Typepad, the veteran blogging platform that has served creators for years, recently announced it will be shutting down permanently on September 30, 2025. According to their official announcement, all user accounts will be terminated on that date. This means you’ll need to export your content before the deadline — or risk losing it forever.
If you’re a Typepad user, time is running out to find a new home for your blog. The good news? We’re here to help make your transition as smooth as possible.
We’re built to last. WordPress powers over 40% of the web and has been the backbone of online publishing for two decades. Unlike platforms that come and go, WordPress is committed to supporting creators and keeping the open web thriving for years to come. Plus, content on WordPress.com sites is never deleted. Even if your plan or domain name expires.
Your content stays yours. With WordPress.com, you maintain complete ownership of your content and can export it anytime with our one-click export tool. You have the freedom to move your content anywhere you choose. No platform lock-in, no sudden shutdown announcements, and no “move-it-or-lose-it” ultimatums.
Make it truly yours. WordPress.com offers unmatched customization options with thousands of professional themes, powerful plugins, and deep design features. Our flexible block editor makes it easy to create beautiful layouts, whether you want to recreate your current Typepad design or try something completely new.
Ready to make the move?
Don’t wait until the last minute. Use our dedicated Typepad importer to transfer your content safely and efficiently (free for sites with up to 1GB of media files and storage). For larger storage needs including media and video files, you can purchase a paid hosting plan with 6GB, 13GB, or 50GB of space, with optional add-on upgrades available for even greater capacity. Our detailed support documentation will guide you through every step of the process and help you get your new WordPress.com site up and running on the plan that best fits your needs.
We can’t wait to welcome you to the WordPress community!
Just a few months ago, students at CIFP Santa Catalina in Aranda de Duero (Spain) knew little to nothing about WordPress. Yet, this vocational school became the stage for the very first WordPress Campus Connect held in Spain, a pioneering project designed to transform the way students and teachers engage with the web, open source, and digital entrepreneurship.
Last August, Javier and Andrés — two of those students — traveled on scholarships to WordCamp US in Portland, where they took the stage as speakers in a panel discussion, sharing their journey with the world.
What exactly is WordPress Campus Connect?
WordPress Campus Connect is an international program for students that brings web development, open-source software, and digital entrepreneurship into the classroom. Through hands-on mentorship and professional resources, participants learn how to build and manage websites with WordPress, developing key skills that will shape their professional future.
But WPCC goes beyond teaching a tool. Its mission is to shape a new generation of digital creators who understand the importance of freedom on the internet, digital privacy, the value of open source, and the right of every individual to own their own content.
Over the course of four weeks, 30 students took part in both in-person and virtual workshops, developed their own web projects, and worked in a collaborative environment where they shared ideas, solved challenges, and supported one another throughout the process.
First face-to-face workshop.
This edition happened thanks to a partnership between the Centro Integrado de Formación Profesional Santa Catalina, whose faculty trusted the project from the very beginning, and the rural coworking space Ribering, which generously hosted the workshops.
Beyond technical training, WordPress.com provided free hosting for the students, along with close mentorship throughout the program. Watching their progress was truly rewarding — many started with no prior knowledge and finished by publishing functional, creative websites full of personality.
From Aranda to Portland
To recognize that effort, WordPress.com awarded the two most outstanding projects with a trip to WordCamp US 2025 in Portland, Oregon, where their creators took the stage as guest speakers and shared their experience in a panel discussion with the international community.
Javier and Andrés at WordCamp US with Mary Hubbard and Matt Mullenweg.
The selected projects were:
ritmoribera.com: a music events calendar showcasing the cultural life of Ribera del Duero, created by Andrés Parra. A site with a public service spirit and a genuine connection to its community.
Rocstudio.blog: a video game development portfolio designed by Javier Montes de Blas, with a technical focus, a polished aesthetic, and a clear entrepreneurial ambition.
WordPress.com in Education
At WordPress.com, we believe in an Internet that is open, accessible, and in the hands of the people who create it — and we work to bring that vision to everyone, including students, teachers, and educational institutions.
With this goal in mind, we created the WordPress.com Education program in Spain, designed to build connections with schools and universities that want to bring their students closer to the tools of the real digital world. What started in Spain and India is only the beginning — we’re now preparing to expand WordPress.com Education to more countries around the world.
We want students to work with world-class technology — the same they will encounter in their future careers — and we want teachers to have access to support, resources, and ongoing training. In this way, we turn our values as a tech company into concrete actions in the classroom, connecting the global with the local, and the technical with the human.
We witnessed the birth of the internet and have been part of building it as an open, collaborative project. Now we want to help shape students who understand that this is not only about technology — it’s about values.
What’s Next? Now It’s Your Turn
This first WPCC was only the beginning. New editions are already underway in Cartago and San José (Costa Rica), as well as in Pontevedra (Spain). And we’re excited to bring it to even more places.
If you work at an educational institution, are a teacher, or simply feel inspired by this vision, don’t hesitate to get in touch — we’d love to hear from you.
The inscriptions on bullets recovered near the scene of Charlie Kirk’s murder appear to reference video games like Helldivers 2 and online furry roleplay, not a legible political ideology.
What’s the easiest way to collect emails on my site and give people a downloadable freebie in return?
Users often ask our Happiness Engineers about this topic, and we love helping with it. Here’s how we usually walk folks through setting up gated content to build an email list.
Why this matters
When someone visits your site, you’ve already done the hard part — you’ve got their attention. However, unless you give them a reason to stay in touch, they might disappear forever (no pressure). That’s where email comes in.
Collecting email addresses lets you build real connections with your readers, customers, or future superfans, and offering a freebie is one of the simplest, most effective ways to do it. It’s a little nudge that says, “Hey, I’ve got something useful for you — want it? This here is a two-way street where we both benefit.”
This article is for you if you’re running a business, growing a blog, or sharing your creative work — a small step that can make a big difference in growing your site.
Why collect email addresses?
Build relationships: You’re not just chasing clicks, you’re building ongoing connections, turning casual visitors into long-term, loyal readers/customers/followers. You get to stay on their radar even when they’ve left your site.
Stay in control: This is so important — you get to own your list, not a social platform, not a search engine! That means your list (and your connection with your tribe) stays strong even when algorithms change, even when your traffic dips.
Support future growth: If you have any concrete plans to launch a product, open a store, promote a service, etc., you’ll want that list. You’re building this site for a reason, and building a connection with your audience can help you get there.
Look at it this way: you’re building your best long-term asset!
Tip: You don’t need a long list. You need a list of the right people.
Why would anyone give you their email address?
People are protective of their inboxes (you and I are too) — so what makes them say yes?
They’re getting something valuable: A fair exchange of sorts, you’re offering them something that solves a problem for them, saves them time, or inspires them to take action. If it feels like a win to them, it is. The important thing here is to keep in mind that the right freebie is the one that speaks directly to what they need. Or want. Or both.
They trust you: Your site feels helpful, thoughtful, and especially in this day and age, human. You nailed your tone; it’s welcoming and informative. Over time, they get a sense that whatever you’re sending their way is worthwhile.
They want to stay in the loop: They might not be ready to take any concrete form of action yet, but they feel they’re not willing to miss out on what you want to say. In a nutshell, they like what you’re doing, they like you, and they want to hear more.
Tip: They share their email when what you’re offering feels “worth it.”
What is a freebie, and more importantly, what is a good freebie?
A freebie (or “lead magnet”) is something you’re offering in exchange for their email address.
The best ones generally pack a punch in terms of value and practicality. Here’s what will make your visitors consider your freebies a steal so they end up using them often:
They solve a real problem: Save them time, answer a question, offer a helpful shortcut.
They’re relevant to your site: They need to match your site content or product or service.
They just feel thoughtful: They show your audience you know them and care about what they need.
Tip: Think of freebies as small gifts that say, “I see you, and here’s something that might help.”
What do they look like in practice?
Here are some examples – for you to pick from, depending on your content, your audience and your goals:
Shop owner: You could offer a “How to care for your [product]” factsheet or a coupon code.
Lifestyle blogger: Think printable checklist, e.g., morning routine or pantry staples, travel prep, or self-care ideas.
Creative/freelancer: A free template, a “how I work” client guide, or a mini-portfolio sampler.
Coach/trainer: A short audio or video recording of a helpful exercise or a journaling/reflection prompt.
Personal or passion-based business/website: A curated reading list, your favorite tools, or a printable list of inspiring quotes.
Tip: Keep them simple, relevant, and useful. When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is to think what would get you excited to download yourself.
How to offer your freebie effectively
Once your freebie is ready, make sure it’s easy for your visitors to say yes. This is where a good CTA (call to action) comes in — that short, friendly invitation that nudges visitors to take action.
Here’s what makes up an effective CTA:
Clear: Let people know exactly what they’re getting.
Warm: A line like “Want the checklist? Pop your email here” sounds friendlier than “Submit.”
Visible: Don’t hide it at the bottom of the page — give it room to shine.
What are your options?
The built-in form option is our favorite for its ease and simplicity (see below). If you’re looking for more advanced features, there are other ways to set up your freebie using a variety of plugins you can try.
Here are a some popular options.
Use the form block
See our recommended option below for details. For WordPress.com users, the Form block is available on all plans.
Mailpoet (plugin)
MailPoet (plugin):Lets you build sign-up forms, send automated emails, and deliver your freebie — all without leaving your site. It’s the best option if you want a built-in email marketing tool with automation. It integrates well with your favorite CMS and allows you to reach and grow your audience by offering features such as GDPR-compliant email newsletters, templates, segmentation, and many Woo-related features for your store.
Contact Form 7 Gated content (plugin): lets you gate access to files so your visitors don’t see the Download button until they’ve successfully submitted the information you request. It works as an add-on for sites already using Contact Form 7. It doesn’t include email automation or list management but it’s great if you want a clean, no-code way to restrict access to a download until your visitor takes action. You set the rules, connect it to your content, and the plugin handles the gating part.
MailerLite / Mailchimp / Kit
MailerLite/Mailchimp/Kit(formerly ConvertKit) (third-party tools):Great if you’re already using these tools or looking for advanced marketing features.
You’d build your form on either of these tools, then set up an automated email that delivers your freebie, and finally, paste the embed code into your WordPress.com site using a custom HTML block (you’ll want to have a Business plan to use the Custom HTML block). It’s important to know that while these tools have free tiers, some features will be paid.
Our recommended approach
That said, we are all about making things as easy, straightforward, and lightweight as possible, so we recommend using an adapted Form block to get this done. It’s quick, built right into WordPress.com, and it gets the job done beautifully, no extra tools needed. Here’s how to set it up.
Step 1: Upload your file to your site
Head over to your Dashboard > Media and upload your file. Once you’re done, click on the file and copy its URL, like so:
Step 2: Add the form to your page
On your page, navigate to where you’d like to add your “grab your freebie” button:
Add the form block, then select the Registration form:
Once that is complete, the full form will be added to your page.
Step 3: Customize your form
Use the List view to remove any fields that you don’t need:
You can further customize the form layout by using the contextual menu at the top or the side panel on your left:
Tip: Be sure to select the right element in the list menu so you can be sure you’re editing the correct options. Each element in the list view will have its own settings.
Next, customize the text and the layout of your button:
Finally, add the file to the form:
You’re all set! Your visitors’ emails will be added to your Dashboard > Feedback > Form responses, and you can use the export buttons (CSV, Google Sheets) if you’d like to use the email addresses in a different tool. Each tool will have a different way to import these email addresses — check their documentation for tool-specific guidance on how best to import your email list.:
You’ll also get email notifications to the email address associated with your WordPress.com account.
Tip: Test your form as a visitor. Seeing it work feels good – and reminds you that yep, you built something useful.
Over to you
Our point is: you don’t need a giant funnel or fancy tech — just a good freebie and a way for people to raise their hand and say, “Yes, I’m in.”
WordPress Patterns let you reuse layouts without rebuilding them every time you publish. That means no more duplicating old posts, fixing headers, or untangling spacing issues every week.
They help you move faster and keep your website layout consistent, even when you’re juggling multiple offers or collaborators.
In this guide, you’ll learn how synced, unsynced, and locked patterns work and how to use them to build a repeatable publishing system. Plus, you’ll get a free toolkit with four ready-made layouts to plug directly into your site.
They’re built to help you:
Reuse layouts without rework.
Centralize updates across your site.
Protect your website’s structure when collaborating.
Why publishing workflows slow you down (and how patterns help)
Copying and pasting layouts seems like a good idea at first, but it slows you down when you don’t have a proper system. Layouts drift, CTAs fall out of sync, formatting mismatches occur, and updates get lost between drafts and edits.
On their own, these issues don’t seem like a big deal. When they show up every week, however, they turn a 15-minute post into an hour-long fix-it session, making publishing a drag.
This worsens when you’re working with freelancers, other team members, or client contributors. Because without a system to standardize layouts, centralize updates, and protect your designs, everyone ends up doing things their own way, and your website starts looking disconnected.
You onboard a VA for help, but before long, you’re spending more time communicating (and still fixing) structure than improving content.
They also make collaboration easier for you. You can safely hand off a post to a VA or guest contributor without worrying about formatting.
In fact, synced, unsynced, and locked patterns give you more control and flexibility, but only if you use the right one for the job.
How synced, unsynced, and locked patterns work
Each pattern behaves differently depending on how you create it. Some update everywhere, some stay flexible, and others protect your layout when collaborators step in.
Here’s how each type works and how to use them together to build a faster, more reliable publishing flow.
Synced patterns
These are customizable global blocks. When you edit one, it updates everywhere, automatically.
Let’s say you have a “Subscribe to the newsletter” bar on your homepage, blog posts, and sidebar. If you change the CTA text from “Join 1,000 readers” to “Get the weekly roundup” in any one place, that change applies everywhere that synced pattern is used.
Synced patterns are perfect for when you need to keep messages consistent across your entire site. You can use them to:
Add newsletter CTAs to post footers or sidebars.
Promote launches, sales, or limited-time offers with a global promo bar.
Display affiliate disclosures or legal disclaimers across your site.
Highlight live events like webinars or workshops with consistent banners.
Keep bios or intros consistent across guest and multi-author posts.
You can easily create a synced pattern in your WordPress website. Go to Appearance → Editor → Patterns → Add Pattern. Just make sure to toggle Synced on while creating the pattern because once you save it as unsynced, you can’t switch it to Synced later.
Unsynced patterns
Now, if you toggle it off, your pattern will be saved as a customizable unsynced or not synced pattern.
As the name implies, these are unsynced or disconnected from each other. They use the same structure, but any changes you make to one won’t affect others.
Say you use the same custom layout for your “Weekly Favorites” roundup: title, image grid, short blurbs. With an unsynced pattern, you can insert that layout from your My Patterns library each week, add your new content, even change the layout, and publish. It won’t affect any other place where that pattern is used.
These are ideal for repeatable formats where you want to start with the same layout, but want the flexibility to change both the content and structure as needed. So use them to:
Publish weekly roundups, digests, or curated lists.
Share recurring feature updates or changelogs.
Highlight rotating testimonials or community spotlights.
Announce new launches or seasonal campaigns with a familiar layout.
Locked patterns are pre-built layouts that let others edit content without altering the structure. This helps when you share templates with VAs, freelancers, or guest authors, because they can edit the content, fill in the text, images, or links, but they can’t change the layout.
These are perfect for multi-contributor workflows, like when you’re collaborating on client posts, assigning guest articles, or handing off translations. They’re especially handy when you’re using Editor or Contributor roles on the Business plan, where layout control matters.
You can easily lock any pattern added in My Patterns. Just open the pattern in the block editor, select the parent block, click the three-dot menu, then select the Lock option (just like you would lock any other block).
Make sure you check all these boxes so all blocks inside the pattern are protected.
If you’re thinking locked sound a lot like unsynced patterns, the key difference is unsynced patterns let you change both the content and structure, while locked patterns restrict structural edits, so you can only change the content.
Each pattern type solves a different publishing problem. That’s why the toolkit includes all three, so you can move faster, stay consistent, and adapt as you go.
Toolkit overview: Build your publishing system
Now that we’ve covered the building blocks (so to speak), here are four ready-made patterns you can import and use right away. We recommend customizing these patterns to match your branding, but other than that, they’re good to go.
Each one is built for a specific purpose and will help you save a lot of time.
Weekly publishing layout gives you a repeatable structure for roundups, updates, or content series.
Synced CTA (my personal favorite) lets you update newsletter bars, promo banners, or announcements from one place.
Testimonial loop makes it easy to showcase relevant social proof across services, posts, and pages in just a few clicks.
Guest shell locks your branded layout, so contributors just need to fill in the blanks.
The kit also comes with a Format tracker PDF so you can identify what patterns work better and turn your publishing into a performance system.
Download the Pattern Systems Starter toolkit file from this blog post. It includes four JSON files and one tracker PDF.
In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance → Editor → Patterns → My patterns.
Click Add Pattern → Import Pattern from JSONand upload the JSON files one by one.
Once imported, patterns will appear in My patterns.
Add it to any post or page using the block inserter. Click the “+” button, go to Patterns → My Patterns, and select the one you want to use.
Once uploaded, you can use the block editor’s styling controls to match your site’s style, change colors, add logos, or swap fonts as needed. They’re adaptable and flexible to your preferences.
Plus, whether your focus is on optimizing for SEO, LLMs, or humans, these layouts keep everything clean, structured, and skimmable.
Use the Weekly publishing layout to publish blog posts in under ten minutes
This layout includes a headline, short intro, flexible content grid, and CTA bar, all pre-structured for fast publishing. Just add it to your new post, update the content, and hit Publish.
This is a huge time-saver if you’re:
Publishing a newsletter or content digest on a regular basis.
Updating readers with new product features, launches, or behind-the-scenes recaps.
Managing recurring blog posts for client brands or content series.
Turning Instagram or LinkedIn posts into a polished weekly blog update.
This pattern, however, can do more than you think. Try these five ideas to simplify your weekly content workflow to save even more time.
Share weekly product or feature updates: Use the layout to highlight what’s new, what’s changed, and what’s next.
Turn newsletters into blog posts: This layout helps you archive newsletters as posts without extra formatting to make your email content searchable.
Turn social content into digest posts: Collect your top tweets or threads from the week and drop them into the grid. This is ideal if you want to build a public archive or recap series.
Support recurring client content: If you’re working with agencies or collaborators, reuse the layout to publish client updates in a set format. It makes publishing easier for you and clearer and more consistent for your clients.
Make content batches easier to manage: You don’t need to do one blog post each time; you can also queue three to four posts in one go. Insert the layout, drop in your content, and either publish or schedule ahead.
Tip: Use the Format tracker worksheet (more on this below) to log what topics, formats, or layout tweaks perform best week to week. This will help you see what works and what doesn’t.
Use the “Synced CTA” pattern to update promos across ten+ posts in seconds
I still remember digging through twelve old posts to swap out one link. Thanks to synced patterns, not anymore. Layout includes a heading, short body text, a CTA button, and a reminder to repurpose your update across LinkedIn, email, and social, all wrapped in a synced block.
All you have to do is drop the Synced CTA pattern into your posts once, and any time you need to update it, just do it in one place. WordPress will automatically apply your changes site-wide. This is a real time-saver if you’re a creator:
Running limited-time promos or flash offers.
Live webinar or workshop signups.
Newsletter CTAs in post footers.
Seasonal campaigns across blog archives.
Site-wide affiliate disclosures or legal disclaimers.
Here are five ideas to make it work harder across your blog, landing pages, and archives.
Grow your newsletter: Add a persistent sign-up CTA in every post footer. Update the copy as your lead magnet or as your offer evolves.
Create multiple synced CTA patterns by campaign: One for your newsletter, one for your current product launch, and another for affiliate promos. This makes things so much easier, especially if you’re juggling multiple offers or content series.
Drop a synced CTA for your webinar in evergreen posts: After the event, switch it to a replay or waitlist to keep the traffic converting.
Rotate seasonal promos: Create separate synced patterns for holidays or occasions such as “Black Friday” or “Spring Launch,” and update them as the calendar changes.
Match CTAs to content categories: For example, if you write on multiple topics, you’ve probably got different target audiences. Use something like “Read our SEO tips” for search content and “Join our weekly podcast” for podcast lovers.
Read this guide to learn how to design high-performing CTAs that align with your content and audience goals.
Use the Testimonial loop pattern to add social proof in thirty seconds
Adding tailored testimonials to pages can have a real impact on your audience. It takes a lot of time, however, (most of which involves formatting), which is why many creators just skip it.
This pattern includes stacked quote blocks with room for names, blurbs, and social proof. It’s built so you can tailor each quote to match the offer, page, or audience.
Because it’s unsynced, you can insert a Quote block or Pullquote block inside the testimonial loop to personalize each page’s social proof. This is especially helpful if you’re:
Managing multiple offers (like courses, services, or launches).
Publishing sales or landing pages that need tailored proof.
Sharing weekly updates and want fresh testimonials per post.
Showcasing reader or client feedback across different categories.
Just paste in a quote, update the name or source, and that’s it. Try these five ways to add social proof exactly where your readers need it.
Add a testimonial beside your pricing or opt-in blocks (aka my go-to move): Add testimonials right below your pricing table, opt-in form, or CTA (usually when people hesitate) to gently nudge decision-making.
Add visual rhythm to long posts: Use testimonials strategically between dense content sections to give the reader a breather, while subtly reinforcing ideas. Cheeky, right?
Swap in fresh quotes weekly without reformatting: If you publish regularly, rotate short praise or feedback from new customers, readers, or partners to capitalize on your best quotes.
Feature micro-testimonials from social or DMs: Pull short messages from Twitter replies, Instagram comments, or emails and paste them directly into the testimonial block.
Reinforce your hook by pairing it with real feedback: Start a post or section with a quote that mirrors your headline. When readers see someone else validating what you’re about to say, they stay longer.
Tip: You can also save multiple versions of this layout as synced patterns by use case — one for each program, product, or service. That way, when you add new testimonials for each use case in one place, they’ll update everywhere the pattern is used.
To do this, copy the testimonial loop JSON and name the new version Synced testimonial loop for [use case]. Now open it using TextEdit and change:
"syncStatus": "unsynced"
To this:
"syncStatus": "synced"
Now, when you upload the JSON, it’ll upload as a synced pattern.
Use Guest shells to let collaborators write without breaking your layout
Whether you’re assigning a guest post or letting a VA prep drafts, that’s mostly where formatting goes rogue. Guest shells include locked headings, formatted body sections, and placeholder fields, providing a clear, editable structure for others to follow.
They preserve your brand’s fonts, spacing, and structure and let others focus solely on adding content. This way, collaborators can only edit inside safe zones you’ve approved (and you finally get peace of mind).
Maintain layout consistency across multi-person teams.
Guest posts are just one way to use this layout; here are five more to keep your layout safe, no matter who’s writing.
Prep client drafts in a locked layout: Start with a Guest shell that includes your approved headings, layout, and styles. Add placeholder content, then assign the post for client feedback. They can review and comment without changing your structure.
Use it for weekly updates with consistent formatting: For recurring content like product changelogs or digests, drop in the same Guest shell every time so you can focus purely on writing the update.
Add contributor bios to guest posts automatically: Extend your shell to include a locked bio section at the top or bottom. Add a placeholder image and sample name. Every time you assign a guest post, just update those fields.
Build category-specific shells for different post types:Make copies of this pattern and change the headers or intro text to match your use case.
Protect layout while translating content: Use the shell when handing off posts for translation.
Track performance with the Format tracker
Let’s say you’ve reused your favorite CTA pattern in a few blog posts this month. One’s for a launch, another’s for a newsletter opt-in. A third? You’re not even sure—it was a quick drop-in for a roundup post.
Now it’s time to plan next week’s content… but you’re guessing which version actually worked. That’s where the Format tracker comes in.
It’s a simple printable that can help you turn patterns into a performance system. Instead of wondering which post, layout, or hook performed best, you’ll have the answer right there.
Just fill it in and keep track of where you used patterns and how they perform.
If you publish once in a while, you probably don’t need to use a tracker. Do it intentionally, such as when you’re testing layout ideas, running multiple offers, or publishing content at scale. It’s especially helpful when you’re:
Rotating offers or promos (like webinars, launches, or seasonal CTAs).
Reusing layouts across posts and want to know what works best.
Testing different testimonial placements, hooks, or post formats.
Managing content across clients or a team and want visibility.
Tip: If you want to turn this into a digital tracker? You can rebuild it in Google Sheets and use a plugin like Pretty Links to track CTA clicks.
Test new hooks by duplicating your favorite patterns
When you’re a marketer, you can’t help it! You need to know what UI combinations actually work. This makes patterns even more valuable. They’re not just good for reusing, but for testing, too.
Once you’ve added a pattern like Weekly layout or Synced CTA, duplicate it, try a new hook or layout tweak, and see which one gets better results.
Click the“three-dot menu,”then select“Duplicate.”
Use this approach when you want to:
Test blog intros using different hooks: Try a question instead of a stat, or lead with a personal story vs. a bold claim.
A/B test CTA copy: Emphasize urgency in one version, long-term value in another.
Adjust layout structure: Try different testimonial formats or rearrange where sign-up forms appear.
Experiment with visual tweaks: Change image size, button placement, or spacing, and track what gets more clicks.
Save reusable templates by hook type: Create versions for “Narrative,” “Pain Point,” or “Stats First” so you always have strong openers ready to drop in.
Build a repeatable publishing system with WordPress Patterns
You’ve got more important things to do than reformat the same layout every week. WordPress Patterns aren’t just nice to have; they’re systems that secure your branded layouts, centralize updates, and help you move faster, without losing consistency.
They allow you to focus on writing, creating, and shipping great content instead of hunting down old posts.
Now that you know which pattern type does what, you can start using synced, unsynced, and locked patterns to easily reuse layouts you rely on, from weekly roundups to global CTAs.
To get the most out of them, combine them:
Pair a locked Guest Shell with a Synced CTA.
Start every newsletter with the Weekly Layout + Testimonial loop.
Use Synced CTAs + Testimonial Loop patterns together to tailor the social proof to match each post’s audience.
To get started, download the free Pattern System toolkit.
Last week, I was excited to join 1,000+ other attendees in Portland, Oregon, for WordCamp US. This is the largest event in the US for the WordPress community to contribute to, showcase, share knowledge on, and learn everything WordPress.
I’ve been lucky enough to attend, volunteer at, and speak at several WordCamps. I usually jump at the chance to attend and spend time with the WordPress community. But if you haven’t been, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. So I’ve put together 5 of my personal highlights from WordCamp US 2025.
Were you there? Please share your own experiences in the comments!
1. The diverse program offered learning and connection
WordCamp US spanned four days from August 26-29: contributor day, showcase day, and two presentation days.
On contributor day, nearly 300 community members across 19 teams spent the day contributing to the open source WordPress project. Anyone could walk up to these teams at their tables, sit down, and contribute.
Showcase day highlighted real-world examples of how WordPress is used, from the people behind them. There were plenty of talks, panels, and several in-depth workshops to get attendees energized about the possibilities of WordPress.
Then, it was time for the two presentation days. These featured keynote speakers, and three tracks of talks and panels from folks around the WordPress community. Topics ranged from using AI to code plugins and in neuroscience research, to design systems, data visualization, and accessibility.
On August 28, I spoke about Putting Creativity to Work. In my talk, I nerded out about P2 (the system of WordPress.com blogs we use to communicate internally here at Automattic), and I even gave away copies of my P2 comic in zine form.
This was my fourth time speaking at a WordCamp, and it reminded me of the incredible power of sharing your ideas at an event like this. Even though I had plenty of nerves (and imposter syndrome) for the days leading up to my talk, the many wonderful interactions I had afterwards reminded me that all the effort was worthwhile.
2. There was cool swag and great conversation in the sponsor hall
I overheard one attendee say “There are so many great talks, but I’m here for the hallway track.” It’s true that a huge benefit of WordCamp US is that so many interesting people are gathered in the same physical space. Why not take advantage of that, by introducing yourself and having impromptu conversations?
The sponsor hall had many areas for these spontaneous connections. Cozy sitting areas, lawn games, a photo booth with props, skeeball and pinball games, displays of art from the WordPress photo directory, and even a live mural artist made for an energetic and inspiring space. Also featured in the space was a happiness bar, career corner, and creator studio, where attendees could troubleshoot WordPress issues, learn about available jobs in the ecosystem, and access a recording studio for creating content.
Another highlight of every WordCamp is swag. Every sponsor booth had some kind of gift to give away, from stickers to food items, water bottles to tote bags. One standout was a poster, designed by Blue Ivory Creative, that was intricately illustrated with all kinds of WordPress and WordCamp imagery. There was even a claw machine filled with stuffed Wapuu toys. This was the only claw machine I’ve seen that actually wants you to win a prize!
Not to mention eating! With Portland being a famously foodie town, WordCamp organizers ensured attendees had access to its best-known treats. From a Voodoo Doughnuts truck in the sponsor hall to s’mores at the after party, I was never hungry.
I staffed the WordPress.com booth, which featured a prize wheel that made a very satisfying clicking noise when spun. This made for some great conversations about our powerful hosting for developers. I was proud to stand alongside other Automattic brands (WooCommerce, Jetpack, Gravatar, WordPress VIP, Pressable) to talk about the value we offer across the entire WordPress ecosystem.
3. Portland is a vibrant and interesting location to explore
WordCamp US attendees were not only lucky enough to participate in all the fun of the event, but in our downtime I could also enjoy other delights of the city — like Powell’s Books, Forest Park, the Nike company store, and multiple vibrant neighbourhoods with hip bar and food scenes.
All these attractions were easy to get to on Portland’s public transit system. With a station right between the convention center and hotel, the MAX light rail made it super easy to get around. At registration, WordCamp US attendees were given a free pass for the duration of the conference, and I enjoyed taking it downtown, to the closing party, and to the airport.
4. The WordPress community is warm and welcoming, even for newbies
Although I am now familiar with many folks in the WordPress community, I still remember walking into my first WordCamp without knowing anyone. That’s always a daunting experience, no matter which space you’re entering. But at a WordCamp, you can expect lots of friendly faces, and people always willing to help you or engage in conversation. It’s a very inclusive space — all are welcome, from beginners to seasoned pros.
One personal highlight — I was invited to the Creator’s Studio to chat with Michelle Frechette and Darian Lusk, and ended up going live on TikTok with their guests Christian Taylor and Michael Cunningham. You just never know what’s going to happen!
5. The future of WordPress is bright
Overall, WordCamp US showed me that there is no slowing down in the ecosystem of the world’s most popular content management system. This is a vibrant and productive community, with a diverse range of talented people helping each other, sharing knowledge, and moving the software further.
In WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg’s closing address, he highlighted the momentum and growth of WordPress, what’s shipping next (block-level commenting is so exciting!), and how AI will shape the project in the future.
I hope you can join us for one or more flagship WordCamps happening in 2026: WordCamp Asia in Mumbai, WordCamp US in Phoenix, or WordCamp EU in Krakow. Also, look out for local WordCamps near you.
Whether you’re building your very first website, starting a blog, or looking to improve your site’s visibility, WordPress.com offers a growing library of free courses to help you every step of the way.
Our goal is simple: to give you the knowledge and confidence to bring your ideas online — with clear and practical guidance.
Perfect for anyone launching a new website, whether it’s for a small business, portfolio, or personal project. This course walks you through choosing a theme, setting up your homepage, editing your header and footer, adding essential content, and preparing to launch.
Ready to share your thoughts with the world? Whether you’re launching a niche blog, starting a personal journal, or building your online presence, this video course will guide you through every stage. You’ll learn how to:
If you want more people to discover your site through search engines, this text-based course is for you. The learning objectives for this course are:
Understand how search engines find and rank your site
Identify and use keywords that match what your audience is searching for
Structure your content with headings, internal links, and media to make it easier to read and easier to find
Use tools like Jetpack Stats and Google Search Console to monitor performance and make improvements
In today’s crowded internet, good SEO helps you stand out from competitors and connect with your target audience. Higher search rankings lead to more visitors, increased engagement, and potentially more conversions for your business or cause.
We know that learning how to use a website platform can feel overwhelming at first. These courses are designed to give you a clear path forward, one step at a time. You can learn at your own pace, explore the features that interest you, and skip the ones you know.
Each course is built for independent learning and hands-on discovery so you stay in control the whole way through.
Who Will Benefit Most?
These courses are ideal for:
Beginners who are just getting started with WordPress
Small business owners building a web presence
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What’s Next?
We’re always looking to expand our course selection to support users’ WordPress journey better. What course would you like to see next? Share your suggestions in the comments!
Start Learning Today
All our courses are free and available now. Whether you’re building, blogging, or growing, we’re here to help you along the way.
Slow websites frustrate visitors, reduce your site’s visibility in search engines, harm conversion rates, and damage your brand.
Whether you built your website for fun and just want more people to enjoy your content, are using your site to promote your services and find clients, or are running a business website, slow load times are limiting its effectiveness.
Fortunately, you can fix a slow WordPress website.
In this guide, we cover the common causes of slow load times and how you can fix them. You’ll also learn how to test the speed of your site and record objective measurements of your site’s performance.
The costs of slow-loading websites
Here are some of the issues that slow site speed can cause:
Increased visitor abandonment rates:Studies show that over half of mobile users will abandon sites that take more than three seconds to load.
Poor search engine rankings: Speed has long been a ranking signal used by Google to determine where to display sites in their search engine results. According to Google documentation, the main content of a page should load in under 2.5 seconds.
Lower conversion rates:Google reports that each one-second delay in load time causes retail conversions to fall by 20%.
Bad user experience: Even if the speed of your site isn’t slow enough to cause visitors to leave, it can still deliver a poor user experience, harming engagement, your brand perception, and the likelihood of a return visit.
With the cost of slow load times being so high, testing the speed of your website and then taking action to improve its performance is highly recommended.
How to test your site speed
There are several ways to test your site speed, each offering slightly different insights into its performance and potential areas for improvement.
Here are our recommended tools for testing the speed of your site:
WordPress.com Speed Test: Our free tool is specifically designed for WordPress sites, providing clear and easy-to-understand insights into your site’s performance, with helpful suggestions for improvement.
GTmetrix: Get free insights into site performance with multiple test locations and waterfall charts providing request-by-request visualization of the page load to help you identify problems in your content.
PageSpeed Insights: Google’s free tool highlights issues with the metrics used by its search engine to evaluate site performance and determine rankings.
SolarWinds Pingdom:Test the speed of your site for free from a range of locations, with a paid version that automatically tests load times at regular intervals and emails you the results.
Review the results for both mobile and desktop tests to get a comprehensive picture of your site’s performance.
Which metrics actually matter
When testing your site, you’ll see a range of metrics, including performance grades, letter ratings, and marks out of 100, as well as the page size and the time it takes to fully load.
These metrics can help you assess the impact of changes made to your site. However, they’re not the most useful when it comes to determining if your site is loading quickly enough.
For a better indication of how fast your site loads and its impact on user experience, conversion rates, and SEO rankings, the Core Web Vitals metrics are more important.
Core Web Vitals are a set of user experience metrics defined by Google. They focus on how fast, stable, and responsive a webpage feels to users, rather than just the time it takes them to fully load. This gives better insight into the impact of load times on the user experience.
The tools mentioned in the section above measure these metrics.
Once you start testing the performance of your website, you’re going to get a lot of data. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed by this, and focusing on the Core Web Vitals will be the most effective use of your time and effort.
Common causes of slow-loading WordPress websites
Below are the most common causes of poor performance, along with steps to fix them. Working your way through this list will get you well on the way to being the proud owner of a fast WordPress site and enjoying all the benefits of improved load times.
Shared hosting
The quality of your web hosting has the biggest impact on how quickly your site loads. For example, sites using low-cost, generic shared hosting load more slowly than those using high-quality, managed WordPress hosting.
Upgrading your hosting can significantly impact the speed of your site. Depending on your starting point, upgrading your hosting is probably the biggest lever you can pull when it comes to improving site speed.
When upgrading, your main option is to switch to a higher-performance plan from your current host or move to another provider altogether. For a quick win, consider moving to WordPress.com managed hosting. Moving is easier than you think, thanks to its straightforward migration process.
Adding a website builder to your WordPress site is an excellent way to take control of its design. However, not all website builder plugins are created equal, and some have the potential to slow down your site due to the way they’ve been built and the designs they produce.
One way to assess the impact of your website builder plugin on your site’s speed is to install a plugin like Code Profiler, which can help detect possible performance problems with themes and plugins. You should also test the load time of any pages you create with the builder to see how fast they’re loading compared to the other parts of your site.
Switching to a more performance-focused website builder, like WordPress.com’s website builder, can help solve the problem. However, any existing page designs will have to be recreated with the new builder if you want to improve their load times.
Unoptimized images
Images on your WordPress site can significantly slow it down. The larger their file size, the longer they’ll take to load and be displayed.
Running your site through a reliable speed test tool will highlight any images that could be causing problems. A good tool will also provide recommendations for improving image-related issues.
Ways to optimize your images so they don’t slow down your site include compressing them before uploading, using the appropriate file format, and enabling “lazy loading.”
Another option is to use the Jetpack Site Accelerator (CDN). This tool is available as a standalone plugin and is also included on the WordPress.com Business and Commerce plans. It can automatically resolve image-related load time issues.
Plugin bloat
Each plugin you add to your site has the potential to slow it down. Therefore, it’s best to only add those you need, while also choosing plugins that are well-maintained and have positive user reviews.
A tool like Code Profiler can help identify the plugins on your site with the longest execution times. You can then swap these plugins for faster alternatives.
Another option is to replace multiple plugins with a single plugin that provides the same functionality. An example of this is Jetpack, which has a wealth of features covering backup, security, analytics, and SEO functionality, enabling it to replace multiple individual plugins.
You can also choose a web host that includes functionality currently covered by multiple plugins. For example, WordPress.com hosting includes backup, security, caching, social sharing, AI, monetization, and newsletter features that remove the need to install multiple single-feature plugins.
Lack of caching
Caching speeds up load times for return visitors by storing copies of a site in a location that’s faster for them to access. There are several types of caching, including browser, page, and object caching, all of which can improve site speed.
Some web hosts, including WordPress.com, provide caching as part of their service. If your host doesn’t provide effective caching, many plugins for WordPress can add this functionality to your site, including Jetpack Boost, LiteSpeed Cache, and others.
Outdated WordPress or PHP versions
WordPress runs on PHP, a server-side scripting language, and like the WordPress software itself, new versions are released fairly often.
To keep your site running smoothly and as fast as possible, it should use the latest version of WordPress. Additionally, your hosting environment should be using the latest version of PHP, as newer releases often include performance improvements, enhanced optimization, and bug fixes.
Running older versions of WordPress and PHP can cause plugin compatibility issues, which can slow down your site or even cause it to malfunction. To help with this, enable automatic updates for your WordPress site. However, it’s essential to back up your site before updating WordPress in case something goes wrong.
Tip: Some web hosts, including WordPress.com, automatically back up your site before updates and keep the WordPress software and PHP updated for you, helping to prevent this issue.
Outdated theme or plugins
Like PHP and the WordPress software, themes and plugins are regularly updated, with older versions having the potential to slow down your site. This is due to new releases often containing code and performance improvements that can enhance load times and prevent issues that could be slowing things down, such as incompatibilities and security vulnerabilities.
Tip: Many plugins and themes can be set to automatically update every time a new version is released. Backing up your site before updating is recommended. Some hosts, including WordPress.com, automatically take care of that for you.
Too many ad or tracking scripts
Ad and tracking scripts are typically added to a site to collect data on user behavior, including how visitors interact with the site, often for analytics and marketing purposes.
If you’re using third-party services like Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel, then ad and tracking scripts will be active on your site.
These third-party scripts increase the amount of data that’s loaded when a page is viewed. The overall size of the page increases, and the visitor’s browser must load data from a range of external sources. This slows down your site.
It’s usually not one script that’s having a large impact, but the combined effect of all of them.
To see which scripts are loading on your site and how long they’re taking to load, you can use WebPageTest and access the Waterfall and Request Details sections. The scripts will appear as entries with a domain that’s different from your site.
Some ad, tracking, and other third-party scripts are inevitable if you want to have certain features on your site. However, be aware of how these scripts affect load time. You can then decide whether the impact is worth it.
Testing site speed before and after adding any features that require third-party scripts is also highly recommended.
Excessive pop-ups
Pop-ups are an effective way to grow your email list and promote offers, but they can slow down your site. This usually happens when they’re used excessively and are inefficiently coded and designed.
To prevent pop-ups from slowing down your site:
Use them sparingly.
Ensure that you’re not loading more than one pop-up per page.
Make them as lightweight as possible by optimizing any images you add to them.
If your plugin allows, set them to only display after the page has fully loaded.
If your site isn’t using HTTPS, which you can easily check for yourself, it could be slowing your site’s load times. With HTTPS enabled, your site can use modern protocols to load faster through improved compression and the ability to load multiple files simultaneously over a single connection.
Using HTTPS also helps keep sensitive data secure. Therefore, it’s something you should add to your site by purchasing an SSL certificate or using one issued by your hosting provider.
Tip: WordPress.com hosting customers don’t need to worry about enabling HTTPS, as our plans include SSL certificates at no extra cost.
Improperly embedded third-party media
Adding third-party media to your site, including YouTube videos and Instagram posts, can be a great way to enhance your content. However, if embedded improperly, they can slow down your site due to multiple network requests and the use of additional scripts to display the content.
Enabling “lazy loading” settings can prevent this media from being loaded until it’s in the visitor’s viewport. Replacing embedded videos with static thumbnails can also help stop content from loading until it’s needed.
You can ensure any third-party media is embedded properly by using the official WordPress Embed block or the blocks built for specific platforms, such as YouTube.
Excessive redirects
Redirects automatically send visitors from one URL to another. Redirects are often used when the address or URL of a page has changed, and when you’re merging and removing old content.
When used correctly, redirects can maintain your SEO and a user-friendly experience. However, too many redirects can slow down your site. This is especially true when multiple redirects are used consecutively, creating a redirect chain: As the visitor is redirected from one point to the next, the load time increases.
Online tools can help you fix the issue of excessive redirects by identifying them on your site. Once identified, you can remove any unnecessary redirects. You can also check site links and navigation elements, including menus, to verify they point to the current page URL and not an outdated one.
Heavy themes
One of the best reasons to build your site with WordPress is its vast library of high-quality themes. However, poorly coded themes or those bloated with excessive features, such as page builders, font libraries, and sliders, can unnecessarily slow down your site.
To avoid this, look for themes from reputable sources and check their reviews. Opt for themes marketed as being lightweight rather than all-in-one solutions. Avoid themes packed with features that your web host already provides or that you don’t need.
Tip:WordPress.com hosting plans include access to themes that are vetted for performance and quality, helping you to find a design for your site that won’t slow it down.
Database bloat
WordPress uses a database to store your site’s content, including posts, pages, and images.
Over time, this database can become bloated with unnecessary data, such as post revisions, deleted content, spam comments, and data from plugins. As the database grows larger, it takes longer to find and retrieve the necessary data for pages to load.
There are several plugins you can install to keep your database optimized and running smoothly. However, managed hosting companies like WordPress.com take care of this for you, making it another task you won’t have to worry about.
Additional solutions and preventative measures
Other tips to correct a slow WordPress site include:
Minify HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Reducing the size of your site’s HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files by removing unnecessary spaces and characters can improve its load times.
Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN). A CDN distributes your site’s content across a global network of servers, helping it load more quickly, regardless of your visitors’ locations.
Install an optimization plugin. Optimization plugins that can help speed up your site include WP Super Cache, WP-Optimize, and Jetpack.
Hire a professional.Hiring a professional who’s skilled in optimization can help you identify and resolve the specific issues currently slowing down your WordPress site, as well as those that may arise in the future. As a cost-effective alternative, consider signing up with a managed hosting service that provides expert one-on-one support.
Ready to move to WordPress.com?
Moving to a faster web hosting provider is the one change that can have the most significant impact on the speed of your WordPress site. If you’re ready to get access to fast, secure hosting with a built-in website builder and many other useful features, try WordPress.com hosting. There’s even a hassle-free migration service to simplify the move.
Gear, Gear / How To and Advice, Gear / Products / Kitchen, Bright Lights, Big Taste Gear, Gear / How To and Advice, Gear / Products / Kitchen, Bright Lights, Big Taste
A full house of attendees gathered in Portland, Oregon, for WordCamp US 2025, with thousands more tuning in online. Over four days, the flagship WordPress event brought together contributors, innovators, and community members for collaboration, inspiration, and discovery.
WordPress is so unique because we’re not just a product; we’re a movement.
Matt Mullenweg, WordPress Cofounder
The WordPress event began with a dedicated Contributor Day and continued with a Showcase Day and two days of sessions filled with talks, panels, workshops, and community celebrations. WordPress Cofounder Matt Mullenweg joined a diverse lineup of speakers, panelists, and workshop leaders who brought fresh perspectives to the open web from across the globe.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Portland — with its iconic bridges, coffee culture, and creative energy — the Sponsor Hall buzzed as companies across the WordPress ecosystem demoed new products, shared insights, and connected with attendees. Each day offered opportunities to refuel with local flavors and international favorites, turning mealtimes into lively hubs of networking and idea-sharing.
A Global Gathering in Portland
WordCamp US is the annual gathering point for the WordPress community — where collaboration, creativity, and innovation intersect. This year in Portland, the event delivered an expansive program that reached every corner of the ecosystem.
Here’s what attendees experienced:
Engaging Sessions Across Tracks – Keynotes, presentations, and discussions explored the evolving web and the role of open source in shaping it.
A Global Speaker Lineup – Voices from across continents brought local stories and global visions to the stage.
Wide-Ranging Topics – From AI in WordPress development to accessibility, design systems, content strategy, education, and case studies of WordPress at scale.
Hands-On Learning Opportunities – Workshops provided practical takeaways, empowering attendees to apply new skills immediately.
A Community Built on Collaboration – Whether contributing code, exploring business strategies, or sharing creative projects, attendees found space to learn, grow, and celebrate open source together.
New contributors took their first steps into open source, seasoned developers explored cutting-edge AI integrations, and agencies and product teams shared strategies for scaling WordPress to meet modern needs. Beyond the technical, conversations around inclusivity, sustainability, and education underscored WordPress’s role as a tool for empowerment and positive change.
In hallways, coffee lines, and evening meetups, attendees found the “hallway track” alive and well, spontaneous moments of connection that often became the most memorable part of the experience. Whether reconnecting with longtime collaborators or meeting someone new, these small interactions reinforced the heart of WordCamp US: a community that thrives on openness, generosity, and shared purpose.
Contributor Day: Collaboration at the Core
The conference opened on Tuesday, August 26, with a vibrant Contributor Day. Nearly 300 contributors filled the space, including more than 120 first-time participants who were onboarded across 19 teams. Developers, designers, translators, marketers, and community organizers worked side by side, representing WordPress expertise.
Throughout the day, contributors tackled everything from improving accessibility and performance to refining documentation to enhancing translation tools. Beyond technical contributions, teams like Marketing and Community focused on outreach, mentoring, and shaping future-facing initiatives. Remote participants joined via dedicated channels, reinforcing the inclusive nature of WordPress’s global community. By day’s end, the collective energy was clear: WordPress continues to be built by and for everyone.
The mix of experience in the room made this year especially notable. First-time contributors were paired with seasoned table leads who guided them through their first steps into open source contribution. Longtime contributors reconnected with their teams and advanced ongoing initiatives, while new voices added fresh perspectives and momentum. The spirit of mentorship was woven throughout, ensuring that Contributor Day was productive and welcoming.
The results spoke for themselves:
Polyglots translated more than 12,000 strings, expanding WordPress’s accessibility worldwide.
The Community team celebrated the approval of two brand-new local meetups.
The Training team achieved its objective of updating outdated course thumbnails.
The Core team worked through a live bug scrub, with 9 committers and 16 contributors collaborating on improvements.
The Documentation team completed numerous content updates to keep resources fresh and reliable.
Momentum carried through every table, with participants reporting measurable progress and a renewed sense of shared purpose. Contributor Day once again highlighted the unique power of collaboration in shaping the open web, proving that every contribution matters through code, translations, training, or community building.
Showcase Day: WordPress in Action
Wednesday, August 27, was the popular Showcase Day, spotlighting real-world innovation in WordPress. Initially expected to draw about 250 participants, Showcase Day welcomed more than 800 attendees — a powerful sign of how much energy and curiosity the community brought to Portland. The sessions demonstrated how WordPress powers meaningful work across industries from nonprofits to newsrooms, agencies to global enterprises, while staying true to open source values.
The day opened with a keynote by Amy Sample Ward: The Tech That Comes Next. Drawing from their co-authored book with Afua Bruce, Amy highlighted the inequities embedded in today’s technologies — from dataset bias to accessibility gaps — and challenged attendees to rethink how tools are funded, built, and deployed. Their talk invited technologists, funders, and community leaders to imagine a more equitable digital future, rooted in collaboration and shared responsibility.
From there, Joeleen Kennedy of Human Made shared how Full Site Editing (FSE) shapes the refresh of Wikimedia’s ongoing user experience. Her session Modernizing at Scale detailed how FSE is simplifying workflows, improving accessibility, and making the multilingual platform more sustainable for the long term. Attendees gained a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the world’s largest open knowledge platforms is leveraging WordPress innovation.
Josh Bryant took the stage to explore what happens when Gutenberg leaves the WP-Admin dashboard. His talk, Reimagining WordPress Editing, walked through embedding the block editor into a standalone React application to support Dow Jones’s newsroom workflows. From decoupling Gutenberg to managing custom data stores, the session showcased advanced techniques for scaling editorial tools while maintaining the flexibility of the WordPress ecosystem.
Hands-on learning was a hallmark of Showcase Day, with Jamie Marsland’s workshop leading participants through building and launching their own professional portfolio sites — no coding required. Attendees left with a fully functioning site, demonstrating WordPress’s continued ability to empower anyone, anywhere, to publish online.
In the afternoon, Jeffrey Paul’s session Scalable, Ethical AI addressed one of the most pressing topics in today’s digital world: how to integrate AI without sacrificing ownership, privacy, or open standards. Walking participants through practical use cases with ClassifAI and local LLMs, Paul emphasized how WordPress can help content creators harness AI while maintaining autonomy over their data.
The day closed with a forward-looking community highlight: WordPress Campus Connect. Panelists Destiny Kanno, Andrés Parra, Javier Montes de Blas, Mauricio Barrantes, and Elineth Morera Campos shared how this initiative brings WordPress into classrooms and universities worldwide. Student Andrés Parra received a scholarship to attend WordCamp. During the panel, Elineth also announced that Fidélitas University will begin offering its students a WordPress Credits program starting in October 2025, making it a mandatory addition sometime in 2026, enabling them to contribute directly to WordPress as part of their studies.
By connecting students and educators with the open web, Campus Connect is building the next generation of contributors and innovators, ensuring that WordPress remains both a learning tool and a pathway to opportunity.
Taken together, Showcase Day affirmed that WordPress is more than just a CMS — it is a platform for equitable technology, global collaboration, cutting-edge enterprise solutions, and the future of digital education. WordPress has the power to be both a platform and a community tool for education, equity, and innovation.
Presentation Days: Learning, Inspiration, and Connection
The first full day of sessions at WordCamp US 2025 opened with warm remarks from the organizing team, who reminded attendees: “The most important thanks goes to all of you. The mix of new energy and veteran experience is what makes WordCamp so special, so thank you for being here.” That spirit of gratitude and community carried throughout the event.
The Sponsor Hall became a hub of activity, complete with raffles, the return of Career Corner, and even a Voodoo Donut Truck parked outside. Attendees lined up to test their luck at a claw machine stuffed with plush Wapuus, while others sought guidance at the Happiness Bar — a hands-on help desk for WordPress questions big and small. Between these activities, the steady buzz of conversations made it clear: the “hallway track” remained one of WordCamp’s most valuable experiences.
The program itself set a high bar. Danny Sullivan’s keynote shed light on how search has evolved to meet the needs of new generations, from 24/7 demand and mobile expectations to short-form video and AI. His session gave attendees a deeper understanding of how search intersects with publishing today and sparked conversations about how WordPress can continue adapting in an era where AI shapes discovery and content.
From there, the schedule unfolded across multiple tracks. The Core AI panel — featuring James LePage, Felix Arntz, Jeffrey Paul, and Matías Ventura — offered a look into how AI tools are woven into WordPress core. Emphasizing ethics, transparency, and user empowerment, the panel painted a roadmap for how WordPress can adopt new technologies without compromising its open-source values.
Hands-on learning played a significant role throughout the conference. Ryan Welcher’s interactive Block Developer Cookbook drew a packed room as participants worked through community-selected code recipes built on the latest WordPress APIs. By the end, attendees left with working examples and practical strategies they could bring back to their projects.
The program also highlighted diverse technical perspectives. Jemima Abu’s session, A PHP Developer’s Guide to ReactJS, bridged the gap between classic and modern web development. At the same time, Adam Gazzaley’s keynote, A New Era of Experiential Medicine – AI and the Brain, invited attendees to consider the human side of technology, exploring how digital tools can advance health and well-being.
The second day of presentations, Friday, August 29, opened with creativity and imagination. John Maeda’s keynote, Cozy AI Cooking: WordCamp Edition, used the metaphor of a kitchen to demystify AI, blending storytelling with technical insight to show how curiosity and care can guide builders in integrating AI into their work.
Later in the day, Tammie Lister’sThe System is the Strategy illustrated how design systems provide structure and scalability for growing WordPress projects. At the same time, Adam Silverstein’s Unlock Developer Superpowers with AI showcased new ways developers can use emerging tools to speed up workflows and problem-solving.
Community stories also took center stage. In Creators around a Campfire, Anne McCarthy, Jamie Marsland, Christian Taylor, Mark Szymanski, and Michael Cunningham reflected on how YouTubers and content creators shape the WordPress ecosystem. Their session highlighted the role of storytelling and education in expanding WordPress’s reach to new audiences worldwide.
The Sponsor Hall remained lively between sessions — with attendees meeting companies, testing demos, and swapping ideas that extended far beyond the conference halls. They also shared moments together at the arcade built for the event and added smiles, hugs, and laughter, which underscored the atmosphere: WordCamp US was as much about connection as code.
Together Into the Future
As the event drew to a close, WordPress Cofounder Matt Mullenweg took the stage to share the current state of WordPress and a vision for its future. He highlighted the growth in social media for WordPress with 124,726 new followers since last WCUS — and the WordPress.org website growing over 10% in users along with almost 20% in new users.
Matt also spotlighted community initiatives shaping the future of open source education and diversity: WordPress Campus Connect, which has already reached 570 students across 11 events. Combined with the growth in overall events (77) which is a 32.76% increase over 2024. Each effort reinforced the message that WordPress is more than software; it is a global movement driven by people.
He concluded with a live Q&A, fielding questions from the audience on the direction of WordPress, its role in an AI-driven web, and the importance of keeping the project open, inclusive, and adaptable. The final notes of the keynote carried into a closing party in downtown Portland, where attendees capped off the week with music, conversation, and the unmistakable joy of a community coming together.
Closing
WordCamp US 2025 once again demonstrated what makes the WordPress ecosystem extraordinary: a community committed to building tools, resources, and opportunities that empower people everywhere.
This year also marked the debut of the Open Horizons Scholarship, which funded six recipients — two organizers, three volunteers, and one speaker — from five countries. A total of $14,670 supported their journeys to WCUS. The scholarship, which also supports participation at WordCamp Asia and WordCamp Europe, is designed to make flagship events more accessible to contributors worldwide.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the organizers, volunteers, sponsors, and speakers who brought the Portland edition to life — and to every attendee who joined us in person or followed along online. We hope you leave with fresh ideas, meaningful connections, and renewed energy to help shape the future of the open web.
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Be sure to mark your calendars for the next global gatherings: WordCamp Asia 2026 in Mumbai, India, WordCamp Europe 2026 in Kraków, Poland, and WordCamp US 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. We can’t wait to see you at the next chapter of the WordPress story.
There it is again: the tug on your heart, the yearning in your soul, the little lump that forms in your throat every time you daydream about quitting your job, starting a business, and finally living the way you want to.
It’s never been easier to strike out on your own, and one of the most accessible ways to do it is to start your own web design business.
Think about it: As more of our lives move online, the demand for high-quality websites is only increasing, as is the need for people who can build them.
Web design is a job you can do from anywhere, with minimal setup, and for clients in almost any industry. You don’t even need to know how to code (at least not to get started). Your journey starts here.
Why start a web design business?
Your reasons for starting a web design business will carry you forward when times get tough. Here are some powerful reminders for those moments:
Work for yourself. When you’re the boss, you get to choose your projects and clients, and how to fill your time.
Leave a dead-end job. No more cubicles, commutes, office politics, mandatory meetings, or deadlines you didn’t choose.
Gain more freedom. Web design is a remote-friendly career. Whether you’re on a beach, in a mountain cabin, or exploring a new city, your work goes where you go.
Set your own hours. Work when you’re most productive and take breaks when you need them.
Learn new skills. Web design includes many aspects, from wireframes to user experience design to CSS. Learning new skills makes you more valuable and versatile.
Do something meaningful. Contribute to projects you care about and create work you’re proud of.
You can start lean. You don’t need inventory, an office, or expensive equipment to start a web design business.
Scale your income. Your salary has a ceiling, but your business doesn’t. As your skills grow, so can your rates, your client base, and your income.
What do you need for a web design business?
Although overhead is minimal, there are some requirements for building websites for a living.
Relevant skills
Running a web design business is mostly a matter of acquiring the right skills and knowledge. For starters, you need to:
Finally, while it’s absolutely possible to build websites for a living without coding, having at least a basic understanding of programming languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or PHP allows you to make more significant changes and build more advanced features.
Thankfully, you don’t need to master all of these at the start; you just need to know more than your clients. You’ll learn many of these as you go.
Plus, you can outsource some of them with a managed hosting provider like WordPress.com. We take care of security, performance, software updates, and more, so you can concentrate fully on designing websites.
Automattic for Agencies provides web design and development agencies with resources to help grow your agency.
Keep in mind that buying business equipment can lower your tax burden or even give you back VAT.
14 steps to start your own web design business
Once you have the necessary skills and equipment, follow these easy steps to create your web design company:
1. Pick your web design niche
Narrowing down which types of businesses and clients you serve can help your agency stand out.
Defining exactly who you’d like to work with helps you create a better offer. For example, “I design websites for yoga instructors who want to sell online classes” immediately makes your services more relevant to that targeted group than a generic “I’m a web designer.”
When choosing your niche, consider the following:
Select an industry you’re experienced in. That way you already know your customers. It might be the industry you’re currently working in, a hobby, or some other niche you belong to.
Pick something you’re passionate about. You’ll likely work in this area for a long time, so pick a sector that interests you.
Consider targeting a particular location. While the internet makes it possible to work with anyone, geographically limiting your clientele can also have its benefits. For example, it may allow you to meet them in person, which is often beneficial in building close business relationships.
Choose a niche with available budgets. Ensure that potential clients have the means to pay for your websites.
2. Set your goals
Setting goals gives you a direction to work toward. To know where you want to move, ask yourself questions like:
What am I trying to achieve with my business?
Which problems am I solving?
Who do I want to be for my clients?
How do I want to be different from the competition?
Ideally, how much do I want to earn?
What do I want my everyday life to look like?
How many clients do I want to work with at any given time?
What’s my long-term plan?
Consider writing a mission statement that summarizes your answer to these questions, as a way to keep you on track when you feel directionless.
3. Decide on your products and services
Web design is a wide field, allowing you to provide a number of different services, such as:
Decide what you want to do and can provide. While you can always branch out later, deciding on a baseline allows you to figure out your pricing.
Unsure how to price your services? Research agency websites in your desired niche. This can help you develop a pricing baseline.
Don’t think only about the immediate needs of your customers (such as a website), but also future requirements they’ll have, like content changes, design refreshes, or software updates. In addition, decide whether you want to offer pre-defined bundles, individual services, or both.
Finally, do market research to gauge demand for your planned services. Check competitor websites for their pricing, services, reviews, and positioning. Look at relevant job postings on job boards like Upwork or Toptal and analyze what clients are in the market for. You can also research relevant keywords in Google Trends or SEO tools like Ubersuggest, Semrush, and Ahrefs.
4. Figure out your pricing and rates
Your pricing model depends on your offerings. For example, you might charge a project fee for website design, but a monthly recurring retainer for site management and maintenance. To make things easier, base your prices on concrete deliverables, like the number of web pages.
When deciding your rates, factor in the following:
What your competition is charging: This can give you a way to differentiate yourself and also avoids severely undercharging for your services.
Your cost of living, fixed costs, and business expenses: Divide required costs by the number of hours you plan on working (including time off and vacations) to get the rate you need to continue operating your business. You’ll need to add a percentage in order to make a profit.
Your clientele and the value of your services: To a high-ticket business, a new website could mean a huge increase in revenue, so price accordingly.
Appropriate for your industry, location, services, and goals
Short and attention-grabbing
Not already in use by someone else
Before making a decision, check whether your desired domain and social handles are available. Also, consider your long-term goals — if you plan on building a team, naming your business “Kevin Jones Web Design” might not be the best choice.
6. Handle the legal stuff
Depending on where you reside, there will be some bureaucratic hoops to jump through. Find out what licenses, permits, insurance, and other requirements you need in order to operate your business. If necessary, seek legal advice.
There’s a lot of paperwork involved in starting a business. Fortunately, there are resources available to help.
An important step is choosing your business structure, which affects your taxes, liability, and legal requirements. The most common options are:
Sole proprietorship: This is simple and easy to set up, but offers no personal liability protection.
LLC or equivalent: This involves more setup and paperwork, but protects your personal assets if your business fails.
It’s not the most fun aspect of starting your own web design business, but don’t neglect it — you’ll thank yourself later.
Compile these elements into a style guide for easy future reference. This is great practice to prepare you for how to approach client projects.
8. Register your domain and build your website
You can’t start a web design business without your own website. It’s part of your portfolio and directly shows what you can do for others, so build something clients would be happy to pay money for. Below is a great example of one designer’s cohesive and high-quality web presence that’s sure to impress potential clients.
When your own website has a unique design, it shows clients that you can build unique sites for them, too.
Go through the same steps you would if working with someone else. Take copious notes to document your process. At the very least, your site should have:
Tip: If you’re building websites for clients, you shouldn’t need too much advice from us. If you do need some guidance on building a site for yourself, follow this guide.
9. Start building a portfolio
Your past work is one of the best ways to convince people to work with you. It’s living proof that you have the skills you claim to possess.
But how can you create one if you never had a client?
Do personal projects. Design a web presence for a fake company or redesign an existing site with your own ideas.
Reach out to your network. See if anyone you know needs web work or can refer you to someone who does. Consider offering a special rate to fill your portfolio.
Use freelance websites. Services like Upwork are not known for their great earning potential, but it can be worth doing a few projects to create a showcase.
Be sure you do an absolutely stellar job for your portfolio pieces and make sure to collect testimonials for your website.
10. Establish processes and workflows
Formalizing your web design process makes it much easier to repeat it later on. It also makes you look professional and provides a streamlined client experience.
This typically consists of these steps:
Goal-setting
Scoping
Resourcing
Project management
Sitemap/wireframes
Content creation
Staging site setup
Visual design
Testing
Launch
Site maintenance
To put yourself in the best position, plan them out beforehand and document them as you go along. You can use our customizable checklist template, which includes more details on each step.
11. Create proposal and contract templates
Formalizing templates for work proposals and contracts helps you standardize your process, set expectations, and agree on terms, such as:
Scope
Timelines
Deliverables
Deposits and payment schedule
Penalties for late payments
Cancellation policy
Copyright
This assures both you and your client agree on the important aspects of the project and avoids unpleasant surprises. Always be sure to protect your income stream by getting a deposit (usually 25–50%) before starting work, and hand over the finished site or files before being paid in full.
You have a lot of options when it comes to contract service providers.
12. Promote your business
After putting the important pieces in place, you need to work on being seen. This starts with SEO to promote your website, which can include writing blog posts that address and solve issues common to your target group.
Social media should also play a role in your promotion. Pick one or two platforms that make sense for you, create a simple content strategy, and start publishing. It may also make sense to create a YouTube channel and/or podcast to share your insights and promote your offerings.
13. Approach clients
Relying solely on inbound marketing isn’t always enough to find web design clients. You also need to play an active role with outreach.
If you’ve picked your niche well, it shouldn’t be hard to find relevant companies in your area who may need your services. Make a list of them and pitch your services to their marketing team. The more concrete and tailored your proposal, the higher your chances of being hired. You can also offer something with actionable value for free, like a consultation on how to improve their homepage.
Your personal network is also a good place to look for clients; job boards and Facebook groups are also worth trying.
Cast a wide net across different channels and sources so clients can easily find you.
Find ways to network with potential clients in person. Attend business functions, chamber of commerce events, industry meetups, and similar gatherings. Focus on understanding business problems and providing your expertise as a solution to them. Stay in contact and follow up so you can build relationships before pitching your work.
Once you have clients, ask them for referrals — it’s often easier to land a new client through an existing one.
14. Keep learning
Web design is constantly evolving. Trends come and go, requirements change, and new technologies emerge often. If you want to stay competitive, you need to stay informed.
Developing new skills, learning additional tools, and acquiring more knowledge enables you to better serve your clients, which in turn allows you to offer more services and charge higher fees.
Start your web design business today
A web design business can be an amazing vehicle to build a fulfilling and flexible career. The barriers to start and the risks are low, though it takes effort and patience.
WordPress is a top-tier offering for anyone choosing a content management system (CMS) for their website. But one question often holds people back: “Is WordPress easy to learn?”
Yes. There’s a learning curve, but anyone can learn to use WordPress. With a bit of practice, you can build any kind of website you want.
However, WordPress is different (and slightly trickier to learn) than other site builders. That’s for good reason: WordPress offers far more customizability and long-term value, which is why it powers over 43% of websites on the internet.
Let’s take an honest look at how hard it really is to learn WordPress, the challenges you might face along the way, and how to overcome them.
How hard is it to learn WordPress
You’re far from alone if you find WordPress hard to learn, especially in the beginning. The WordPress.com forums are full of users — beginners and pros alike — asking questions and sharing advice.
Here are some common things new users find challenging:
WordPress is extremely flexible
Using WordPress is like baking a cake from scratch rather than using a boxed mix. You get complete control over everything — your web host, domain registrar, layout, plugins, and more. That customizability is what makes it powerful, but it can also feel overwhelming. For beginners, the freedom can seem more like a lack of direction.
The WordPress ecosystem contains features and terminology that are unique to the platform. For example, it’s easy to get confused about the difference between themes and templates since both affect the appearance of your site. Terms like “widgets,” “slugs,” “custom post types,” and “child themes” may also take some time to fully grasp. Until you’re familiar with the lingo, navigating WordPress can feel like learning a new dialect.
Tip: Our glossary will help you quickly understand basic WordPress terminology.
WordPress setup takes time
WordPress’ customizability means that setting up a website involves several moving parts, like buying a domain, choosing a hosting provider, installing plugins, customizing your theme, and so on. The whole process can take time, even for seasoned WordPress users. But that time investment pays off in the long run because you’re building a website that’s tailored to your needs and goals.
Tip: If you decide to outsource building your website, our website design service offers excellent quality, competitive pricing, and quick turnaround times.
WordPress offers endless choices
The plugin and theme libraries are packed with thousands of options for every feature you could ever need. However, that abundance (especially for plugins that perform the same function) can be overwhelming. Using a bloated theme or adding too many plugins can also slow down your website. It takes time (and trial and error) to find the right combination that works for your needs.
With WordPress, you’re responsible for your website’s upkeep. That includes managing security, performing regular updates, and creating backups. Skipping these basics or installing poorly vetted plugins can leave your site vulnerable to performance issues, conflicts, or attacks. It’s a bit of extra work, but it’s essential to maintain a stable and secure website.
WordPress can be intimidating at first. But the unmatched flexibility and long-term benefits it offers are something other site builders and CMS platforms simply can’t match.
Despite its learning curve, WordPress is well worth the effort because once you get the hang of it, you unlock a powerful, flexible platform that can grow with your needs for years to come.
Here are five benefits of using WordPress:
1. You own your website and content
The biggest benefit of using WordPress is that it’s open source. This means you own your website entirely, including your content, data, and design. You’re not locked into a specific platform.
The same can’t be said for other website builders, where you can often migrate content, but not the whole site structure and design.
2. You have limitless customization options
With WordPress, you can customize everything about your website. Want to add a new feature using a plugin? Easy. Want to build a one-page site? Possible. Want to create a full-scale e-commerce website? You can do it.
Other site builders make it easy to get started, but it’s much harder to customize your site exactly as you wish.
3. Your CMS and hosting scale with you
Most website builders think of what you need today. But what happens tomorrow? Or five years down the line?
WordPress’ customizability (which can be a little overwhelming at first) also makes it a long-term companion. Its open-source foundation gives you the flexibility to adapt your website as your needs evolve. And with reliable hosting (like WordPress.com), your site can handle surges in traffic while continuing to run smoothly.
4. You become more self-sufficient
Learning WordPress makes you more independent and capable of running your site with confidence. You won’t have to rely on a developer or customer support every time you want to change a layout, add a feature, or update your content.
Over time, these skills can empower you not only to manage your own website but also to offer your services to others. Many freelancers, marketers, and small business owners have turned their WordPress knowledge into a side hustle or even a full-time career.
5. You have a massive community to rely on
Both WordPress.org and WordPress.com offer thorough support documentation, including step-by-step guides and video tutorials. There are also millions of users on forums, Reddit threads, and niche communities that can help with troubleshooting or customizing your site to your liking.
Now that you know why WordPress is worth learning, let’s talk about what the learning process looks like.
Tip: Need a head start? Tools like WordPress.com’s AI website builder make the process even easier, helping you generate a layout, customize it to your needs, and go live in minutes.
How long does it take to learn WordPress?
The time it takes to learn WordPress depends on your goals, how much time you can dedicate, and whether you’ve worked with websites before. While you can get a basic site up and running in a day or two, mastering the platform’s more advanced features takes a bit longer.
Where do you learn about WordPress? A great place to start is with WordPress.org courses. They cover the fundamentals and can be completed in about 10 hours total:
You don’t need to take all three courses to learn how to use WordPress — you can simply start using the platform and learn on the go.
The exciting thing about WordPress, and web development in general, is that the learning never really stops; there’s always something new to discover or improve.
How I learned WordPress (and why you should, too)
I first started tinkering with WordPress at age 17. I wanted to build a blog to sharpen my writing skills and explore the world of content marketing. In the beginning, I hit all the typical roadblocks when setting up the site, choosing the right hosting provider, customizing the theme, and dealing with spam comments. But once I got the hang of it, things clicked, and managing my site became second nature.
I ended up running that website for years and used it as a portfolio for multiple internships. And here’s the kicker: Many of the companies I worked with didn’t just hire me for my marketing skills — they valued the fact that I knew my way around WordPress.
It wasn’t just that I could navigate the backend without breaking anything (though that helped). It was that I had taught myself how to solve problems by reading documentation, watching tutorials, and tapping into the WordPress community.
Later, when I left my full-time job to become a freelance writer, setting up my own site to establish credibility and showcase my portfolio was like riding a bike. The skills I picked up earlier made it easy to hit the ground running.
That’s why I strongly believe that WordPress is worth learning. It’s more than just a CMS or website builder — it’s a valuable skill set that makes you more independent, helps you stand out, and opens up real opportunities.
Whether you’re building your first blog or launching a business, the time you invest in learning WordPress will pay off for years to come. And, like me, once you get into it, you’ll be glad you stuck with it.
How to learn WordPress
We’ve already covered the WordPress course, which explains a lot about how WordPress works and how you can customize it for your needs. Here are a few more resources you can use:
WordPress.com’s excellent support documentation: Clear, detailed documentation to help you troubleshoot issues as they come up.
WordPress.com courses: Step-by-step lessons on how to create your site or blog and optimize it for SEO.
WordPress.com blog: Stay updated on new features, get practical tips, and find inspiration from real-world examples.
WordPress.com forums: Ask questions and get answers from the WordPress community.
WordPress meetups: Connect with local WordPress users for in-person or virtual support and networking.
WordCamp events are another way to connect with fellow WordPress users. They are large and exciting conferences held all around the world throughout the year. Learn more at central.wordcamp.org.
Hosting with WordPress
Many of the frustrations people face with WordPress aren’t with the platform itself, but rather from poor-quality hosting. When your site is slow, buggy, or keeps crashing, it’s hard to enjoy the process of building anything.
The solution? Choose a hosting provider like WordPress.com, which combines the best features of WordPress (customization, flexibility, and long-term value) with the ease and convenience of reliable hosting, built-in security, and hands-off maintenance.
Your mind is buzzing with ideas, insights, stories, and opinions that your audience wants to hear. But turning these ideas into blog posts feels like pulling teeth.
That’s where AI comes in. AI can help you find the pulse of your audience, structure your ideas, and support your writing process, without compromising the originality of your voice.
In this guide, you’ll find:
A proven workflow for using AI to write blog posts
Reliable AI prompts
Tips to stay in control of your content
7 smart ways to use AI for blog posts
Much goes into writing a good blog post: in-depth research, a structured outline, multiple rounds of drafting, and copy editing. If you’re struggling to manage all these steps, AI can do some of the heavy lifting for you.
Let’s look at the ways you can use AI tools to write blog posts that are worth your readers’ time.
Remember: You have to be intentional about using AI. These best practices and prompts will work best when you put time and thought into them.
1. Uncover unique topics and angles
To create a standout blog post, you need to say what people haven’t already heard before. You can cover topics that nobody has answered properly or pain points that need easier solutions. To do that, turn to your audience.
Your best content ideas can come from listening to real people. Pay close attention to:
The questions people are asking
The problems frustrating them
Their aspirations
The topics they’re discussing
Instead of guessing what your audience wants to read, use AI tools to find and analyze relevant conversations on platforms like Reddit, LinkedIn, Threads, and more.
Here’s a prompt to find what your audience cares about:
Help me learn more about my audience by finding relevant real-life conversations about my topic.
My topic is [your blog topic].
Search through public online discussions, such as Reddit threads, Quora questions, YouTube comments, Amazon reviews, or niche forums, and do the following:
- Summarize recurring themes, questions, or misconceptions that real users express about this topic.
- Group those into useful categories: pain points, conflicting opinions, emotional triggers, and potential solutions.
- Highlight any insights that appear frequently or carry emotional weight (such as frustration, confusion, or enthusiasm).
Present your findings with clearly labeled sections
Once you’ve gathered enough context about your potential readers, zoom out and look for patterns. This is where you’ll find unique and interesting angles for your blog.
Think about themes or insights that other creators and brands have overlooked. For example, a skincare brand blog could:
Challenge common assumptions with the post Why Natural Skincare Isn’t Automatically Better for Your Skin.
Present contrarian takes with the post Your 10-Step Routine Might Be Making Your Skin Worse.
Offer practical advice with the post How to Simplify Your Skincare Routine Without Sacrificing Results.
Tap into emotions with the post What No One Tells You About Feeling Insecure During a Skin Flare-Up.
AI can help you go even deeper. Feed your audience research insights into it and ask it to identify themes, overlooked questions, and unconventional ways to reframe a common topic.
Try this prompt for finding blog topics that resonate with your readers:
Help me brainstorm topics for my blog based on insights about my target audience. My blog focuses on [your core theme].
I want to find fresh, relevant, and original blog post ideas that haven’t been overdone.
Here’s what I need help with:
- Identify 5–7 subtopics or emerging conversations within this theme that are currently underexplored or gaining interest.
- For each subtopic, list 1–2 unique angles I can take based on audience pain points, misconceptions, or recent trends.
- Suggest one blog post idea that takes a contrarian, fresh, or deeply specific approach — something that’s unlikely to have already been written hundreds of times.
- My target audience is [brief description of your audience].
They’re typically struggling with [common challenges or questions].
Format your response into a table so I can evaluate the angles and topics easily.
Below is the response from ChatGPT’s o3 model, with the same skincare brand blog example.
You can pick topics from this list to design your editorial calendar for an entire month or quarter. If more topics are needed, simply ask the tool to list more angles for each subtopic.
2. Research existing viewpoints to find data
Once you’re ready with a topic and angle, it’s tempting to immediately start outlining your blog post. But if you want to say something new, start by studying what’s already been said.
Read top-ranking articles, watch relevant media, and use a “dump document” to collect all the useful insights and ideas you find.
This could include:
Excerpts from other articles and essays
Transcripts from podcasts or videos
Links to social media discussions
Anything relevant you find interesting
Then, use AI to dig deeper into these findings and extract meaningful insights.
Here’s a prompt for familiarizing yourself with the existing perspectives:
I’m researching a topic to write a blog post on [topic]. Help me build an informed perspective on this topic based on the resources below.
Here’s what I need from you:
- Analyze the material I’ve shared and summarize the key takeaways, claims, and arguments across sources.
- Highlight where sources agree, where they contradict, and what ideas are evolving or emerging.
- Identify a few provocative questions or opinions I could explore further.
- Help me absorb and reflect on the material so I can form a strong, original point of view.
- Here’s the material:[Links or attachments]
By the end of this exercise, you’ll have more clarity on how to pursue your topic.
In the next steps, you can lean on AI tools to find examples, data points, and other relevant research materials.
Here’s a prompt for digging deeper into your topic:
I’m working on a blog post about [your topic].
The goal of this post is to help [target audience] understand or take action on [key takeaways].
Help me find relevant supporting material, such as:
- Recent statistics (from the past 2–3 years) with source links
- Real-world examples or case studies related to this topic
- Social media posts referencing this topic
Below is the result from using this prompt in Perplexity. You can select specific sources in this tool, such as web, academic, social, and finance.
Aside from collecting insights via secondary research, you can also interview subject matter experts (SMEs) to get firsthand knowledge.
AI tools can help you generate thoughtful interview questions to get useful context from your SMEs.
Use (and customize) this prompt to extract relevant questions for your blog posts:
I’m preparing to interview a subject matter expert for a blog post about [topic].
The purpose of the post is to help [audience] understand or take action on [key takeaways]. The expert I’m interviewing is experienced in [brief description of their background, role, or area of expertise].
Based on this, suggest a list of 10–12 thoughtful, original interview questions that:
- Go beyond the basics and invite nuanced answers
- Elicit examples or real-life stories from the expert
- Tie back to the blog post angle and audience needs
- Uncover fresh insights that haven’t been widely shared
Organize the questions into categories, such as:
- Background/context
- Strategy/methods
- Reflection/perspective
3. Structure your research into an outline
At this point, you’re likely looking at pages of scattered notes, screenshots, interview transcripts, and half-baked thoughts. It’s a mine of information, but you have to dig deeper to strike gold.
This is another great place to bring AI into the loop and structure your ideas into a solid outline.
The quality of your AI-generated outline depends entirely on the clarity of your input. By giving AI tools important context about your blog post, you can generate a high-quality outline.
Share context within your prompt by adding details about:
Target audience: Describe your readers by discussing their struggles and concerns. Also, talk about the transformation they’re looking for.
Existing viewpoints: Summarize what other creators/brands have already covered about this topic.
Informational gaps: Highlight where others miss the mark and the gaps you want to fill with your article.
Your unique angles: Discuss your content angle and share in-depth context around what your article is about.
Research material: Add all the relevant resources you want the tool to refer to in understanding the topic.
Once you’ve collected all these insights, try this prompt for building an outline:
I’m working on a blog post, and I’ve gathered a lot of raw research material. I want you to help me turn this into a clear, structured blog post outline.
Here’s all the context you need to generate a high-quality outline:
[Target audience]
[Existing viewpoints]
[Informational gaps]
[My unique angle]
[Research material links]
Based on all of the above, prepare an outline that includes:
- A clear introduction
- Logical flow of sections
- Opportunities to emphasize originality or depth
Keep the structure practical, engaging, and tailored to this specific audience.
Most AI tools allow you to create a dedicated space or project for organizing topical information.
Added all your research material to the space. Upload documents and add links in addition to writing specific instructions for your project.
Using this space saves you the hassle of sharing the entire context repeatedly, for each prompt.
4. Write in your voice and style
Most writers make the mistake of starting their AI prompts with something like “write a blog post about…”
Instead, you want to first share a few samples of your writing so the AI tool can understand your tone and style.
It’s even better if you can create a set of guidelines that describe your writing style. These can include notes on words you tend to avoid, how long your sentences are, and any particular details unique to you.
Here’s an example prompt to use:
Help me write a blog post in my voice.
I tend to write in a conversational, clear, and slightly contrarian tone.
I use short sentences and punchy phrasing to keep the momentum.
I avoid filler phrases, fluff, and generic intros (such as “In today’s world…”).
I prefer concrete phrasing over abstract jargon.
I also speak directly to the reader and occasionally ask rhetorical questions.
I like to close sections with sharp takeaways or unexpected turns.
Below is my blog post outline and some notes. Help me expand this outline into a rough first draft written in my style described here. [Outline and notes]
The bottom line: Don’t simply hand a topic and ask AI to write your entire post from scratch. That’s how you end up with something passable, but forgettable.
To produce great content, lean on your critical thinking and writing skills with some help from AI to keep the momentum going when you feel stuck. Share your research material, outline, and voice notes to let AI support your writing process. You can use these tools to jumpstart a section, rework a messy paragraph, or rephrase a sentence that feels clunky.
5. Draft, refine, and localize your posts within WordPress.com
You can ask the AI to write an entire post from scratch, smooth clunky phrasing, fix spelling mistakes, or adjust the tone. The tool can also translate your content into several languages to reach a global audience.
Because this AI assistant works inside the block editor, it makes in-context edits without the need to shuttle between tabs.
6. Refine your blog posts
Once your blog post is ready, AI can help add the final touches.
For starters, ask your AI tool to summarize your draft in 3–4 lines. Then read this summary to check whether it captures your main angle, and if it sounds generic or similar to existing content.
If the summary misses the mark, your post probably does, too. To correct that, ask more questions about exactly what to revise in your draft.
Here’s another prompt to get concrete suggestions for editing drafts:
I’ve written a draft blog post on [topic] and I want your help to improve it. Don’t rewrite anything. I want your suggestions to sharpen the ideas, tighten the structure, and make it easier to read.
Here are some aspects to focus on:
- Are there typing errors or grammatical mistakes in this draft?
- Does any sentence, paragraph, or section feel vague/confusing?
- Are there any repetitive sentences or sections that I should cut?
- Does the draft flow logically from one idea to the next?
- Any suggestions to improve transitions between sections?
- Where can I add an example, insight, or stronger phrasing to make the message more compelling?
Please show your suggestions inline (or note the edits section by section), and don’t remove my original content. Here’s the draft: [Pasted full blog post or uploaded document]
When you’re done with editing, you can use AI for packaging your draft. That means generating some options for meta titles, headlines, and meta descriptions.
Use a prompt like this to get specific output:
Write three alternate headlines for this article: one curiosity-driven, one benefit-focused, and one for a more advanced audience.
7. Visualize complex information
Visuals can simplify your message and help readers quickly understand the insight. With AI tools, you can easily brainstorm ways to visualize complex ideas in your blog post.
Here’s a simple prompt to conceptualize an infographic for any idea:
I want to create an infographic that visually explains this idea:[idea summary or write-up discussing this idea]
Suggest a simple infographic concept that would help readers understand this easily. Include:
- The type of visual (comparison chart, timeline, flowchart, etc.)
- A rough breakdown of what each part should include
- What the visual will look like
Make it easy for a designer to understand.
You can then use that concept to have AI tools design visuals for you. In the example below, ChatGPT interprets the response to the above prompt to create an image.
You can also add text guidance on the content and style of the visual, such as the following example produced by Napkin’s AI tool.
Become a better blogger with AI
If you’ve stared at blank drafts for far too long, it may be time to leverage AI to help you write and refine high-quality blog posts. Create a simple document to save all these prompts (and others), so you can easily use them whenever needed.
Thanks to a design that remains largely unchanged in 50 years, even vintage examples of the original iconic folding bike can be made fit for the 21st century.
Staging sites let you safely experiment, like testing new themes, trying plugins, updating content, or fine-tuning your design, all without making unwanted changes to your live site.
But staging site management can sometimes be challenging. A cumbersome interface and limited sync options can slow development, increase the risk of errors, and make it harder to rely on your staging environment, especially when you’re working across local, staging, and production.
That’s why we’ve redesigned the WordPress.com staging site experience to streamline the process, giving you the flexibility to move between environments with confidence and decide exactly what gets synced between staging and production.
We’re committed to ensuring WordPress.com is the best place to build and host WordPress websites. That means continually reviewing the product, conducting walkthroughs, and listening closely to your feedback.
A recent audit of the Hosting Dashboard surfaced three key friction points: unclear sync behavior, unintuitive environment switching, and hard-to-find destructive actions like “delete.”
We also added selective sync to WordPress Studio, our free local development tool, last month. This feature — one of the most requested enhancements — lets you choose exactly what content is synced from your local sites to staging or production on WordPress.com.
To create a seamless workflow from local to staging to production, we brought the same level of control to staging sites on WordPress.com. The result is a redesigned interface that aligns with our modernized navigation and introduces the same selective sync experience you already have in WordPress Studio.
More power and control for your staging sites
The updated staging site interface gives you greater flexibility, clearer actions, and better visibility into what is happening and when.
Here’s what’s new:
Top navigation environment switcher: Quickly move between staging and production from anywhere in your dashboard.
Selective sync: Push or pull only the folders you choose between staging and production, avoiding all-or-nothing syncs.
Cleaner layout and updated visuals: A streamlined interface with clear separation of actions and status indicators, consistent with the rest of the Hosting Dashboard.
More intentional staging site deletion: The delete button now lives in your site settings, keeping destructive actions separate from daily workflows.
These updates make plugin and theme development, as well as quality assurance workflows, more efficient. They also reduce the risk of unwanted syncs and give you precise control over your staging and production environments.
Get started today
With the latest enhancements to staging sites, you’ll enjoy more flexibility, less clutter, and an overall better hosting experience — all for the same flat rate, starting at just $25/month.
