Over 13 Years of WordPress Experience
Mission: “To help others establish a digital online presence that is affordable and accessible”
It has been an interesting and rewarding time of web development, freelancing, and keeping up with the ever expanding and evolving WordPress platform. How did I come to use WordPress, why have I stayed with it, and where will it take me next?
The Beginning
My beginnings with WordPress started with release 3.0.1 (Thelonious Monk, WordPress names each release after a jazz musician) in mid 2010. I was employed as the web developer at a family owned ad agency while finishing a certificate in web development at a local community college. I was thrilled to get the position and the first task was deciding what platform the agency would use to build its client websites. There were a few to choose from and we decided on WordPress and so began my journey.
I purchased a programming book specializing in WordPress, Digging Into WordPress by Chris Coyier and Jeff Starr. I still have my copy of the book as it was instrumental in learning the core of the WordPress platform and is a reminder of how much things have changed.
More than just a CMS* platform it is a flexible, scalable, and user-friendly interface with an extensive range of themes, plugins, and customizability that makes it the perfect canvas for creating unique and powerful websites. In addition, a robust support community from the developers that ensure regular updates to stay ahead of technology and advances to WordCamp and meetups for networking and support.
In 2012, I started freelancing to help individuals and small businesses that could not afford or were not a good fit for an agency. I was able to provide clients with a website that they could maintain and accomplish their goal of online presence. The early clients laid the foundation for a growing career with each project more intricate and rewarding than the last.
The Journey Continues
I have had the privilege of working on diverse projects – from personal blogs to e-commerce platforms and company websites. WordPress has been my steadfast companion, adapting to the evolving needs of the clients. I have had the opportunity to experience the platform growth from a simple blogging tool to “powering over 810 million” websites, which is 43% of all the websites on the internet.
Utilizing WordPress for my clients has made it easier for me to stay ahead of the curve with continuous learning and to be attuned to the industry trends, which allows me to continue delivering cutting edge solutions to clients. It truly is the platform that is accessible to all!
The Future
As the year comes to a close, I see new opportunities ahead and I am eager to embrace them. My goal is not to just keep pace with changes, but to contribute to a better experience for clients and others that embrace WordPress as their platform of choice. This journey has been challenging and rewarding, it is a reflection of my own growth, adaptability and commitment to those wanting a digital presence. From my early days at the family-owned ad agency to the present mission of accessibility and affordability, every step has been a testament to power of WordPress.
May the coming year be filled with innovation, empowerment and boundless opportunities for all.
*Content Management System
