Progress Planner was created with enthusiasm and a strong drive to improve WordPress. No matter what’s happening in the WordPress ecosystem, our team remains passionate about WordPress. At the same time, we have strong opinions—whether it’s about WordPress core, plugins, community, governance, or marketing.
In the new blog series: Progress for WordPress, Marieke, Joost and Taco, will take turns sharing their perspectives on the latest WordPress news and trends.
Contributor days at WordCamps are full of good intentions but lack structure. Taco proposes a new model where people apply to take part and teams prepare clear goals for the day. With this approach, teams work with real purpose, and contributors make progress that actually lasts.
Tech trends are expected to catch on fast, but reality usually has other plans. Marieke shows why habits and human error make innovation far messier than trend watchers claim. She also shares how the same thing plays out inside WordPress.
WordPress still relies on outdated central systems. FAIR and modern web standards point to a future where WordPress becomes resilient and innovative again.
Gen Z no longer “Googles.” They search on TikTok, YouTube, and ChatGPT. Their habits are reshaping how people find information. Learn what this shift means and how your content can show up wherever people ask their next question.
Sponsors cover most of the costs for WordCamps, but that’s not the whole story. Organizers, volunteers, and speakers invest countless unpaid hours to make these events happen. Taco explores who’s really paying for your WordCamp ticket and why it matters.
WordCamp tickets have always been affordable, but that low pricing may no longer be sustainable. In this post, Taco explores how sponsorships shape event budgets, compares 2025 conference prices, and asks what a fair ticket price should be.
In a time when democracy feels shaky, Marieke sees the WordPress community as a counter-example. As a community, we collectively steward something that matters. FAIR fits in this pattern. She explores why FAIR matters now and how it can keep our ecosystem resilient.
WordPress has long expected developers to handle issues that go beyond their role. Joost argues this approach leaves the project weak in positioning and product direction. To stay relevant, WordPress needs dedicated product and marketing teams who can create real success stories.
When we compress all flagship events into just a few months, we put pressure on the very people who make these events special. This is happening in 2026, let’s see if we can do better in 2027!
WordPress often focuses on attracting new users, but keeping current ones is just as vital. To help WordPress thrive, Marieke argues we need to spotlight the brand and build stronger relationships. Read her take on how WordPress can improve retention and engagement.
Taco argues that the feedback culture at WordCamps is falling behind. Speakers need constructive feedback to improve. Let’s not just celebrate the courage it takes to get on stage, but also support and recognize their growth as public speakers.
Sam reflects on WordCamp EU 2025, from a powerful keynote to meaningful moments at the Progress Planner booth. The talks and conversations were a strong reminder of how important the WordPress community is and why showing up continues to matter.
