In June of this year, WP Engine took over StudioPress from Copyblogger. They’ve been quiet the first couple of months, but WP Engine is making their intentions with StudioPress, and specifically Genesis, very clear in the last couple of weeks.
[Read more…] about WP Engine moves forward with Genesis and more StudioPress news
The plan and schedule for WordPres 5.0
Ever since WordCamp Europe 2018 in Belgrade, people have been anxiously waiting for the release schedule of WordPress 5.0. Specifically, when will Gutenberg finally been added to core.
Well, the wait is over. Matt Mullenweg published a plan for WordPress 5.0 over at the Make WordPress Core blog. This is what he had to say about it:
[Read more…] about The plan and schedule for WordPres 5.0WordCamp Europe releases second batch of tickets
This week’s Monday was the first opportunity to buy your WordCamp ticket for what’s going be a great WordCamp Europe again. This time in the beautiful city Berlin in Germany.
[Read more…] about WordCamp Europe releases second batch of ticketsWith Release 3.9, Gutenberg is getting all grown up
Over at the Make Core blog, Mattias Ventura introduced Gutenberg version 3.9 last week and with it came a few features that make the whole Gutenberg project quite mature.
Give props in abundance, not in restraint
Giving props, for those who are unaware, is where someone who has contributed to open-source code is given acknowledgment. Typically you’ll find these props given within a specific ticket in which a person has contributed a fix for the open ticket. In the WordPress realm, you’ll also find these props at the bottom of a new release post as you can see here in the section called The Squad.
Those who contributed the actual fix are the ones receiving props. But … that’s not very inclusive. [Read more…] about Give props in abundance, not in restraint
WordPress.com, Jetpack and How It’s All Changing, Maybe?
Having a commercial version of WordPress alongside a non-profit version has been confusing. Especially to those starting out with WordPress, but not exclusively those new to it. It would be a great win for the WordPress Community if Automattic’s flagship product, WordPress.com, would rebrand itself to Jetpack.com. I have said this, half-jokingly, in the past decade to anyone who would listen. #sorrynotsorry.
But with WordPress.com now allowing for plugins and themes to be activated on their platform, the lines get even more blurry.
The Need to Make Money
Since Automattic is running on venture capital money, at some point it’s going to focus on monetization even more. If you have been paying close attention to how the sign-up between a stand-alone WordPress installation and Jetpack has changed over the last couple of months, you will have noticed. For a brief period, the free option was even hidden in the “Skip for now” button below the pricing table you’re greeted with when you connect Jetpack to your site.
You may have also noticed Automattic opening up their affiliate program. It includes Jetpack, WordPress.com, and everything WooCommerce now. All clear signs that Automattic has made monetization a higher priority in recent months. And judging by a tweet sent out yesterday at the Affiliate Summit, Jetpack is taking a very prominent role:
Changes in Branding
What’s even more interesting, navigating to the WordPress.com main page–make sure you’re logged out–will show you a WordPress frontpage without any signs of a W. Meaning the WordPress logo. I’m not sure when this changed, but it’s a very clear sign that WordPress.com’s branding is changing.
It’s just pure speculation on my part that this will lead to switching from WordPress.com to Jetpack.com, but I for one would welcome the change. I also think it will help send less of a mixed message for those entering the WordPress Community, Automattic’s affiliate program or both. 😉
5 Steps to Consider When Taking over a Slow WordPress site
If you provide WordPress services sooner or later you will run into a client that has had their site built on WordPress by someone and are now concerned with the website being slow and they want you to fix it.
You start looking into it and notice their hosting is a bit sucky and also their theme was poorly built or they’re using a “premium” theme that is isn’t all that great for performance.
It is a real challenge, how do you go about it?
1. Explain what is involved to the client
The client already did some investment on the website and they may not be very happy to invest a lot more. Try to reaffirm their purpose and then state what it will take to get there. Don’t compromise or settle for less simply because they already invested. It will be worse if they invest some more and keep the same problems. Establish your terms and what it will take for you to become the tech CO for their website. Because that is what you’re signing up for when you say yes.
[Read more…] about 5 Steps to Consider When Taking over a Slow WordPress site