WordPress Leaders Tackle Growth Challenges
A recent webinar featuring key figures from Automattic and Elementor, along with developers and Joost de Valk, addressed the concerning stagnation of WordPress’s market share. The discussion explored the underlying causes and potential solutions for this trend.
Key Takeaways
Stagnation is a fact: While WordPress remains a dominant platform, its growth has slowed significantly.
Opportunities and challenges: The webinar identified both areas where WordPress is thriving, such as e-commerce with WooCommerce, and areas where it could improve, like marketing and integration with modern technologies.
Community involvement: The participants emphasized the importance of the WordPress community in addressing these challenges and driving future growth.
Webinar Highlights
The webinar featured a panel of experts, including:
- Miriam Schwab, Head of WP Relations at Elementor
- Rich Tabor, Product Manager at Automattic
- Joost de Valk, founder of Yoast SEO
- Noel Tock, Owner and Chief Growth Officer at HumanMade
The discussion was moderated by Matt Cromwell and Amber Hinds, members of the WordPress developer community.
The Problem
The webinar acknowledged that WordPress’s market share, the percentage of websites online that use WordPress, is no longer growing at the same rate as its competitors. This stagnation can have negative consequences for the entire WordPress ecosystem, including reduced opportunities for businesses and developers.
Possible Reasons for Stagnation
Lack of innovation: Some participants suggested that WordPress may be perceived as lacking innovation compared to newer platforms.
Limited marketing: Others noted that WordPress could benefit from more proactive marketing efforts to attract new users.
Competition from other platforms: The growing popularity of other content management systems (CMS) like Webflow, Shopify, and Wix is also a factor.
Looking Ahead
The webinar concluded with a call for the WordPress community to work together to address these challenges. WordPress can continue to be a leading platform for website development and management by focusing on innovation, marketing, and community engagement.