a diverse lineup of speakers, many of whom aren’t regularly featured at large in-person WordCamps or other conferences. It’s a space for new voices and fresh perspectives to shine.
• Sponsorships Make the Event Possible—and Deserve Support: Nathan highlighted that without sponsor support, the summit wouldn’t happen. Sponsors like GoDaddy, WS Form, BigScoots, and many others contribute more than just funds—they provide energy, tools, and community-building support.

Mentioned In The Show:

• WPLDN
• PageBuilderSummit.com 
• Magento
• Drupal
• Anchen le Roux
• Kadence
• Elementor
• Divi
• Beaver Builder
• GoDaddy
• Kinsta
• Melapress
• Blackwall
• Press Forward podcast
• Big Orange Heart
• WP Coffee Talk podcast
• Big Scoots
• Web Designer Pro
• Your Moxie Maven
• Web Designer Academy
• Zainatain 
• Dynamic.ooo
• AB Split Test
• BS-Free Business
• WP Mavens
• Croco Block
• WS Forms
• Check View
• Droip

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests online:

• Dan Maby (Founder / Executive Director, Big Orange Heart)
• Nathan Wrigley (Founder, WP Builds)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• Many Agency Owners Lack Business Fundamentals: A lot of agency owners start by accident, not with a business plan. As a result, many undercharge and lack confidence in setting prices. Kyle pointed out that few are reaching their income goals—not due to market limits, but because they don’t know what’s possible. This shows a big need for basic business education around pricing, value, and financial planning.
• Marketing and Networking Are Largely Overlooked: Nearly 60% of respondents aren’t doing in-person networking, and many aren’t investing in marketing. Too many rely on being found organically, which isn’t enough anymore. Kyle and Michelle highlighted that growth requires showing up, building relationships, and actively promoting your services.
• Community Helps Build Confidence and Clarity: Talking with peers can shift your mindset and pricing strategy. Kyle shared how learning what others charged helped him raise his rates confidently. Community support helps agency owners avoid mistakes, learn faster, and feel less alone in their journey.
• The Survey Is a Valuable, Underused Resource: Kyle stressed that the real power of the survey lies in how people use it. By digging into the data, agency owners can find paths others have taken to success. The more participation it gets, the more valuable and representative it becomes for the whole community.

Mentioned in the Show:

• https://theadminbar.com/2025-survey/
• https://theadminbar.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/2147806538801573

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on socials:

• Kyle Van Deusen (Founder, The Admin Bar)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• The AI Website Builder Lowers Barriers for Non-Technical Users: The builder is specifically designed for people who don’t know what WordPress is, or who feel overwhelmed by traditional website tools. It's aimed at helping individuals quickly create a professional-looking site without needing to learn plugins, themes, or complex design tools. The assistant guides users through content creation, layout choices, and even image sourcing.
• A Major Intelligence Upgrade is Coming: Neel teased an upcoming “step function” increase in intelligence for the assistant. This includes improved reasoning, contextual awareness, and the ability to understand abstract commands. Future iterations will allow users to describe desired layouts or functionality in natural language, and the assistant will generate the appropriate code or configuration—bridging the gap between vision and execution.
• Commerce and Custom Layouts Are on the Roadmap:The team is working to support broader use cases, especially eCommerce. The assistant will eventually be able to understand what a user is trying to sell, recommend necessary plugins (like for payment or shipping), and configure stores accordingly. Users will also soon be able to generate specific layouts (e.g., “2x2 image grid with a CTA button”) just by describing them.
• It’s Not Replacing Developers—It’s Growing the Ecosystem: There’s pushback from some developers, but Neel emphasized this tool isn't meant to replace them. Instead, it's about helping people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford or access web development. It gives them a starting point, and ideally, they’ll grow into more advanced needs—eventually hiring developers or agencies.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Automattic
• WordPress.com/AI
• Mailchimp
• Cursor
• Lovable

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Neel Schivdasani (Product Manager, Automattic)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Networking and Collaboration Opportunities: The Color Code event emphasizes the power of in-person connections. With a focus on creative professionals, marketers, and developers, the event is designed to facilitate collaboration through both formal presentations and informal networking (the "hallway track"). Attendees can expect meaningful conversations and potential partnerships that might not happen in a purely virtual setting.
• Diverse and Relevant Topics: The event will cover a range of cutting-edge topics, such as AI, content strategies, and the challenges of decoupling from major tech players like Google. These presentations, led by volunteer speakers, aim to provide valuable insights and practical knowledge, making the event a great opportunity for professionals to stay informed on industry trends.
• Affordability and Accessibility: With an affordable ticket price ($40), including lunch and the after-party, Color Code positions itself as an accessible event for professionals of all backgrounds. The organizers also plan to record sessions and make them available online, ensuring that those who can’t attend in person still have access to the valuable content.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Color Code
• Press Conf
• WP Engine
• Meetup
• Seneca One Tower
• Douglas Development
• Luminous
• Gene McCarthy's

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Tim Bouchard (Owner/CEO, LuminusAgency)
• Ron Brennan (Managing Partner, CANI Marketing Group)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• The Importance of Thorough Testing in Software Development and Releases: Michelle emphasized the critical role of testing and feedback during the release cycle of WordPress 6.8, particularly as they approach its official launch. Despite having a dedicated testing community, the need for more testers is constant to ensure compatibility with a wide range of plugins and themes. The takeaway is that comprehensive testing is vital for minimizing issues at launch, and encouraging more community involvement can help ensure smoother releases.
• The Value of Consistent Community Contribution and Support for Open Source Projects: Roger highlighted the importance of documentation in open-source projects like WordPress, noting that it's often underappreciated until something goes wrong. He also spoke about Kinsta’s involvement in supporting the community through contributions, such as sponsoring WordCamp and supporting documentation initiatives. The takeaway is that consistent, behind-the-scenes contributions, like documentation and community support, are crucial for the sustainability and success of open-source projects, even though they are often taken for granted.
• Kinsta’s Automatic Updates Feature Enhances Site Reliability: Roger introduced Kinsta’s new Automatic Updates feature, which ensures WordPress sites remain updated while minimizing risks. The system takes a before-and-after screenshot during updates and automatically reverts changes if visual differences are detected, helping prevent website issues that could impact business operations.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Kinsta
• Linux container project  
• LinkedIn
• WordCamp US
• Sevalla
• Cloudflare Enterprise
• StackOverflow
• Meetup.com
• WordPress Foundation
• EsoTerra Cidery
• Kinsta Automatic Updates

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Roger Williams  (Community Manager, Kinsta)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Small Changes Lead to Big Improvements – Cami emphasized the power of incremental progress, whether in business, design, or personal productivity. Tackling tasks in small steps can make overwhelming projects more manageable and sustainable.
• Be Prepared for the Unexpected – Michelle shared practical travel and everyday preparedness tips, from keeping essential items in the car to ensuring that your luggage complies with airline regulations. Thinking ahead can save time, stress, and even money.
• Documenting Processes is Key – The discussion touched on the importance of writing down systems and workflows, especially for solopreneurs. Whether through standard operating procedures (SOPs) or simple notes, having a record helps maintain efficiency and organization.
• Community and Support Matter – Both Michelle and Cami highlighted the value of connection in professional spaces, particularly within the WordPress and web design communities. Engaging with peers through newsletters, Facebook groups, and live discussions fosters learning, growth, and mutual encouragement.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Web Cami, LLC
• webdesignerhabits.com
• StreamYard
• WebCamiCafe
• GoDaddy
• Shein
• Pomodoro Technique
• WordPress TV
• Managed WP
• Admin Bar
• Beaver Builder
• Calendly
• WPCoffeeTalk

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Cami MacNamara (Owner & Designer, WebCami LLC)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Accessibility Doesn’t Have to Be Scary:  Many people find web accessibility intimidating, but experts like Gen Herres help simplify the process. There are resources available to make accessibility more approachable.
• Planning for Accessibility Takes Time: Implementing accessibility properly requires time for strategy, testing, and client approvals. Starting now helps businesses integrate it seamlessly into their workflow instead of rushing later.
• Accessibility Can Help Generate More Revenue: Learning how to sell accessibility services effectively can help web professionals increase their income by offering more value to clients.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Easy A11y Guide
• WCAG
• Mozilla
• 17 Hats
• Equalize Digital
• Wacom
• New York E-Z Pass 
• Apple VoiceOver
• Deque
• JAWS
• Cloudflare
• WPAccessibility.day
• Cami MacNamara
• 5-Day Accessibility Selling Challenge
• Agency Accessibility System
• Guidebook for Accessibility at Your Agency

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Gen Herres (Web Accessibility Specialist, Easy A11y Guide)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Job Interviews Are a Two-Way Street: Candidates should ask insightful questions, such as how salary ranges are determined and what differentiates top earners from lower earners.It’s important for job seekers to showcase their skills and experience even if the interviewer doesn’t directly ask about them.
• Thinking Beyond Standard Questions: Candidates should anticipate questions beyond their resumes and prepare to discuss communication tools, remote work habits, and problem-solving approaches.
• Tailor Your Resume to the Job You're Applying For: It’s important to customize your resume for each job application. Highlight relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that directly relate to the position. A generic resume may not stand out as much, while one that speaks to the specific needs of the company and role shows that you've taken the time to understand what they’re looking for, making you a more appealing candidate

Mentioned In The Show:

• Liquid Web
• Get Hired Podcast

🙏 Sponsor:  Omnisend

All-in-one marketing for WordPress - From popups to email & SMS, automation & more, Omnisend helps you turn first-time visitors into lifelong subscribers. Spend less on ads, connect more with your audience.

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Misty Combs (Human Resource Director, Liquid Web)
• Nicky Bulmer (Technical Hiring Coordinator, Liquid Web)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Top Takeaways:

• Image Optimization Plugin for WordPress:Jono Alderson’s plugin focuses on solving WordPress image optimization issues by addressing the inefficiencies in how images are handled. WordPress often generates unnecessary image sizes, which leads to slower load times and inefficient storage use. His plugin dynamically generates the appropriately sized images for each device, improving both website performance and storage efficiency. By eliminating the need for WordPress to create multiple versions of images, the plugin optimizes the backend and frontend performance of a website.
• Environmental Impact of Image Management: The discussion highlights the environmental impact of inefficient image management. Storing and serving large or redundant images increases the carbon footprint due to the energy used in data centers and transmission networks. Optimizing images and reducing excess storage can help lower this impact, making even small changes in image management significant for sustainability.
• Jono Alderson’s Plugin Submission Experience: Jono Alderson shared his experience submitting a plugin to WordPress, noting initial nervousness due to his self-taught background. After carefully following guidelines, the submission went smoothly, with only minor issues to address. Once live, Jono quickly fixed bugs and found updating easier with practice.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Yoast
• Cloudflare
• WooCommerce
• Gravity Forms
• Slack
• WhatsApp
• Facebook
• Google Discover
• Fortnite
• Hello Beautiful
• GitHub
• Cursor
• JonoAlderson.com

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Jono Alderson (Founder, Edge Images)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• The Power of Context in Leadership: Mary emphasizes the importance of understanding context in leadership and decision-making. By knowing the "why" behind decisions, team members can navigate challenges more effectively, even if they don't always agree with the direction. This context-sharing fosters trust and clarity, making everyday tasks easier and enabling better decision-making.
• Being a Supportive and Approachable Leader: Mary shows the value of being available and responsive to her team. She is proactive in offering help, as shown when she reached out to Michelle during the co-release coordinator role process. This type of outreach helps people feel seen and supported, contributing to a positive team dynamic.
• Being Comfortable with the Unknown and Seeking Help: Mary highlights that it's okay not to have all the answers. She encourages others to reach out when they don’t know something, emphasizing that asking questions is an important part of learning and improving. This openness to seeking help fosters a growth-oriented environment, where curiosity and learning are welcomed.

Mentioned in the Show:

• TikTok
• Automattic
• WordPress
• WooCommerce
• WordPress.com
• TikTok shop
• eBay Motors
• Walmart
• Instagram
• Saved by the Bell
• StellarWP
• Built With
• Granola
• Roblox
• Kadence 
• Mark Westergaard
• WS Form
• Zoom
• State of the Word
• Press Conf
• CloudFest
• DeLonghi 
• Nespresso

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Mary Hubbard (Executive Director, WordPress, Automattic)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• Marketing Focus on Community-Driven Development: WooCommerce's marketing approach emphasizes listening to merchants and the community. By integrating feedback into product development, they ensure their solutions address real user needs. This transparency strengthens trust and engagement with the ecosystem.
• Collaboration and Ecosystem Strength Matter: WooCommerce sees the entire ecosystem as interconnected—whether it's developers, merchants, or marketers. By improving core functionality and providing better tools, they aim to ensure that all WooCommerce-based businesses thrive, as their success reflects on the entire platform.
• Community Feedback is Essential: WooCommerce’s marketing and product teams are committed to keeping the feedback loop open. They encourage users and developers to share their thoughts on new features, usability, and how the company can better support merchants and builders in the ecosystem.

Mentioned in the Show:

• Woo
• Automattic
• StellarWP
• Iconic
• Orderable
• Somewhere Warm
• Elementor 
• Kadence

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on socials:

• Tamara Niesen (CMO, WooCommerce)
• Beau Lebens (Artistic Director, WooCommerce)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Cover Letters Should Be Concise & Tailored – A strong cover letter shouldn’t just repeat the resume. Instead, it should highlight why your skills and experience are a great fit for the specific role and company. Less is often more—focusing on one key project or skill that directly relates to the job can make a stronger impact than listing everything.
• Confidence & Clarity Matter in Interviews – Candidates should confidently communicate their skills, especially when discussing technical expertise. Using specific language, such as naming programming languages or frameworks, helps interviewers understand the depth of knowledge. Additionally, if an interviewer has an accent or uses unfamiliar words, repeating for clarification or asking them to rephrase is a good strategy.
• Continuous Improvement & Adaptability Lead to Success – Surrounding yourself with the language, culture, and best practices of your industry (as Tatiane did with English) makes growth easier. Being open to feedback, refining application materials, and improving communication skills over time can significantly increase job prospects.

Mentioned In The Show:

• The Events Calendar 
• Liquid Web
• Dungeons and Dragons
• GitHub 
• WPIncludes.me

🙏 Sponsor:  Omnisend

All-in-one marketing for WordPress - From popups to email & SMS, automation & more, Omnisend helps you turn first-time visitors into lifelong subscribers. Spend less on ads, connect more with your audience.

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Tatiane Pires (Founder and Software Developer, SmartCoding.dev)
• Nicky Bulmer (Technical Hiring Coordinator, Liquid Web)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Stellar Pay Simplifies E-Commerce: Stellar Pay is designed for those who either actively run e-commerce businesses or avoid it because they find it difficult. The tool aims to make the process easier and more accessible.
• Free and Easy to Get Started: Users can download Stellar Pay for free from the website. Signing up directly on the site comes with added benefits like onboarding tips and extra resources to help users get started.
• Stellar Pay Provides E-Commerce Tips: The team behind Stellar Pay offers a newsletter that provides useful insights and strategies for running an online store successfully. Michelle encouraged users to subscribe for ongoing guidance.

Mentioned In The Show:

• StellarWP
• Stellar Pay
• Liquid Web
• Give WP
• The Event Calendar
• SolidWP
• Learndash
• Restrict Content Pro
• Devin Walker
• Stripe
• Joel Butler
• PayPal
• Poodle Press
• Ben Ritner 
• WP Accessibility Day
• Solid Academy
• Jono Alderson

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Stephanie Hudson (Product Marketing Manager, StellarWP)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• WP World Enhances WordPress Community Connections – WP World is a platform that helps WordPress professionals showcase their contributions, connect with others, and enhance their visibility in the WordPress ecosystem. It complements WordPress.org profiles by allowing users to add more details and interact with community members.
• Community Engagement is a Priority – Beyond just networking, WP World fosters deeper engagement through features like WP Speakers, interactive maps, and a focus on celebrating community members. The discussion highlighted the value of making meaningful connections in the WordPress space and how WP World serves as a tool to strengthen those relationships.
• WP World Encourages Contribution Tracking – The platform makes it easier for WordPress professionals to log and showcase their contributions within the ecosystem. By maintaining an updated profile, users can highlight their involvement in various WordPress-related projects, events, and communities.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Five for the Future
• WP World
• wordpress.org
• Bluehost
• Bluehost Cloud
• GitHub 
• Slack
• Gravatar
• StellarWP
• WP Speakers
• Hero Press
• Press Conf 
• Stellar Spark

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Marcus Burnette (Founder, The WP World)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• The Importance of Staying True to Yourself in Job Searches: The panel emphasizes that not every job or company is a good fit for everyone. It's more important to be authentic and align with roles that reflect your values and personality rather than trying to conform to something you're not. However, desperation during challenging times can complicate this, making it harder to prioritize alignment over necessity.
• Every Job is a Learning Experience: Even if you accept a role that isn't ideal, you can use it as a stepping stone. Challenging or mismatched experiences still offer valuable lessons about what to look for (or avoid) in the future, help grow your skillset, and shape your career trajectory.
• Shifting Hiring Trends and Perceptions: The job market's expectations are constantly changing. For example, job-hopping is more accepted in tech compared to other industries, and long tenures at one company are sometimes viewed as stagnation. Different generations and industries value different qualities, making it crucial to stay adaptable and aware of trends in your field.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Liquid Web
• Omnisend
• Corey Maass’ Portfolio

🙏 Sponsor:  Omnisend

All-in-one marketing for WordPress - From popups to email & SMS, automation & more, Omnisend helps you turn first-time visitors into lifelong subscribers. Spend less on ads, connect more with your audience.

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Nicky Bulmer (Technical Hiring Coordinator, Liquid Web)
• Misty Combs (Human Resource Director, Liquid Web)
• Corey Maass (Founder, OMGIMG)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Gamification for Website Management: Progress Planner uses a gamified approach to motivate users to maintain and improve their websites. By assigning points for tasks like updating content, writing new posts, or fixing technical SEO issues, the plugin makes website management engaging and enjoyable. This concept mirrors successful apps like Duolingo, which transform routine tasks into rewarding challenges.
• Practical Features with Growth Potential: The plugin focuses on high-impact tasks that enhance website performance, such as setting up foundational site elements or optimizing content. It also plans to introduce integrations with third-party tools like JIRA and onboarding wizards, offering users more flexibility. Future features may include personalized task recommendations, progress tracking for agencies managing multiple sites, and expanded customization options, making it even more versatile.
• Community Feedback and Accessibility:User feedback is central to the development of Progress Planner. The team actively invites suggestions and critiques to refine the tool and better address user needs. Additionally, its pricing model—offering a pre-launch discount and a free tier—makes it accessible to a wide audience. With its colorful bird-themed branding, the plugin presents an approachable and motivating experience for website owners.

Mentioned In The Show

• Progress Planner
• Joost van Valk
• Marieke van de Rakt
• Fitbit
• Duolingo
• WordCamp Asia
• Marcus Burnette
• TheWPWorld
• wordpress.org
• Gravatar
• WPSpeakers.com
• Hero Press
• Stephanie Hudson
• StellarWP
• StellarPay

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Taco Verdonschot (Founder, Progress Planner)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• Focus on Data Liberation: Ian emphasizes the importance of making it easy for users to export data and move away from WordPress.com if they choose. This includes offering flexibility in database options and ensuring there are clear workflows for migrating data from Studio.
• Encouragement for Open-Source Contributions: Ian highlights that Studio is open-source and encourages users to contribute by reporting issues, suggesting features, or even forking the repository to experiment with new ideas.
• WordPress.com’s Growing Feature Set: Ian addresses the misconception that WordPress.com doesn’t support plugins or themes. He encourages users to explore the pro-level tools available on WordPress.com, such as Studio, which help users manage and customize their sites more effectively.

Mentioned In The Show

• Blogger
• Drupal
• ThemeShaper.com
• Corey Miller 
• Automattic
• WordPress.com
• Jamie Marsland
• Studio 
• Steve Jobs
• WP Environment
• Docker
• Composer 
• GitHub
• SQLite 
• Suno AI
• Taco Verdo
• Progress Planner

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Ian Stewart (Lead, WordPress.com)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• The Value of Organizing and Attending WordCamps: Both Bernard Meyer and Michelle Frechette emphasized the benefits of organizing and attending WordCamps. While it's a lot of hard work, the sense of accomplishment, networking opportunities, and camaraderie with other organizers make it a fulfilling experience. Bernard highlighted how it allows remote collaborators to meet in person, which adds an exciting dimension to professional relationships.
• Creative Marketing Through Humor and Engagement: Bernard discussed Omnisend’s approach to marketing, which involves using humor, music videos, mockumentaries, and playful storytelling. These creative strategies make their marketing campaigns memorable and engaging, showing that a bit of fun can effectively capture an audience's attention.
• The Accelerated Nature of Event Preparation: Both speakers noted how quickly time seems to pass when preparing for large events like WordCamp Asia. Bernard highlighted the rapid pace from early-year planning to the event date, while Michelle described it as a snowball effect that builds momentum. This reflects the importance of staying organized and proactive during event planning.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Omnisend
• StellarWP
• Rytis Lauris
• WPCoffeeTalk
• WordCamp Asia
• WordCamp Germany
• WordCamp US
• Suno AI
• The PIC

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Bernard Mayer (Sr. Director of Communications & Creative, Omnisend)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• WS Form Updates and Community Engagement: Mark Westguard highlighted the updates and improvements made to WSForm, a WordPress form builder. He expressed enthusiasm for users testing these updates and providing feedback.
• Community Emphasis on Constructive Feedback: Both Mark and Michelle emphasized that feedback is welcome, but it should be communicated respectfully, avoiding negativity.
• Mark’s Hard Work on WSForm: Mark noted that creating the latest updates for WS Form involved four months of work. He’s eager for users to explore the new features and looks forward to receiving feedback. His dedication to continually improving the product was a key point of the discussion.
• Focus on Accessibility and Learning: Throughout the conversation, there was an emphasis on making tools like WS Form accessible and easy to use for everyone.

Mentioned In The Show

• WS Forms
• Admin Bar
• WPML
• Kevin Geary
• Mark Szymanski 
• WP builds
• Bob WP
• Do the Woo
• PressConf
• WordCamp Europe
• Ian Stewart
• WP studio

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Mark Westguard (Founder, WS Form)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• Press Conf addresses a significant market gap by being the first WordPress conference specifically focused on business aspects, filling an unmet need in the community for business-oriented professional development.
• The conference prioritizes meaningful engagement through intentional design choices like single-track sessions, no recordings, and an intimate setting - all aimed at fostering authentic discussions and deeper connections among attendees.
• Careful curation is central to the event's strategy, from thoughtfully selected speakers to a sustainable pricing model, ensuring high-quality content and long-term viability while delivering value to participants.
• The conference emphasizes building an inclusive community that welcomes both industry veterans and newcomers, focusing on fostering constructive dialogue and relationships within the WordPress business ecosystem.

Mentioned In The Show:

• PressConf
• Elegant Themes
• WPWonder Women
• RadiateU
• Jeremy Saxey
• WordCamp Phoenix
• PressNomics
• Sally Strebel
• Joshua Strebel
• Doc Popular
• WP Speakers
• The WP World
• Marcus Burnette
• wp.org
• Troy Dean
• Alex King
• Chris Lema
• Karim Marucchi
• Dave Ryan
• Bluehost
• Nathan Atkinson
• Nathan B Weller
• Brian Richards
• Matt Medeiros

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Raquel Manriquez  (Community, ElegantThemes)
• Carol Stambaugh (Co-Founder, RadiateWP)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Nostalgia and Cultural References as Marketing Tools: Michelle and Corey highlight the power of nostalgia in marketing, referencing Carly Simon’s song in ketchup commercials and Reagan's use of "Born in the USA." These examples demonstrate how emotional and cultural connections can strengthen brand messaging and resonate with audiences.
• Music as a Branding Opportunity: The idea of creating a theme song for OMGIMG underscores the potential of music to add personality and memorability to the brand. Michelle’s experiment with AI-generated music shows the team’s willingness to explore innovative tools for creative marketing.
• Swag and Interactive Experiences to Engage Users:Corey’s enthusiasm for branded swag, like T-shirts and creative QR codes, emphasizes the importance of tangible, fun items for user engagement. Adding interactive elements, such as QR codes linking to a custom song, creates a playful and memorable experience.
• Balancing Creativity with Practicality: While the team enjoys brainstorming playful and imaginative ideas, they remain focused on aligning these concepts with the product’s purpose and audience. This balance ensures OMGIMG maintains professionalism while staying approachable.
• Consistency Builds Trust and Engagement: The commitment to regular streaming, even while planning breaks around the holidays, reflects a focus on consistent communication with their audience. This approach builds trust and strengthens their connection with users.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Beaver Builder
• Ron Popeil
• The Pocket Fisherman
• Microconf
• Rob Walling
• Mike Taber
• Weebly
• Wix
• Mitsubishi
• Lifehacker
• Mint
• YNAB
• Product Hunt
• Kanban
• Social Link Pages
• Mark Westguard
• Dirty Vegas
• Holly Hobbie
• Carly Simon
• Barenaked Ladies
• Diesel Jeans

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Corey Maass
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Editor, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Steady Progress Amid Prioritization Challenges: Both Corey and Michelle recognize the challenges of juggling tasks across IPAWP and OMGIMG. While there’s excitement about big-picture ideas (e.g., Meetups, collective empowerment, SEO experiments), they understand the importance of incremental progress.
• AI and Designer Collaboration for Website Improvements: Corey utilized AI-generated content alongside a designer’s expertise to rework their website. While the AI helped quickly produce a series of articles for SEO experimentation, a designer was brought in to enhance the visual appeal and user experience. This blend of automation and human creativity reflects a strategic approach to balancing efficiency with quality.
• Cross-Platform Engagement is Essential: Michelle’s experience with followers migrating to Bluesky reinforces the need to maintain a presence across multiple platforms. Both agree that while Twitter remains valuable for now, having an established Bluesky presence ensures they’re ready if a platform shift occurs.
• Black Friday and Marketing Planning: Michelle and Corey are focusing on Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions. Michelle plans to queue social media posts, while Corey wants to analyze current traffic bumps to inform their approach.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Elgato Key Light
• Fiverr
• Upwork
• Claude
• Luke Netti
• Cory Miller
• We Work
• Text Expander
• Josh Pigford
• Bluesky
• Nathan Wrigley
• Cuppa
• Beaver Builder
• ThumbPress

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Corey Maass
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• About InfluenceWP: InfluenceWP is a platform designed for WordPress users, businesses, and partners to collaborate and share resources. Members can create unlimited listings to showcase deals, services, or projects. The platform aims to foster connections and encourage community growth rather than focusing solely on generating revenue. Additionally, it offers features like viral giveaways and opportunities for cross-promotion among members, making it a valuable tool for collaboration.
• Membership Details: Membership on InfluenceWP caters to both consumers and partners. Partners can list their offerings, such as deals and resources, while consumers benefit from accessing these opportunities. Notifications about new listings are sent through newsletters, keeping members informed and engaged. Ryan Logan, the founder, emphasizes that members are encouraged to maximize the platform’s features, including interlinking listings for added visibility.
• Opportunities for Advertisers: InfluenceWP’s newsletter presents a unique opportunity for partners to promote their offerings through paid advertisements. This feature is especially beneficial during sales periods like Black Friday, where deals are abundant. By integrating advertising into the platform’s ecosystem, InfluenceWP provides an additional revenue stream for itself and its members, while also enhancing the visibility of partner contributions.
• Future Plans: Looking ahead, InfluenceWP aims to expand its offerings through collaborations and community-driven initiatives. Ryan envisions a future where the platform includes projects like user-generated podcasts or sponsored content. These initiatives would allow contributors to share in the success of the platform while bringing fresh ideas to its ecosystem. Ryan is committed to keeping InfluenceWP open to diverse forms of collaboration.

Mentioned In The Show:

• influenceWP
• Patchstack
• Twitter
• Bluesky
• LinkCentral
• Bug Bounty Program
• StellarWP
• WP Weekly
• WP Wonder Women
• Mark Westguard
• WS Forms

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Ryan Logan (Founder, InfluenceWP)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Establishing a Distinct Brand Voice is Essential for Consistency and Connection: Maddy highlights the importance of defining and refining a brand voice, particularly as businesses integrate AI into their content processes. A well-crafted brand voice ensures that all content, whether generated by humans or AI, feels cohesive and authentic to the audience. It helps in building a recognizable identity, fostering stronger connections with the target audience, and differentiating the brand from competitors. Maddy's agency offers services specifically aimed at helping clients develop and refresh their brand voice, emphasizing its role as a core element of a successful content strategy.
• Ethical Use of AI in Content Creation: Both Michelle and Maddy emphasize using AI responsibly. They suggest leveraging AI to identify content gaps, reformat existing work, or assist in editing rather than generating original content from scratch. This approach maintains the integrity of the creator’s voice and avoids ethical pitfalls like plagiarism.
• Repurposing Existing Content: Maddy highlights a practical use case for repurposing content she previously created. By transforming her detailed personal notes into blog posts, she maximizes the value of her prior work, making it accessible to a wider audience while keeping the essence of her original writing.
• Competitor Analysis for Content Strategy: Michelle points out that analyzing competitors’ content can be a valuable strategy to identify gaps and opportunities for new topics. They agree that while using AI to gather insights is acceptable, directly copying competitor content is unethical.

Mentioned Links

• The Blogsmith Content Agency
• Writing for Humans and Robots: The New Rules of Content Style
• Bring It On
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Furby
• ChatGPT
• Bing
• Search GPT
• The Four Dimensions of Tone of Voice
• Nielsen Norman Group
• Semrush
• Slack
• NotebookLM
• Three Body Problem series

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Maddy Osman (Founder, The Blogsmith)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Focus on the Problem and Solution: Corey emphasized the importance of clearly defining the problem OMGIMG solves. This includes addressing specific pain points, like the "image roulette" problem, where inconsistent images affect branding and engagement. Focusing on the problem in copy helps ensure users immediately see OMGIMG’s relevance to their needs.
• Strategic Use of AI as a Creative Partner: Corey is using AI as a tool for creating, organizing, and refining content. This iterative approach—from generating headlines to drafting entire plugins—allows him to quickly put ideas on paper, then tweak them. Michelle also mentioned wanting to lean more on AI, which could further help streamline content creation and brainstorming.
• Customer-Specific Landing Pages: Corey mentioned creating landing pages targeted at specific customer types, like bloggers, to highlight relevant features and value propositions. This strategy makes it easier for users to see exactly how OMGIMG fits their needs and helps make the messaging more personalized and effective.
• Interactive Feedback with Visitor Interviews: The idea of using visitor interviews and live feedback sessions with WordPress community members (like Cameron and Marcus) was discussed as a way to gather insights on the product in real-time. This feedback could be essential for fine-tuning both the product and its messaging.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Mark Westguard
• This Week In WordPress
• Nathan Wrigley
• IPA WP
• Justin Welsch
• Saturday Solopreneur 
• Otter AI 
• Alan Fuller
• Fullworks Plugins
• Set App
• Beaver builder
• Claude AI
• Chris Lema
• Cameron Jones

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Corey Maass
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• Community and Connection at Events: They discuss the importance of events like WordCamp as spaces for learning, networking, and finding belonging. Michelle emphasizes that these gatherings reinforce the idea that the WordPress community is friendly, welcoming, and eager to support each other.
• Language as a Tool for Inclusion: Topher talks about making HeroPress content available in multiple languages to cater to non-English speakers. He learned that people, even if fluent in English, often prefer reading in their native language, feeling a stronger connection to the content. His approach shows how inclusive language access can make individuals feel valued.
• Genuine Diversity Efforts: Topher initially counted contributors by gender to ensure balance, but he eventually stopped tracking as inclusivity became natural. This shift demonstrates that diversity efforts, when sustained, can evolve into an ingrained organizational culture.
• Personal Stories as Inspiration: Michelle highlighted how HeroPress stories provide valuable insights into people’s journeys, which can be inspiring and informative for others, especially when considering hiring or collaborating. These stories create a sense of community by showcasing the resilience and achievements of individuals across different backgrounds.

Mentioned Links:

• Topher DeRosa
• Hero Press
• Andrey Shevchenko
• WordCamp Pune
• Slack
• Twitter
• Nexcess
• LiquidWeb
• Human Made
• WP Coffee Talk
• Automattic
• Collins Agbonghama
• Tijana Andrejic
• Thabo Tswana
• Robert Cheleuka
• WordPress.org
• Morten Rand-Hendriksen
• Josepha Haden Chomphosy
• Weglot
• Yoast
• BlackPress

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Topher DeRosa (Founder, HeroPress)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Backup Solutions and Features: David Johnson gives an in-depth overview of Backups Next Gen, highlighting its ability to perform incremental backups by only saving changed files daily, while backing up the entire database. Users can restore backups with a single click, and they can generate downloadable zip archives for specific moments in time. This makes it easier to choose the right backup and manage storage effectively.
• Integrated Cloud Storage in Pricing: Backups Next Gen now includes cloud storage in its pricing. Previously, storage was sold separately, but the new pricing structure offers more storage per site as users increase their licenses. This simplified pricing model is designed to offer generous and cost-effective cloud storage.
• Solid Suite and Black Friday Deals: SolidWP is offering a Black Friday sale for both Backups Next Gen and the Solid Suite, a bundle that includes Solid Security Pro, Solid Central, and the Solid Academy. The Solid Suite offers significant value for WordPress users by bundling multiple tools to enhance security, backups, and site performance.
• Solid Academy: The Solid Academy, run by Nathan Ingram, offers extensive training resources with live streams and a decade’s worth of courses on topics such as AI email, WordPress plugins, and how to run a successful freelance or agency business. It’s designed for developers and agencies looking to grow and increase their revenue.

Mentioned Links:

• Solid WP
• Solid Backups
• Elegant Themes
• Woothemes
• Divi
• Kadence WP
• Solid Central
• Dropbox
• Google Drive
• Stash
• Nexcess
• WP-CLI
• John Hooks
• Solid Suite
• Patchstack
• Solid Security Pro
• Solid Academy
• Nathan Ingram
• Give WP
• Ben Meredith
• Topher DeRosa
• Hero Press

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• David G. Johnson (Product Owner, SolidWP)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Black Friday Co-Marketing Plan: The IPAWP initiative is gearing up for a Black Friday co-marketing campaign where participants will be paired to promote each other’s products. This involves visiting their partner’s website, checking for Black Friday deals, and sharing it via social media, with an easy and light effort on the participants’ part.
• Engaging and Humorous Marketing Approach: Michelle and Corey are using lighthearted, humorous content in their marketing for OMGIMG, including showcasing a personal photo of Corey with a playful caption about "embarrassing photos" and tying it to the product's purpose. This approach not only captures attention but also makes the marketing relatable and fun for potential users.
• Open Feedback Loop for OMGIMG: The team is actively seeking feedback from users about the product and its homepage. They are open to ideas and suggestions, highlighting their commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring OMGIMG meets user needs and expectations. This openness encourages user involvement and helps shape the platform's development.
• Progress on IPAWP's First Version: A developer is working on the first version of the IPAWP co-marketing tool. It will allow businesses to be paired randomly for co-marketing tasks, with the team overseeing pairings to ensure compatibility. The tool will also help track whether participants have completed their marketing assignments.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Admin Menu Editor Pro
• TypingMind
• Claud.ai
• Katie Keith
• Alex Standiford
• Underrepresented in Tech
• Samah Nasr
• Stellar WP
• Dense Discovery
• James Lau

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Corey Maass
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Use Password Managers for Stronger Security: Both emphasize the importance of strong, unique passwords across different platforms. Using a password manager simplifies this  process, generating and securely storing passwords, which helps users avoid the common mistake of reusing passwords across multiple accounts.
• Auto-Updates Are Essential but Need Careful Implementation: Auto-updates in WordPress, especially for minor updates, are crucial for keeping websites secure. However, using a staging environment to test updates before applying them to a live site is a best practice. It ensures that any potential issues can be resolved without affecting the live site.
• Backups Are a Must-Have: Regular backups are vital for website security and recovery. Although backups are not always seen as part of security, they play a crucial role in recovering from incidents like hacking or failed updates. Many web hosts offer backup services, making it easy to implement.
• Outsourcing Security Can Be Beneficial for Non-Technical Users: Businesses without technical expertise (e.g., small shops or bakeries) may benefit from outsourcing website management to agencies. These agencies have experience with hundreds of websites and can handle security updates and maintenance more efficiently, reducing the risk of security breaches.
• Proactive Security Measures Are Key: The conversation stresses the importance of proactive security practices. Having security solutions, policies, and a recovery plan in place before a security breach occurs is critical. Waiting until after a breach happens can result in higher costs, operational downtime, and damage to reputation.

Mentioned In The Show:

• WordCamp
• WordPress
• Kathy Zant 
• Nathan Ingram 
• Black Hat
• Give WP
• Liquid Web
• WP Accessibility Day
• Topher DeRosia
• Cate DeRosia
• Hero Press

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Robert Abela (Founder, Melapress)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Black Friday Planning: Michelle and Corey are focusing on creating a strategy for a Black Friday sale. This includes discussing potential discounts, such as testing lower pricing or offering a limited lifetime deal to attract more customers. The goal is to use Black Friday as an opportunity to experiment with pricing and boost sales.
• Product Positioning and Pain Point Clarity: There's a recognition that OMGIMG addresses a pain point many users don't realize they have. The challenge is to effectively communicate the value of the tool—how it can save time and effort—even though it's not seen as a core necessity like security or SEO plugins.
• Steady Progress and Commitment: Michelle and Corey both emphasize a long-term commitment to the project, even if the progress has felt gradual. You acknowledge that building momentum takes time, and it's important to avoid self-criticism while continuing to push forward.
• Marketing Efforts and Automation: There’s a desire to step up the marketing efforts, including improving the website, running more ads, automating marketing, and exploring new strategies, such as using creative content like songs or humorous posts on social media to draw attention.
• Balanced Expectations and Persistence: Corey reflected on not being overly attached to the immediate success of projects, aiming instead to adopt a more measured approach by consistently pushing the product forward without seeing it as all-or-nothing. The goal is to build the flywheel, recognizing that it will take time for sales and growth to self-perpetuate.

Mentioned In The Show:

• WP Accessibility Day
• Equalize Digital
• WordPress
• WordCampUS
• Automattic
• ChatGPT
• Dall-E
• Stellar WP
• Green Geeks
• Yoast 
• Claude
• Email Octopus
• Canva
• Photoshop
• Setapp
• TypingMind
• Bartender 
• CleanshotX
• The Repository
• Appsumo
• Social Link Pages
• WP Builds
• Mark Westergaard
• WS Forms

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Corey Maass
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways: 

• Upcoming Kadence Features: Kadence is set to release five new blocks, including three for advanced header navigation, allowing users to create headers using blocks without relying on themes. This change is aimed at improving full-site editing, offering more customization options. An advanced search block and site icon block will also be part of this release, providing users with more flexibility without needing to touch code.
• Accessibility Focus: Kadence is prioritizing accessibility in its design, driven by the personal experiences of lead developer Ben Ritner, who has worked closely with people using screen readers. While Kadence is not 100% accessible, they are continuously working towards improving this aspect.
• Community and Events: Kadence will hold a free event called Kadence Amplify, with information available on their website and social media. It will include educational talks and demonstrations of the new features. Stellar WP and Kadence are also sponsors of WordPress Accessibility Day (October 9-10), promoting accessibility in the WordPress ecosystem.
• Learning and Discounts: Attendees of both Kadence Amplify and WP Accessibility Day can benefit from learning opportunities and potentially access Kadence discounts through event swag.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Kadence WP
• Stellar WP
• Kadence Amplify
• WP Speakers
• SureCart
• Jamie Marsland
• Pootle Press
• Sherif Abuzid
• Melissa Love
• StyleCloud
• Héctor de Prada
• Modular DS
• Fernando Cintra
• Jeffrey Costa
• Cathy Mitchell
• WP Barista
• Jake Pfohl
• Start Blogging 101
• Nathan Ingram
• Timothy Wood
• Jessica Wangelin
• Christian Taylor
• Paul Sokol
• Kathy Zant
• Ben Ritner
• WordPress Accessibility Day
• Robert Abela
• Melapress

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Katy Boykin (Marketing Manager, Kadence WP)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• User-Friendly Features in WP World: Marcus Burnette highlighted various user-friendly features in WP World, such as the ability to customize profile pins based on user specialties and the option to hide locations for privacy reasons. This ensures the platform remains flexible and inclusive, especially for those who prioritize privacy or are digital nomads.
• Community-Driven Feedback and Development: Michelle Frechette shared how user feedback directly influenced the development of WP World. For example, her suggestion to add "accessibility specialist" as an option was quickly implemented. Marcus encouraged users to request features, showing that the platform is shaped by the needs of its community.
• WP World’s Hosting Review Platform: Marcus introduced a comprehensive hosting review system where users can rate various aspects of hosting providers, such as performance and security. This community-sourced rating system provides valuable insights for people choosing WordPress hosts and ensures transparency by preventing paid listings.
• Playful and Engaging Design Aspects: Marcus, as a designer, has adding fun products like the "Capital P, dang it" mug. He also shared how events like WordCamps feature their own unique " u" mascots, contributing to the platform’s lighthearted and engaging atmosphere.
• Collaborative Community Spirit: Both Marcus and Michelle emphasized their close collaboration and support within the WordPress community. Their plans to meet at WordCamp US to further discuss ideas highlight the strong, community-driven spirit behind WP World and its events. They also invited the audience to connect with them and grab stickers at the upcoming event, showcasing their approachability.

Mentioned In The Show:

• WP World
• WP Coffee Talk
• WP Speakers
• Seriously Bud? Podcast
• Bud Kraus
• ChatGPT
• HeroPress
• Javi Guembe
• Topher DeRosia
• Elementor
• Do the Woo Podcast
• WP WonderWomen
• WP Career Pages
• WordPress.org
• Nexcess
• Katy Boykin
• Kadence Amplify

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Marcus Burnette (Creator, The WP World)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• The Power of Affiliate Relationships: Alex emphasizes that successful affiliate programs are built on strong partnerships and personalized support. Providing affiliates with both the right tools and fair compensation can lead to mutually beneficial success. It's not just about the percentage they earn, but about helping them market effectively.
• Siren's Pricing Structure: Alex outlines Siren's pricing tiers as very affordable, with a focus on bringing in early adopters. The initial pricing is $59 for the first year, renewing at $79. This pricing will likely increase as the plugin stabilizes and grows.
• Challenges in Affiliate Marketing Perception: Alex is focused on shifting the negative stigma around affiliate marketing by showing that it can be honest, impactful, and built on genuine partnerships. He contrasts the negative view of affiliates with the popular trend of influencer marketing, highlighting their similarities.
• Platform Migration and Customization: Siren offers platform migration support for users switching from other affiliate plugins like Affiliate WP. This feature has proven popular, and Alex plans to streamline the migration process to make it more efficient, showing a focus on enhancing user experience and meeting customer needs.
• Future Development Plans: While Siren does not yet have built-in tools for providing affiliates with marketing resources like images and copy, this is on Alex’s roadmap. He recognizes the importance of giving affiliates the resources they need to succeed, although existing tools like Google Drive and the block editor can partially solve this for now.

Mentioned In The Show:

• LifterLMS
• Udemy
• PayPal
• Stripe
• Kadence
• Affiliate WP
• WooCommerce
• Easy Digital Downloads
• LearnDash
• North Commerce
• Personalized WP
• Restrict Content Pro
• Google Drive
• PartnerShip Podcast
• WP World
• Marcus Burnette
• WordCampUS

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Alex Standiford (Owner, Siren Affiliates)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Register Early for WP Accessibility Day: The event registration is open, and participants are encouraged to sign up early, even before the speaker list is finalized. This allows attendees to receive updates and stay informed about the event.
• Seek Guidance and Explore Accessibility: Danielle Zarcaro emphasizes the importance of seeking help and asking questions when starting with accessibility. She encourages exploring different aspects of web design and accessibility to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Diverse Perspectives on Accessibility: Isla Waite highlights the value of attending talks from international speakers. Gaining perspectives from around the world can greatly enrich understanding and appreciation of accessibility work.
• Accessibility and Aesthetics: The discussion challenges the misconception that accessible websites are inherently unattractive. Both Danielle and Isla argue that accessibility does not preclude beauty and creativity in design. They stress that accessibility can be integrated with design principles to create functional and appealing websites.
• User Control and Preferences: There’s a focus on allowing users to control their experience, such as providing options for dark mode or animation toggles. This approach respects users' preferences and improves accessibility by accommodating different needs and settings.

Mentioned In The Show:

• WP Accessibility Day
• Lainey Feingold
• Structured Negotiation
• LinkedIn
• Underrepresented In Tech

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Danielle Zarcaro (Founder, Overnight Website)
• Isla White (Brand Strategist, Marketing by Design)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways:

• Working on IPA WP Features: Michelle and Corey discussed their progress on developing features for IPA WP. They plan to refine these features and update the homepage to have a product ready to showcase at WordCamp US.
• Networking and Relationships at WordCamps: Corey and Michelle both emphasize the importance of attending WordCamps and smaller WordPress events. These events have allowed them to build strong professional relationships and friendships, like Corey’s connection with Alex Standiford and others. They both miss the frequency of smaller, more intimate WordCamps, which foster closer interactions and connections.
• Productivity and Time Management: Both expressed the challenge of balancing multiple responsibilities, including work, hobbies, and preparations for upcoming events. They joked about the idea of creating a plugin to add more hours to the day, highlighting the ongoing struggle with time management.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Yoast
• Rank Math
• Stellar WP
• StreamYard
• MorgueFile
• Dense Discovery
• Seattle Magazine
• Paws of Coronado
• Squirrelly 
• Dall-E 
• Fiverr
• Mastermind Group
• Alex Standiford
• Marcus Burnette

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Corey Maass
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways

• Security Awareness is Critical & Need for Vigilance: Effective security involves more than just technical measures; it requires continuous vigilance and education about potential threats. Kathy Zant and Nathan Ingram emphasize the importance of understanding and responding to security risks proactively.
• Education and Empowering Users: Both Kathy and Nathan stress the significance of educating users and clients about security. They argue that security knowledge should be accessible to everyone, not just experts.
• Security is for Everyone, Not Just Big Targets: Nathan explains that hackers don’t only target large, high-profile websites; they also exploit smaller, less-secure sites for resources. This underscores that security is a concern for everyone, regardless of the size or perceived importance of their website

Mentioned In The Show:

• Thomas Raef
• WeWatchYourWebsite
• Solid WP
• Solid Academy
• Monster Secure
• Go Safely Online
• LearnDash
• Jack Kitterhing
• YouTube

🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.com

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Nathan Ingram  (Founder, MonsterSecure)
• Kathy Zant (Founder, MonsterSecure)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways: 

• Iterative Brainstorming Process: Both Corey and Michelle value the process of "splashing around" in ideas, acknowledging that not every concept will be a winner, but it’s essential to explore and iterate to find the right solution. They emphasized the importance of keeping ideas alive and evolving them over time.
• IPAWP Rebranding: The Independent Plugin Alliance for WordPress was rebranded as the Independent Product Alliance for WordPress (IPAWP) to better reflect the broader scope of products they want to include. They’re still in the early stages of developing this alliance and are actively seeking input and collaboration from others.
• Grassroots Development: Both OMGIMG and IPAWP are in grassroots development phases, with Corey and Michelle being open to new ideas and contributions. They’re focused on building these initiatives in a collaborative, community-driven manner, emphasizing low-cost marketing strategies and mutual support among small WordPress product creators.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Ross Morsali
• Search & Filters
• IPA WP
• WP Speakers
• WP Coffee Talks
• WP Tavern
• WP Wonder Woman
• Canva
• Fiverr

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Corey Maass
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

Top Takeaways: 

• Evolving Social Media Landscape: Social media platforms continually evolve, with newer platforms like TikTok and Mastodon offering different ways to connect and engage compared to older ones like Facebook and Twitter.
• Importance of Platform Diversity: Using a variety of social media platforms can help reach different audiences and fulfill different purposes. Doc Pop highlights the benefits of embracing both mainstream and niche platforms to connect with specific communities.
• Fediverse Integration: Connecting WordPress sites to the Fediverse through plugins like Activity Pub can enhance visibility and engagement within decentralized social networks, allowing content to reach broader, niche audiences.
• Creative Content Production: Doc Pop discusses the value of producing creative and engaging content, such as hand-drawn animations and cheesy puns, to make technical topics more accessible and enjoyable.
• Community Building and Local Engagement: Building and participating in local communities, whether through small events or local meetups, can be rewarding and impactful. Doc emphasizes the importance of fostering these connections in both the WordPress and yo-yo communities.

Mentioned In The Show:

• Torque Magazine
• Doc Popular
• Facebook 
• X
• TikTok
• Mastodon 
• Threads
• Activity Pub
• Buddy Press 
• Fediverse
• Reddit 
• Automattic 
• The Verge
• Doc Popular About Page
• Fediverse
• The Fediverse Files

🙏 Sponsor: A2Hosting

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

🐦 You can follow Post Status and our guests on Twitter:

• Doctor Popular 
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧