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SEO TOP AGENCY https://seotomarketing.com Social Media & SEO Agency Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:41:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.4 Empowering Voices, Shaping the Future https://seotomarketing.com/empowering-voices-shaping-the-future/ https://seotomarketing.com/empowering-voices-shaping-the-future/#respond Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:41:41 +0000 https://seotomarketing.com/empowering-voices-shaping-the-future/ Thursday January 25, 2024 Anne McCarthy is a Product Wrangler at Automattic and a long-time WordPress contributor, especially on the Core team. In the last quarter of 2023, she led WordPress 6.4’s Core Triage Team – a major release spearheaded by members of underrepresented genders. Now, she is reprising her role as Core Triage Lead […]

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Anne McCarthy: Empowering Voices, Shaping the Future

Anne McCarthy is a Product Wrangler at Automattic and a long-time WordPress contributor, especially on the Core team.

In the last quarter of 2023, she led WordPress 6.4’s Core Triage Team – a major release spearheaded by members of underrepresented genders. Now, she is reprising her role as Core Triage Lead for the upcoming release, WordPress 6.5.

Since she works in a technical role, it was pretty surprising to learn that Anne started as a psychology student. But looking back at her life and its trajectory, it truly makes sense how her educational background shaped her tech career and her passion to connect and support people.

Read on to learn how Anne uniquely uses her psychology background for her career, her experiment with the Full Site Editing (FSE) outreach program, and how she pushes inclusivity awareness into action.

From Instructional Tech to Embracing Open Source

Anne’s journey with WordPress began in college. As a freshman, she landed a job as an Instructional Technologist at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Little did she know this role would ignite a passion that would define her career.

Her day-to-day tasks revolved around answering questions, creating resources, and assisting students and professors to migrate to WordPress. Soon enough, Anne fell deeper into the world of WordPress, captivated by its power and flexibility.

“Very quickly, I fell in love with what WordPress is capable of,” Anne says. She started creating her own personal websites, which was a chance to dive deeper into the intricacies of how WordPress works.

But her time in college was a race against the clock. Due to financial constraints, she must graduate in three years.

This juggling act, however, proved to be a blessing in disguise. Balancing studies with work forced Anne to sharpen her skills with laser focus. By graduation day, Anne found herself wielding a stronger skillset than she realized.

Anne’s first WordCamp experience in WordCamp Raleigh 2013 solidified her love for WordPress and the vibrant community surrounding it. “It was a small, intimate, and wonderfully nerdy event filled with folks who really cared and wanted to talk in detail about WordPress,” she recounts. There, she started connecting with like-minded individuals who shared her passion for technology-based problem-solving.

But the full breadth of the WordPress community didn’t fully hit her until she attended WordCamp San Francisco in 2014. Witnessing the sheer scale and energy of the event opened Anne’s eyes to the global movement she was now a part of. From that moment on, her path was set. WordPress wasn’t just a platform anymore – it was a community, a family, and a calling.

Tech With a Human Touch

From her first role at Automattic as a Happiness Engineer to her current role as a Product Wrangler, Anne’s professional journey is a neat mix of technical expertise and fondness for human interactions. This fascinating blend finds its roots in an unexpected place: psychology.

“I feel like I use my psychology background both every day and not at all,” Anne says. She uses her psychology knowledge in a non-classical way – it serves as a silent compass, guiding her in approaching people, sharing information, reviewing an in-progress feature, and more.

“It grounds me in the truth of what we’re doing,” Anne asserts, “and that is building software for people to share whatever they want.” This “for people” mantra imbues her approach with a warmth often absent in the fast-paced world of tech.

Anne McCarthy giving talks on stage on Wordcamp Europe

As a Happiness Engineer, Anne championed positive customer experiences. After that, during her Developer Relations Wrangler days, she focused on fostering a positive experience for WordPress.org developers. These roles let her work with both sides of a product – the users and the creators. These experiences equipped her with a balanced perspective that now shines in her role as a Product Wrangler.

“I think of myself as embodying three roles: dot connector, accelerant, and doer,” Anne explains, describing her ongoing work. She aims to do this within Automattic at large and across the WordPress community.

Her efforts in creating Source of Truth since WordPress 5.8 and the FSE Outreach Program are testaments to her dedication to building a well-connected ecosystem.

Always on the pulse of innovation, she tries to get as close as she can to the latest advancements. Then, she goes the extra mile to share, gather feedback, and ensure it reaches the right hands.

WordPress 6.4 source of truth that Anne McCarthy wrote and published on her blog

Anne tirelessly empowers community involvement by identifying and figuring out roadblocks, sharing summarized updates, and facilitating insightful Hallway Hangouts. Her goal is to keep everyone connected, informed, and excited to participate in the ongoing evolution of WordPress.

But how does she stay organized with multiple projects progressing simultaneously? “By narrowing my focus. I don’t try to keep up with everything all the time, only the right things at the right time,” Anne responds.

Quarterly reminders help her maintain a broader perspective, but it’s ultimately the human connections that form the bedrock of her organization. Others’ input helps ensure nothing slips through the cracks, making for a thriving community.

Building Together: Inside FSE Outreach Program

In 2020, Anne spearheaded the FSE Outreach Program – an experimental program to encourage feedback culture and knowledge sharing around the then-developing full-site editing feature in WordPress.

Now, with FSE firmly cemented in the WordPress core software, the program has concluded its outreach function. It then transformed into a vibrant hub for focused discussions and collaborative exploration.

the full site editing outreach program handbook page in Make WordPress.org website

In its heyday, the program proved to be a magnet for a diverse spectrum of participants, from seasoned WordPress contributors to casual users.

By the end of the program, 140 individuals obtained a Test Contributor badge. This influx of curious newcomers showed that the FSE Outreach Program was more than just a feedback channel – it was a catalyst for community growth.

But navigating the tide of feedback could be dangerous. The potential for a feedback tsunami was a constant concern for Anne. “I actually pitched it as a private group before I got feedback to make it public,” she recounts. Data overflow occasionally occurred, especially with lengthy videos that were recorded multiple times.

“I only have so much time in the day, so I try to do my best to empower folks to report issues they want to see fixed and ensure I don’t become a “middle person”,” she explains. Her mission was to equip participants with the tools and channels necessary to report issues directly, fostering a collaborative feedback loop that could bypass intermediary bottlenecks.

In the process, the FSE Outreach Program not only built the platform, but also the community around it.

When asked about maintaining engagement and keeping the project on track, she acknowledges that her psychology background might come into play, especially during the program’s pandemic-stricken infancy.

With the Site Editor in its embryonic stage, six months from public testing, Anne had to improvise.

“I started by sharing early looks to get folks excited, holding Hallway Hangouts for more real-time dialogue, and doing larger Q&As to flush out early questions,” Anne says. These initiatives blossomed into blog posts like So You Want to Talk About FSE Part III, which showed Anne’s dedication to unearthing and amplifying hopes and fears regarding the development as early as possible.

By actively listening and responding to the community, she helped transform people’s aspirations into meaningful conversations. This ensured the program remained focused on what truly mattered. “To get people engaged, you must speak to what they care about,” she affirms.

As an open-source project, WordPress is built up by contributors from around the world, regardless of their skill level, socioeconomic status, and other identifiers. Therefore, it’s important to have an empowered, inclusive community, so that everyone can continue making the most of the collective effort.

Anne herself is a consistent advocate for diversity, equality, inclusiveness, and belonging (DEIB) issues. She believes it’s important to create a safe space for everyone. As a part of the LGBT community, Anne knows firsthand the challenges faced by marginalized voices. Even though many spaces have become more inclusive, people from minority groups may still find it challenging to join a community and speak up about their needs.

Instead of urging forced participation, Anne offers a gentler approach. “Speaking from a minority perspective, I’d recommend trying to find someone from another minority group and asking about their experience,” says Anne.

Anne stresses that while it’s important to raise awareness about minorities’ needs, it’s also essential for them to have the right to decide if they feel safe speaking up or not.

She’ll happily put herself out there for people to reach out to, or to connect them with someone else who can speak more directly to one’s lived experience. “I will never, ever just tell someone to “speak up” – we need to do more to help folks feel safe and to have avenues to “speak up” anonymously,” she affirms.

The WordPress community has a #deib-working-group in the WordPress.org Slack channel, which Anne recommends as a good starting point. This act of acknowledging individual comfort levels creates a welcoming atmosphere where open communication flourishes on its own terms.

For companies or organizations seeking to implement effective DEIB practices, Anne emphasizes an alignment with their core mission. “Align with the company or organization’s mission and offer your unique value,” she says. “Instead of reinventing the wheel, support the voices of those already doing the work.”

For example, support organizations already dedicated to diversity within tech. Allocating resources, whether through time or funding, allows existing DEIB initiatives to reach their full potential.

One of Anne’s proudest moments within the WordPress community happened to be in the DEIB space itself. Collaborating with Google, she ran the Accelerate.lgbt event series that helped LGBT non-profits and small businesses with online tools and knowledge.

“We’d partner up with a combination of local WordPress communities, small business associations, and various co-workers I’d drag in to speak and offer a combination of talks and one-on-one sessions. It was hard work but so rewarding. It’s something I can’t believe I ever did,” she says. This initiative, born from passion and dedication, exemplifies the positive impact individuals can get through targeted efforts.

If you’re interested in WordPress but still unsure about how to give meaningful contributions to the platform, Anne has a simple answer: “Jump in!”

Anne encourages everyone interested in WordPress to join the WordPress.org team on Slack. Just announce that you’re a new contributor in a relevant channel and share your interest.

“Inevitably, fellow contributors will chime in,” she assures, “I have alert words set up for “first contribution”, so if you’re contributing to the Core team, I can personally guide you towards your first stepping stone.” Regular contributor meetings are also another entry point into the welcoming and vibrant WordPress community.

In the WordPress community, everyone lifts each other up. People like Anne not only help WordPress grow with their expertise – they also sustain a sense of belonging so that the community can continue to thrive.

Author

Maya is a Content Writer and WordPress Contributor. With years of journalistic experience under her belt, her main goals are to help people understand complex processes in a simpler way, and tell the stories of people who thrive thanks to technology. When she’s not writing, you can find her watching sci-fi movies while eating ramen.
Follow her on LinkedIn.


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Keeping Your Website Secure in 2024 https://seotomarketing.com/keeping-your-website-secure-in-2024/ https://seotomarketing.com/keeping-your-website-secure-in-2024/#respond Wed, 24 Jan 2024 09:53:05 +0000 https://seotomarketing.com/keeping-your-website-secure-in-2024/ Wednesday January 24, 2024 Hostinger has been keeping your websites safe and secure since 2004. Each year presents new challenges for website security, and 2023 was no exception. Last year was famous for the rise of artificial intelligence, which is also used by cyber criminals. Discover how Hostinger thwarted attempts by malicious actors to compromise […]

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Keeping Your Website Secure in 2024: Five Lessons Learned From Last Year and Helpful Tips

Hostinger has been keeping your websites safe and secure since 2004. Each year presents new challenges for website security, and 2023 was no exception. Last year was famous for the rise of artificial intelligence, which is also used by cyber criminals.

Discover how Hostinger thwarted attempts by malicious actors to compromise the websites of over 2 million customers in 2023. Together with the five lessons learned, we will also share some insights to help you avoid cyber threats.

Sales Attract Malicious Actors

The Hostinger malware scanner, powered by Monarx, identified and cleaned nearly 500 million instances of malware throughout the year. The number of cleaned malware is twice as low as it was in 2022, mostly because we have learned how to deal with Phoenix, an uploader delivering other malware to systems. 

After excluding the influence of Phoenix, there’s actually been a significant increase in the number of unique malware pieces over the past year, a trend likely to persist. 

Malicious activities peak during sales periods when more people are online, spending money, and may not be as cautious about security. Our malware scanner was working tirelessly during major sales in November and December, and minor spikes were observed in May and August. 

Additionally, generative AI is increasingly contributing to an arms race with hackers by making malware more sophisticated and destructive.

Enterprise Raiders Target Small Businesses

Webshells, uploaders, and adware continue to dominate website malware charts, but new threats are emerging for small businesses and mom-and-pop shops.

First, ransomware is increasingly targeting them by encrypting data and demanding a ransom for recovery. A year or two ago, it primarily targeted large, solvent businesses.

Second, cryptocurrency miners are intensifying their activities, particularly when bitcoin prices fall and the number of traditional miners drops, making mining on web servers lucrative. 

Finally, redirects are gaining popularity and pose a significant threat due to their rapid mutability, often infiltrating both good files and databases. The wp_posts table is particularly popular, but they can be all over the place.

Dealing With 500 DDoS Attacks per Day Is the New Normal

In 2023, our infrastructure faced over 185,000 distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, averaging 500 attacks per day. Data centers in the US witnessed the highest number of attacks, followed by Brazil and India. 

Our advanced traffic filter efficiently thwarted the majority of DDoS attacks, automatically activating within seconds and diverting malicious traffic to the filter instance. This method allowed us to reduce the use of remotely triggered black holes by up to 95%, resulting in a better uptime for our services and clients. 

The traffic filter has handled some really powerful attacks. Several of them took place just before the major holidays, on December 21 and 24, in our Singapore data center. The first one persisted for over 6 hours, hitting customer websites with 2.3 million packets per second (Mpps) and 18 gigabits per second (Gbps). A few days later, another attack unfolded, peaking at 3.6 Mpps and 1.3 Gbps.

The good news is that neither these nor the myriad other attacks had any impact on our infrastructure or your websites.

The Power Struggle Between Botnets and CDNs

Botnets, notably Mirai, represent another type of malware that saw a rise in tandem with improvements in content delivery networks (CDNs). To simplify, the better CDNs become, the larger botnets you need to flood websites successfully, and vice versa.

An illustrative example lies with Hostinger CDN. Launched in the middle of last year, it automatically mitigated numerous attacks, including one of considerable potency. Over a three-hour period, more than 10 million requests per second (Mrps) engulfed a client’s site. Following the incident, our experts analyzed the data and leveraged it to enhance our CDN, making it three times more powerful than it was before the attack. 

Obviously, this incident doesn’t measure up to the record-breaking 71 Mrps attack that Cloudflare mitigated last year. However, it’s important to note that our clients are not among the Fortune 1000.

Beware of Fake and Insecure Plugins

WordPress, used by 43% of all websites, including over 3 million hosted by Hostinger, stands as the most popular content management system. No wonder it continues to be a prime target for cyber threats.

Major WordPress security vendors such as Patchstack, WPScan, and Wordfence identified over 4,000 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), constituting around 14% of all CVEs discovered last year.

Plugins are at the core of these vulnerabilities, with fake plugins taking the lead. The details of these plugins may vary, but both their quality and quantity have been rapidly increasing. We anticipate this trend to persist throughout 2024 as generative AI makes the creation of fake plugins even more accessible.

For Hostinger clients, WordPress automatic updates and a vulnerability scanner come to the rescue. The scanner promptly notifies clients if vulnerabilities are detected on their websites and provides advice on necessary actions.

How to Keep Your Business Safe Online in 2024

While the challenges may seem overwhelming, securing your business online is within your control. Choosing a reliable hosting provider is crucial, alleviating concerns about most potential threats.

Look for SSL certificates, a malware scanner, a web application firewall, DDoS filtering, built-in CDN, automatic updates, backups, and 24/7 monitoring. Luckily, as you’re already on the Hostinger blog, the solutions you need are just a click away.

Author

Giedrius is the Chief Product Officer at Hostinger. He leads and facilitates product management teams to ensure they are creating products that deliver value to both the user and the business. Giedrius has a strong technical background, he is passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems and make people’s lives easier.


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BERT & SEO: How Google’s AI-powered search works https://seotomarketing.com/bert-seo-how-googles-ai-powered-search-works/ https://seotomarketing.com/bert-seo-how-googles-ai-powered-search-works/#respond Fri, 05 Jan 2024 16:30:00 +0000 https://seotomarketing.com/bert-seo-how-googles-ai-powered-search-works/ With artificial intelligence integrating into every facet of technology, Google has unsurprisingly stepped into the arena with an update that’s changing the search engine game. BERT, which stands for ‘Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers,’ is a revolution in how search queries are processed. This change really shakes things up for search queries that rely on […]

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With artificial intelligence integrating into every facet of technology, Google has unsurprisingly stepped into the arena with an update that’s changing the search engine game. BERT, which stands for ‘Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers,’ is a revolution in how search queries are processed.

This change really shakes things up for search queries that rely on the subtle aspects of language, affecting a good chunk of searches — about 1 in every 10. So, let’s unpack what BERT entails for SEO and how you can fine-tune your content for this dynamic new phase.

Understanding the BERT algorithm: What is it?

BERT is a significant leap forward for Google, designed to decipher the nuances of language in search queries. Think of it as a sophisticated system that understands language much like we do — by looking at the words before and after a keyword. It’s a big deal, and its implications for accuracy in language cannot be ignored.

This context awareness allows BERT to grasp the intent behind your searches, making Google’s search engine more intuitive than ever. What this means for computational comprehension is earth-shattering, to say the least. With BERT, Google will better understand your needs and intentions.

Illustration of a flow chart indicating complex queries

BERT’s impact on complex queries

Google’s BERT update shines when it comes to complicated, conversational queries. In particular, it is useful in searches where every preposition can alter the meaning of the query. 

For example, there’s a world of difference between “car insurance to buy” and “car insurance buy.” BERT is engineered to understand these differences, improving how users find the most relevant results to their queries.

Likewise, the technology is excellent for local SEO, as BERT can easily clump together neighborhood names, products, and intent, while providing the desired results in a matter of seconds.  

BERT and on-page SEO

For SEO specialists, the rise of BERT signals the end of an era where poorly written content could rank well. Now, the focus shifts to clarity and the quality of information presented. Clear structures and emphasis on important content are crucial.

In particular, SEOs need to turn unstructured data into semi-structured data, guide Google through our content with internal linking, and provide cues on pages where text is sparse.

However, this also means that content creators must now be more precise with language. BERT isn’t here to fix content that lacks a clear focus  — it instead elevates content that’s already well-written. 

Context around key terms becomes critical, and content that can clearly answer user questions will come out on top. Remember, BERT is here to aid Google in understanding natural language, not to interpret vague content.

How BERT is refining search queries

Imagine you’re searching for “best seats for evening games.” Before BERT, search engines might have shown you results for buying seats or choosing the best games. 

With BERT, the search engine understands that “evening games” likely refer to sports events, and “best seats” relate to the viewer’s experience in the stadium during these times, potentially considering the sun’s position and the likelihood of glare. 

It’s a subtle difference. However, it significantly refines the search results to match the user’s actual intent. There are virtually endless examples just like this one that you can think of. With BERT, you’ll wrestle less with your search parameters, getting results that actually matter to you and what you’re looking for at that moment.

What BERT does is almost human-like, using the surrounding words to understand the intent behind a single word within a query. 

This has vast implications for content creators: we must ensure that the context we provide is clear and relevant as Google becomes increasingly adept at picking up on these nuances.

Illustration of possible good and bad queries using BERT

Optimizing for BERT: Do’s and don’ts

In the era of BERT, the spotlight is firmly on content clarity and user-focused optimization. Here’s how you can ensure your content strategy is aligned with this new norm:

Understanding the user’s intent

The core of BERT’s functionality lies in grasping the nuances of language and the intent behind search queries. For content creators, this translates to an emphasis on precision.

It’s about understanding what the user is truly seeking and crafting content that hits the mark. This means moving beyond keyword-centric strategies to a more intent-oriented approach.

Content quality over quantity

Gone are the days when a scattergun approach to keywords might have reaped rewards. With BERT, content needs to be focused and relevant. It’s not about covering all bases but rather about delivering top-notch responses to particular queries.

Your content should serve as a reservoir of deep insights, offering substantial and relevant information that aligns closely with what your audience is seeking.

Incorporating structured data

Structured data becomes your silent ambassador to search engines. And with schema markup, search engines have an in-depth understanding of your site’s content. It allows them to rapidly pinpoint and grasp the different components.

This streamlined organization helps BERT to decode how various content pieces interlink, boosting both the clarity and the findability of your information.

The importance of internal linking

Internal linking does more than shepherd visitors through your website — it’s a powerful tool to bolster the thematic structure of your content. Thoughtful internal links can enhance user experience and provide clear pathways for BERT to ascertain the hierarchy and interconnectivity of your pages.

Think of it as creating a roadmap that guides both users and search engines through your site’s landscape, underlining the pertinence of each page.

Preparing for the future of AI in SEO

BERT is just the beginning. With AI advancing rapidly, Google’s understanding of search queries is only going to get more nuanced. This evolution could lead to more significant segmentation in search results, especially in local SEO. 

In the future, Google’s AI will also be able to segment search results more effectively, especially when it comes to local SEO. Even with all its advancements, BERT still has a tendency to post irrelevant content just because it was fooled by SEO trickery. In the future, for instance, even if a restaurant chain has purchased local links, they’ll still drop down in SERPs because they’re not local.

Anticipating the next steps

As AI strides forward with determination, it becomes increasingly essential for SEO strategies to keep pace. This change is quite significant, especially when you consider that the worldwide AI market is expected to balloon to around $740 billion by 2030. And SEO is at the forefront, precisely because of the amount of raw data AI can crunch.

Content must be honed with precision — every paragraph, sentence, and word is carefully chosen for clarity and purpose. A well-structured piece is no longer just about aesthetics; it’s about making content comprehensible for both AI and the end-user. The need for contextually rich content steps into the spotlight, as well. 

AI algorithms like BERT aren’t satisfied with the mere sprinkling of keywords. They’re looking for depth, the subtext beneath the main message. It’s about anticipating the user’s journey — understanding that every search term is part of a larger conversation.

Small businesses benefit from understanding Google’s BERT 

As we stand at the cusp of a new era in search engine optimization, it’s time to embrace the changes brought on by BERT. Keeping our content crisp, well-organized, and in tune with the intricate ways users search helps us stay ahead of the game, ensuring our websites keep their top spots and stay pertinent in a future steered by AI.

Remember, this is just one step in the ongoing journey of SEO — a quantum leap, indeed. But it’s one that signals a more intuitive, more ethical, human-like understanding from the world’s most powerful search engine. Prepare your content to meet these new standards, and the rewards will be well worth the effort.


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Meeting Our Clients: Trying Their Services https://seotomarketing.com/meeting-our-clients-trying-their-services/ https://seotomarketing.com/meeting-our-clients-trying-their-services/#respond Wed, 27 Dec 2023 08:35:31 +0000 https://seotomarketing.com/meeting-our-clients-trying-their-services/ Wednesday December 27, 2023 This Christmas period, we brought the festive spirit into our offices and teams by meeting our clients. From board games to puppy yoga and wine tasting, these experiences struck the perfect balance between celebrating and getting to know our clients.  Join us as we share these memorable experiences and our clients’ […]

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Meeting Our Clients: Trying Their Services and Celebrating Success Stories

This Christmas period, we brought the festive spirit into our offices and teams by meeting our clients. From board games to puppy yoga and wine tasting, these experiences struck the perfect balance between celebrating and getting to know our clients. 

Join us as we share these memorable experiences and our clients’ success stories. 

From Friends to Company Parties

First, we had a board game party hosted by Offline Game Club. Besides having fun, playing board games also strengthens skills like reaction, strategic thinking, communication, and even bluffing.

The founders of Offline Game Club have been passionate about board games for over two decades. They’ve explored numerous games, attended international exhibitions, and grown their personal game collections. What began as a hobby and casual game nights for friends evolved into an actual job. 

“We now organize team-building events featuring various board games for both small gatherings and large festivals. Our unique collection of exclusive games ensures there’s something for everyone to enjoy,” shares Andrius Pilypaitis, one of the company’s founders. 

Offline Game Club

Website Is a Must for Scaling 

Starting this business was challenging due to the various misconceptions surrounding it. This is where their website played a crucial role. Through images and videos, they could effectively convey the excitement and diversity of their games. Additionally, customer testimonials on their website have been instrumental in finding new clients.

“We chose Hostinger for its reliability and good customer service. We got what we expected – a very easy-to-set-up and manage website. The era of needing a friend-of-a-friend to build your website is over. Nowadays, website creation and editing are so user-friendly that most people can do it themselves,” he highlights. 

Introducing the New Way of Yoga

One of our clients, Woof Yoga, combines relaxation with playful puppies. It is an excellent team-building exercise, allowing colleagues to connect in a fun and adorable setting. 

The creators of Woof Yoga, David Erenburg, Dovydas Daščioras, and Gabrielė Zdanavičiūtė, come from different fields – logistics, construction, and marketing. United by their love for animals and sports, they decided to introduce pet yoga to Lithuania.

“Initially, it wasn’t about business. We started by making calls and collecting people through social networks. Seeing the joy and repeated attendance of participants, we decided to move further,” David explains. 

Woof Yoga

Quality Comes First

The Woof Yoga team prioritizes high-quality classes by limiting participant numbers and varying the puppy breeds. They’ve found that their sessions appeal to a diverse range of people, offering various benefits from emotional to physical wellness. Starting with just five sessions per month, the business now hosts multiple sessions per day.

“As soon as we came up with the idea, we knew we wanted a website here and now. It’s been pivotal in simplifying session bookings and management, freeing up our time for other important aspects, like communicating with the kennels, advertising, and improving yoga. The website maintenance is convenient and easy, and the support team’s work is exceptional!” – shares David.

Pursuing the Dream

Just before Christmas, our team was inspired by another client who drastically changed her career to pursue her dream. Ieva Elvyra Kazakevičiūtė and her wine-tasting event business, Gliu Gliu, offered a delightful blend of education and enjoyment, perfect for spending quality time and learning.

Ieva’s journey is diverse, from children’s radio hosting to creating internationally renowned albums and magazines, writing for prime-time TV, and working in fintech. She says she finally found her passion – wine-tasting events, which are getting popular on various occasions, from birthdays to corporate celebrations. 

“I began studying to be a sommelier to learn something new and have fun after work. I always look to simplify things and convey them in a way that’s relatable to my audience. That’s what I felt was missing in the local wine scene. It felt like many people around me would be able to appreciate wine a lot more if it was presented to them in a simple way,“ she says. 

Ieva Elvyra Kazakevičiūtė

As Ieva Elvyra Kazakevičiūtė highlights, her goal is to create a safe space for her audience, with no concept of stupid questions. During her events, she tries to teach people a quick checklist about wine – how do you taste it? What do you look for in it? What questions do you ask to find a wine for the occasion? 

Embracing a Website as a Key Business Tool

Ieva initially hesitated to create a website, thinking it was a big deal she still had to grow into. However, a friend’s suggested viewing it as an online business card and recommended Hostinger – she ended up creating a website in a day. To her, it’s a vital platform for promoting natural winemaking and attracting new clients. 

Gliu Gliu event

“The user experience on Hostinger Website Builder made me feel like a world-class web creator. It’s all about arranging elements, playing with some colors, and voilà! Learning to promote my site and increase traffic has been fascinating. While word-of-mouth advertising is crucial in my field, people often research before reaching out. With the website, I show my personality and vibe fairly accurately for people to decide,” she explains. 

All the clients we’ve met agree that having a website is a pivotal part of growing a business. These websites serve as platforms for booking and raising your brand awareness to attract more clients. These stories show that a well-crafted website is necessary for connecting with audiences and achieving success. 

Author

Part of Hostinger’s Communications Team, Kotryna is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with media outlets and ensuring that the organization’s achievements and initiatives receive public recognition. In her free time, Kotryna likes to explore new places and take photos.


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Hostinger 2023 Highlights: Top 10 Product Releases  https://seotomarketing.com/hostinger-2023-highlights-top-10-product-releases/ https://seotomarketing.com/hostinger-2023-highlights-top-10-product-releases/#respond Fri, 22 Dec 2023 06:51:14 +0000 https://seotomarketing.com/hostinger-2023-highlights-top-10-product-releases/ In the past year, Hostinger has achieved impressive growth, reaching a milestone of over two million customers globally. And we’re not stopping anytime soon. On a mission to deliver better services and reach even higher levels of customer satisfaction, we have released a number of tools designed to streamline your online journey.  Whether you’re a […]

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In the past year, Hostinger has achieved impressive growth, reaching a milestone of over two million customers globally.

And we’re not stopping anytime soon. On a mission to deliver better services and reach even higher levels of customer satisfaction, we have released a number of tools designed to streamline your online journey. 

Whether you’re a complete beginner, a business owner, or a web developer, these exciting releases will bring you closer to your goals.

10 New Features for Your Success

Without further ado, let’s recap our top product releases and feature updates in 2023.

1. AI Website Builder 2.0

The illustration of Hostinger AI Website Builder

New year, new AI engine. The latest update of Hostinger AI Website Builder comes with more powerful machine learning algorithms, making it easier to create a stand-out website. 

The site creation process remains the same – enter your brand name, choose a website type, describe your business, and watch as AI does its magic. 

What’s different now is the output. Instead of similar web designs, every website generated by our AI builder will have a distinct look. 

Plus, given its drag-and-drop interface, customizing the initial design to your liking is easy. This will make your site even more unique, separating it from others in your niche.

2. Content Delivery Network

Hostinger's in-house CDN feature in hPanel

Slow load times frustrate visitors, no matter what kind of website you’re running. This can lead to a decline in traffic, conversions, and, ultimately, sales.

Hostinger CDN helps you deliver a flawless browsing experience. After running over 42,000 tests across more than 10,000 websites, we can confidently say that our CDN improves website performance by up to 40%.

This is possible because our data centers are spread across four continents – Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

When someone visits your website for the first time, a CDN server closest to their location will retrieve and store the site data. This ensures faster content delivery and keeps your website running even if the origin server is down.

You can try our in-house CDN by purchasing a Business, WordPress Business, WordPress Pro, or Cloud hosting plan.

3. Client Management Tools

To make lives easier for web developers and designers, we’ve integrated time-saving client management tools into hPanel.

Dino Valdez, the Co-Founder of RSNL Creative, finds the interface remarkably easy to navigate. “I really like the UI, it’s very intuitive. I can set up a client project and take it off the ground in 30 minutes,” he explained.

This feature lets you manage multiple clients, websites, domains, and email accounts under one platform. And the most exciting part? You will get a recurring commission for every new user you bring on board.

To get started, simply purchase a web hosting plan for your clients, and our system will automatically send them the invoices. Once the payment is made, access their hosting accounts to perform these tasks:

  • Create websites using WordPress or Hostinger Website Builder.
  • Update the core WordPress version of multiple sites in one go.
  • Get an instant notification when a client’s site is experiencing issues.
  • Track your earned commissions from client purchases.

4. Object Cache

The Object cache feature in hPanel

Make your WordPress site perform even better by enabling LiteSpeed Object Cache directly in hPanel. Object caching eliminates repeated database queries by storing the cached version of your site data on a server.

To put it into perspective, when users land on a frequently visited page, the server will collect the cached data instead of re-accessing the database. Since the query retrieving process is cut down, our server can deliver your website content to visitors up to three times faster.

This powerful feature is available in our Business, WordPress Business, WordPress Pro, and all Cloud hosting plans.

5. WordPress Enhanced Automatic Updates

As the most popular content management system (CMS), WordPress is a common target for cyber attackers. In most cases, they exploit outdated plugins and themes to gain unauthorized access to websites.

That’s why keeping your WordPress core version, themes, and plugins up-to-date is a must. Apart from fixing common vulnerabilities, updates usually come with performance improvements.

Good news for busy WordPress users and developers out there. Our Automatic WordPress Updates feature will protect your site from security threats and keep it running smoothly, all without any manual effort on your part.

You just need to upgrade to a Business hosting plan or above, enable automatic updates from hPanel, and configure the settings for WordPress core, plugins, and themes:

  • Don’t update. By selecting this option, the automatic updates will be disabled.
  • Yes, but only security updates. This will activate minor updates for WordPress core and security updates for plugins and themes. 
  • Yes, enable all updates. Your WordPress core will get both major and minor updates, while your installed plugins and themes will receive all available patches.

Each time a new version of WordPress core, theme, or plugin is available, our system automatically creates a backup before performing the update. In case something goes wrong, you can easily revert to the previous version.

6. AI Domain Name Generator

The Domain Name Search page on Hostinger's site

A memorable domain name can leave a lasting impression on the audience. After all, it’s the first element your visitors notice before landing on your site.

We understand how difficult it is to come up with a catchy web address that represents your brand. So, we decided to include AI Domain Name Generator on our Domain Search page.

Simply write a brief description of your project or brand, and let AI generate several domain name ideas to choose from. Don’t like the results? Repeat the same process until you find the perfect match.

If you prefer alternative extensions other than .com, select one of the AI-generated options and run a new domain search. Our tool will provide a list of available top-level domains (TLDs) you can grab.

7. WordPress AI Content Tools

The AI Assistant feature in the Hostinger plugin

Content marketing is one of the most effective strategies for attracting more organic traffic. The only downside is that producing high-quality content consistently takes a lot of time and effort.

This is where our WordPress AI content tools come into play. No more wasting time trying to write SEO-friendly pages and posts from scratch – Hostinger Blog Theme makes the whole process quick and easy. 

This lightweight theme is equipped with pre-built pages, including Home, About, Contact, and Blog. Plus, its integrated AI content generator lets you create six articles around your niche and get relevant featured images in one go.

Want to use another WordPress theme? We also have a separate WordPress AI Assistant plugin.

With this tool, you can generate keyword-optimized content for web pages, blog posts, product descriptions, and more. Customizing the content length and tone of voice is also straightforward.

Both Hostinger Blog Theme and WordPress AI Assistant are accessible during onboarding when you purchase a Business or higher-tier hosting plan.

8. WordPress AI Troubleshooter

The WordPress AI Troubleshooter feature in hPanel

Website errors and downtime can strike at any moment, causing a major disruption to your online operations.

Our WordPress AI Troubleshooter is here to make sure that doesn’t happen. Whenever an issue arises, the tool will detect the root cause and offer automatic solutions, keeping your WordPress site online at all times.

9. Hostinger Website Builder’s AI SEO Tools 

The AI SEO tools in Hostinger Website Builder

Besides handling content and visual elements, Hostinger Website Builder is also capable of boosting your website’s visibility on search engines.

When you create a website through the AI flow, our builder will automatically generate the sitemap, meta title, meta description, and relevant keywords based on your input.

Prefer to choose from 150 pre-made templates instead? The site editor comes with built-in SEO tools. You just need to enter your brand name and business details, select the matching keywords, and that’s it – your metadata is ready.

AI Writer is also present inside the builder, allowing you to produce SEO-friendly content for web pages, blog posts, image alt texts, and product descriptions.

10. Mobile Editor for Hostinger Website Builder

The illustration of Hostinger Mobile Builder

For travel bloggers and business owners who are constantly moving, having the ability to create and edit their sites on the go is vital.

Our mobile editor enables you to do just that. No need to install additional software – simply log in to your hPanel account via a smartphone, access Hostinger Website Builder, and make the necessary changes, just as you would on the desktop version.

Not only simplifying the site editing process, this tool also lets you adjust its look and feel to deliver a better experience for mobile users.

What’s Next?

Our journey doesn’t stop here. We will continue pushing the boundaries, reaching new milestones, and launching more powerful tools to help you find success online. Check out the Hostinger Roadmap for a complete list of every upcoming release.

Have you tried some of Hostinger’s 2023 updates? If yes, leave a comment below and tell us what you like and don’t like about each feature. We always look for ways to improve our products, and your feedback will be invaluable in achieving this goal.

Author

Brian is a Content Writer who knows the ins and outs of digital marketing and eCommerce. Driven by passion and a dose of caffeine, he constantly looks for better ways to tell complex stories in a simple manner. Follow him on LinkedIn.


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GPT’s lesser-known sibling: DALL-E and visual AI https://seotomarketing.com/gpts-lesser-known-sibling-dall-e-and-visual-ai/ https://seotomarketing.com/gpts-lesser-known-sibling-dall-e-and-visual-ai/#respond Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:30:00 +0000 https://seotomarketing.com/gpts-lesser-known-sibling-dall-e-and-visual-ai/ In the world of artificial intelligence, GPT definitely garners most of the attention. But there’s another innovative creation paving its own unique path: DALL-E. Developed by OpenAI, the same company that brings us ChatGPT, DALL-E is designed to generate visual content based on textual inputs.  Of course, the technology behind it is far more complex […]

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In the world of artificial intelligence, GPT definitely garners most of the attention. But there’s another innovative creation paving its own unique path: DALL-E. Developed by OpenAI, the same company that brings us ChatGPT, DALL-E is designed to generate visual content based on textual inputs. 

Of course, the technology behind it is far more complex than that. Today, we’re taking a closer look at DALL-E. We’ll explore how it ticks and see how it changes the game for graphic design, websites, and much more.

History of DALL-E: Transforming language into visual art

DALL-E, later succeeded by DALL-E 2 and DALL-E 3, represents OpenAI’s groundbreaking endeavor to bridge the realms of language and visuals using deep learning methodologies. With roots embedded in the transformative GPT series, these models have the uncanny ability to spawn digital images from textual cues or prompts.

We will get more in-depth regarding DALL-E’s inner workings momentarily. First, though, let’s explore how this technology became to be what it is today. Here is a brief overview of its inception and evolution:

  • January 2021: OpenAI launched the maiden version, DALL-E, which was an adaptation of GPT-3 crafted to birth images.
  • April 2022: DALL-E 2 was introduced, boasting superior realism in image production and exhibiting a penchant for melding concepts, attributes, and styles with finesse.
  • September 2023: OpenAI unveiled DALL-E 3, the current model heralded for its unparalleled sophistication in discerning nuances and intricate details in prompts.

What Is DALL-E?

At its core, DALL-E is akin to GPT-3, both being transformer language models. However, while GPT-3 processes and produces textual data, DALL-E takes it a step further by interpreting and generating visual content from textual prompts. Yes, they’re one and the same, yet they’re immeasurably different, too. So, how does DALL-E work?

The artificial intelligence learns from a huge collection of pictures paired with descriptions. This lets it create objects and creatures that feel surprisingly human. It blends wild ideas in ways that seem totally real, has fun with words, and smartly changes up photos we’re familiar with.

DALL-E amalgamates text and image as a unified data stream of up to 1,280 tokens at once. For clarity, a token can be any symbol from a defined vocabulary. So here, DALL-E’s vocabulary accommodates both textual and visual concepts. 

The training enables DALL-E to create an image from scratch or modify specific parts of an existing image, whether it’s a photo-realistic image or a fashion design sketch, in line with the given text prompt.

Color palette leading to artwork

What can DALL-E do: Interesting use cases and integrations

DALL-E’s primary strength lies in its ability to fabricate plausible images from words. But perhaps what makes DALL-E so formidable is its ability to understand the intricate structures of language. 

Indeed, it is proficient in varying attributes of objects and can manipulate the frequency of their appearance based on the provided descriptions. One of the most incredible things it can do is blend totally different ideas together, turning what you imagine with words into something you can see.

However, with DALL-E 3 now an integral part of ChatGPT (Pro plans only), plenty of interesting possibilities arise, mainly in terms of automated workflows. For instance, you can view documents in a React app, establish your tasks with them, upload them to ChatGPT’s Advanced Data Analysis tab, and then use DALL-E 3 to generate images. 

This can be great for blog posts, data visualization (the Wolfram plugin is still good for that), mockups for manual designs, and so much more. 

The research surrounding DALL-E

The success and prowess of DALL-E 3 are not merely fortuitous. It’s born from tireless exploration and innovation, both inside OpenAI’s walls and beyond. Compared to its predecessor, DALL-E 3 produces images of superior quality, attention to detail, and adherence to user-supplied descriptions.

This enhancement was realized by employing a state-of-the-art image captioner to generate enhanced textual descriptions, which, in turn, served as the training data for DALL-E 3.

Challenges and limitations

As the adage goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Generative models like DALL-E are indeed powerful, opening doors to all kinds of possibilities. However, OpenAI is not blind to the challenges and potential pitfalls. 

Censorship

They’ve initiated robust safety mechanisms to tackle the risk of creating harmful imagery, be it violent, inappropriate, or brimming with hate. 

This approach is dual-faceted: not only are user prompts analyzed, but the ensuing imagery is as well, ensuring that inappropriate content never reaches the user. 

The contribution of early users and domain experts in refining this system can’t be understated. Their feedback has been pivotal in strengthening the safety measures in place.

Yes, although both Bing Image Creator and DALL-E have tightened their censorship for ethical reasons in recent weeks, it’s not the end of the world just because you can’t generate Jean-Luc Picard driving a Dodge Challenger.

Remember, all objects or scenes that aren’t copyrighted or vulgar can be created, which means the use cases are pretty much endless. You can generate batches of images for a personal grocery shopper app, spice up your blogs, or even visualize data. However, the limitations are still there, and it’s pointless to expect images that don’t require at least a little bit of editing.

We’re not quite there yet

Although the third iteration of this visually oriented AI certainly blew people’s minds, it’s not the one-size-fits-all solution everyone hoped for. 

“We tried everything from using DALL-E for promotional images to asking it to edit our existing visual content, now that ChatGPT Vision is integrated with the platform,” says Andrew Cuthbert, Head of Organic Marketing at unicorn software startup Weave. “It’s great for brainstorming, but we’re still far, far away from publishable images in a few seconds.” 

So, it would be best to treat DALL-E as the next step towards the ideal generative AI for visuals. We still can’t rely on it fully, as it has issues with lettering, racial bias, and much more. 

While technological advancements are at the forefront, OpenAI places immense value on the insights drawn from its vast user community. Their experiences, challenges, and feedback steer the course for refining and reshaping the models. 

The challenge of authenticity

In a time when AI-crafted visuals are everywhere, it’s vital to distinguish between what’s real and what’s AI-made. OpenAI is addressing this with the development of a provenance classifier. Basically, this tool can tell whether an image has DALL-E 3’s “fingerprints” on it.

AI paints Hedgehog portrait

Implications for designers

The emergence of DALL-E and its successors has been nothing short of revolutionary for the design realm. Just as the chisel was to a sculptor or the brush to a painter in bygone eras, this AI-driven tool is redefining the canvas of contemporary designers.

But like any tool, it carries with it both promises and challenges. Let’s explore what this means for designers today.

Enhanced productivity and efficiency

Designers are always on the lookout for ways to refine and expedite their processes. With DALL-E, rapid prototyping is now a reality. Imagine being in a brainstorming session and bringing a conceptual idea to visual life in mere moments. 

The iterative design process, often characterized by multiple rounds of feedback and tweaks, can now be streamlined. With AI assistance, designers can adjust and experiment with designs at an unprecedented pace.

Economic and personalized impacts

When it comes to money matters, AI can make design more accessible to everyone by making it cheaper. But there’s a real worry that it might take away jobs, especially ones that have a lot of repeat tasks.

In the online world, it’s all about making things personal. With AI crafting designs, we might get images that are just our style, making our time online even more enjoyable.

Designing for a sustainable future

Think about the green impact. AI can be utilized to craft designs with the least environmental footprint, from the things we use to where we live.

Design is always changing, and DALL-E is just the newest player in this story. For designers, the real task is using these tools wisely. We must innovate while still keeping true to what’s right, real, and the age-old basics of good design.

What’s next for visual AI?

For starters, DALL-E 3 has been engineered to decline requests mimicking the style of living artists, emphasizing respect for originality. Additionally, creators have the prerogative to exclude their images from being used in the training of subsequent image-generation models. 

With tools like DALL-E coming into the picture, we’re on the edge of a big change in graphic design and how websites look. Using AI in visuals means we might soon live in a world where what we imagine with words can instantly turn into images, opening up endless creative possibilities.

For more about generative AI, check out the breakdown from our own Undercover Geek. 


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State of the Word 2023: Key Highlights and Innovations https://seotomarketing.com/state-of-the-word-2023-key-highlights-and-innovations/ https://seotomarketing.com/state-of-the-word-2023-key-highlights-and-innovations/#respond Wed, 20 Dec 2023 04:17:06 +0000 https://seotomarketing.com/state-of-the-word-2023-key-highlights-and-innovations/ Wednesday December 20, 2023 On December 11, WordPress enthusiasts from around the globe gathered in Madrid, Spain, for one of the most important events of the year – the State of the Word keynote.  It was delivered by one and only Matt Mullenweg, the esteemed co-founder of WordPress. He shared the significant WordPress achievements in […]

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State of the Word 2023: Key Highlights and Innovations

On December 11, WordPress enthusiasts from around the globe gathered in Madrid, Spain, for one of the most important events of the year – the State of the Word keynote. 

It was delivered by one and only Matt Mullenweg, the esteemed co-founder of WordPress. He shared the significant WordPress achievements in 2023 and offered a sneak peek into the platform’s future.

In this article, we’ll delve into the event’s highlights and WordPress achievements over the past year. Then, we’ll try to unveil the roadmap for its evolution.

Celebrating Two Decades of WordPress

In 2023, WordPress has turned 20. That’s a huge milestone for a platform that started as a simple tool for blogging and journaling. It has evolved into a comprehensive platform capable of creating websites of any kind and serving as a robust application framework. 

Now, WordPress powers over a third of all websites, a testament to its widespread impact and adaptability.

The anniversary was celebrated globally. In the keynote, Matt shared a captivating collection of photos from these international celebrations, highlighting the global reach and diverse community that WordPress has nurtured over two decades. 

WordCamps and Meetups in 2023

2023 has been a remarkable year for the WordPress community – in-person gatherings have bloomed. There were 70 WordCamps hosted across 33 countries in 2023 – a significant leap from the 26 WordCamps of 2022.

Finally, the first flagship WordCamp in Asia was held. Looking ahead, WordCamp Asia is set to be a major event in 2024, scheduled for March 7 in Taipei, Taiwan.

Matt was very grateful to over two thousand WordCamp and Meetup organizers for making these community gatherings so vibrant and memorable. 

To make these community-driven events even better, Matt encouraged global WordPress enthusiasts to participate in the 2023 Meetup Survey. Your insights and feedback can shape the future of WordPress Meetups.

WordPress.org: New Look and New Pages

Recently, we have seen a significant redesign of the WordPress.org website, enhancing its functionality and aesthetic appeal. Besides the new look, a few new pages were added:

  • WordPress Events – a central hub for upcoming WordPress events worldwide. Now, users can locate and join community events near them more easily and quickly.
  • WordPress Showcase – an exhibition of notable WordPress websites. These include Taylor Swift’s website, which, according to Matt, manages 100,000 requests per second at peak times. There’s also the White House website, showcasing WordPress security and reliability.
  • WordPress Remembers – a dedicated space to honor community members who have passed away.

Building on last year’s State of the Word, Matt Mullenweg revisited the topic of Openverse – a search engine dedicated to exploring the web for media under Creative Commons licenses. 

Openverse received the Open Education Award for Excellence in Open Infrastructure, a testament to its impact and innovation in an open-source technology field. Matt congratulated the Openverse team for this outstanding achievement.

WordPress continues to expand its collection of openly available content. The WordPress Photo Directory, a resource for free stock photos, has expanded significantly to help users create more engaging posts.

WordPress Playground

Matt Mullenweg also discussed the WordPress Playground. This innovative, cutting-edge, browser-based sandbox operates on WebAssembly, seamlessly integrating PHP and database functionality. It has emerged as an invaluable tool for developers, providing a swift and efficient environment for testing and experimentation.

In just the past six months, WordPress Playground has seen remarkable usage, with nearly 57,000 individuals leveraging its capabilities. To illustrate its potential, Matt showcased a compelling demo of Playground, expertly crafted by Adam Zelinski, which highlighted the platform’s versatility and ease of use.

Twenty Twenty-Four: A New Era in WordPress Themes

The year 2023 marked the finalization of Gutenberg Phase 2, which was centered around customization.

The release of Twenty Twenty-Four, the newest default theme, represents a significant shift from traditional WordPress themes, moving from the usual focus on blogging to a broader range of purposes.

Twenty Twenty-Four, introduced with the WordPress 6.4 update, boasts 35 unique block patterns thoughtfully designed to cater to artists, entrepreneurs, and writers alike. Matt Mullenweg highlighted the theme’s early success, sharing positive reviews that hailed Twenty Twenty-Four as a game-changer and potentially the best default theme WordPress has ever offered.

Progress and Future of the Gutenberg Project

Matt Mullenweg revisited the ambitious roadmap of the Gutenberg Project, underlining its four pivotal phases:

  1. Editing
  2. Customization
  3. Collaboration
  4. Multilingual

The year 2023 marked a significant milestone with the completion of Phase 2, focused on customization. Moving forward, 2024 is set to embark on Phase 3.

Enhancing Writing and Design With Gutenberg

Matias emphasized that Gutenberg is ambitiously designed to excel in two key areas – as a writing environment and as a design tool. While the writing component was primarily addressed in Phase 1, the project continuously evolves to simplify and enhance the user experience.

Recent updates have introduced user-friendly features like the footnote block and a distraction-free mode, each aimed at refining the writing process. These additions showcase Gutenberg’s commitment to providing a seamless and intuitive environment for content creation.

Pioneering Real-Time Collaboration With Gutenberg

A major focus in Gutenberg’s development is enhancing online collaboration capabilities. While a definitive timeline for its full implementation is still in the works, Matias presented a prototype during the keynote. With this feature, multiple users can work in the same editor simultaneously, with changes visible to all collaborators instantly.

For those eager to explore this functionality, it’s available via the Gutenberg plugin. By enabling the Live Collaboration experimental feature, users can test real-time collaboration. However, as the feature is still in its development stage, user input is invaluable for its ongoing refinement.

Patterns Evolvement

Reflecting on the progress in 2023, Matias highlighted the evolving role of patterns in the Site Editor, particularly in response to user feedback. 

A common sentiment was, “Blocks are great, but sometimes they are a bit too granular.” To address this, patterns have been introduced as larger design units, offering an ideal solution for freelancers, agencies, and enterprise customers who seek more substantial design elements.

In 2024, patterns will remain a central focus in Phase 3 of Gutenberg’s development. A noteworthy upcoming feature is the Zoom Out mode, which will allow users to view and edit their site’s structure at a higher level, enhancing their ability to manage the block hierarchy.

Matias also outlined three key advancements planned for patterns and their benefits to the users:

  • Semantic category swapping – interchange patterns within specific categories, like hero sections. This allows dynamic customization of website components.
  • Integration of theme.json with patterns – apply style variations to individual patterns. It’s a boon for developers and agencies, offering end-users customization options within predetermined boundaries.
  • Hybrid pattern customization – modify the text or content of a pattern across multiple pages, while still maintaining the ability to update the pattern’s global design. This approach offers enhanced flexibility in content management and ensures design consistency.

Performance Improvements

A key area of Gutenberg enhancement is its performance, mainly the editor experience for content creators and the user experience for website visitors.

Matias presented a comprehensive dashboard highlighting the efficiency of basic editor operations and their progressive improvement over time. A notable achievement he shared is the recent doubling of the editor’s speed, with an ambitious target to triple the typing speed in the upcoming WordPress 6.5 update.

On the front end, significant strides are being made with the development of the Interactivity API. This innovation aims to render transitions on block-based themes and websites immediately, elevating the user experience. Matias showcased a live demonstration of this feature’s potential.

If you want to explore it further, visit WP Movies to experience these improvements firsthand.

Innovating the WordPress Admin Design

Matias unveiled the new admin design for WordPress. It draws inspiration from the Site Editor, particularly its list view. This approach will be applied to the WordPress admin interface, allowing for a more cohesive and intuitive display of elements like pages, posts, and media, all in a list format similar to the Site Editor’s design.

The new admin area will also be highly extensible. It’s crafted to adapt seamlessly to various specific needs, making it a versatile tool for all types of WordPress users.

Be sure to leave your feedback on the new admin design. Whether through the GitHub repository or social media channels, your insights and suggestions can help improve the WordPress admin interface.

Embracing AI in 2023 and Beyond

Matt Mullenweg highlighted 2023 as a year of AI, marked by the advancements in generative AI technologies like GPT-4, Gemini, and MidJourney. WordPress is actively embracing this AI technology through experiments with the Playground.

The experiment adds the ability to use natural language to interact with Playground blueprints. Matt showcased a compelling demo where a simple prompt led Playground to seamlessly configure an entire eCommerce site, complete with plugins and content. 

Matt emphasized that generative AI can make complex tasks accessible to all, regardless of their technical expertise. He even envisioned a future where AI not only performs tasks but also educates users, enhancing their knowledge and skills.

In light of these developments, Matt’s advice was clear – delve deep into understanding AI and leverage its potential to educate and innovate.

WordPress in 2024

Looking ahead to 2024, WordPress has started an ambitious initiative alongside Gutenberg’s Phase 3 – Data Liberation. This project aims to revolutionize how data is migrated within the WordPress ecosystem and beyond, addressing the complexities of transferring data across various platforms and WordPress sites.

The essence of Data Liberation is the development of seamless migration tools designed to minimize friction and remove the digital barriers imposed by some of the more restrictive CMS platforms. An example of such barriers is the limitation some platforms apply to exporting user data.

At the core of this initiative lies the development of a one-click migration tool with a keen focus on optimizing WordPress’s export format. Additionally, the project seeks to enhance the reliability of copy-and-paste actions, a critical aspect of data migration.

WordPress.org plans to host a variety of community plugins, tools, and workflows to facilitate easy migration, underpinning this initiative with a strong community effort. This will be complemented by dedicated Slack channels and GitHub repositories for each migration project, fostering community involvement and ensuring swift project reviews.

Concluding his vision for 2024, Matt Mullenweg announced the location for WordCamp US 2024 – Portland, Oregon. In a new initiative, WordCamp US will be held in the same city for two consecutive years, making Portland the host for both 2024 and 2025 editions.

We will be looking forward to seeing you there!

Watch State of the Word 2023 Replay

Watch this YouTube video if you want to listen to the full State of the Word 2023 keynote and see all the demos yourself.

Author

Leo is a Content Specialist and WordPress contributor. Armed with his experience as a WordPress Release Co-Lead and Documentation Team Representative, he loves sharing his knowledge to help people build successful websites. Follow him on LinkedIn.


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Why FastVPN is streaming ahead in 2024 https://seotomarketing.com/why-fastvpn-is-streaming-ahead-in-2024/ https://seotomarketing.com/why-fastvpn-is-streaming-ahead-in-2024/#respond Mon, 18 Dec 2023 16:30:00 +0000 https://seotomarketing.com/why-fastvpn-is-streaming-ahead-in-2024/ As censorship tightens and cyber threats escalate, FastVPN has developed new features to protect your privacy and expand digital access in 2024.  While autocratic governments have imposed more online barriers, we remain committed to protecting your Internet freedom. This year we introduced a Chrome extension for streaming, embraced the WireGuard protocol, and implemented split tunneling […]

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As censorship tightens and cyber threats escalate, FastVPN has developed new features to protect your privacy and expand digital access in 2024. 

While autocratic governments have imposed more online barriers, we remain committed to protecting your Internet freedom.

This year we introduced a Chrome extension for streaming, embraced the WireGuard protocol, and implemented split tunneling — all in response to your feedback and a changing online world.

From bypassing geo-blocks to safer online banking, our tech can help you browse and stream securely on any device. Read on as we detail the upgrades pushing FastVPN to new heights.

Securing your streams with a VPN

Tired of geo-restricted messages stopping you from watching Netflix shows? That’s where FastVPN’s Chrome extension comes into play, blowing past virtual walls to unlock a world of entertainment.

With our new Chrome extension, you can access better movies, TV series, and live sports with buffer-free immersion, thanks to its performance-enhancing optimizations. 

Graphic demonstrating speed and security

Speed meets security with Wireguard

FastVPN’s commitment to excellence shines with its Wireguard protocol, which marries speed with security, offering you a seamless online experience. WireGuard utilizes advanced cryptography and network coding to establish ultra-secure links instantly. 

So whether you’re uploading a work presentation or playing multiplayer games, frustration will become a thing of the past. Documents transfer immediately, downloads blaze ahead, and your ping stays impressively low even on crowded networks.

FastVPN security protocols allow you to enjoy digital privacy without performance penalties or tradeoffs. 

Split tunneling: The best of both worlds

Juggling multiple activities online requires flexible tools. That’s why FastVPN provides split tunneling to help you multitask more easily.

Imagine managing online banking while streaming a Taylor Swift concert in Argentina. Split tunneling makes this possible by providing a secure VPN connection for sensitive tasks while staying connected to local services. 

This game-changing feature lets you cherry-pick which apps enter your encrypted network while accessing your local standard connection. For example, secure banking and shopping transactions go through FastVPN while software updates flow unimpeded.

You can also eliminate the tradeoff headaches of working and gaming simultaneously across global and local spheres.

Download and upload with security

Torrenting with peace of mind

Torrenting carries uncertainty, given the decentralized and unregulated nature of peer-to-peer sharing. Copyright clashes are common, while fears loom around invasive tracking.

Choosing the right VPN is crucial for stress and hassle-free torrenting. FastVPN provides watertight protection to download torrents safely across all our high-speed servers.

Our network utilizes enterprise-grade AES 256-bit encryption implemented using robust OpenVPN, WireGuard, and other protocols. This translates to an impenetrable shield guarding your traffic end-to-end so ISPs or outsiders can never decipher what files you share or download.

Covering all bases 

FastVPN routes data transfers through our global network of optimized servers and can handle high loads. No more sluggish P2P exchanges – download movies, music, games, and more at fast-lane speeds.

We also support key features like Kill Switch and DNS leak prevention. And you can rest easy knowing FastVPN upholds a strict “no-logs” policy for all usage. No timestamps, traffic data, or monitoring means your activity stays invisible.

Whether exchanging sensitive documents or binge-watching the latest shows, you can turn to FastVPN for a low-cost VPN plan. Our trusted technology and user-friendly policies empower carefree file sharing from the get-go.

Protected wi-fi

Unlimited connections, unlimited possibilities

With support for unlimited devices, FastVPN understands that your digital life isn’t confined to one screen, from browsing on public Wi-Fi to protecting your smartphone during online shopping.

Downloading a VPN can help you enjoy security on multiple devices, ensuring that your online activities remain under one shield no matter where you log in. 

Protecting your Internet freedom 

FastVPN will continue evolving as the digital landscape shifts, with our sights set on expanding servers, boosting speeds, and deploying next-generation encryption. 

Today’s first step is downloading FastVPN and securing a safer path to a free and open Internet in a troubling world. Together, we will continue championing your Internet freedom now and long into the future.


FastVPN is a budget-friendly app that can help protect your Internet freedom, offering plans for less than $1/mo.


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Charting a Path for Diversity https://seotomarketing.com/charting-a-path-for-diversity/ https://seotomarketing.com/charting-a-path-for-diversity/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2023 10:47:28 +0000 https://seotomarketing.com/charting-a-path-for-diversity/ Released in early November 2023, WordPress 6.4 marks the final major release of the year. It’s a noteworthy one at that – it’s an underrepresented gender-led release. Codenamed “Shirley”, this version pays homage to the legendary American jazz artist Shirley Horn, known for her unique voice and intuitive piano-playing style. This spirit of versatility echoes […]

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WordPress 6.4 Release Leads: Charting a Path for Diversity and Innovation

Released in early November 2023, WordPress 6.4 marks the final major release of the year. It’s a noteworthy one at that – it’s an underrepresented gender-led release.

Codenamed “Shirley”, this version pays homage to the legendary American jazz artist Shirley Horn, known for her unique voice and intuitive piano-playing style.

This spirit of versatility echoes in WordPress 6.4’s new default theme, Twenty Twenty-Four. On top of that, this version includes over 100 performance improvements to bring a more dynamic and intuitive content creation experience.

For this story, we chatted with Anne McCarthy from the Core Triage team and Maggie Cabrera from the Default Theme team. Our conversation sheds light on WordPress 6.4’s release process and underscores the importance of diversity, equality, inclusivity, and belonging (DEIB) in the tech world.

We have previously reported behind-the-scenes stories on WordPress releases, including WordPress 6.3. This time, let’s delve deeper into WordPress 6.4!

How It Started

Leading a part of the 6.4 release represents a fresh and exciting chapter in Maggie Cabrera’s WordPress journey.

“I’ve contributed code to some WordPress releases, but I’ve never led any part of them,” Maggie says. Her experience collaborating with people who worked on the default theme further fueled her aspiration to lead the task.

“I always like to work on things that are the closest as possible to the user,” she explains. Maggie’s passion for block themes and user-centric solutions encouraged her to apply for WordPress 6.4’s open call for volunteers.

On the other hand, Anne McCarthy has been an integral part of the WordPress release squads from versions 5.9 through 6.4, primarily as a Core Triage lead.

Anne had been a Test lead and a release coordinator before, where she gained valuable insights into the intricate flow of information and the bug resolution process during a release cycle.

Her experience was further enriched by her work with the Full Site Editing (FSE) Outreach Program. In that program, her tasks included identifying and flagging issues.

After the release of WordPress 6.0 – where Anne was the release coordinator – her knack for problem-solving led her to return to the triage role.

“I was keen to return to that scale of work and type of responsibilities. It closely aligns with my general work the most,” Anne says. Her homecoming to the Core Triage lead role underscores her detail-oriented approach to improving WordPress.

Working on a WordPress Release

Anne and Maggie contributed to different aspects of the release. Anne focused on triaging the core software while Maggie worked on the default theme. With their expertise, Anne and Maggie shaped the release’s development process and set a new benchmark for future versions.

Anne McCarthy and Maggie Cabrera with a fellow WordPress contributor at a WordCamp

When asked to explain her working process in this release, Anne says that she worked on a broad scope of tasks due to her role in the FSE Outreach Program and her ad hoc effort to do the source of truth for the releases.

“I found myself spread across a wide range of tasks. To sum it up, get the right information to those who need it. This included everything from bug reports to tiny feature details,” she explains.

A significant part of her work involved reviewing content and identifying which documentation needed to be updated. For the 6.4 release, Anne prioritized releasing the source of truth two weeks earlier – a strategic move to empower the wider release squad.

Her focus also extended to initiating release assets, such as a tracking issue for the 6.4 highlight grid. Anne also dedicated her time to testing and triaging, ensuring the release’s smooth progression.

Meanwhile, Maggie’s role centered on managing the default theme’s GitHub repository, organizing issues, reviewing and creating pull requests, and coding parts of the theme.

When it came to decision-making, she shared her responsibilities with fellow Default Theme team co-lead Jessica Lyschik. Together, they navigated choices that shaped the theme’s direction.

To accommodate different time zones, they set up weekly meetings on a Slack channel. These meetings updated the community on the theme’s development, discussed challenges, aligned on what needs to be done, and encouraged contributors’ involvement in crucial discussions. Then, the team would work on the action items by responding to each other’s pull requests and issues asynchronously.

While the previous default themes were more suitable for text-oriented websites like blogs, Twenty Twenty-Four was designed to be multipurpose. It’s packed with 35 patterns that can accommodate business and image-heavy websites like photography sites.

a demo page of Twenty Twenty Four using portfolio site homepage pattern

“When Twenty Twenty-Four designer Beatriz Fialho, Jessica, and I had our first call, we discussed our vision for the theme. Jessica said it would be nice to have a more business-oriented yet flexible theme. Meanwhile, Bea had this idea for a theme that works for multiple purposes,” Maggie reminisces. “I think this is going to be a very nice thing for theme creators who want a Swiss knife of a theme with multiple options. So, everyone can find a way to make the theme work for them.”

Clearly, this focus on flexibility and ready-made elements reflects an evolution in the design of block themes.

The Challenge

The development of WordPress 6.4 posed some challenges for Anne and Maggie. Their decision-making and collaboration skills were tested under tight deadlines. “Some hard decisions had to be made, including removing the Font Library from this release,” Anne says.

Font Library was set to be WordPress’s new font management feature, which enables users to manage fonts across the site. This way, fonts can be as easily managed as visual assets in the Media Library.

The feature went past 6.4’s Beta 1, but the release squad decided that it still needs more feedback and testing. Font Library is now postponed to WordPress 6.5, the next major release.

“Delaying a feature release is always hard, but it’s important to ensure its stability so users can have the best possible experience,” Anne explains.

For Maggie, the primary challenge was coordinating with many people within a short timeframe. She notes that 6.4 is one of the releases with the shortest development period – approximately less than two months.

The development started in late August during WordCamp US 2023. With a public release date in early November 2023, most of the work needed to be done before that. That way, there was time for everyone to test, fix, and improve the release.

“Sometimes making decisions is not easy, especially when there’s no clear solution,” Maggie says. “But at the same time, the biggest challenge can also be your best tool. When you don’t really know which way to go, there will be many people discussing which way is better and why.”

The team’s diverse perspectives and expertise transformed decision-making into a rich, collaborative process. Maggie emphasized that she was never alone in such a dynamic environment, and the team’s collective wisdom guided her toward the best solutions.

A notable concern during this release was performance, particularly due to Twenty Twenty-Four’s many complex patterns. Amazingly, the development team turned this challenge into an opportunity to enhance the performance of all block themes with numerous patterns.

Maggie feels very proud of this collaborative effort that brought a significant advancement for WordPress themes overall.

The Fun Stuff

The process of developing WordPress 6.4 was not just about overcoming challenges. It also brought joy and satisfaction to Anne and Maggie.

For Anne, the most exhilarating part of working on a release was the opportunity to collaborate with other underrepresented genders in technology. “Working in technology for 12 years, it’s an extremely rare experience and one that I hope becomes less so,” she says.

Maggie finds it delightful that so many people will use and benefit from the new default theme. It’s even more meaningful as default themes become the culmination point of the year’s advancements, as it usually coincides with the final major WordPress release.

Working with a vast community of contributors was also a profoundly rewarding experience for Maggie. Announcing the default theme at WordCamp US’ Contributor Day was a highlight. Many people came together to take part in the theme’s development. Maggie found the collaborative spirit productive, humbling, and inspiring – a reflection of WordPress’ vibrant and dedicated community.

In terms of features, Anne is particularly thrilled about the new default theme, Twenty Twenty-Four. She believes it can amplify users’ creativity across WordPress sites.

“There are various pieces in this release that are directly related to feedback from the FSE Outreach Program, which always excites me. I’m most excited about Patterns and how we can apply layouts and alignments to synced patterns in the editor. This resolves a longstanding issue that started with reusable blocks,” Anne says.

Twenty Twenty Four theme's full page pattern designs

On the other hand, Maggie’s favorite improvement in WordPress 6.4 is the template-swapping feature.

“Before 6.4, you had to remove a built-in template from a theme or empty its content to paste a new pattern into it. Now, users can easily switch between templates and patterns by default,” Maggie explains. “It’s a very simple change, but it offers so much more flexibility for theme developers.”

Empowering Inclusivity

WordPress 6.4 is the second WordPress release led by folks of underrepresented gender groups, which include – but are not limited to – women and non-binary people. This represents the platform’s effort to promote diversity, equality, inclusivity, and belonging within the WordPress community and the wider tech world.

“I think it’s a powerful way to give real-world experience and center folks who might otherwise have a hard time getting the same opportunities,” Anne says.

She believes this initiative contributes positively to the individuals involved and brings up new feedback so that contributors can benefit from future improvements. She also added that an underrepresented gender-led release should help improve transparency, collaboration, and clarity for everyone involved.

However, Anne also expresses concern about the long-term inclusion of diverse individuals. “It’s one thing to bring diverse folks to a project and another to keep them. We need to work on the latter,” she says.

Maggie agrees with advocating for more involvement of underrepresented genders in leadership roles, aiming for a future where it becomes the norm. She envisions a WordPress community where diverse leadership melts into the fabric of the release process.

To ensure that no one is left behind, Anne suggested the term “underrepresented gender-led release” instead of “all women-led release”. This is because the latter excludes transgender and non-binary people who are also actively involved in this initiative.

Using the language of “women and non-binary people” is also problematic. It perpetuates the misconception that all non-binary people identify with aspects of femininity, while there are trans men who equally need support.

“I think this term strikes a balance between comprehensive and concise. While we could go with something more uplifting, like “trailblazer-led release”, I find using more specific terms helps folks know that it’s for them,” Anne explains.

Onwards and Upwards

Addressing potential contributors, Anne encourages everyone interested in triage to start their journey now.

She highlights a tutorial she created on Learn WordPress, which guides newcomers through triaging on the Gutenberg repo. This resource is a practical starting point for those who want to understand triage and contribute meaningfully to the project. “It will help you get a feel for the experience, the hard calls, and the breadth of issues impacting the project,” Anne says.

Maggie offers insights for those aspiring to lead a Default Theme team. She emphasizes that design expertise is not a requirement. The primary responsibilities are management, support, and organization. The role actually resembles a project manager, where coordination and communication are key.

“A designer will do the design. A Default Theme lead will have a say on how the theme is built and some of its functionality, but you’re never going to work alone. You’re leading the work. What’s essential is GitHub proficiency,” she explains.

Maggie emphasizes the collaborative nature of the role. Team members are always surrounded by experts and mentors, facilitating contributions and making the process less daunting.

Through WordPress 6.4, Anne and Maggie did not only contribute to a technologically advanced release. They also helped foster a culture of inclusivity and collaboration, paving the way for future innovations in the WordPress ecosystem.

Author

Maya is a Content Writer and WordPress Contributor. With years of journalistic experience under her belt, her main goals are to help people understand complex processes in a simpler way, and tell the stories of people who thrive thanks to technology. When she’s not writing, you can find her watching sci-fi movies while eating ramen.
Follow her on LinkedIn.


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The evolution of WordPress: 2023 State of the Word https://seotomarketing.com/the-evolution-of-wordpress-2023-state-of-the-word/ https://seotomarketing.com/the-evolution-of-wordpress-2023-state-of-the-word/#respond Wed, 13 Dec 2023 16:30:00 +0000 https://seotomarketing.com/the-evolution-of-wordpress-2023-state-of-the-word/ On December 11th, 2023, the WordPress community tuned in as Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress, took the stage for the eagerly awaited ‘State of the Word’ keynote. This event isn’t just a mere address; it’s a celebration of the milestones achieved by the open-source giant and a tantalizing preview of the path ahead. Dive […]

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On December 11th, 2023, the WordPress community tuned in as Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress, took the stage for the eagerly awaited ‘State of the Word’ keynote. This event isn’t just a mere address; it’s a celebration of the milestones achieved by the open-source giant and a tantalizing preview of the path ahead. Dive into our detailed roundup of Mullenweg’s speech, where we unpack the pivotal moments and breakthroughs unveiled during this significant event.


For the first time, the State of the Word ventured beyond North America, choosing Madrid, Spain, as the host city. This decision reflects the vital role that Madrid plays in the WordPress project. The event was live-streamed on the WordPress YouTube channel, allowing WordPress enthusiasts and newcomers worldwide to participate.

The event kicked off with a warm, bilingual welcome from Rocío Valdivia, a respected WordPress Community Steward. Her greeting echoed the enthusiasm of Madrid’s Spanish-speaking WordPress community and its counterparts worldwide. Then Josepha Haden Chomphosy, the dynamic Executive Director of the WordPress Project, set the stage for Mullenweg’s much-anticipated keynote.

2023 retrospective

Kicking off his keynote, Matt Mullenweg delved into a reflective journey of WordPress’s triumphs in 2023. He shined a spotlight on the year’s most significant milestones, underscoring the collective efforts and breakthroughs of the community. A standout achievement that Mullenweg proudly emphasized was the remarkable surge in WordCamps. With a record-breaking 70 events spanning 33 countries, this figure more than doubled the count from the previous year, showcasing an expanding global footprint and vibrant engagement within the WordPress community.

The relaunch of WordPress Showcase

Mullenweg’s keynote highlighted the WordPress Showcase, emphasizing the platform’s versatility and power in creating professional and highly functional websites. This initiative aimed to provide a richer array of examples showcasing what WordPress is capable of. To illustrate the platform’s impressive performance capabilities, Mullenweg pointed to Time.com’s remarkable achievement: handling 100,000 requests per second when Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year. Furthermore, he showcased WordPress’s robust security features by citing Whitehouse.gov as a prominent example of a high-profile website powered by WordPress.

Openverse and the Open Education Award

Mullenweg brought attention to Openverse, a noteworthy initiative that earned acclaim by winning in the Open Infrastructure category at the Open Education Awards. This project, dedicated to bolstering open education, plays a pivotal role in expanding web access and enhancing affordability in the educational sphere. Such an accolade underscores WordPress’s dedication to advancing open education and its active support for initiatives that amplify educational access and opportunities.

Re-introducing Playground

In his keynote, Mullenweg reacquainted the audience with ‘Playground,’ an innovative tool designed to empower users, learners, extenders, and contributors by enabling the instant creation of a WordPress environment directly within a browser. Playground serves as an accessible and intuitive platform, ideal for executing straightforward design tasks or developing new WordPress plugins. To explore and utilize Playground, simply head over to developer.wp.org/playground, or to learn more, check out the video on WordPress.org. 

The new default theme

Mullenweg unveiled the 2024 WordPress theme, which incorporates over 35 built-in patterns and fully utilizes the capabilities of Gutenberg. This theme received praise from users, with some even calling it the best default WordPress theme of all time. The theme’s integration with Gutenberg showcases the power and potential of the block editor in creating visually stunning and dynamic websites.

In 2023, the WordPress community witnessed an impressive surge in growth, welcoming 1,339 new contributors to the project. This remarkable increase not only highlights the expanding reach and appeal of the WordPress ecosystem but also underscores its vibrant and ongoing support around the world. 

These new contributors, coming from diverse backgrounds and bringing fresh perspectives, have fueled the platform’s continuous evolution. Their dedication and passion are more than just numbers and represent a collective commitment to enhancing and refining WordPress. The community’s involvement is a cornerstone in WordPress’s journey, driving innovation and fostering an environment of collaborative growth.

Audience at the 2023 State of the Word

Looking forward to 2024

Mullenweg discussed the dynamic evolution of Gutenberg, WordPress’s block editor engine. He shared an update on Phase 3, which will focus on real-time collaboration. But the vision doesn’t stop there. Mullenweg teased the upcoming transition to Phase 4, an ambitious leap toward multilingual development. This move promises to break language barriers, offering unparalleled flexibility and functionality and taking bigger strides towards democratizing the web for all. 

Writing flow improvements and design enhancements

Matias Ventura, the lead architect of the Gutenberg project, took the stage to describe enhancements in writing flow and design. These improvements introduce features like footnotes and improved distraction-free writing modes. Additionally, the Core team is working on advanced design tools to build visually appealing content, such as a Summit mode that will allow developers to build sites that will give clients the ability to customize some of their sites without breaking the overall design.

Custom fields and more user-friendly UI

The WordPress team worked on a new user interface that allows for easy connection between blogs and custom fields. This improvement aims to bridge the gap between developer-friendly custom fields and user-friendly blogs, providing a seamless experience for both developers and users.

Performance update for the WordPress editor

One initiative we can all get behind is the optimization of the WordPress editor. Mullenweg announced that the editor will soon be twice as fast, with the team aiming to make it even faster in the upcoming WordPress 6.5 release. This performance update will benefit both site editors and visitors, ensuring a smooth and efficient editing and viewing experience.

Interactive experiences with the Interactivity API

Mullenweg introduced the Interactivity API, which allows WordPress users to create engaging and interactive experiences on their websites. This experimental API presents new opportunities for creating dynamic and interactive content. Users can explore the proposal, test the Interactivity API at wpmovies.dev, and provide valuable feedback, which will help the developers enhance the API even further.

Mullenweg discusses data liberation at the 2023 State of the Word

Mullenweg brought into focus his team’s dedication to data liberation and the development of advanced migration tools. This commitment is particularly important in an environment where many non-WordPress platforms do not provide export tools, making content migration to WordPress or other competitors a significant challenge. WordPress has always been a pioneer in user empowerment, facilitating seamless transitions from platforms like Wix. This approach not only fosters a more open web but also addresses a common hurdle for users desiring platform flexibility. Moreover, the roll-out of new, first-party community plugins on WordPress.org will further streamline data liberation, eliminating digital barriers and granting users greater control over their content.

The Q&A session

The question and answer session marked the most interactive segment of Matt Mullenweg’s State of the Word address, offering insights into key WordPress topics. During this session, attendees, both live and online, had the opportunity to pose thought-provoking questions, which Mullenweg addressed, shedding light on WordPress’s future, monetization strategies, and the role of AI in an open and inclusive community. Jose Ramón Padrón, head of Spanish-speaking communities and growth at Automattic, moderated the Q&A.

Monetization strategies for blogs

During the Q&A session, the topic of monetization for blogs was raised. Mullenweg acknowledged that the ad ecosystem is changing, with GDPR regulations posing challenges for independent publishers. He emphasized that building an audience and creating great content remain the best ways to monetize a blog. Strategies such as merchandise sales, sponsorships, and paid subscriptions can generate revenue and foster a strong relationship with readers.

Integrating ActivityPub

An attendee inquired about WordPress’s plans to deepen its integration with ActivityPub. Matt Mullenweg responded by highlighting the recent upgrade of ActivityPub to a community plugin and its official inclusion in the fediverse. He also hinted at future integration with platforms like Tumblr while emphasizing the need for increased demand to drive substantial integration efforts, especially considering the current modest 5,000 installations.

AI and WordPress

Mullenweg discussed the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the future of WordPress. While it was disappointing to learn that there are no immediate plans to incorporate AI into WordPress functionality, Mullenweg shared his excitement about the potential for generative AI to create conversational interfaces with WordPress and encouraged everyone to continue learning about AI and AI tools. Mullenweg emphasized the importance of finding effective ways to communicate with AI tools for maximum benefit.

What is truly in store for 2024?

The State of the Word 2023 was a thrilling window into the dynamic world of WordPress. Mullenweg’s keynote celebrated the past year’s triumphs and unveiled groundbreaking developments on the horizon. From the transformative enhancements in Gutenberg to the pioneering strides in data liberation and AI integration, WordPress is not just evolving — it’s revolutionizing how we interact with the digital world. Looking forward, it seems clear that WordPress will continue to lead the charge in the open-source arena, consistently driving innovation and empowering a diverse, global community. 

Keep your finger on the pulse of this ever-evolving platform by staying connected with Namecheap and EasyWP, your go-to sources for all things WordPress. The journey ahead promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.


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