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Latest Notes
My talk @ WC Sydney: How Devs Can Learn About Marketing from Data
I’ll be telling my story – how I pivoted from web production and management to marketing.
All thanks for a Marketing Automation project, which forced me to learn about marketing fundamentals to be able to set up the contact database correctly, lead scoring, automation flows, etc…
How Devs Can Learn About Marketing from Data
Date & Time: 2 November @ 1.55pm
Where: WordCamp Sydney – Hallway Track
Event info and registration: https://sydney.wordcamp.org/2024/schedule/
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Barn2 announces a set of new web development services
Interesting move by Barn2, considering they started out as an agency.
Here’s the announcement: Simplify your web journey: Barn2 now offers full-service web development
Services offered are:
- New WordPress and WooCommerce websites
- Plugin installation and setup
- Plugin customization
- Website fixes and troubleshooting
- Speed optimization
- Ongoing website maintenance
More info here: https://barn2.com/services/
I wonder if this is part of a trend. It may be a topic worth covering via a more detailed post.
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PR Newswire publishes State of the Press Release Report
The report, by PR Newswire, is based on the analysis of over 100,000 press releases and surveying over 665 professionals in the US and Canada. As you can imagine, it makes a strong case for using Press Releases and is ultimately a lead gen piece. But there’s some interesting info to keep in mind:
- The main purpose is brand visibility
- Also used for building relationships with journalists and influencers
- Only 4% do it as part of an SEO strategy
The biggest challenge is not generating as much media pick up as one would expect, and not reaching the right people is the second concern.
60% of Press Releases are about product or service news, followed by events (47%) and company news (42%).
The report covers AI too – 26% of those surveyed said that they used gen AI to craft press releases. About use to to write headlines.
The two more interesting stats relate to performance:
- Action verbs in headlines – The three more performing ones are ‘Announce’, ‘Launch’ and ‘Reports/Reported’
- The following days/times performed better – 10am to 4pm Monday to Thursday
The report covers much more. It’s free – you can download it here:
State of the Press Release Report
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Launch of Social Web Foundation
I think this is a very important initiative – a step towards a better model for social networking.
Good that Automattic is behind it, as reported by the Tavern.
Read about the launch here: Launch of Social Web Foundation.
Leaders of the open social networking movement have formed the Social Web Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to making connections between social platforms with the open standard protocol ActivityPub.
The “social web”, also called the “Fediverse”, is a network of independent social platforms connected with the open standard protocol ActivityPub. Users on any platform can follow their friends, family, influencers, or brands on any other participating network.
ActivityPub was standardized by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in 2018. It has attracted over 100 software implementations, tens of thousands of supporting web sites, and tens of millions of users.
Advocates of this increased platform choice say it will bring more individual control, more innovation, and a healthier social media experience. But there is work to do: journalism, activism, and the public square remain in a state of uncertain dissonance and privacy, safety and agency remain important concerns for anyone participating in a social network.
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Automattic Vs WP Engine in the media
I’m going to list here all non-WP media articles about the Automattic Vs WP Engine ‘conflict’.
19 October 2024
Developer Seeks WordPress Injunction to Halt Harms to Business
Bloomberg Law
WP Engine asks court to stop Matt Mullenweg from blocking access to WordPress resources
18 October 2024
WP Engine files an injunction to get its WordPress.org access back
TechCrunch
Automattic offered employees another chance to quit over WordPress drama
The Verge
17 October 2024
Automattic offered employees another chance to quit — this time with nine months’ severance
TechCrunch
16 October 2024
The Wordpress drama and how it rings alarm bells for users
The Morning Context
Is Matt Mullenweg defending WordPress or sabotaging it?
MSN
About that brawl between the WordPress co-founder and WP Engine…
Computerworld
15 October
The WordPress drama could have major implications for the internet
Fast Company
What’s With the Open Source Drama Between WordPress and WP Engine?
CMS Wire
WordPress bans WP Engine from sponsoring or participating in user groups
The Register
WordPress vs. WP Engine: Who Will Survive the Hosting Brawl?
The India Herald
14 October
WordPress saga escalates as WP Engine plugin forcibly forked and legal letters fly
The Register
13 October
WordPress acquires WP Engine’s ACF plugin amid legal disputes
NewsBytes
WordPress.org’s latest move involves taking control of a WP Engine plugin
The Verge
12 October
In latest move against WP Engine, WordPress takes control of ACF plugin
TechCrunch
The Battle for 40% of the Internet
Slate Money (Paywalled)
11 October
The Pettiest Drama in the Tech World Is Taking Place at … WordPress?
Slate
10 October
WordPress vs WP Engine battle gets seriously stupid, with new login requirement
9to5Mac
The WordPress vs. WP Engine drama, explained
TechCrunch
The ongoing feud between Wordpress and WP Engine is threatening open-source principles and good name
TechSpot
9 October
None
8 October
None
7 October
One-twelfth of Automattic staff leave over WordPress-WP Engine spat
CIO
How the WordPress vs WP Engine feud could impact the future of the internet
The Indian Express
WordPress executive director Josepha Haden Chomphosy resigns
The Hindu
After weeks of drama, SF tech CEO gives workers $30,000 to quit
SFGATE
Automattic CEO will pay staff $30,000 to leave if they oppose his legal battle with WP Engine
HR Grapevine
6 October
None
5 October
The WordPress vs. WP Engine drama, explained
TechCrunch
Why WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg has gone ‘nuclear’ against tech investing giant Silver Lake
CNBC
Executive Director Of WordPress Resigns
Search Engine Journal
WordPress co-founder is paying employees to leave if they disagree with him
MSN
WordPress paying employees to leave if they disagree with co-founder
NewsBytes
4 October 2024
WordPress cofounder is paying employees to leave if they disagree with him
The Verge
The latest on the WordPress fight over trademarks and open source
The Verge
159 employees leave WordPress founder’s company after extortion lawsuit
Engadget
Matt Mullenweg: ‘WordPress.org just belongs to me’
The Verge
Things get nasty in lawsuit between WordPress.org and WP Engine
CIO
WordPress Trying to Extort Competitor with Trademarks, Suit Says
Bloomberg Law News
WordPress cofounder is paying employees to leave if they disagree with him
The Verge
WP engine sues WordPress
fudzilla
159 employees are leaving Automattic as CEO’s fight with WP Engine escalates
TechCrunch
How the Argo Project Is Avoiding WordPress-Type Problems
The New Stack
The ‘WordPress’ fight is now a lawsuit
MSN
159 Automattic staff take severance offer and walk out over WP Engine feud
The Register
3 October 2024
WP Engine sues WordPress co-creator Mullenweg and Automattic, alleging abuse of power
TechCrunch
The ‘WordPress’ fight is now a lawsuit
The Verge
WordPress Co-Founder & Automattic Sued For Attempted Extortion
Search Engine Journal
Automattic demanded web host pay $32M annually for using WordPress trademark
Ars Technica
Automattic CEO Matthew Mullenweg sued for attempted extortion by WP Engine
TechRadar
What’s going on with the WordPress-WP Engine battle?
Silicon Republic
When Benevolence Fades
Tedium
WordPress founder sued for alleged libel and attempted extortion
Engadget
WP Engine sues Automattic CEO for ‘abuse of power’
Techzine
WP Engine Sues WordPress for Libel, Extortion
Slashdot
WordPress developer Automattic reveals it demanded 8% of revenue as licensing fee from WP Engine
Gigazine
The ‘WordPress’ fight is now a lawsuit
MSN
Developer Concerns Rise as WordPress and WP Engine See 19% Traffic Decline, Alternatives Thrive
Digital Information World
Latest in WordPress war: Automattic says it wanted 8% cut of WP Engine revenue
The Register
WP Engine files a lawsuit against Automatic and WordPress co-founder Matt Mulleweng
Tech Pluto
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Automattic’s Partner Directory is now live
Automattic has been busy creating and expanding its Automattic for Agencies initiative across its WordPress brands – WordPress.com, JetPack, Pressable and Woo – and have just announced their WordPress.com Partner Directory.
“When you apply to the agency directory, your application will be reviewed to assess critical areas like security, performance, and adherence to different business requirements. Accepted agencies can showcase their profile across the Woo, Jetpack, and Pressable brand directories via a single listing.”
Visit the Partner Directory via this SEO optimized URL: https://wordpress.com/development-services/
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Business podcasts WordPress product and agency folks should listen to
I’m starting a list here but will add it to a Resources section of the website when it exists 🙂
Feel free to recommend ones you listen to too.
This Old Marketing | Marketing
Woo Biz Chat | Business
The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway | Business
Masters of Scale | Business
Uncensored CMO | Marketing
Content Inc with Joe Pulizzi | Marketing
The B2B Playbook | Marketing
WP Product Talk | Business
Post Status Podcast | Business
Growth Colony | Marketing
The B2B Marketing Podcast | Marketing
The Marketing Book Podcast | Marketing
The Mi3 Podcast | Marketing
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Barn2 announces WooCommerce Product Table 4.0
The new version introduces the Table Builder, a simple, visual interface that allows you to create beautiful tables effortlessly.
It’s a feature that a lot of customers had asked for, replacing the shortcode approach and making the process much more streamlined .
You can read the announcement here.
WooCommerce Product Table is one of Barn2’s bestselling plugins used by store owners to display product information clearly, in a tabular format (eg. like an invoice) and on one page.
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Marketing WordPress was discussed on WP Product Talk and it’s worth listening to it
The episode is called Is WordPress’ Market share Declining? And What Should Product Businesses Do About it? and co-hosted by Matt Cromwell and Amber Hinds .
There were 4 guests split in two sessions:
- Part 1 – Joost de Valk (Yoast SEO founder, Emilia Capital) and Noel Tock (Human Made partner)
- Part 2 – Miriam Schwab (Strattic founder, Elementor’s Head of WP Relations) and Rich Tabor (Automattic Product Manager)
It’s definitely worth a listen, and when you do remember that the success of the project depends on both a top down and bottom up approach. That is, leadership and steer from a higher level and participation contributions from everyone else. How this can be made to work will directly impact its effectiveness.
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Read first: About the WordPress Jobs section
This is a space for those looking to work for a WordPress business, to ask career advice, specific questions about roles posted in the Jobs section of this website, or if you are a hiring manager, questions and comments about recruiting the best people for your business.
Please note: This isn’t a bulletin board to ask for or advertise for jobs.
If you are looking for work, feel free to post a link to your CV and/or LinkedIn profile and ask for feedback.
Don’t forget to read the Community Rules too.
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The biggest thing in WordPress in the last 20 years is coming soon!
How about that for click bait? 😉
If you follow Kevin Geary of Automatic.css (ACSS) and Frames, you will have heard of his new project: EtchWP.
In one of this email he says: “This is slated to be one of the biggest product announcements in the history of WP, if not the biggest.” Will it be?
Here’s the thing: he’s built a following and credibility. And two great products. Here’s earned the right to a slow, expectation-building reveal. However, if Etch isn’t the best thing since sliced bread, or even Top 5, he will have lost some of that credibility.
Etch will be revealed in September. Get your popcorn ready.
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What is your #1 blocker to growing your WordPress business?
I keen on hearing it, at WordCamps, in podcasts, and the various communities I part of: WordPress product owners, Devs and agencies need to do more marketing.
Here’s the thing: unless you are a Marketer… you just don’t know where to start. I’ talk about this here a little, but this is a topic that needs to covered as a course.
If you can answer this question it will help me figure out what topics to write about and how to structure the online course I intend to create.
So, what is your #1 blocker to growing your WordPress business?
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Liquidweb has unveiled a new design for its website
Have a look: https://www.liquidweb.com
The new UI is quite conservative (compared to Kinsta’s recent efforts) but polished and on brand.
It provides real estate to their broad range of products. I’m not a big fan of sliders but I think the one they have adopted works well because it looks like one that I can scroll through myself.
This is what stands out, IMHO: Setting the standard in web hosting for 27 years
It’s hard to argue against the quality if a web product or service that is as old as the web itself 🙂
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WP Engine webinar: WordPress for Media & Publishing Sites
Interesting webinar that I think is of interest to both established and higher-traffic publications and smaller ones that are seeing their traffic increase.
Covering some of the more technical considerations:
- Performance optimization
- Scalability
- Integrations
- Headless
Speakers are from The Publisher’s Desk, 10up, Big Bite and WP Engine.
It’s free to attend
When: Thursday, August 22 at 12:00 pm EDT / 5:00 BS
Register: Webinar | WordPress for Media & Publishing Sites
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Is Twist the alternative to Slack remote-first companies have been waiting for?
Remote work is great unless you’re working for a globally distributed organization that hasn’t quite embraced async.
Twist addresses this, or so they say:
Twist is an async messaging app that makes collaboration easy from anywhere by using threads to organize your conversations.
I’ll have to test it out.
More info here: https://twist.com/
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Builderius 1.0 Public Alpha has been released
Builderius is a new page builder that features:
- Full CSS Development Environment
- Global Components
- Tabbed Canvas Interface, Dynamic Data Previews
- To Publish Releases Straight from the Builder
You can see the walkthrough here: https://youtu.be/-ecvt6xrqCA
And test it yourself here: https://builderius.io/alpha/
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Equalize Digital: WordPress Page Builder Accessibility Comparison
Great piece by Equalize Digital comparing accessibility of websites built using a number of popular WordPress builders.
Kadence came top and Bricks, which is what I use on this website, was 8th out of 10, so not doing well at all. I’ll need to look into this for WP BizDev and make the necessary changes.
Read the article: WordPress Page Builder Accessibility Comparison
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Google will not kill cookies afterall…
Instead, Chrome users will be prompted to opt in or out.
Anthony Chavez, vice president of Google’s Privacy Sandbox, said:
“Instead of deprecating third-party cookies, we would introduce a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing, and they’d be able to adjust that choice at any time”
Here’s his post: A new path for Privacy Sandbox on the web
It’s still not a done deal – they are discussing this new approach with regulators.
It’s also too early to speculate whether this means that it’s business as usual or whether businesses will still need to adapt to a new approaches and new solutions (that have been developed in preparation for a cookie-less world). We will have to wait and see how many people decide to turn cookies off.
In the meantime, businesses who are setting themselves out to capture first-party data should not change their plans. It’s still a solid strategy to adopt.
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WP Engine Acquires NitroPack
Ann0uncement: WP Engine Acquires NitroPack, Extending Leadership in Managed WordPress Site Performance
It will be added to their new ‘Tools & Plugins’ category of their refreshed brand architecture.
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Must read: Can a 1985 Marketing Playbook Fix Measurement Problems in 2024?
From the Content Marketing Institute:
“Marketers should stop using attribution models and return to a 1985-like measurement model if they want their brands to succeed in 2024 and beyond.”
That is, before the internet and the ad / distribution channels telling us that we can measure campaigns accurately.
Can a 1985 Marketing Playbook Fix Measurement Problems in 2024?
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