Today I chat with Marc Benzakein, a tech industry veteran, as he shares insights on crisis management. Marc recounts a severe cyber security breach during his tenure at a previous company where a hacker demanded $40,000 within 72 hours. He emphasises the importance of honesty, transparency, and clear communication in crisis management. We also discuss the role of proactive security measures and professional handling of cyber threats in a post-9/11 world. The episode underscores the value of gaining customer trust and business sustainability through transparent crisis management. Join me for a sobering and insightful discussion that underscores the need for honesty, preparation, and resilience in the face of security crises. This episode is not just informative but a good listen for anyone looking to understand the intricacies of effective crisis management and customer relations.

Rae Morey, a former newspaper journalist turned web developer, shares her journey in curating top WordPress stories at The Repository. She discusses Automattic's partnership with Perplexity, which opens revenue opportunities for bloggers. Rae also highlights educational initiatives in Uganda and improvements for WordCamp events. With insights on the revival of the Cwicly page builder, she emphasizes the importance of community engagement in the WordPress space and the shifting landscape of content creation.

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 12th August 2024. You can find the episode here:

In this episode of the WP Builds podcast, I chat wih Xaver Birsak, the creator of Mailster, an email marketing plugin for WordPress. Xaver, who has over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, shares his journey from working with Flash, HTML, and JavaScript to developing Mailster, which initially launched in 2012 and recently updated to version 4.0. The discussion covers Xaver's transition from the Envato marketplace to a subscription-based model, detailed features of Mailster such as its drag-and-drop builder and GDPR compliance, and future plans for the plugin. Whether you're a seasoned email marketer or just starting, this conversation is packed with insights on integrating email marketing seamlessly within your WordPress site while maintaining full control over your data. Check it out...

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 5th August 2024. You can find the post here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/08/13/this-week-in-wordpress-305

Today we have Kyle Van Deusen on the podcast. Kyle is not only the founder of the prominent community, The Admin Bar, but also a dedicated WordPress expert who has been deeply engrossed in the industry for years. In this episode, we explore the results of the latest survey conducted by The Admin Bar, which delves into the nitty-gritty of the WordPress ecosystem. With over 1,100 participants, mainly freelancers and agency owners, the survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of the current state of the industry. We discuss some key stats, such as how 68% of businesses reported gross revenues under $100,000 in 2023, and how only 10% of freelancers and agency owners are making $100,000 per year. Whether you’re a freelancer, agency owner, or just passionate about web development, this episode provides the insights and benchmarks you need to stay ahead of the curve.

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 29th July 2024. You can find the post here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/08/06/this-week-in-wordpress-304

In episode 14 of "The No Script Show," Nathan Wrigley and David Waumsley discuss the division between UX designers and JavaScript specialists, focusing on Chris Coyier’s article “The Great Divide.” After halting their work together on the WP Builds podcast, due to David’s shift towards minimalist web development with HTML and CSS, they launched "The No Script Show" to explore this new approach. This episode, the last to be featured on WP Builds, delves into whether the divide between HTML/CSS-first developers and JS framework specialists has narrowed over the years, touching on advancements in CSS, web components, and web standards, and examining ongoing issues such as gatekeeping and accessibility.

In WP Builds Podcast episode #382, Alex Moss discusses his multifaceted career from a self-taught PHP developer in 2011 to Principal SEO at Yoast. The conversation spans his co-founding of an agency, involvement in the NFT market, and views on emerging digital trends. Alex highlights potential practical uses of NFTs beyond speculation, collaboration between marketing and development teams, and advancements at Yoast post-acquisition by Newfold Digital. Key topics include the future of SEO amidst AI and privacy challenges, Google's dominance, the evolution of search engines, and the balancing act of offering premium and free services at Yoast. Go check it out.

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 15th July 2024. You can find the post with the links here: https://wpbuilds.com/2024/07/23/this-week-in-wordpress-303