What a year it’s been for Progress Planner! The idea for this plugin started as a casual conversation between Joost and me in 2023. We brainstormed, dreamed, and sketched out rough plans. But in 2024, we turned those plans into reality. We launched Progress Planner—not perfect, not exactly what we envisioned, but it’s out there! And even better, we’ve already made significant improvements. Progress is what we’re all about, after all.
In this blog, I’m reflecting on our journey throughout 2024. I couldn’t be more proud of our incredible team and all we’ve achieved.
Growing our team
Progress Planner was brought to life by the Emilia team, a group of brilliant individuals who juggle creating Progress Planner while supporting our portfolio companies. Many of us formerly worked at Yoast. In 2024, we welcomed several amazing new team members.
In the year’s first half, Iris joined as our content strategist, and Sam stepped in as our social media specialist. Later, we added Jono, a renowned SEO expert, and Filip, a talented developer. Just this month, Taco became our director of community and partnerships. Each of them brings something unique, and together, they make our team even stronger.
Creating a brand we love
I’m thrilled with the Progress Planner brand. We wanted it to feel fun and motivating—something that excites people about improving their websites. Enter Ravi the Rooster, our cheerful mascot designed to make you smile while you work.
Coming up with Ravi and naming all the badges was such a joy. Fun fact: Ravi is also my son’s name, and he’s already expressed interest in dressing up as Ravi the Rooster one day. Who knows—you might meet him at an event soon!
Branding goes beyond colors and mascots; it’s about how we present ourselves, from our social media to the tone of voice in our blogs. It’s also reflected in how our product looks and feels. Building this brand has been a true team effort, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.
Social media highlights
If you haven’t checked out our social media profiles yet, you’re missing out! Sam has been creating vibrant and inspiring content to help people stay motivated with their websites (and yes, to try Progress Planner). The colorful, upbeat posts are just what I needed to brighten some of the darker WordPress days this year.
Launching the plugin
Launching Progress Planner was both exciting and nerve-wracking. Over the summer, Joost and I debated whether the product was ready. It wasn’t perfect—it still isn’t—but we realized it didn’t have to be. Progress is a journey, not a destination.
To prepare, I sent about 100 handwritten postcards to community members, asking for feedback. And feedback we got! It wasn’t all glowing, but it was so valuable. With every update, we’re refining and improving, fixing bugs, and adding features. I’m so glad we took the leap and launched. The process was as fun as it was rewarding.
Tweaking and improving
One of the main pieces of feedback was that the plugin needed to be more actionable. People also wanted more opportunities to earn badges. In our December update, we introduced Ravi’s Recommendations—suggestions on what to work on next. Following these tips earns you points toward a new monthly badge, making it even more rewarding to stay on track.
A huge shoutout to Ari and Filip, our amazing developers, who work at lightning speed. They often build features before we’ve even finalized them on the roadmap. Their creativity and dedication make everything possible.
WordCamp the Netherlands
Last month, we sponsored our first WordPress event: WordCamp the Netherlands. It was a fantastic experience! Our booth looked amazing, and we loved introducing Ravi the Rooster and Progress Planner, to the community.
The event featured an excellent lineup of speakers, great food, and the always-welcoming WordPress community. It was a memorable first WordCamp for our team and Ravi!
See you all next year!
2024 has been an incredible year for Progress Planner. From launching the plugin to growing our team and sponsoring our first event, it’s been a whirlwind of progress. Now, as the holidays approach, it’s time for a well-deserved break.
But we’re already looking ahead to 2025, with big plans to make Progress Planner even better. Stay tuned—we’ll share all the details next year. Until then, happy holidays, and thank you for being part of our journey!