Post Status Podcasts

In this episode of the Post Status Happiness Hour, Michelle Frechette Danielle Zarcaro, and Isla White discuss their roles and experiences with WordPress Accessibility Day. Michelle, the lead organizer for marketing, expresses her excitement and facilitates the conversation. Danielle, a web developer, emphasizes the importance of web accessibility for all users and shares insights from her three-year involvement. Isla, the project manager, highlights the event's global impact and the collective responsibility of ensuring web accessibility. The speakers also discuss the significance of the 24-hour event format, the practical aspects of implementing accessibility, and the importance of community and sponsorships in making the event successful.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 DayLainey FeingoldStructured NegotiationLinkedInUnderrepresented In Tech🙏 Sponsor: A2HostingA2 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. 🎧

In this episode, Michelle Frechette and Corey Maass  discuss their preparations for WordCamp US, including finalizing presentation slides and enhancing their product's homepage for better user engagement. They explore offering personalized onboarding sessions and the complexities of different plugins. The conversation highlights the importance of educational content and clear communication about their product's benefits, especially for users unfamiliar with WordPress. They also celebrate a successful classified ad in a newsletter and share experiences with user engagement and marketing strategies. The episode concludes with plans for future events and a light-hearted discussion about time management.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:YoastRank MathStellar WPStreamYardMorgueFileDense DiscoverySeattle MagazinePaws of CoronadoSquirrelly Dall-E FiverrMastermind GroupAlex StandifordMarcus Burnette🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.comBuild 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 MaassMichelle 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. 🎧

In this episode, Michelle Frechette and Corey Maass  engage in a lively conversation about their experiences at WordCamp US, their recent t-shirt purchases, and a collaborative project related to WordPress. They discuss the progress of their project, which involves creating a directory for plugins or products, and the challenges of designing a logo that is clear and recognizable. They also brainstorm creative ideas for the logo and share their strategies for promoting their project. The episode highlights their enthusiasm for collaboration and their commitment to making the project a success.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 MorsaliSearch & FiltersIPA WPWP SpeakersWP Coffee TalksWP TavernWP Wonder WomanCanvaFiverr🙏 Sponsor: A2HostingA2 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 MaassMichelle 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. 🎧

In this episode of the Post Status Happiness Hour, Michelle Frechette talks with Nathan Ingram and Kathy Zant. They delve into the critical topic of online security, emphasizing the necessity of user education, particularly for WordPress users. Nathan from Solid WP and the Academy introduces Monster Secure, a new course designed to help agencies educate their clients on security best practices. Kathy, an online security expert, shares her experiences and stresses the importance of security education for overall business protection. The discussion highlights the challenges of online security, the evolving nature of cyber threats, and the need for proactive measures to safeguard digital assets.Top TakeawaysSecurity 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 websiteMentioned In The Show:Thomas RaefWeWatchYourWebsiteSolid WPSolid AcademyMonster SecureGo Safely OnlineLearnDashJack KitterhingYouTube🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.comBuild 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. 🎧

In this episode of the Post Status Happiness Hour, Michelle Frechette sits down with Doc, a professional yo-yoer and creator of engaging content around the Fediverse. They delve into the evolution of social media platforms, exploring how different channels like Twitter, TikTok, and Mastodon offer unique ways to connect with various audiences. Doc shares insights on integrating WordPress with the Fediverse and discusses his work with Automatic, including the quirky and creative content he produces. They also touch on the importance of local community engagement and the future of social media platforms. Tune in to learn about the latest in WordPress, social media trends, and how to embrace the diverse digital landscape.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 MagazineDoc PopularFacebook XTikTokMastodon ThreadsActivity PubBuddy Press FediverseReddit Automattic The VergeDoc Popular About PageFediverseThe Fediverse Files🙏 Sponsor: A2HostingA2 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. 🎧

In this episode, Michelle Frechette and Corey Maass  dive into a whirlwind of creative brainstorming for OMGIMG's latest marketing campaign. They explore playful and engaging ideas, from whimsical scenarios involving iconic landmarks and beloved characters to inventive ways to offer value to potential customers. Listen in as they discuss how to craft compelling advertisements, balance creativity with professionalism, and explore innovative approaches like free trials and fun, interactive elements. Whether you're a marketer looking for inspiration or just enjoy a good brainstorming session, this episode is packed with actionable insights and a touch of humor.Top Takeaways:Creative Advertising Concepts: Michelle and Corey brainstorm various creative approaches for OMGIMG’s advertisements, including playful scenarios with iconic landmarks and fictional characters. They explore the idea of using humorous or memorable references to make their ads stand out, such as incorporating Wizard of Oz themes or classic Halloween elements.Engaging with AI Tools: Corey highlights the potential of AI to generate creative content and ideas. They consider using AI for tasks like creating random character scenarios and generating unique images for websites based on specific data points.Providing Value and Building Relationships: Michelle emphasizes the importance of presenting constructive feedback positively. They discuss offering free trials or samples, like generating initial images for a website for free, as a way to provide value and build rapport with potential customers.Integrating Fun and Professionalism: The discussion underscores the importance of balancing creativity with professionalism. Michelle and Corey aim to craft ads that are both engaging and respectful, ensuring they effectively communicate the benefits of OMGIMG’s services while avoiding negative or potentially problematic messaging.Mentioned In The Show:Ben LairWPWS FormsStellar WP Yoast Siren AffiliatesGiveWPHype EditChurch Plugins Dense Discovery WP Minutes Post Status 🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.comBuild 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 MaassMichelle 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. 🎧

In this episode of the Post Status Happiness Hour, Michelle Frechette chats with Jess Frick to explore the latest advancements in the WordPress community, focusing on Pressable's newly redesigned website. Jess provides an inside look at the new features and improvements on Pressable’s site, including its enhanced user experience and functionality. The episode also covers the Independent Plugin Alliance for WordPress (IPAWP), a new initiative to support smaller plugin companies, Michelle’s new role at Post Status Executive Director and some new things they are up to. The episode also teases an upcoming conversation with Doc Popular about his innovative work with WordPress on the Fediverse.Top Takeaways: Pressable's Integration and Community Engagement: Pressable, as discussed by Jess, is committed to providing valuable hosting solutions and integrating with various community and plugin initiatives. Jess highlights how Pressable supports the WordPress community through partnerships and is open to exploring collaborative efforts with plugin developers, such as confirming compatibility and assisting with marketing strategies. This reflects Pressable's dedication to fostering a supportive ecosystem for WordPress users and developers.Pressable's Role in the WordPress Ecosystem: Pressable is actively involved in the WordPress community, offering robust hosting solutions and working closely with other organizations and plugin developers. Jess Frick emphasizes how Pressable is committed to providing high-quality service and support, and how it engages with the community by being a resource for plugin developers and exploring ways to collaborate on marketing and growth strategies. This involvement showcases Pressable’s dedication to both technical excellence and community support.Community Engagement and Support: Michelle and Jess discuss the importance of community support and engagement, highlighting how they’ve used platforms like Post Status and WP Coffee Talk to foster connections and growth within the WordPress community.Focus on Inclusivity: The conversation emphasizes the significance of inclusivity in content creation. Michelle and Jess appreciate tools like Yoast's inclusive language checker for helping writers avoid unintentional offense and promote better practices.Learning from Mistakes: Both Michelle and Jess share experiences where they learned from mistakes and used them as opportunities for growth. Michelle recounts instances where she acknowledged errors in accessibility and inclusion and took steps to improve.Mentioned In The Show:PressableKadenceYoastOmnisendUnderrepresented In TechOMGIMGIndependent Plugin Alliance for WordPressWS FormKathy ZantCory MillerCorey MaassDoc Popular🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.comBuild 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:Jessica Frick (VP of Operations for Pressable)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. 🎧

In this podcast episode, host Corey Maass and Michelle Frechette engage in an in-depth brainstorming session focused on refining a logo and website for their new plugin directory. The conversation begins with a discussion about creative solutions for leveraging limited resources and transitions into a detailed exploration of logo design using Canva. Michelle and Corey experiment with different design elements, including a playful beer-themed logo, and debate the merits of various fonts and color schemes. They also touch on practical aspects like image compression and the importance of avoiding trademark issues. As they finalize their design choices and discuss strategies for gathering feedback, they highlight the iterative nature of creative projects and the value of collaboration. This episode captures the essence of merging creativity with technical considerations to build a compelling brand identity.Top Takeaways:Logo Design Iteration: Michelle and Corey are working on a logo for their project. They discuss different design versions, including one with a playful beer theme that represents camaraderie and humor. They agree that the logo is a placeholder and plan to refine it further, possibly involving professional help for final tweaks.Feedback and Collaboration: They plan to send their current work to contacts for feedback on wording and collaboration aspects. This feedback will help them refine their approach and ensure their messaging and presentation are effective.Excitement and Progress: Both Corey and Michelle are enthusiastic about the progress they've made and the potential for further development. They recognize that while their current work is a good start, there’s room for improvement and refinement as they move forward.Mentioned In The Show:Beaver BuilderCanvaWS FormsSlackFiverrMark Westguard🙏 Sponsor: A2HostingA2 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 MaassMichelle 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. 🎧

In this podcast episode, host Corey Maass and Michelle Frechette discuss their new initiative to create a collaborative WordPress plugin directory. They share their vision for a dynamic platform that goes beyond listing plugins to become a marketing resource fostering community growth and engagement. The discussion covers their approach to inclusive yet targeted guidelines, creative marketing campaigns, and leveraging networks like Post Status. Corey and Michelle also explore the potential for cross-promotion among members and outline their plans for a summer sale and engaging assets. If you're a WordPress plugin developer or business owner eager to connect and innovate, this episode offers a glimpse into an exciting new project and how you can get involved.Top Takeaways: Collaborative Directory Concept: Corey and Michelle are developing a WordPress plugin directory that emphasizes collaboration over competition. The goal is to create a platform where businesses can support each other and engage in joint marketing efforts rather than focusing on traditional affiliate models.Inclusive Yet Targeted Guidelines: They plan to establish guidelines that are inclusive but also target specific types of plugins and businesses. This approach aims to maintain quality while allowing for diverse participation.Cross-Promotion and Marketing: The initiative will include cross-promotion among participants. They plan to use creative marketing assets, such as memes and other visual content, to boost visibility and drive traffic to the directory.Community Engagement: There’s a focus on building an active community around the directory. Corey and Michelle propose using Slack and Post Status for discussions and idea sharing, and envision bringing in experts for talks and workshops to benefit members.Early Stage and Rapid Development: The project is in its early stages with a goal to move quickly, aiming for a summer sale and rapid development. They emphasize the importance of getting involved early and contributing ideas to shape the initiative's success.Mentioned In The Show:MexicanTrain.onlineZach Katz WS Form Post Status SlackWP Tavern OMG IMGStellar WPFreemiusLetter PeopleFiverrDeadpoolWolverineWordCamp USMahjongGravityKit🙏 Sponsor: WordPress.comBuild 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 MaassMichelle 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. 🎧

In this episode of the Post Status Happiness Hour, Michelle Frechette chats with Mark Westguard, the creator of WS Form, a powerful and flexible form-building plugin for WordPress. Mark discusses WS Form's standout features, including its advanced conditional logic, breakpoint selectors for responsive design, and its capacity for complex customizations and integrations. They explore creative uses of the plugin, from dynamic MadLibs to WooCommerce product customizations, and reflect on their favorite WordCamp experiences, such as WordCamp Europe and WordCamp US. Mark also teases upcoming updates for WS Form and shares insights on making the most of WordPress events.Top Takeaways: WS Form's Flexibility and Power: WS Form is highlighted as a highly flexible and powerful form builder, capable of much more than just creating basic forms. It includes advanced features like conditional logic, dynamic content generation, integration with WooCommerce, and even the ability to handle complex calculations.Responsive Design Features: WS Form supports responsive design with customizable breakpoints, allowing users to adjust form layouts across different screen sizes. This feature is especially useful for ensuring forms look good and function well on mobile, tablet, and desktop devices.Developer-Friendly Features: The form builder is designed with developers in mind, offering hooks for custom and legacy API integrations, as well as the ability to run WordPress filter hooks and action hooks. This makes it highly extensible for those with coding skills.Support and Knowledge Sharing: Mark Westguard actively responds to customer support inquiries by not only providing direct help but also creating knowledge base articles based on common questions. This approach helps build a comprehensive resource for all users.Community Engagement: Both Mark and Michelle emphasize the importance of attending WordCamps and being involved in the WordPress community. They discuss the benefits of networking, sharing ideas, and learning from others, which are vital aspects of their experiences and successes within the community.Mentioned In The Show:WS FormEventbriteWordCamp USWordCamp Asia WordCamp Europe GiveWP Bootstrap Foundation WooCommerceBarn2 PluginsLiquid Web Datakit Zach KatzGravityKit 🙏 Sponsor: A2HostingA2 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. 🎧