At the moment, WPBeginner turns 13 years outdated, and it appears we’ve a teen on our hand.
It feels fairly unreal to kind this.
Like yearly, I need to take a couple of minutes and do a fast recap of all the key issues taking place in enterprise in addition to my private life.
WPBeginner Story
I began utilizing WordPress once I was 16 years outdated and began WPBeginner at age 19 with a single mission: make WordPress simple for newcomers.
Since then WPBeginner has change into the biggest free WordPress useful resource web site for newcomers.
For these of you who’re new, you possibly can learn the complete WPBeginner story on our about web page and use the Begin Right here web page to get essentially the most out of WPBeginner.
Private Updates
My son, Solomon, is now 5.5 years outdated, and he will probably be beginning college in August. Time is flying by so quick.
We’re making the most of our versatile schedule proper now and maximizing our worldwide journey journeys. To not point out, I felt I had a little bit of catching as much as do contemplating all of the COVID lockdowns.
This yr we’ve taken a number of journeys, however two of my absolute favorites have been the Arctic Circle in Finland and the attractive Serengeti Nationwide Park in Tanzania.
If all goes in line with plan between work journey and household journeys, I’ll go to 8 nations this yr. It’s fairly thrilling to be touring once more with out restrictions, however at instances I’ve felt overwhelmed relying on what’s occurring within the enterprise.
In case you didn’t get an opportunity to learn my 2021 recap, I extremely advocate checking it out on my private weblog the place I share classes discovered from final yr.
WPBeginner Updates
Because of our superior neighborhood, WPBeginner has continued to develop yr over yr. Except for tons of fantastic WordPress tutorials on our weblog, there have been a number of notable updates from final yr, that I’d like to spotlight.
However earlier than I do this, I need to share an enormous milestone that I’m tremendous happy with. We received featured on the NASDAQ billboard in Time Sq. for passing 20 million energetic installs of our merchandise.
This was a fairly enormous second for our total crew — going from a weblog to being on Time Sq. in New York Metropolis!!!
This was a dream come true second, and it’s proof that arduous work does repay.
Speaking about arduous work, listed below are some large WPBeginner updates that occurred within the final 12 months:
1. New WPBeginner Web site Design
After 5 lengthy years, we lastly did a design refresh for WPBeginner web site, and our large focus was content material discoverability.
WPBeginner began out as a easy tutorial weblog, however through the years it has actually change into the Wikipedia for WordPress.
Now whenever you arrive on the web site, you’ll see an enormous search bar on the homepage.
In case you go to our WordPress glossary part or greatest WordPress reductions part, then additionally, you will see a reside search function to rapidly discover what you’re searching for.
Except for that, we additionally added mega menus, switched from Yoast to AIOSEO, began utilizing the block editor for all the things, and a complete lot extra.
To not point out, we made the location tremendous quick and our Google Core Net Vitals rating is almost good.
I wrote a full behind the scenes case research with useful hyperlinks and tutorials, so you possibly can study and enhance your web site.
2. Bigger Group + Extra Content material
Our neighborhood has continued to develop on all social media networks. Our WPBeginner Have interaction Fb group now has over 86,000 members.
And the WPBeginner YouTube channel has handed 274,000 subscribers.
To maintain up with progress, we’re doubling down on our video content material technique. That is a part of the larger plan that I can’t wait to share with you within the coming months.
Except for our video, we’ve additionally launched the WPBeginner Podcast. That is an experiment that we’re attempting out, so please ship us your suggestions by leaving feedback and sending us your concepts on what matters you need us to cowl in future episodes.
You may hearken to the WPBeginner podcast in your favourite networks together with YouTube, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and so on.
3. Contributing to WordPress and Open Supply
As I discussed final yr, we’ve continued to ramp up our contribution to numerous free open supply tasks together with WordPress core.
As a part of our 5 for the Future dedication, we employed John James Jacoby, one of the vital well-respected WordPress core contributors, so he can spend 100% of his time on making WordPress and BuddyPress higher.
Except for the contributions which might be seen on WordPress.org, we’re providing over 1200 hours of free WordPress assist every month by way of our varied assist channels together with our contact type, Fb group, and so on.
We additionally invested in making a free migration device to assist customers change from Shopify to WordPress. That is as well as sustaining a number of different platform migration instruments like Weebly to WordPress and Medium to WordPress.
At WPBeginner, we preserve dozens of free small enterprise instruments, and we added few new ones to the combo together with:
- Missed Schedule Submit Writer which helps repair the missed schedule put up error in WordPress.
- Remark Moderator position plugin to assist multi-author blogs add higher remark moderation permissions.
- Transients Supervisor to assist builders handle WordPress transients by way of a person interface.
4. New Acquisitions & Investments
In 2018, I created the WPBeginner Development Fund to put money into WordPress centered corporations which might be fixing essential issues that you simply, our readers, need me to assist out with.
Prior to now 12 months, we’ve made a number of large acquisitions and investments within the ecosystem.
- We acquired SearchWP to assist web site homeowners enhance their WordPress search outcomes by giving them extra management over the search algorithm. Right here’s the full background story.
- We acquired Straightforward Digital Downloads which helps you promote digital downloads like eBooks, software program, music, and so on. That is the precise software program that we use to promote all of our WordPress plugins and SaaS. Right here’s the full background story.
- As a part of the above deal, we additionally acquired WP Easy Pay plugin which helps web site homeowners settle for bank card funds with out a full buying cart. It helps you to add Apple Pay, Google Pay, Purchase Now Pay Later, and extra highly effective fee options.
- And the deal additionally included the #1 affiliate administration plugin for WordPress referred to as AffiliateWP. This allows you to create your personal associates program in your on-line retailer with out the center man charges.
- Final month, we introduced our acquisition of WP Charitable, a top-rated WordPress donation and fundraising plugin. See the full story right here.
Except for the complete acquisitions, we additionally invested in WooFunnels, the main funnel constructing software program for WooCommerce. Merely put, it helps you earn more money out of your web site guests. See extra particulars right here.
We additionally took an funding stake in ConvertKit which is certainly one of common e-mail advertising companies for creators.
I’m actually happy with how far we’ve include the Development Fund, and it’s actually superb to see the affect our corporations are making within the WordPress ecosystem and the bigger open net.
Need me to put money into what you are promoting? Be taught extra in regards to the WPBeginner progress fund.
Product / Firm Updates
One of many questions that I typically get requested through our contact type is what’s WPBeginner’s earnings, and the way does WPBeginner earn money by making a gift of all WordPress tutorials free of charge.
Nicely, we earn money not directly by way of our suite of premium WordPress plugins that are actually operating on over 20 million web sites. Except for that, we even have investments in a collection of different WordPress corporations by way of our progress fund that I discussed above.
Our crew at Superior Motive continued to set new information this yr, and all of our merchandise noticed large progress.
Right here’s an inventory of our plugins that you must take a look at:
- OptinMonster – #1 conversion optimization software program that helps you change abandoning web site guests into subscribers and clients. There’s additionally a free model right here.
- WPForms – essentially the most newbie pleasant WordPress type builder utilized by over 5 million web sites. There’s additionally a free model – WPForms Lite.
- MonsterInsights – the most well-liked WordPress Analytics plugin that helps you develop what you are promoting with confidence. I take advantage of this on all of my web sites. Free model accessible: MonsterInsights Lite.
- AIOSEO – the unique WordPress website positioning plugin that will help you get extra visitors. Utilized by over 3 million web sites. There’s additionally a free model of AIOSEO.
- WP Mail SMTP – the #1 plugin that helps enhance your WordPress e-mail deliverability. The free model: WP Mail SMTP Lite is ample for many web site homeowners.
- SeedProd – the perfect drag & drop web site builder for WordPress. You need to use it to create customized WordPress themes, touchdown pages, and web site layouts with none code. Strive the free model of SeedProd.
- RafflePress – highly effective WordPress giveaway and contest plugin to develop your web site visitors.
- Smash Balloon – hottest social media feeds plugin for WordPress. Free model accessible for Instagram, Fb, Twitter, and YouTube feeds.
- PushEngage – main net push notification software program for small companies – helps ship over 9 billion push notifications every month.
- SearchWP – Probably the most superior WordPress search plugin. Utterly customise your WordPress search type and search outcomes algorithm to enhance your content material discoverability and enhance gross sales. Trusted by over 30,000+ web site homeowners.
- Straightforward Digital Downloads – High rated WordPress plugin for promoting digital merchandise and subscriptions. Simply promote eBooks, software program, music, and extra, defend digital downloads, settle for funds, and extra. Trusted by over 50,000+ web site homeowners.
- AffiliateWP – The preferred affiliate administration plugin for WordPress. Simply launch an associates program in your retailer. One-click integration with WooCommerce, WPForms, and 20 different fee plugins. Unlock a brand new progress channel with out the intermediary charges.
- WP Easy Pay – Simply settle for funds on-line with out a advanced buying cart setup. Nice for easy one-time or recurring funds. Constructed-in assist for bank card funds, ACH financial institution debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and extra.
- Sugar Calendar – An occasion calendar administration plugin for WordPress. Create occasions, promote tickets, sync with Google Calendar, and extra. Nice for church buildings, conferences, paid webinars, and extra.
- TrustPulse – Leverage the ability of social proof to immediately enhance web site conversions by as much as 15%. Mechanically present real-time buy notification and different web site exercise notifications to extend belief, conversions, and gross sales.
- WP Charitable – High-rated donation and fundraising plugin for WordPress. Over 10,000+ non-profit organizations and web site homeowners the world over use Charitable to create fundraising campaigns and lift extra money on-line.
We’re a totally distant crew of over 215+ individuals throughout 45 nations. Need to be a part of our crew and work alongside me in serving to small companies develop and compete with the massive guys? We’re hiring.
Thank You Everybody
I need to say thanks to everybody who has supported us on this journey. I actually do admire all your retweets, private emails, content material ideas, and the interactions on the occasions.
I additionally need to say particular thanks to everybody who’s utilizing our plugins as a result of that permits us to maintain bringing extra free tutorials on WPBeginner.
You all are AMAZING and with out you, there isn’t a WPBeginner.
I sit up for one other strong yr forward of us.
Syed Balkhi
Founding father of WPBeginner
The put up WPBeginner Turns 13 Years Previous – Reflections and Updates first appeared on WPBeginner.
