The WP Minute+

In this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Matt is joined by Sandra Kurze to discuss the unique offerings of Greyd, a comprehensive suite of tools designed for web agencies and enterprises. They review the challenges of enterprise projects, the importance of pricing and value in WordPress tools, and how Greyd streamlines labor and enhances efficiency in web development. The role of AI in future web development is explored, along with the significance of building strong client relationships. Greyd’s support and onboarding process are highlighted, and the conversation concludes with insights into Greyd’s expansion into the U.S. market and future goals.Key Takeaways:Greyd is a comprehensive suite of tools for web agencies.The all-in-one approach helps streamline complex projects.Enterprise projects often require centralized management of multiple sites.Pricing in WordPress tools should reflect their value and efficiency.Streamlining labor can significantly enhance agency productivity.AI is set to transform the web development landscape.Building strong client relationships is crucial for project success.Greyd offers personalized support and onboarding for new users.The WordPress community and its users often have different perspectives.Greyd is expanding into the U.S. market to tap into new opportunities.Important Links:GreydThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The WP Minute+ Podcast, Toby and Kurt discuss the complexities of client relationships, particularly focusing on handling refunds, emotional intelligence in communication, and the importance of setting boundaries. They explore the dynamics of good versus bad clients, the impact of personal relationships on business, and the evolving landscape of pricing strategies in agency work. The conversation also touches on the integration of AI tools in agency processes and the fear of success that many entrepreneurs face. Ultimately, they emphasize the importance of empathy, direct communication, and the art of negotiation in maintaining healthy client relationships.Takeaways:Clients often change their minds without considering the financial implications.It’s important to set clear boundaries regarding refunds and project expectations.Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in business communication.Direct communication is often more effective than written correspondence.Understanding client dynamics can help in managing expectations.Good clients are those who are invested in the project and have the authority to make decisions.The fear of raising prices can hinder business growth.AI tools can enhance agency processes, but should not replace human creativity.Setting boundaries is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.Navigating personal and professional relationships requires empathy and understanding.Important Links:Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No MasToby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo!Follow Kurt & Toby:LinkedIn: Kurt | TobyThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Matt is joined by veteran writer Maddy Osman to discuss the evolving landscape of content creation in the age of AI. Maddy shares her journey, including her recent book and course launch, and reflects on the impact of AI on writing and content marketing. They explore the balance between leveraging AI tools and maintaining human creativity, the importance of personal experiences in writing, and the need for businesses to adapt to changing audience behaviors. The discussion also focuses on building trust and community in a digital world, as well as the future of WordPress in the context of AI advancements. Key Takeaways:Maddy discusses how becoming a parent has changed her career.She launched a LinkedIn Learning course based on her book, Writing for Humans and Robots: The New Rules of Content Style.AI is a tool that can't replicate everything yet.Content creators are among the first affected by AI.AI can enhance workflows, but shouldn't replace human thought.Human experience is crucial in writing and content creation.AI can create efficiencies, but may lead to a toxic hustle culture.Brands need to guide users through new technologies.Content marketing is evolving in response to shifting audience preferences.Building trust and human connections is essential in business. Important Links:Maddy Osman on LinkedInThe BlogsmithWriting for Humans and Robots: The New Rules of Content Style ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Kurt von Ahnen and Toby Cryns discuss the complexities of integrating AI into agency work, the challenges of managing client expectations, and the importance of effective project management. They explore the importance of clear communication with clients and the financial aspects of running an agency.The guys emphasize the importance of agency owners setting boundaries, managing client relationships, and recognizing when to delegate tasks to maintain a healthy work-life balance.Key Takeaways:AI is a tool that requires proper management and understanding.Clients often have unrealistic expectations about AI’s capabilities.Setting clear boundaries with clients is essential for agency success.Effective project management can significantly improve workflow and client satisfaction.Communication is key in managing client relationships and expectations.Emotional deposits and withdrawals impact client relationships.Agency owners should not hesitate to delegate tasks they find challenging.Financial management is crucial for sustaining your agency’s operations.It’s important to establish clear guidelines for client access to projects.Work-life balance is vital for long-term success in agency work.Important Links:Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No MasToby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo!Follow Kurt & Toby:LinkedIn: Kurt | TobyThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The WP Minute+ Podcast, Kurt and Toby look at the practical and emotional challenges of managing WordPress agency projects. From sales pitfalls to client relationship dynamics and infrastructure transitions, the conversation is packed with firsthand lessons and agency wisdom.Toby kicks off the discussion with a cautionary tale about losing a major deal due to poor energy and overexposure to meetings, a common struggle in client-driven work. Kurt emphasizes the importance of emotional readiness and shares his go-to mantra: focus on the relationship, and the transaction will follow. They discuss strategies for rescheduling meetings professionally when you’re not at your best and the dangers of showing up unprepared.They also reflect on project management as the core skill of running a successful agency, noting that it often matters more than technical skills. They explore “the messy middle” of projects, sharing techniques for refocusing clients during chaotic phases. Kurt values minimal viable products and clear deliverables, while Toby relates these lessons to both web work and personal projects.Finally, they discuss when to let go of problematic clients or outdated tech stacks. Whether it’s walking away from HostGator or reconsidering tools like Divi or ManageWP, both hosts agree: trust your gut, set boundaries, and don’t let short-term financial needs sabotage long-term growth.Takeaways:Rescheduling a meeting when unprepared is better than pushing through and blowing the opportunity.Project management is often the most valuable agency skill, especially in larger contracts.In big projects, refocus clients by reiterating core business goals and pushing toward MVPs.Listen to your instincts when deciding whether to keep a client or tool, and don’t ignore red flags.Website migrations and infrastructure shifts should be carefully planned, ideally with internal expertise.Clients rarely care about minor aesthetic tweaks; they want results and functionality.Important Links:Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No MasToby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo!Follow Kurt & Toby:LinkedIn: Kurt | TobyThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

Karim Marucchi, CEO of CrowdFavor and board member of the Captain Planet Foundation, joins longtime WordPress developer and instructor Carrie Dils, co-chair of the FAIR project. They dive into the FAIR Package Manager, discussing its potential to revolutionize WordPress plugin distribution with a decentralized system. The duo highlights the importance of resilience, transparency, and community governance in plugin management. They also tackle critical issues like data privacy and security, advocating for collaborative solutions that enhance the WordPress ecosystem.

In this episode of The WP Minute+, Kurt and Toby explore the shifting landscape of WordPress, sparked by Toby’s visit to a no-code meetup in Minneapolis. They discuss the rise of non-technical entrepreneurs building functional businesses with no-code tools and how that approach compares to the traditional WordPress ethos of craftsmanship, responsibility, and long-term support. They reflect on the decline of accountability in some corners of tech, where lifetime deals and fast-money SaaS platforms are more about hype than sustainability.They also explore how AI is reshaping development, from creating unmaintainable codebases to confusing newer users into thinking AI can replace skilled developers. This naturally leads to the question: Are live WordPress meetups and local communities losing relevance in a world where new tech communities are buzzing with energy? Kurt and Toby share personal anecdotes and weigh the pros and cons of continuing traditional meetups versus embracing newer, more generalist tech conversations.Rounding out the discussion, they touch on sales strategies, LinkedIn lead generation, and their experiences with marketing processes that move the needle, versus those that make noise.Key TakeawaysNo-code tools are enabling business owners to skip traditional coding, but often at the cost of long-term stability.WordPress’s commitment to backward compatibility and responsibility contrasts sharply with fly-by-night SaaS products.AI-generated code can lead to maintenance nightmares. Human expertise is still irreplaceable.Local WordPress meetups may be fading, but the need for authentic community and knowledge-sharing persists.Sales and marketing processes like LinkedIn automation can yield real leads, but need refinement and balance.Speaking gigs, courses, and books remain valuable tools for agency owners to build authority and generate leads.Important Links:Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No MasToby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo!Follow Kurt & Toby:LinkedIn: Kurt | TobyThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Kurt and Toby dive into the common misconception that WordPress (and websites in general) should be “easy.” They share stories about custom-coded nightmares, misunderstood AI-generated solutions, and the tricky line between client expectations and developer realities. The conversation touches on the perils of overpromising simplicity in web development and the challenges freelancers face when clients hand them projects that were “supposed to be easy,” often involving ChatGPT or drag-and-drop builders like Elementor.Kurt also shares his eye-opening experience speaking to high school students about WordPress and running an agency. Surprisingly, most students had never heard of WordPress or open-source, revealing a gap in technical and entrepreneurial education. The episode concludes with a candid discussion on freelancing versus employment, benefits myths, impostor syndrome, and the emotional leap required to run a digital agency.Key Takeaways:Many clients mistake ease-of-use tools (like Elementor or AI) for simplicity in execution.AI-generated code often introduces unexpected complexity and risks.Freelancers should diplomatically explain scope, staging, and testing needs, especially for “quick” fixes.Young people are alarmingly unfamiliar with WordPress and open source, despite growing interest in web development.Running a WordPress agency is accessible, but requires an entrepreneurial mindset, not just technical skills.Freelancers and consultants should confidently share their work and availability. Your visibility is key to opportunity.Financial freedom and geographic flexibility can be drastically improved by relocating or adjusting business models.Important Links:Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No MasToby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo!Follow Kurt & Toby:LinkedIn: Kurt | Toby ★ Support this podcast ★

This is the recording between Matt Mullenweg and Mary Hubbard on stage at WordCamp Europe 2025. They covered everything from regulation in the EU, the FAIR package manager announcement, and new education pathways, to what’s next for WordPress core and the ecosystem. The session started with Mary interviewing Matt, followed by a live Q&A with the audience, tackling concerns from longtime contributors, organizers, and first-time attendees alike.Matt opened with thoughts on the European regulatory landscape, pointing out both the good intentions and friction caused by cookie consent banners and compliance rules. He emphasized WordPress’ alignment with other open-source CMS projects like Drupal and Joomla, and the potential for advocacy through EU-based hosting companies. The topic of establishing a legal presence for the WordPress Foundation in the EU came up—an idea that’s being considered but seen as too complex to act on right now.The FAIR project announcement got a cautious but open-minded response from Matt. While he acknowledged the potential of a federated repository for plugins and themes, he highlighted significant concerns around trust, rollout coordination, and analytics. He stressed the importance of plugin safety, org infrastructure, and recent advances in automated vulnerability scanning. Then came a rapid-fire Q&A: contributors asked about AI in WordPress, the sustainability team’s future, WooCommerce’s branding against Shopify, Campus Connect’s expansion, funding WordCamps in underrepresented regions, and even the need to modernize internal tools like CampTix. A big highlight was the 150-hour university credit pilot launching in Pisa this month—an exciting new way to bring student contributors into the project at scale.Have a listen to the whole audio episode while you're on the go!  ★ Support this podcast ★

In this insightful episode of The WP Minute+, Kurt and Toby dive deep into the business mechanics behind running a WordPress-based web agency. They explore the power of blueprints: predefined, productized service packages to streamline work, deliver consistent results, and increase profitability. Rather than reinventing the wheel for every client, creating reusable setups lets agencies charge more for less effort while offering high-value, fast-launch solutions.They also confront the reality of burnout and the importance of creating systems that minimize stress while maximizing effectiveness. The conversation shifts into the freelancer-to-agency mindset transformation, stressing the need to move beyond hourly billing and toward value-based pricing. Kurt and Toby emphasize that many freelancers undervalue their work by associating speed with cheaper rates, when in fact, expertise should warrant higher pricing.The guys also discuss client management, feature creep, and sales strategy. They argue that most clients are less concerned with WordPress release schedules than developers assume, and that focusing on sales and client relationships is more crucial than chasing the latest features or trends. They also highlight the importance of saying “no” to misguided client ideas and protecting your energy and time as an agency owner or freelancer.Key TakeawaysProductizing services through blueprints leads to faster delivery and higher perceived value.Burnout is real, and managing it requires delegation, focusing on strengths, and structured schedules.Value-based pricing beats hourly billing; charging more for faster, higher-quality outcomes is fair and smart.Freelancers transitioning to agency owners must start thinking about scale, margins, and team delegation.Client success starts with responsiveness. Answering emails and calls quickly can lead to upsell opportunities and long-term relationships.Sales and marketing should consume a significant portion of your weekly workload to maintain a healthy pipeline.Important Links:Kurt’s Agency: Mañana No MasToby’s Agency: The Mighty Mo!Follow Kurt & Toby:LinkedIn: Kurt | TobyThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★