The WP Minute

Support our work at https://thewpminute.com/supportGet the newsletter at https://thewpminute.com/subscribeThe web was once a bastion of free and cheap things. Free tools and services catering to professionals and novices were abundant. And even things that cost money were relatively affordable.This climate has been a boon to freelancers, agencies, and clients. WordPress and its ecosystem are prime examples of this in action. A free content management system (CMS) with a thriving market for themes and plugins has boosted many businesses. Meanwhile, third-party services like hosting and APIs allowed us to do more without spending a fortune.That meant lower costs to pass on to clients. It helped keep our services more affordable to small and medium-sized organizations and created the expectation of cheaper websites.Those days appear to be ending (if they haven’t already gone the way of the dodo). WordPress product pricing continues to increase, as do the other services we rely on. It’s all making for a difficult conversation with clients.No one wants to pay more for the same thing. But it’s an unavoidable part of the current landscape. So, how do you approach clients with the bad news?It’s all about preparation and communication. Let’s explore ways to take the sting out of the discussion. ★ Support this podcast ★

Support our work at https://thewpminute.com/supportGet the newsletter at https://thewpminute.com/subscribeFreelancers have plenty of options for leveraging artificial intelligence (AI). It seems like a new tool or five comes out each week. And that doesn’t include existing products with bolted-on AI features. The hype train has morphed into a rocket ship. This is great for OpenAI and other product makers, as they rake in cash and tons of publicity. But what about the rest of us? Specifically, those of us who make a living with WordPress. Are we gaining anything more than a few dog-and-pony tricks? Most importantly: Can AI help us make more money? There’s some debate to be had on that last question. Some fear that AI will replace humans or devalue what we do. That using the technology will lead to our untimely demise as designers and developers. But maybe there’s another way. Perhaps we can use AI to empower us rather than weaken our industry standing. I believe it’s possible. Let’s look at ways AI might help build our businesses. ★ Support this podcast ★

Support our work at https://thewpminute.com/supportGet the newsletter at https://thewpminute.com/subscribeThe web design industry is maturing. New projects used to be the lifeblood of freelancing, and companies spent money on feature-packed websites to establish themselves online. But those opportunities seem fewer and farther between these days.Don’t get me wrong. New projects will continue to be a money-maker. But there are fewer gigs to go around and competition is fierce. Relying solely on this strategy is more challenging than ever.I’ve seen evidence of this in my business. Prospective clients are more likely to ask me about maintaining their existing WordPress site rather than building a new one.It’s a disappointing development on one hand. Building a new site is the “fun” part of this business as opposed to the messiness of working with one built by someone else. Even dealing with a site you built years ago is no picnic.This shift could have some long-term benefits, though. It may be key to a freelance business that thrives into the future. Let’s talk about why maintenance matters. ★ Support this podcast ★

Support our work at https://thewpminute.com/supportGet the newsletter at https://thewpminute.com/subscribeAs consumers, we are trained to crave what’s new and improved. It’s all about that massive feature launch or the illusion of getting more for your money.I can understand the appeal. Having the latest and greatest product gives us bragging rights – and maybe more productivity. That’s why a new iPhone comes out every few months. Who wouldn’t want that?Well, bigger isn’t always better. I believe that theory applies to the evolution of WordPress. Big changes can be clumsy and require us to adapt. That can temporarily negate any advantage we’re supposedly gaining.Think about the switch from the Classic Editor to Gutenberg in WordPress 5.0. Everyone from users to developers to product makers felt the impact. You could cut the anxiety with a chainsaw. Not to mention that it took years for many of us to adapt. Things are great now, but still.It does offer a renewed appreciation for the smaller (AKA ‘boring’) improvements, though. The little things that enhance accessibility, performance, security, and stability.That’s what professionals need. They help us get more done and provide peace of mind.Let’s discuss how these little things can add up and why we may see them more often. ★ Support this podcast ★

Support our work at https://thewpminute.com/supportGet the newsletter at https://thewpminute.com/subscribeTechnical debt is an inevitable challenge for WordPress freelancers who have been in the industry for an extended period. Websites, tools, and services age, while outdated code, incompatible plugins, and inefficient workflows can accumulate. That creates obstacles that hinder progress. The key to success is proactively managing and minimizing technical debt to improve stability and efficiency.Eric Karkovack outlines several strategies for mitigating technical debt, including creating a maintenance plan for websites, monitoring third-party dependencies, and regularly reviewing business tools and processes. By proactively addressing potential issues—such as updating software, selecting reputable service providers, and modernizing workflow systems—freelancers can prevent disruptive surprises and maintain client trust.The goal is to make strategic decisions prioritizing stability while preparing for inevitable technological changes. That ensures a smooth path forward in an ever-evolving technical landscape. ★ Support this podcast ★

Support our work at https://thewpminute.com/supportGet the newsletter at https://thewpminute.com/subscribeYou can use WordPress to build all kinds of websites. There are no hard limits when it comes to looks or functionality. That freedom is powerful. You can build sites that handle eCommerce, memberships, and large databases. You can tie in with third-party APIs and create headless front ends. However, such power may be overwhelming to freelancers. Each type of site has its intricacies – learning them can be difficult. And some are more profitable and relevant to your business than others. That’s a good reason to find a niche. Developing preferences for site type, client type, and price range helps narrow your focus. From there, you can find projects that fit you best. The result is a leaner, more efficient freelance business. In addition, you’ll become an expert in your field. How does it work? And how do you find your niche? We’ve got some tips for discovering and doing what you like best with WordPress. Be Open to Different Types of ProjectsIf you’re new to freelancing or don’t have a niche yet – don’t worry. Determining your path is part of the fun. You might as well treat it as an adventure. Keep an open mind as you look for new projects. Pay particular attention to the types of sites you haven’t built before. The same goes for plugins and clients in different industries. Don’t be afraid to consider the unfamiliar. Perhaps that sounds counterintuitive. How can you develop a niche and be open-minded at the same time? It’s all about gaining experience. If you’ve only built brochure-style sites – how will you know if eCommerce is a good fit? You’ll only learn by rolling up your sleeves and trying. The trick is to find projects that won’t overwhelm you. For example, a site that sells a single product could be the perfect match for a beginner. Avoid sites that require a heavy dose of expertise. The more types of projects you complete, the more data you’ll gather. Use it to understand your pros, cons, likes, and dislikes.Look for Opportunities That Match Your PreferencesFor this section, we’ll assume you have some experience building different kinds of websites. And perhaps you’ve found a potential niche. The next step is to look at the market and identify opportunities to make it work. Dedicating yourself to a niche is great – but it must be sustainable. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck working on projects that don’t match your preference. They might also get in the way of booking ideal gigs later on. Let’s look at a few examples:Medical-Related WebsitesIn this scenario, we’re focusing on a specific industry: the medical field, which is large and has a variety of potential niches. That includes doctor’s offices, suppliers, non-profit organizations, etc. It might make sense to pick one or two of these subgenres to start. But which ones? Here are some things to consider:Geography: Are there potential clients in your area? Or are you willing to work with anyone, anywhere?Connections: Networking is always a handy skill – but it’s vital when working within an industry. The right connections can help you find clients and expand your business.Features: Are there features that are common to medical websites? Do you have a reliable and efficient way to provide them?Budget: Research the costs associated with building websites in the industry. Finding specifics may be difficult. However, the goal is to determine how much you’ll need to charge to be profitable – and how much clients are willing to spend.Competition: Can you identify other freelancers or agencies in this niche? Are they doing great work (or not)? A lot of competition may make it harder to book new clients. However, it might also be an opportunity to one-up those providing poor service.The above factors will help you determine whether the niche fits and give you ideas for standing out in the marketplace.Membership Websites and Online CommunitiesNext, we’ll focus on a particular type of website. This niche is all about building online communities designed to serve members. The need for membership sites spans across industries and non-profit organizations. The factors in our first example still apply. However, some extra considerations revolve around technology:Plugins: What plugins will you use for building membership websites? Will you buy into an ecosystem (like WooCommerce and its extensions)? Does it make sense to choose different plugins based on project needs? This is useful for determining your tech stack and calculating software license fees.Third-party services: What services will you integrate into client websites? Think of payment gateways, mailing list services, customer relationship management (CRM) apps, web hosting, etc. There’s also a chance to focus on specific tools. Note any fees associated with these services as it will help you provide accurate project estimates.Organizational size: Membership sites can have a few members or millions. Do you want to work with smaller organizations, big ones, or somewhere in the middle?The technical side of a niche is challenging and subject to change. But having a solid plan provides a great place to start.To Expand Your Niche or Not?There are a few reasons why you might want to expand your niche. Sometimes they’re too narrow and don’t generate enough revenue. In addition, the skills you’ve acquired in one area might also apply to others. It’s an opportunity for growth in either case. The first is more about need, while the second is a chance to evolve. Once again, it’s worth keeping an open mind when considering expansion. Look at related areas that could benefit your business and boost your bottom line. There is some risk involved and it’s OK to be choosy. Before jumping in, ask yourself a few key questions:How will my current skills apply? Working with different industries or site types could mean learning new skills. Think about the potential impact on your time and revenue.Can I use the same themes and plugins? The ability to repurpose themes and plugins makes it easier to expand. Significant changes here can still be worthwhile – but beware of the required cost and effort.What are the most impactful differences? Even related industries and site types can have stark differences. That could be anything from legal requirements to client budgets. It’s good to discover these things ahead of time.How will this change impact my current clients? Consider what an expansion means to your existing portfolio. Will you have less time to work with them? Will costs go up?Ideally, there should be a link between your current niche and the new one. The more similarities, the easier the transi...

Support our work at https://thewpminute.com/supportGet the newsletter at https://thewpminute.com/subscribeThere are a lot of advantages to being a freelancer. One of them is that you can work from anywhere. No need for a brick-and-mortar location means saving money. It’s also pretty nice that WordPress is free to use. A savvy business owner can get started without spending a lot. Even so, there are some significant costs involved. A quality web host isn’t cheap. And the WordPress ecosystem is known for its wealth of subscription models. You’ll also pay out the nose for internet service, hardware, and experts like accountants. Your spending can add up quickly – more than you realize. And keeping track can be cumbersome. Subscriptions renew on different dates and vendors don’t always alert you. Prices go up – including those tempting promotional deals you signed up for. Before you know it, your bank account is running low. Thankfully, there are plenty of opportunities to save money. A little research will help you identify unnecessary costs and ways to cut corners. The result is a boost to your bottom line with minimal sacrifice. It’s easier than you think! Let’s look at ways to cut costs for your WordPress freelance business. How Much Are You Spending?The first step to cutting costs is to understand how much you spend. That will let you know where you stand and you can compare the totals after you’ve made some budget cuts. It requires keeping track of what you spend. Accounting software or a spreadsheet will help you stay informed. Short of that, you can look through bank statements for the details. Look for any purchases related to your business, such as:Web hosting fees; WordPress plugin and theme subscriptions; Software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscriptions; Professional services like accountants and lawyers; Marketing costs like advertising and email list services; Memberships in professional organizations or clubs (like The WP Minute);Those are the basic costs coming out of your pocket. However, there may also be items that aren’t so obvious. For example, consider payment gateway fees. Services like PayPal and Stripe collect a fee each time you receive a payment. The bigger the payment, the more they take out. The cost can be significant, so it’s something to be aware of as you consider spending. Dig deep to learn how much money is leaving each month. You might be surprised at what you find. Look for Corners to Cut and Places to SaveOnce you have a list of items that cost you money, you might find a few that are no longer needed. That could be anything from an app you don’t use to an add-on to your hosting account. For instance, themes and plugins often collect virtual dust. Pay particular attention to items you purchased during Black Friday or similar sales. If you don’t actively need them, they’re raiding your bank account. Cancel them before their next renewal. You might also find products or services you can cut back on. Many subscriptions are tiered and offer more features for a higher fee. Do you need the level of service you’re paying for? If not, that’s a good place to save cash. Web hosting is a common area in which to overspend. If you don’t need the storage and bandwidth allotted to your account, it’s OK to downgrade. Oh, and don’t forget about any domains you own. They’re easy to buy when an idea pops into your head. But what if you didn’t follow through with the project? Each renewal is just a yearly reminder of our procrastination. You might as well cancel or try to resell them. It’s easy to collect items you don’t need. Maybe they once served a purpose. Or perhaps you were waiting for the right time to use them – and the time never came. The good news is that you can eliminate them just as easily.Find Cheaper Ways to Get What You NeedThere are also ways to save money on the things you need. Sometimes, it requires a little work or patience, but it is often well worth the effort. Product bundles are a good example. Some WordPress plugin authors will give you a deal when licensing multiple items. It makes sense when you’re working within ecosystems like WooCommerce. Just be sure that you’ll use everything that’s included. Timing also matters when it comes to making a purchase. As we mentioned, Black Friday deals can tempt us to buy things we don’t need. But it’s also the right time to grab a product that we have a use for. Some sellers even discount renewals or upgrades to existing customers. Keep an eye out for these opportunities. You can also negotiate pricing with some companies. Internet and cell phone providers often renew contracts at higher rates. When it’s time, contact them and ask for a lower price. It’s not always convenient, but it works. Cheap or free alternatives are also out there. It’s not always feasible to replace a key plugin on your website. However, apps like photo editors and word processors are easier to swap. You could save quite a bit using open-source tools or commercial products built by smaller companies. Products that employ artificial intelligence (AI) also offer potential savings. Services like ChatGPT can perform menial tasks and automate them. They could eliminate the need for some more expensive apps. You don’t have to settle for paying high prices for the tools and services you need. Being a smart shopper can pay off for your business. Every Dollar Counts - Save Where You CanFreelancing may not have the same costs as a traditional business. That doesn’t mean your expenses are insignificant, though. Out-of-control spending makes it harder to stay afloat. And prices keep going up. So, take charge of your bottom line. Keep track of what you spend and look for areas to make cuts. Consider what you buy, when you do it, and how it impacts your business. You’re sure to find items that aren’t worth your money. Meanwhile, look for creative ways to stretch your money. Find deals and take advantage of them when it makes sense. Get the best price for the things you need or find free alternatives. The WordPress ecosystem is large with multiple options for everything a freelancer needs. A little effort will go a long way toward improving your finances. There’s no better time to start than right now. ★ Support this podcast ★

Support our work at https://thewpminute.com/supportGet the newsletter at https://thewpminute.com/subscribeClick here to follow the WP Minute+ podcast. It's where all of the podcast episodes have been going.In today's episode I'm sharing additional thoughts on Automattic vs WP Engine and where I stand with covering it. ★ Support this podcast ★

Support our work at https://thewpminute.com/supportGet the newsletter at https://thewpminute.com/subscribeImagine if Wix invested in open source? Imagine if Wix gained on WordPress?Imagine if Wix conquered our beloved CMS?Imagine if Wix focused on one area in WordPress: Data Liberation. I don’t think the closed-source CMS will supplant tens of thousands of WordPress professionals 1-click installing WordPress for their clients any time soon, even with their aggressive marketing tactics. With a whole section devoted to their open source initiative documented at wix.engineering, including a behind the scenes look at how they scale their platform for 100’s of thousands of users, it’s obvious they know the importance of connecting with developers. So why not call the bluff? Matt Mullenweg just mentioned in his summer update at WordCamp Europe that the Data Liberation initiative isn’t moving as fast as he’d hoped. He wants to unlock customer website content (and other data) proprietary CMS’s like Wix hold hostage from their users, if they decide to migrate away. What an amazing opportunity for Wix (and others) to take part in for the greater good of WordPress, open source, and all users of the web!I agree with one of Kevin Geary’s points: I don’t believe there’s a master plan coming from the sidelines at Wix. They are a product and profit first company, their core product isn’t open source. Automattic on the other hand, “started” with an open source product and now it’s trying to build the profit first part of their business. More of that in my last post, What Would We Do with the Keys to the Kingdom? Open source winning doesn’t mean that WordPress wins at every front. It shouldn’t. It can’t, really. We’ve lost the plot if we think that our goal is to build a defense against these other CMS platforms. Instead of devising a timeline where WordPress must win at all costs, we should be advocating and demonstrating the WordPress way to these commercial entities. Look, I don’t think it’s an easy task, but if anyone from Wix is listening — spending a few $100k in engineering time to create a plugin that sync’s data to/from a WordPress install is probably money well spent — much more than sponsoring a YouTuber. In the end, users win, which is the ultimate goal. The optimist in me hopes that the more proprietary brands sees the value in this type of portability, the more they might be enticed to go deeper investing in other parts of open source. Heck, imagine if you could install the Gravity Forms plugin on your WordPress site AND a Wix site — what a world that would be. But I’m not foolish, I know that these are epic challenges and largely not part of mainstream software’s agenda, or Automattic’s for that matter. I also know that the idea of wanting other platforms to look more attractive for developers means that WordPress could certainly look less appealing through the same lens. There’s a model here that we’ve halfway unearthed. It’s worked for 21 years. Instead of the goal to have WordPress installed everywhere, maybe it’s the impression of our community that should be spread first. Do we need to be more than 50% of the web? Can Wix and others have their share so long as they become good stewards of open source? My fear isn’t that other platforms will conquer WordPress, but that open source WordPress in collaboration with Automattic can’t move fast enough to find its footing. Loose terrain not just built on the rough edges of UI & UX decisions, but the lack of deep bonds threaded throughout the community. The stuff that gets challenged every day. More transparency from leadership, Automattic truly investing in partnership with us, and community members treating everyone with respect and integrity — across the board. Finally, a problem AI can’t solve, WordPress thriving because of humans. In the battle for a dominate CMS, it’s hard to pick a winner or a loser, because the real fight should be for more choice, everywhere.  ★ Support this podcast ★

Discussion on the challenges of shared control in WordPress, questioning the need for shared decision-making. Exploring the value of an open web and the future of WordPress, focusing on community influence and Automatic's business model.