Wordpress | Post Status Draft Podcast

Episode Highlights:The Growth of Lone Rock Point [00:00:32] JJ discusses the growth of his agency, Lone Rock Point, from 4-5 people in spring 2020 to 16 people now.Remote-first Approach [00:02:29] JJ talks about adopting a remote-first organizational structure from the beginning and how they didn't miss a beat when the pandemic hit in 2020.Focus on Public Sector and NASA [00:04:02] JJ explains his background in government contracting and how his agency focuses on working with the public sector, particularly in the federal level, including clients like NASA.The federal government ecosystem [00:11:29] Discussion on the ecosystem and governance of federal government agencies, including guidance and policies.Starting Lone Rock Point [00:13:39] JJ's decision to start his own agency after exploring side hustles and feeling the desire to be more entrepreneurial.Niching down to WordPress [00:18:25] The growth and success of Lone Rock Point after focusing on WordPress as their main service offering.Topic 1: Using Word

Top Takeaways:Website Security and Budgeting: Businesses must prioritize website security and allocate appropriate budgets for maintenance and protection. Websites are now integral to modern business operations, and their value should be recognized and treated as essential as physical security measures.Effective Client Communication: Clear and proactive communication with clients is crucial. Agencies should manage client expectations, set boundaries, and communicate any limitations, such as response times during vacations or other periods of unavailability. Managing client communication helps build trust and ensures a smoother working relationship.Community Engagement and Personal Well-being: Engaging with the WordPress community and participating in events like WordCamps can be valuable for networking, knowledge sharing, and staying updated with industry trends. Additionally, individuals need to prioritize their own well-being and take care of their health.

Top Takeaways:Self-care is Essential for Leaders: Leaders need to prioritize their own well-being and practice self-care. Leaders need to take care of themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally in order to lead and support their teams effectively.Leaders Must Practice Reflecting: Leaders must hold up a mirror to themselves. To address burnout and prevent talent loss, leaders should reflect on their own actions and behaviors. They should examine the role they play in creating a safe and supportive work environment and be willing to make changes to policies, procedures, and practices that may contribute to employee dissatisfaction.Communication and Vulnerability Are Key: Open and honest communication between leaders and employees is crucial. Leaders should ask questions, actively listen, and create an environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their concerns. Encouraging vulnerability and empathy fosters a culture of support and helps identify potential issues before they escalate.

Top Takeaways:Redefining Success and Goals: The idea of reevaluating one's definition of success. Instead of solely focusing on financial gain or external measures, there is a shift towards valuing the impact and value brought to others through one's work or personal projects. Success is viewed as creating something meaningful that brings joy or usefulness to users rather than solely pursuing monetary goals.Importance of Collaboration and Connection: The value of collaboration and building connections with like-minded individuals. The joy derived from hobbies or personal projects can be enhanced by sharing experiences, exchanging ideas, and working together with others. Building lasting friendships and relationships through shared interests can be a source of support and fulfillment.Embracing the Process and Finding Fulfillment in the Journey: The importance of enjoying the process and finding fulfillment in the act of creating or working on something rather than solely focusing on the end result. The journey

Top Takeaways:Consider customer preferences. It is critical to understand customer preferences and needs when determining pricing plans. Exploring options, such as lifetime licenses and differentiating plans based on the number of sites, can help you strike a balance between value and affordability for customers.Seek feedback. Recognize the value of seeking feedback from others in relevant communities. Reach out for input and opinions. External perspectives can provide valuable insights and help refine your approach.Focus on website messaging and design. Acknowledge the importance of presenting information in a coherent and engaging manner. Consider using design elements to enhance a website's overall visual appeal and user experience.

In this episode, Cory Miller and Corey Maass explore the delicate balance between professionalism and creativity in branding and marketing. They also discuss the importance of incorporating feedback into the product development process, utilizing user testing and testimonials to refine features and continually improve. The impact of their collaborative efforts has led to clarity around the momentum of partnering can bring to the creative process.Top Takeaways:Balancing Professionalism and Creativity. The balance between professionalism and creativity in branding and marketing can be difficult. Even for playful, fun brands, there is a need to maintain a level of professionalism. Clean designs, corporate markets, and conveying value to potential customers are important.Using Feedback for Product Refinement. There is value in receiving feedback and incorporating it into the product development process. User testing, testimonials, and refining the features offer continual improvement opportunities. Creating a pro

Michelle Frechette talks with Marieke van de Rakt and Joost de Valk of Emilia Capital about their new company and their plans to invest in sustainable and female-led WordPress companies. They discuss their upcoming participation at WordCamp Europe, where they will be sponsoring and offering investment opportunities to new companies. They also delve into the challenges of running a profitable open-source software company and the importance of discussing business models in open-source software. Their passion for supporting sustainable and diverse businesses and their commitment to promoting gender equality through a year-round training and coaching program for women are inspiring! Top TakeawaysImportance of Fit: Finding a good fit when considering investments is crucial. Consider factors like valuation, adding value to the ecosystem, and the ability to contribute to and improve upon a product or service. The need for alignment between an investor's goals and the potential investment is paramount.Women Empowerme

In this episode, Cory Miller and Corey Maass discuss their progress on a project related to image generation and sharing. They explore the use of Open Graph (OG) images, social media platforms, and the importance of consistent branding. They mention the need for a logo and discuss the design concept, leaning towards a fun and vibrant style. They also touch on website development, pricing, and marketing assets. The conversation revolves around simplifying the image generation process and creating a user-friendly product. Overall, they aim to finalize the project's features, branding, and logo to move forward with the launch.Top Takeaways:Logo and Branding: The importance of creating a logo and establishing consistent branding for your project. You want a logo that represents image generation in a fun and vibrant way, potentially incorporating bright colors and a big, fun font. It should look good on different merchandise items like t-shirts and baseball caps.Image Generation and Sharing: The main focus of your

In this episode, Cory Miller interviews Anil Gupta, CEO of Multidots, about WordPress in the enterprise space. They discuss the importance of collaboration in WordPress, particularly for enterprises, and how tools like Multi Collab can address content creation needs. They also touch on the ongoing developments in Gutenberg and the significance of AI in content creation. Key takeaways include understanding the enterprise requirements, leveraging collaboration tools, engaging with the WordPress community, recognizing the impact of AI, and embracing the flexibility and power of the WordPress platform. Top Takeaways:Collaboration is crucial: We should recognize the importance of collaboration in content creation platforms. Enterprises and users expect collaboration features similar to those offered by platforms like Notion, Canva, and Google Docs. Lack of collaboration functionality may lead users to explore alternative platforms. We also should stay updated on the Gutenberg roadmap and actively contribute to the

In this episode, Cory Miller and Corey Maass discuss implementing an image-generation tool for content marketing. They explore the idea of creating templates for generating images that can be used in blog posts, social media, and other channels. The tool aims to enhance the visual appeal of content, highlight key quotes and summaries, and make sharing easier. They envision a workflow where marketers can quickly generate various image templates based on their content, ultimately improving their posts' overall presentation and value. Top Takeaways:Continuous Learning: The WordPress ecosystem constantly evolves, so staying updated with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices is crucial. Engage in continuous learning through online resources, forums, and communities, and attend WordPress events and conferences.Security Measures: WordPress security should be a top priority. Implement robust security measures such as using strong passwords, keeping themes and plugins up to date, using reliable security

In this episode, Sheryle Gillian, co-owner and CEO of CauseLabs, shares her journey and the evolution of her purpose-driven web agency with Cory Miller. She discusses how her personal journey led her to prioritize making a difference through her work. Sheryle emphasizes the shift towards sustainable digital stewardship and the role of WordPress in helping businesses adapt and evolve over time. She encourages WordPress professionals to embrace the open-source ethos, attend WordCamps, and use technology as a force for good. Sheryle's story highlights the importance of purpose-driven work and the power of community in the WordPress ecosystem. Top Takeaways:Embrace Sustainable Digital Stewardship: Adopting a long-term approach to website development and maintenance is important. Rather than considering a website as a one-time project, advocate for becoming a steward of clients' digital investments. This involves continuously evolving websites to keep up with technology changes and client needs and offering ongoin

In this episode, Cory Miller and Corey Maass discuss the importance of OG (Open Graph) images for social media sharing and branding in WordPress. They highlight the benefits of using OG image templates to create visually appealing and professional content. They also emphasize the need for WordPress professionals to offer variety and customization options to cater to different client needs. Cory and Corey suggest considering pricing models and beta-testing strategies to determine market value and gather feedback. This episode provides valuable insights for WordPress professionals seeking to enhance their services and deliver impactful OG image solutions. Top Takeaways:Explore OG image templates: OG (Open Graph) images are essential for social media sharing and branding. WordPress professionals should consider incorporating OG image templates into their projects to enhance their content's visual appeal and professionalism. This could involve adding a logo, screenshots, or other relevant images within browser fr

This episode features Bet Hannon, agency owner of AccessiCart, which specializes in accessibility for websites, particularly e-commerce sites. Bet talks with Cory Miller about the significance of accessibility, the agency's focus and niche, and tips for starting a business. Bet shares their journey in starting their business and how they became interested in accessibility. This interview emphasizes the importance of considering accessibility as a crucial aspect of user experience optimization and the benefits of providing transcripts for videos and podcasts. AccessiCart is currently experimenting with productized services for accessibility and remediation.Top TakeawaysEmbrace Accessibility: Accessibility is crucial in web design and development. Prioritizing making websites accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is critical. It's important to consider different user personas and their needs and continuously work on improving the accessibility of websites.Continuously Evolve and Optimize:

Corey Maass and Cory Miller continue the development of their new WordPress plugin, Crop.Express. They discuss the current state of WordPress, its future, and what it means for WordPress professionals. Discover the top takeaways for developers, designers, and business owners in the WordPress ecosystem. Expect to gain insights on navigating the evolving WordPress landscape and staying ahead of the game.Top Takeaways:-Adapt and Upskill. The WordPress ecosystem is vast and constantly evolving. This growth brings challenges, such as increased competition and the need for WordPress professionals to continuously adapt and upskill to stay relevant in the industry. Keeping up with the latest trends and technologies in the WordPress ecosystem is critical. This includes learning new programming languages and frameworks, as well as staying up-to-date on design trends and best practices.-Engage Community. The WordPress community is a supportive and collaborative group of individuals and organizations. WordPress professio

Cory Miller is joined by Karim Marucchi, Pat Ramsey, and Alex Nitu of Crowd Favorite to discuss the evolution of WordPress, its growing importance in the enterprise space, and the challenges faced by WordPress professionals. They also talk about the future of WordPress and the impact of emerging technologies on the platform. Overall, the speakers highlight the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the rapidly changing world of WordPress development. Top Takeaways:Freedom for Growth. One of the benefits of WordPress at the enterprise level is its customization and flexibility. It allows enterprises to build a site that is tailored to their specific needs and requirements. Another important aspect of WordPress at the enterprise level is its ability to integrate with other enterprise tools and systems. This can include tools for content management, customer relationship management, analytics, and more. By integrating with these tools, enterprises can streamline their workflows and improve their overall

Kim Lipari, owner and CEO of Valet, talks with Cory Miller about their insights and experiences on entrepreneurship, including how to handle challenges, the importance of building relationships, and the role of vulnerability in leadership. They offer advice on building a successful WordPress business and emphasize the need for continuous learning and personal growth. Overall, this episode provides valuable insights and advice for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and building a successful WordPress-based business.Top Takeaways:Focus on the customer: It's important to understand the customer's pain points and what they're looking for in a website. By focusing on the customer, you can create a website that meets their needs and helps them achieve their goals.Prioritize security: As a WordPress professional, it's important to make sure that your client's websites are secure and protected from hackers and other online threats. This means staying up-to-date on the latest security best practices, using secure h

In this episode, Corey Maass and Cory Miller move from personal to professional. They offer impactful transparency, from discussing the importance of website speed, user experience, and SEO to practicing mindfulness and finding balance. They share insights on optimizing WordPress websites for performance, including hosting, caching, and image optimization tips. They also discuss the role of content in driving traffic and engagement, as well as strategies for leveraging social media to grow an online presence. Top Takeaways:Imposter Syndrome. Imposter syndrome is very common among people who work in tech, and it's important to acknowledge it and understand that it's okay to feel this way. It's helpful to talk to others about your feelings and to remind yourself of your accomplishments and skills. It's important not to compare yourself to others and focus on your progress and growth. Seeking support from a therapist or coach can be very helpful in managing imposter syndrome.Slow Hustle. Take a more intentional,

In this episode, Cory Miller and Corey Maass discuss the future of WordPress. From the adoption of the block editor to the rise of headless WordPress, they consider the impact on the growing WordPress community. Gain insights on how WordPress professionals can stay ahead of the curve, the importance of keeping up with the latest updates and developments in the WordPress ecosystem, and the significance of fostering a strong and supportive community. This is an honest and hopeful look at the current and future state of WordPress. Top Takeaways:Keep up with the latest WordPress updates. It's important for WordPress professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest WordPress updates, including security patches, bug fixes, and new features. This will ensure that your WordPress site stays secure and runs smoothly.Invest in continuous learning. As WordPress evolves, it's important to invest in continuous learning to keep up with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. This can include attending conferenc

Cory Miller is joined by Jess Friedman from WP Cloud discuss how hosting companies can improve their infrastructure and services to provide better performance and reliability to their customers. They also dive into the importance of customer support, the benefits of using managed hosting services, the ethics of data collection, and more. The experience and expertise offered are sure to inspire you to increase your standards of service. Top Takeaways:Outsourcing Infrastructure. WordPress hosting companies can benefit from outsourcing their infrastructure to specialized providers such as WP Cloud. This can free up their customer support team from dealing with infrastructure-related issues and enable them to focus on providing better customer service and value-added services.Increase Customer Satisfaction. By democratizing publishing and providing a superior WordPress experience, hosting companies can reduce churn and retain customers who may otherwise switch to other platforms if their WordPress experience is s

In this episode, Cory Miller and Corey Maass share their insights and experience about the challenges of finding the right balance between simplicity and complexity and the importance of testing and documentation. They also share their personal stories of how they got started with WordPress and how their experiences have shaped their approach to plugin development. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in developing WordPress plugins, especially if you are looking to improve your development process and create more user-friendly plugins.Top Takeaways:Building a successful plugin requires a deep understanding of user needs and pain points: Understanding your users' needs and pain points to develop a plugin that solves their problems effectively is critical. This requires continuous user testing and feedback to improve functionality and user experience.Collaboration and communication are crucial for plugin development: Plugin development is a team effort that requires effective communication, coll