WP Engine

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

Today marks the conclusion of WP Engine’s sixth annual DE{CODE}, our global virtual conference designed for developers, agencies, and marketers who are driving innovation in both the technology and business of WordPress. DE{CODE} 2025 brought together attendees from 114 countries across multiple time zones, who tuned in for 12 insightful sessions spanning 3 dedicated tracks. This global participation and engagement made DE{CODE} 2025 our most successful event yet!

Guided by a commitment to community and innovation, 40 speakers took the virtual stage to share expert insights on everything from artificial intelligence to accessibility, content strategies, and cutting-edge WordPress development practices.

Missed the event or want to revisit a favorite talk? Check out the full DE{CODE} 2025 playlist on our YouTube channel!

A new era of collaboration and community

WP Engine Chairwoman and CEO Heather Brunner kicked off the event with a welcome message that underscored the theme of this year’s conference: The power of community. 

She shared her excitement about the growth of the WordPress ecosystem and how we’re all part of the most successful group project in the history of technology before introducing the keynote presenters of the day: AI thought leader Jeremiah Owyang and CEO of Humane Intelligence Dr. Rumman Chowdhury.

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The keynote tackled some of the most urgent and exciting questions facing digital professionals today. Presenters discussed ethical questions surrounding the use of AI, how its current use is already affecting content strategies, and how AI agents will change the landscape of the web over the next 5 to 10 years.

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A quick product showcase shared some of the exciting innovations WP Engine is cooking up this year before attendees split into sessions specifically designed for some of the most important roles in the WordPress community.

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Breakout sessions for the whole community

Breakout sessions allowed attendees to dive deeper into targeted tracks for developers, agencies, and marketers.

Here are a few highlights from some of the most-attended sessions:

Vetting AI in 2025: What’s hype, what’s help?

Developers have been hit with a barrage of new AI tools, each promising to supercharge site performance and fast-track digital success. 

In this session, WP Engine Senior Product Manager Luke Patterson sat down with experts to sift through the buzzwords to identify which tools are delivering real-world value for developers looking to scale, streamline, or optimize WordPress sites.

From chaos to control: Taming the block editor for efficiency and design integrity

The WordPress Block Editor can be a game-changer—or a bit of a wild west. 

In this session, ACF experts Rob Stinson and Iain Poulson explore ways you can use Advanced Custom Fields to control and streamline the editing experience for faster builds, consistent design, and fewer client missteps.

SEO and AI: Did AI just eat my search traffic?

This session explores how AI is reshaping the SEO landscape, from the risk of your content being repurposed without credit to the challenge of losing traffic to AI-generated summaries.

Presenters cover practical strategies to help your brand stand out in AI-driven results, secure proper attribution, and continue driving traffic back to your website.

A community in bloom

DE{CODE} 2025 was a celebration of the continued growth, innovation, and resilience of the WordPress community. 

As new technologies continue to redefine how we build and market online, this year’s event underscored the fact that people power is what will continue to drive the community forward.

Thank you to all the people power that made DE{CODE} 2025 our most successful event yet—but the conversation doesn’t end here.

Head to our YouTube channel to watch all sessions on demand and continue learning at your own pace.

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

WP Engine Ireland has once again secured a place on the Great Place to Work Ireland® list of Best Workplaces for Health and Wellbeing for 2025, reaffirming its dedication to fostering an environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.

Each year, Great Place to Work releases additional, unranked lists of Great Place to Work-certified companies to highlight specific businesses that go above and beyond to support their employees. The Health and Wellbeing list focuses on overall employee wellness, with a particular emphasis on companies with robust physical and mental health initiatives.

“We are incredibly honored to be recognized once again as one of Ireland’s Best Workplaces for Health and Wellbeing,” said WP Engine Talent Acquisition Manager and Ireland Site Lead Darren O’Dwyer. 

“At WP Engine, we believe that a culture of wellness is directly tied to the success of our teams. By investing in resources that support our employees on a personal level, we create a workplace where people feel more valued, more engaged, and more empowered.”

Read on to learn more about Great Place to Work’s ranked and unranked Best Workplaces lists and WP Engine Ireland’s storied history as a Great Place to Work!

WP Engine Ireland’s Great Place to Work journey

WP Engine Ireland first earned Great Place to Work Certification in 2019, just three years after opening its Limerick office. 

This latest achievement marks the seventh consecutive year of general certification and the second consecutive year on the Health and Wellbeing list, highlighting the company’s continued presence among Ireland’s top employers.

In previous years, WP Engine Ireland has been named to several specialized Great Place to Work lists, including Best Workplaces for Women (2023) and Best Workplaces in Tech (2021–2024).

Ireland’s Best Workplaces for Health & Wellbeing

Each year, Great Place to Work identifies the top companies in Ireland and around the world by assessing key factors that contribute to employee satisfaction. 

Once certified as a Great Place to Work, companies are qualified for inclusion on supplemental unranked lists. These lists highlight companies dedicated to building stellar employee experiences within specific demographics (e.g. Best Workplaces for Women, Best Workplaces for Millennials, etc.), industries (e.g. Best Workplaces in Tech, Best Workplaces in Retail), or geographic locations (e.g. Best Workplaces in Texas, Best Workplaces in New York, etc.). 

The 70 organizations recognized on Ireland’s Best Workplaces for Health & Wellbeing list excel in several areas, including:

• Comprehensive health resources: Employees report robust physical and mental health resources, including access to wellness programs, mental health support, and flexible work arrangements.
• Employee support and engagement: Employees report high levels of support from their managers and feel empowered to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Commitment to career growth: Employees have clear pathways for professional development, allowing them to grow within the company while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

According to Great Place to Work data, 84% of employees at certified companies feel encouraged to balance their personal and professional lives.

Our team in Ireland as well as our WP Engine teams around the globe remain committed to ensuring that every employee has the support they need to succeed both at work and in their personal lives.

About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture, publishing more than 250 Best Workplace lists annually based on data from more than 20 million employees across 170 countries.

Organizations must be Great Place to Work Certified™ to qualify for inclusion on specialized lists such as Ireland’s Best Workplaces for Health & Wellbeing.

Join a certifiably great workplace!

A huge congratulations to our WP Engine Ireland team for earning this well-deserved recognition! Your dedication to building a supportive workplace continues to lead the way for our teams as we refine a culture of inclusion and acceptance at WP Engine.

If you’re looking to join a company that prioritizes its people, explore our open roles and become part of a workplace that values health, wellness, and career growth.

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

WP Engine is thrilled to sponsor PressConf 2025, the conference for professionals driving the WordPress economy. 

As a leader in managed hosting for WordPress, we’re committed to supporting the creators, developers, and businesses that power the open web. We hope this event helps foster new connections that will drive innovation and create opportunities to elevate the entire WordPress community.

Read on to learn more about what you can expect at PressConf and how to connect with WP Engine leaders while we’re together.

What is PressConf?

PressConf is a place for the movers, shakers, and dreamers in the WordPress community. The conference brings together top developers, designers, product experts, educators, business leaders, agency professionals, and web innovators to collaborate, learn, and push the WordPress ecosystem forward. 

Because PressConf is entirely focused on WordPress, it’s the perfect place to connect with like-minded professionals and industry leaders as we collaboratively create the future of the web.

Stop by, say hi!

Our booth at PressConf will be buzzing with activity as our leaders engage with attendees and offer up some premium swag.

Representing WP Engine at the event are Vice President of Product Jeremy Pollock, Partner Account Manager John Householder, and Head of Community Brian Gardner.

Be sure to connect with us throughout the conference from April 23–26 to talk about what our teams are working on and how WP Engine can support your growth on the world’s most widely used CMS!

Schedule of events

One of the ways PressConf sets itself apart is its schedule of events—one talk track, one room, and everyone’s invited. The list of speakers is extensive—and even includes a few former DE{CODE} presenters like Amber Hinds.

These transparent, honest discussions are vital to WordPress’s continued growth as we all seize the opportunity to learn from the successes and struggles that have paved the path to where we are.

Our leaders are excited to nurture new relationships and spur conversations that make WordPress better for everyone.

See you at PressConf!

Whether we meet for the first time or we’re getting the chance to reconnect, we can’t wait to see you at PressConf. 

If you’re attending, be sure to stop by our booth, and learn more about PressConf by visiting their website!

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

AUSTIN, Texas—March 18, 2025—WP Engine today unveiled the agenda for DE{CODE} 2025, its annual conference connecting thousands of innovators to explore what’s working, what’s next, and what’s possible with WordPress^[1]. The free, virtual event will be held on April 15 (North America and APAC) and registration is open.

Now in its sixth year, the event has expanded its content to be more inclusive of all roles responsible for building digital experiences. This includes brand marketers and agency leaders, in addition to developers, fostering a more connected and innovative WordPress community. This year’s agenda features dedicated tracks for developers, agencies, and marketers, including: 

• Industry-leading keynote speakers, including Jeremiah Owyang, AI thought leader and founder of Llama Lounge AI events and Brooks Scaling Ventures, and Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science Envoy and Chief Executive Officer of Humane Intelligence.
• New product launches unveiling WP Engine’s latest AI advancements, including intelligent search, personalized recommendations, and hosted Vector database for WordPress. 
• Breakout sessions from developers, agencies and brands featuring industry leaders from Google, Elastic, True Knowledge Agency, Equalize Digital, StrategiQ, Promethean Research, Big Bite Creative, Etumos, Illustrate Digital, Americaneagle.com, and Hubspot.

DE{CODE} 2025 represents a pivotal gathering, where we open the doors wider to learn from and make each other better. As we gather the brightest minds in web development and services, we’re not just sharing knowledge; we’re shaping the future together,” said WP Engine Chief Executive Officer and Chairwoman Heather Brunner, who will be opening the conference. “This event embodies WP Engine’s commitment to empowering creatives and developers, and fostering a culture of innovation that propels the open web forward.”

The conference has become a mainstay for developers, marketers, and agencies who want to keep up with the latest trends and best practices in modern web development. This year’s breakout tracks will empower attendees to:  

• Explore practical, high-ROI AI applications for WordPress that cut through the hype and showcase the most promising ways developers can enhance their content with AI. 
• Uncover high-performing agency strategies to win new business, retain top talent, optimize margins, and navigate digital transformation in an ever-evolving market.  
• Improve custom developer workflows that streamline editorial processes, and optimize media management for modern newsrooms. 

To register for the conference and learn more about what to expect at DE{CODE} 2025, visit: https://events.wpengine.com/event/DECODE2025/home 

About WP Engine

WP Engine empowers companies and agencies of all sizes to build, power, manage, and optimize their WordPress websites and applications with confidence. Serving 1.5 million customers across 150+ countries, the global technology company provides premium, enterprise-grade solutions, tools, and services, including specialized platforms for WordPress, industry-tailored eCommerce and agency solution suites, and developer-centric tools like Local, Advanced Custom Fields, and more. Learn more at wpengine.com.

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^[1] The WordPress® trademark is the intellectual property of the WordPress Foundation. WP Engine is not endorsed or owned by, or affiliated with, the WordPress Foundation.       

Contacts

WP Engine

[email protected]

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

WP Engine’s mission to power confidence online relies on the dedication and expertise of more than 1,000 global employees.

The combined effort of our whole team—from the support specialists solving technical challenges to the engineers driving performance and innovation across our fully managed hosting platform to the passionate professionals supporting our agency partners and everyone in between—ensures continued growth and success for WP Engine and our customers alike.

Our Meet the Experts series highlights some of the people who bring this mission to life, showcasing their roles, areas of expertise, and invaluable contributions to WP Engine and our customers, as well as their advice for other aspiring professionals in their fields.

In this feature, we’ll introduce you to Clay Youngkin, a Senior Customer Experience Operations Specialist based in Buda, Texas.

Say hello to Clay!

Meet Clay Youngkin, WP Engine’s system administrator for Gainsight—a tool used by multiple teams to help track information related to dedicated plan accounts on WP Engine. He’s a vital member of the Customer Experience Operations team.

Clay’s WP Engine journey began in 2015 when a colleague from his previous job at a sub shop encouraged him to apply for a Support Tech role. 

Driven by a desire to expand his career opportunities, Clay jumped at the chance to join WP Engine—a decision that would shape his professional growth over the next decade.

“I really resonate with our core value Built for Growth, because that’s how I felt when joining the team here,” says Clay.

“I started as an L1 Support Tech and have moved up into a System Administrator role—that’s quite the growth if you ask me!”

When he’s not helping to retain and improve experiences for our amazing customers, Clay enjoys playing video games, good food, and spending time outdoors.

Clay’s career journey

Starting as an L1 Support Tech, Clay built his expertise in customer solutions before rising to his current role as Senior Customer Experience Operations Specialist. 

Clay’s role involves managing Gainsight workflows that integrate data from platforms like Slack and Zendesk, surfacing risk indicators that denote a customer may be unhappy or at risk of churning. These plans help WP Engine teams proactively manage customer concerns and provide the best possible experience to customers who may be struggling.

“For the most part, I’m responsible for all additions, updates, upgrades, and system migrations, which can make time management difficult,” says Clay. 

“It’s really important for me to set proper expectations for the completion of requests.” 

In addition to Gainsight, Clay also taps into his skills in SQL and Zapier to fulfill system requests and maintain seamless integrations. Like so many WP Engine employees, his skills come not from a specific degree or set of training sessions, but from hands-on experience.

“Improving my skills comes from doing the work,” he says. 

“There’s nothing like experience to keep your skills honed.”

Words of wisdom: Manage your time

As the sole Gainsight administrator at WP Engine, Clay faces the unique challenge of finding balance, even during a barrage of requests.

“Time management is key,” Clay says. “I try to set clear expectations for request timelines so I can prioritize effectively and keep things running smoothly.”

Because he’s the only person with the skills and expertise to take on many of the tasks his role requires, Clay emphasizes the importance of recognizing limits. 

Early in his career, he struggled with overcommitting and trying to tackle every request immediately. Over time, he learned that prioritization is key to his success.

“One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received is ‘Put on your oxygen mask first,’” Clay explains. 

“If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t effectively support your team or your customers. Taking breaks, establishing boundaries, and communicating when you need more time are all crucial skills.”

For aspiring tech professionals who hope to specialize in a specific tool or skill set, Clay recommends focusing on adaptability. 

“Don’t worry about knowing everything right away,” he advises. 

“For example, my specialty is Gainsight, but every company uses Gainsight differently. Your best skill will be learning how to adapt your knowledge to meet your organization’s specific needs.”

Powered by people

Clay’s dedication and expertise help ensure WP Engine continues to provide outstanding support and proactive solutions for our dedicated account holders. Every day, hundreds of people around the world are also using their time and talents to elevate WP Engine and our products and services.

Want to find out more about what it’s like to work at WP Engine? Visit our careers site to explore current openings, and keep up with our blog for more inspiring stories from WP Engine’s experts!

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

WP Engine’s new agency plans are designed to be perfect for your agency today with the flexibility and scalability to meet client demands of tomorrow.

Here at WP Engine we’re lucky enough to work with some of the most innovative agencies in the world. In fact, over 11,000 of them are members of our Agency Partner Program. We love empowering our agencies as they build incredible digital experiences for clients and brands of all sizes all over the world.

Because of these relationships, we’re always looking for ways to empower agencies to grow their capabilities and their business. That can come in the form of new features, competitive commissions for referrals, or resources and content to better pitch clients. Today it takes the form of new agency plans for agencies to sell to their clients.

One thing we continuously hear from our agency partners—in order to stay competitive they are continuously focused on working smarter and more efficiently. At the same time, they need to be able to offer robust solutions and services with predictable costs and consistent requirements. We heard this over and over from our agency customers and knew we had a key role to play.

More than just re-bundled hosting

Every hosting provider with any name recognition offers agency plans. Often these are nothing more than bundles of their services and features with a bulk discount. Depending on the provider, this can lead to agencies hosting their clients next to “noisy neighbors” (sites which overuse shared server resources). Or worse, it leaves agencies managing hosting resources manually to give their clients the reliability, performance, and security they need. 

But we’re committed to offering something better. Our modern, containerized, distributed infrastructure, designed for agencies, eliminates the possibility of “noisy neighbors.” This means WP Engine agency plans provide consistent resources for every client site. 

Our new plan structure also provides fully integrated features and add-ons for every client on your account, leading to far less à la carte feature management. In short, our new agency plans ensure you can build better sites faster and leave the rest to us.

Ready right now, built to grow with you

When your business includes building, hosting, and maintaining sites, there’s no such thing as a set-it-and-forget-it plan. You know from the moment you sign up for hosting that your business will outgrow the plan you’re buying today (or at least you hope it does!). 

Our new agency plans are built for the reality of your agency’s growth and success. Not only does the infrastructure scale as you add sites, your plan capabilities scale as you tackle more complex projects.

Predictable pricing and capabilities

Agency profitability often rises and falls based on the ability to create recurring revenue streams and achieve consistent costs. Our new plans offer predictable per-site pricing plus management, reporting, and maintenance features that apply to every client site. This means your agency can confidently offer WP Engine hosting with maintenance automation and efficient tooling, helping increase your profitability.

Includes the support and expertise you need

When your client needs an answer, they often want it yesterday. Not to mention your devs who don’t always work nine to five. Good news! With our agency plans, we’re always ready with an answer. Every WP Engine customer has access to our award-winning support 24/7/365. And, depending on your plan level, you’ll have access to higher-tier support or even a Technical Account Manager who can help you plan out complex builds before you even pitch them.

Delight your clients, empower your devs, and improve ROI

No matter your agency’s size or, more importantly, the size of your clients, WP Engine’s new agency plans are built from the ground up to meet your business where it’s at and then grow with you. 

From new infrastructure designed specifically for you to resell to included tools and automation that help you develop and manage complex sites at scale, these new plans were built with agency input for agencies. And did we mention they come with an uptime guarantee as high as 99.99% depending on your plan level? Well they do. Performance, security, and reliability, built specifically for your business, and ready for you today.

Head over to our agency plans page to explore these new offerings on your own, or, if you’re ready to dive in, connect with one of our agency experts today!

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

At WP Engine, being Customer-Inspired is more than just a core value—it’s a commitment that drives everything we do. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that our Customer Experience (CX) team has earned a Gold Stevie Award for Customer Service Department of the Year – Computer Services!

This Gold distinction is the highest honor awarded in the category and marks yet another milestone in WP Engine’s history of excellence in customer support. Since earning our first Stevie in 2015, we’ve amassed more than a dozen Stevie Awards, solidifying our place as an industry leader in exceptional customer service.

“Each Stevie Award we earn is a testament to the incredible dedication and passion of our customer experience team and a reflection of their tireless commitment to our core value of being Customer Inspired,” said WP Engine VP of Customer Experience Slade Cozart.

“Our team is absolutely amazing. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together and excited for what’s next as we continue to set the bar for excellence through every customer interaction.”

Read on to learn about The Stevie Awards and WP Engine’s track record of success in the realms of customer experience and support. 

What are The Stevie^® Awards?

The Stevie^® Awards is an organization overseeing nine global business recognition programs, including the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service for which WP Engine won Gold. 

Established in 2002, the Stevie Awards receive more than 12,000 nominations annually across its nine programs as they honor top companies worldwide, making a Stevie one of the most prestigious markers of exceptional organizations on a global scale.

The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service recognize organizations that deliver extraordinary customer service and sales solutions. This year’s competition was fierce, with entries from more than 2,100 companies across 45 countries and territories.

Winners were selected by 176 expert judges who evaluated entries based on innovation, impact, and effectiveness. To earn Gold in such a competitive environment is a testament to the dedication, expertise, and relentless Customer-Inspired approach of our incredible CX team.

Our Customer Experience experts work 24/7/365 around the globe to ensure our customers receive the best possible support, and they continue to set the bar high for what customer service should be.

A history of excellence in service

WP Engine has received multiple Stevie Awards across various categories over the last decade, reflecting our continued commitment to excellent customer service.

In 2015, WP Engine earned its first Bronze Stevie Award for customer experience. We then secured a Silver Stevie Award in 2016 for Customer Service Department of the Year in the Computer Software category as well as a Gold Stevie Award in the same category the following year.

In the years since, The Stevie Awards have continued to roll in for our incredible CX team. We earned another Gold Stevie Award for Customer Service Department of the Year in 2018, another Silver Stevie in 2019, and two more Silver Stevie Awards in 2021: one for Customer Service Success in Technology Industries and another for Customer Service Department of the Year in Computer Software. WP Engine was honored with yet another Silver Stevie Award for Sales & Customer Service in 2023. 

These consistent accolades from The Stevie Awards highlight WP Engine’s dedication to delivering exceptional customer service and solidify our team as an example of excellence, even when considered within a field of our exceptional cohorts.

We’ll continue to raise the bar for our customers

Our team is honored to receive this Gold Stevie Award, but we’re not stopping here—we’re deeply committed to customer satisfaction and support excellence. Our customers’ success is our success, and we will continue to innovate, improve, and deliver the best possible managed hosting experience.

Thank you to our incredible customers for trusting us with your websites, and to our CX team for your unwavering commitment to excellence. This Gold Stevie is yours!

Want to be part of an award-winning customer experience team? Check out our careers page for open roles.

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

WP Engine Ireland has once again been recognized as one of the country’s Best Workplaces by Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture.

This marks WP Engine Ireland’s fifth consecutive year as a certified company, further solidifying our reputation for fostering a positive and supportive work environment.

“Since opening our Limerick office in 2016, our goal has been twofold: growth and success for our customers, and retention and happiness for our own employees,” said WP Engine VP of Product and Limerick Site Leader Haidee McMahon.

“While it’s easy to see customer growth, it can be more difficult to quantify a successful workplace culture. This latest recognition reflects our success as we continuously build a culture in which our team members truly feel valued.”

Read on to learn more about Great Place to Work, the selection process for certified companies, and the numerous accolades WP Engine has received over the years.

How WP Engine Ireland earned great workplace recognition

WP Engine Ireland was officially certified following an independent analysis conducted by Great Place to Work Ireland.

To achieve certification, companies must survey their employees and submit the anonymous results to Great Place to Work for analysis. The organization benchmarks the results of the Trust Index Survey™ against industry peers, identifying the top performers based on trust, workplace fairness, and overall employee experience.

After earning general certification, companies can receive additional certifications for excellence in employee experience for specific industries, demographics, or regions.

Being Great Place to Work-certified places WP Engine Ireland among a distinguished group of companies that prioritize exceptional workplace culture. This year, WP Engine ranked 16 out of 40 certified companies in the medium-sized business category, reflecting our continuous efforts to enhance employee experiences.

What is Great Place to Work?

Great Place to Work began with a book published in 1984, titled The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America. In the more than 40 years since the organization has surveyed thousands of employers worldwide to become the most trusted authority on workplace culture. The company now identifies businesses that cultivate strong, people-first workplaces across more than 170 countries and regions.

According to the Great Place to Work Trust Model, Great Workplaces are those where employees:

1. Trust the people they work for.
2. Feel respected by their leaders and managers.
3. Experience a fair, positive, and inclusive workplace, regardless of their role or background.
4. Take genuine pride in their work.
5. Enjoy collaborating with their colleagues.

WP Engine Ireland is honored to once again be recognized for the team’s continued dedication to creating an inclusive and rewarding work environment. 

WP Engine’s great workplace journey

WP Engine earned its first certification from Great Place to Work in the United States in 2017. Since then, the company has amassed more than 35 individual certifications across its global offices, including recognitions across the UK, Ireland, Poland, and the United States as well as specialized certifications like Best Workplace in Tech, for Women, and for Wellness.

Last year, WP Engine received multiple Great Place to Work certifications, including recognition as one of the Best Workplaces in Texas, Best Workplaces in Poland, and Best Workplaces in Tech in Ireland. 

WP Engine Ireland is honored to earn recognition again this year, and now holds more than a dozen individual certifications from Great Place to Work.

Join a certifiably Great Place to Work!

Our teams extend their sincere gratitude to our Irish employees—like Raphaela, Neil, and Kimberley—for making this achievement possible. Your passion and commitment are what make WP Engine a truly Great Place to Work!

If you’re looking to be part of a dynamic and supportive global team, visit our careers page to explore exciting opportunities with WP Engine.

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

WP Engine has officially opened registration for DE{CODE} 2025!

This annual virtual event brings together industry leaders, innovative thinkers, and passionate developers to explore the latest advancements in WordPress technology and digital innovation.

Featuring expert-led sessions and cutting-edge insights, DE{CODE} attendees will learn how to enhance site performance, explore the latest in AI and headless WordPress, and gain actionable strategies to elevate their upcoming projects. This event is your gateway to the future of the web.

Secure your spot today and be part of the conversation, or read on to learn more about DE{CODE}.

What is DE{CODE}?

DE{CODE} is WP Engine’s flagship annual event, designed to provide practical, real-world knowledge for developers, marketers, and agencies building on WordPress.

Now in its sixth year, DE{CODE} has grown into a must-attend virtual gathering for WordPress professionals worldwide. Last year’s event drew more than 4,000 attendees from 86 countries as we engaged with industry leaders on the latest trends, tools, and topics in WordPress development.

This year, attendees can expect even more industry insights, success stories, technical deep dives, hands-on demos, and expert insights—all aimed at helping them build better, faster, and more scalable websites. Check out some of last year’s top-attended sessions to get an idea of what’s in store!

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What will I learn at DE{CODE}?

This year’s conference will focus on the topics and technologies shaping a new era of digital excellence, including:

• AI-powered development workflows. Discover how AI tools are streamlining WordPress site creation, content management, and performance optimization.
• Headless WordPress and WPGraphQL. Learn how to build lightning-fast, API-driven digital experiences using the latest advancements in headless architecture.
• Site performance and Core Web Vitals. Improve page speed and search rankings with proven best practices.
• Strategies for agencies building on WordPress. Maintain secure high-performing sites that foster long-lasting relationships with your clients.

Whether you’re a developer, agency leader, or brand marketer, DE{CODE} 2025 will equip you with the insights and tools needed to future-proof your WordPress projects.

What’s new at DE{CODE} 2025?

The most successful websites are built through collaboration, so this year, we’re expanding our content to be more inclusive of the individual roles responsible for building incredible digital experiences. This includes brand marketers, agency leaders, and developers, as they are all key collaborators in shaping digital experiences.

Marketers bring strategic insight, agencies drive creative vision, and developers bring ideas to life. By welcoming all these voices at DE{CODE}, we hope to foster a more connected and innovative WordPress community.

Register now for DE{CODE} 2025!

Don’t miss WP Engine’s largest virtual event of the year! Whether you’re building high-performance WordPress sites, exploring AI innovations, or optimizing for headless and eCommerce solutions, DE{CODE} 2025 has something for you.

If you can’t attend live, all sessions will be available in our resource library and on our YouTube channel after the event.

Save your seat today—registration is free!

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

CloudFest 2025 is just around the corner, and WP Engine is thrilled to be sponsoring the world’s largest cloud computing and internet infrastructure event! 

As a global web enablement company, we’re excited to connect with technology innovators, developers, and business leaders and showcase how WP Engine helps businesses build high-performing, secure, and scalable digital experiences on WordPress.

Whether you’re a longtime WordPress user or exploring cloud-based solutions more generally, CloudFest is the perfect opportunity to see the future of web technology in action.

Stop by, say hi!

As a sponsor of CloudFest 2025, WP Engine will have a few of our team members in attendance at this year’s conference.

Make sure to visit WP Engine at booth Z25 (in the WP Zone!) for exclusive swag and a chance to win some amazing prizes. We’ll be raffling off a PlayStation 5 as well as a few other premium giveaways—so don’t miss out!

Before your visit, sign up for a one-on-one consultation with a WP Engine team member to discuss how our managed cloud hosting can supercharge your WordPress sites with better speed, security, and scalability.

Schedule of events

CloudFest takes place March 17–20 in Rust, Germany, about 35 miles south of Strasbourg. Make sure you’re there to kick off the event, as March 17 is the event’s dedicated WP Day! 

From 2 to 6 p.m., you’ll have access to back-to-back sessions, panels, and networking time with some of the top builders and innovators in the WordPress ecosystem. The conference will also feature a dedicated WP Zone which will serve as a centralized area for WordPress community members to find one another and discuss topics specific to WordPress.

Then, from March 18–20, attendees will find their days jam-packed with informative, insightful sessions on a variety of topics relevant to technology infrastructure professionals. 

From security and efficiency to a fireside chat with the ghost of Albert Einstein, there will be something for everyone at CloudFest. In fact, one of WP Engine’s own will be sharing a short presentation; be sure to join Svilena Peneva from our Nitropack team at The Ring Stage for a talk titled Speed, Security & Scalability: The Pillars of an Independent Digital Strategy on Wednesday the 19 from 11:35–11:45! 

After the conference concludes, there are plenty of after-hours events for attendees as well. You can check out a full list of CloudFest’s legendary after-parties and concerts on their website.

What is CloudFest?

CloudFest is the premier global event for cloud computing, web hosting, and internet infrastructure, bringing together thousands of industry leaders at Europa-Park in Germany’s Black Forest. WHD Event GmbH, the company behind CloudFest, has built a fun, engaging event focused on technological innovation and community collaboration.

Featuring more than 200 exhibitors from around 70 different countries, this year’s conference is set to welcome more than 9,000 attendees from around the world.

Because WordPress powers more than 40% of the web, and WP Engine’s mission is to help businesses maximize their success with a fast, secure, and reliable cloud hosting platform for WordPress sites, we are honored to sponsor and attend CloudFest 2025. 

If you’re looking for the best cloud-based solutions for your business website or you’re looking to connect with the people behind those solutions, CloudFest is the place to be!

See you at CloudFest!

We can’t wait to connect with you at CloudFest 2025! Make sure to register today and mark your calendar to stop by booth Z25 for expert insights, exclusive swag, and a chance to win some awesome prizes.

Join us for a week of innovation, networking, and cutting-edge cloud technology—see you in Germany!

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

AUSTIN, Texas—FEB. 18, 2025—WP Engine, a global web enablement company providing premium products and solutions for websites built on WordPress, today announced the winners of its 2025 Agency Partner Awards, honoring members of the company’s Agency Partner Program designing and building best-in-class websites with WordPress.^[1]

With seven categories celebrating excellence in innovation, performance, community impact, and more, this year’s Agency Partner Awards builds on the inaugural event in 2024, bringing expanded categories and enhanced benefits for winning submissions. As WP Engine continues to bolster its support for agencies, the Agency Partner Awards showcase the forward-thinking solutions that are forging the future of the internet.

In addition to the Agency Partner Award site achievement winners, WP Engine also recognized standout agencies from across global regions—including Top Agency winners Americaneagle.com (North America), Illustrate Digital (EMEA), and Boylen (APAC), and Emerging Agency winners TracTru (North America), Property Jungle (EMEA), and EB Pearls (APAC)—underscoring the depth of innovation within its partner ecosystem.

“WP Engine is committed to championing the agencies that push developments for WordPress forward,” said Darcy Kurtz, Chief Marketing Officer for WP Engine. “The Agency Partner Awards highlight the incredible work of our agency partners, and this year’s winners exemplify the innovation, performance, and impact that will define the next generation of the web.”

WP Engine Agency Partner Awards 2025 Winners  

2025 Business Transformation Award: The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health by Spark Digital Agency 

The Florey, Australia’s leading brain research institute, partnered with Spark Digital Agency to replatform its website, delivering a modern, streamlined digital experience. The redesign improved usability for diverse audiences, enhanced functionality for scientists and students, and integrated essential tools like Eventbrite, MailChimp, and donation platforms.

The transformation resulted in improved user experience, increased visibility for researchers, and higher engagement, reflected in a 9.7% increase in page views and a 40.15% boost in donation form engagement. The migration to WordPress simplified content management, reducing reliance on IT support and allowing faster updates for high-impact initiatives.

2025 Committed to Give Back Award: David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) by StrategiQ

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) partnered with an award-winning transformation agency, StrategiQ, to overhaul its WordPress website. The goal was to create a stable, intuitive, mobile-first platform that would streamline donations, promote artwork sales, and increase endangered animal “adoptions” while enhancing visibility and engagement.

The redesigned site delivered tangible impacts: SEO improvements restored organic traffic, engagement time rose by 44%, and a surge in search rankings led to media inquiries from high-visibility outlets. StrategiQ’s integration of Vue.js apps and GoCardless API also simplified donations, increasing revenue and donor retention.

By combining strategic design with cutting-edge technology, StrategiQ helped DSWF better connect with donors, conservationists, and sponsors, advancing its mission to protect endangered species and their habitats across Africa and Asia.

2025 Future-ready Innovation Award: The New Home Company by Wpromote 

The New Home Company set out to transform its digital presence and fulfill evolving audience needs, and independent marketing agency Wpromote delivered a cutting-edge solution that redefined the digital homebuying experience, earning this year’s Future-ready Innovation Award.

Built on a headless WordPress architecture, the site ensures speed, scalability, and seamless cross-device performance. A custom ERP integration syncs real-time home pricing and availability, eliminating manual updates, while advanced search and filtering tools powered by Algolia help users refine their home search down to the neighborhood level. Interactive multimedia elements—including maps and video assets—further enhance engagement.

2025 Inclusive Design Award: Family Fund by Mixd 

Family Fund provides essential grants to families raising disabled or seriously ill children, and Mixd ensured their website reflects that mission, earning this year’s Inclusive Design Award.

Through a user-centered design process, Mixd developed a site that removes digital barriers. It uses Plain English, clear signposting, and intuitive navigation to help families easily access support. Prioritizing accessibility at every level, the site includes keyboard navigation, logical tab order, alt text, and optimized color contrast, earning it a perfect accessibility score of 100 on both desktop and mobile.

2025 Peak Performance Award: Freeman by WebDevStudios 

Speed, reliability, and seamless user experience define high-performing websites, and WebDevStudios delivered exactly that for Freeman, earning this year’s Peak Performance Award.

To improve site speed and design consistency, WebDevStudios rebuilt Freeman’s website on a WordPress Block theme, incorporating core and custom native blocks into the site structure. The transition streamlined content management while ensuring a cohesive design across pages. Performance enhancements—including Marketo integration for gated content, advanced CDN customization, and database optimization—propelled the site to a perfect Core Web Vitals performance score of 100.

Through its Agency Partner Program, WP Engine has worked with more than 10,000 active program members to launch more than 300,000 websites. Click here to read more about the APP. 

About WP Engine

WP Engine empowers companies and agencies of all sizes to build, power, manage, and optimize their WordPress websites and applications with confidence. Serving 1.5 million customers across 150+ countries, the global technology company provides premium, enterprise-grade solutions, tools, and services, including specialized platforms for WordPress, industry-tailored eCommerce and agency solution suites, and developer-centric tools like Local, Advanced Custom Fields, and more. WP Engine’s innovative technology and industry-leading expertise are why 8% of the web visits a WP Engine-powered site daily. Learn more at wpengine.com.

^{[1] The WordPress® trademark is the intellectual property of the WordPress Foundation. WP Engine is not endorsed or owned by, or affiliated with, the WordPress Foundation.}

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

A decade ago, WP Engine planted its first international roots in the heart of London, driven by a vision to empower businesses worldwide with the best performance, innovation, and support for their WordPress sites. 

This month, as we mark our 10-year anniversary in the UK, we’re grateful to celebrate a decade of growth, collaboration, and impact across the British Isles and beyond. From our early days in Shoreditch’s “Tech City,” where we shared space with some of the brightest digital innovators, to becoming a trusted partner for agencies, enterprises, and creators across Europe, our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. 

Over the past 10 years, we’ve continually invested in regional infrastructure, supported a growing community of WordPress users and developers, and played a key role in some of the region’s most exciting and high-performing web projects. 

Read on to learn a little more about WP Engine’s history in the UK, our growth and impact over the past decade, and how we plan to continue strengthening our bonds and providing stellar service to our customers in EMEA and around the world.

A decade of growth: WP Engine’s history in the UK

WP Engine’s London office was the first of our international locations to open its doors back in 2015. 

At that time, we were already serving customers in more than 128 countries, and London was the perfect location for us to better serve those across EMEA. In the years since, our UK team has grown substantially, consistently earning awards and driving customer success in the region. 

That success can be seen across the UK and EMEA-based brands and businesses that host their websites on WP Engine’s fully managed platform. From notable brands like Penguin Random House and Amnesty International to businesses like Dexerto and Mitie, our UK and EMEA teams have welcomed thousands of new customers since 2015.

“Over the last ten years, WP Engine has built a reputation in the UK and across Europe as the best foundation for some of the continent’s most impressive digital experiences,” said WP Engine Senior VP and Managing Director of International Fabio Torlini.

“It has been such an honor to work with some of the most impressive brands and agencies in the region as they craft their online futures with us.”

In addition to supporting amazing brands and businesses over the past ten years, our UK team has also forged lasting partnerships with some of the region’s most innovative digital agencies. 

By working together with these agency partners and offering them the tools and dedicated support they need to succeed, WP Engine has continued to empower the builders and creators behind some of the UK’s most high-performing and creative sites.

Recently, our Agency Partner Awards highlighted the outstanding work of our UK partners, and sites built by StrategiQ, Mixd, and Plug & Play were named among the finalists. Whether they achieved outstanding Core Web Vitals scores, drove innovations to improve performance, or even built a navigable 3D model for a hospital, these agencies are using WordPress and WP Engine to reimagine what digital experiences can do.

Beyond the support we provide to our agency partners, WP Engine has continually invested in regional infrastructure, improving performance and platform capabilities for all our customers in and around the UK.

WP Engine’s continued focus on global growth

More than 40% of the web already runs on WordPress. To help keep that plurality of the internet up and running, WP Engine has strategically invested in specific regions to support our customers across the globe.

Since our London office opened in 2015, WP Engine has opened additional international offices in Limerick, Ireland (2016), Brisbane, Australia (2017), and Kraków, Poland (2020), as well as additional smaller offices around the globe. 

We’ve also invested in more global infrastructure, including recent investments to better serve Asia and the wider APAC region.

Each of these decisions, from the products we maintain to the infrastructure we operate, is intended to keep our customers’ sites fast and performant in all corners of the globe. That said, some of the most valuable investments we’ve made have been in our own team.

A few of our longstanding UK team members have been with us for the last ten years and remember that office in Tech City. They have watched us grow from a team of just three individuals to more than 70-strong in the UK and nearly 300 across EMEA.

“Watching the growth and expansion of our EMEA operations since the opening of our UK office has been such a privilege,” said WP Engine Principal Events Manager Imran Pervez.

“It’s been ten years of non-stop growth, relationship-building, innovation, and fun! Both for us and for our customers, the journey has been nothing short of remarkable.”

From a tight-knit team to one of the UK’s Best Workplaces, it’s our people who have made all the difference.

WP Engine is proud to be a global technology company

From our first international location in the UK to the additional offices and data centers we’ve since added around the world, WP Engine is committed to backing our customers with industry-leading innovation and expertise on a global scale.

We’re proud of our many investments in the products and people who are building the future of the web, and we’re especially pleased to celebrate ten years of WP Engine in the UK!

Learn more about WP Engine and how we’re able to help agencies and developers build better digital experiences or check out our open roles to find your next career move, no matter where you’re located!

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

This article on scalable hosting was written by DEMA Marketing CEO Mariana Krasteva. A WP Engine Agency Partner, DEMA Marketing is a comprehensive digital marketing agency focused on elevating their clients’ brands and driving growth through content, SEO, web design and development, and branding and creative design.

Running a growing marketing agency often feels like juggling; only you’re blindfolded… And someone keeps adding more balls… Sounds familiar? It sure felt like this when DEMA Marketing started working with multiple clients and hosting providers. 

But what if one decision could simplify everything, save hours, and boost client results? That’s what switching to WP Engine did for us. In this post, we’ll share the challenges we faced, the solutions we discovered, and the lessons we learned along the way.

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The challenges of multiple hosting solutions

The fragmentation problem

Managing multiple hosting providers felt like assembling IKEA furniture with instructions in five languages. Each platform had its quirks, leading to inefficiencies that sapped our time and patience. Here’s what we struggled with:

Administrative overhead:

• Diverse control panels: Each hosting provider often utilizes unique control panels (e.g., cPanel, Plesk), requiring team members to familiarize themselves with multiple interfaces, which increases training time and the likelihood of errors.
• Varied support channels: Different providers offer support through various channels with varying response times. Coordinating with multiple support teams can delay issue resolution and strain resources.
• Inconsistent security protocols: Ensuring uniform security measures across different hosting environments is challenging, potentially exposing client sites to vulnerabilities.

Performance inconsistencies:

• Resource allocation variability: Heavy traffic on one site can slow down others if sharing the same server.
• Unpredictable uptime: Some hosting providers don’t promise consistent uptime, hurting your site’s SEO and user trust.
• Server location disparities: If hosting servers are far from your audience, it can lead to slower loading times and a less pleasant experience for visitors.

SEO limitations:

• Lack of SSL certificates: Some hosting plans do not include SSL certificates, which are essential for site security and have become a significant ranking factor in SEO.
• Limited support for SEO tools: Certain hosting environments may not support advanced SEO plugins or tools, restricting the ability to optimize sites effectively.
• Slow page load times: Hosting providers with inadequate resources can lead to slow-loading websites, negatively impacting user experience and search engine rankings. 

DEMA’s real-life example

One of our clients had a beautiful Squarespace site. However, all the pages were loading slowly, which hampered their SEO. We rebuilt their site on WordPress with WP Engine, keeping the same design but supercharging performance. The result? A 50% faster load time, a jump in search rankings, and a happier client.

This transformation taught us a key lesson: A stunning site is worthless without robust hosting to back it up.

One hosting to rule them all: The WP Engine partnership

Switching to WP Engine wasn’t just a tech upgrade but a strategic pivot. Here’s why it worked for us:

Pay-as-you-go flexibility

Tailored hosting plans for every client meant no wasted resources.

Time-saving tools

WP Engine became our secret weapon for efficiency, from automated updates of WordPress plugins to advanced solutions like: 

• Genesis Pro providing advanced developer tools, such as Genesis Blocks Pro and Genesis Custom Blocks Pro, enabling the rapid creation of custom content blocks and themes for tailored client solutions
• Smart Plugin Manager automatically managing plugin and theme updates, ensuring sites remain secure and functional without manual intervention, and reverts changes if issues are detected
• Global Edge Security ensuring enterprise-grade security with a managed Web Application Firewall (WAF) and advanced DDoS mitigation, protecting sites from common vulnerabilities and attacks

Such tools significantly reduced the time spent on maintenance tasks, allowing us to focus more on strategic initiatives and client growth.

Built-in performance boosts: 

Enterprise-level features that ensure faster, more reliable websites for our clients.

• Content delivery network (CDN) distributing site content across global servers, reducing latency and improving load times for users worldwide
• Automated backups, providing daily and on-demand backups, ensuring data is securely stored and can be quickly restored in case of issues, enhancing site reliability
• Staging environments, allowing for testing changes in a safe environment before deploying to production, minimizing the risk of site disruptions and ensuring seamless updates

These features collectively contribute to delivering high-performing, secure, and dependable websites for our clients.

How did it work in the long run?

The results of our switch to WP Engine spoke for themselves. Here’s what we gained: 

1. Streamlined workflow: With one dashboard, we saved hours every week.
2. Improved client SEO: Faster sites translated to higher search rankings and a 20% boost in eommerce.
3. Cost savings: Consolidation cut hosting costs by 15%, freeing us to onboard three new clients.
4. Happier clients: One client called their new site ‘the most stable it’s ever been.’ That’s the kind of trust we aim for.

Reliable, scalable hosting fostered stronger client relationships. With reduced downtime and consistent performance, clients had more confidence in our ability to deliver.

Scalable hosting lessons learned from our WP Engine experience

Our journey wasn’t without hiccups. Here’s what we’d do differently and what you can learn from us:

1. Start small: Migrating all clients simultaneously was ambitious (and stressful). A phased approach would’ve been smoother.
2. Leverage support: WP Engine’s 24/7 help was a lifesaver—once we remembered to use it. Don’t hesitate to ask for help early.
3. Fully utilize tools: WP Engine’s tools, like Performance Insights, are gold. Don’t wait months to dig in.

Pro Tip: For agencies evaluating hosting solutions, consider platforms that align with your long-term growth objectives. Performance metrics are important, but scalability and support are equally critical.

The broader impact on our agency

The switch to WP Engine didn’t just solve our immediate challenges; it also transformed our business model. Here’s how:

Improved team productivity

With a centralized hosting solution, our team was free to focus on core competencies like strategy and creative development. The time saved on administrative tasks translated into more innovative client solutions.

Enhanced client offerings

The robust features of WP Engine enabled us to expand our service portfolio. From advanced security measures to performance optimization, we could offer clients a comprehensive package that meets their evolving needs.

Unified reporting and analytics

One unexpected benefit of consolidating all client websites onto WP Engine was the ability to unify reporting and analytics. With all sites managed under one platform, we could easily track performance metrics across our entire client portfolio. This gave us a clear picture of trends, bottlenecks, and successes, allowing us to make data-driven decisions quickly. 

Competitive advantage

In a crowded market, the ability to deliver reliable, high-performing websites became a key differentiator. Clients viewed us as a strategic partner capable of driving measurable results.

The takeaway: scalable hosting matters

Switching to WP Engine was more than a hosting decision; it was a strategic move that redefined how we operate as an agency. The streamlined workflows, improved client outcomes, and cost efficiencies set the stage for scalable growth.Learn more about working with DEMA Marketing here, and visit WP Engine to learn more about our Agency Partner Program and our industry leading hosting platform for WordPress.

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

Innovation, creativity, and community impact take center stage in our second-annual Agency Partner Awards. 

This year’s 160 submissions from more than 90 agencies around the world demonstrated best-in-class, WordPress-powered design and development, and the agency partners who built them drove truly impressive results for their clients.

Each of these sites built on WP Engine’s powerful platform reflects the depth of talent within our global network of agency partners, and with so many agencies delivering exceptional projects, selecting the finalists was no easy task.

In addition to the outstanding work recognized across five categories—Inclusive Design, Peak Performance, Future-ready Innovation, Business Transformation, and Committed to Give Back—WP Engine will bestow three Agency of the Year Awards and three Emerging Agency Awards (for North America, EMEA, and ANZ regions) next week when the official winners are announced.

In the meantime, check out these agencies that made it to the final round in each of our five design and development award categories, or click here to learn more about WP Engine’s Agency Partner Program!

Inclusive Design Award

The Inclusive Design Award honors agencies building sites that are as functional as they are beautiful. 

Sites nominated in this category had to meet or exceed AAA accessibility standards, meet or exceed a PageSpeed Insights Accessibility score of 85, optimize both the frontend and backend for editor accessibility—and look good doing it.

Family Fund site by Mixd 

The UK’s largest grant-making charity for families raising children with severe disabilities and illnesses required a revamp of its website to improve accessibility. 

Talented technologists at Mixd agency built a new digital experience on WP Engine’s platform that earned Family Fund a perfect 100/100 Core Web Vitals Accessibility score.

Farm Credit site by Social Driver

When a nationwide network of customer-owned cooperatives migrated their existing site from Drupal to WordPress, the immediate benefits were astounding.

With the help of agency professionals at Social Driver, the site became significantly more accessible—earning the site a perfect Core Web Vitals Accessibility score—and Farm Credit is seeing five times more traffic post-migration.

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital site by Mixd

One of Europe’s biggest and busiest children’s hospitals, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, chose agency experts at Mixd to reimagine its digital presence.

The new site boasts a perfect PageSpeed Insights Accessibility score and a fully interactive 3D map of the hospital that visiting children and their families can explore to become more familiar with the space before arriving for appointments or procedures.

Goodwill OC site by 500 Designs

Goodwill of Orange County needed a new site that would both encapsulate the importance of donating and expand accessibility for users with disabilities who were seeking employment.

The innovators at 500 Designs brought Goodwill OC’s vision to life with a beautifully reinvigorated site design and a perfect 100/100 PageSpeed Insights Accessibility score.

Culinary Institute of America site by Vital Design

They say you eat first with your eyes, and if that’s the case, visitors to the new Culinary Institute of America site are certainly feeling full.

Creative professionals at Vital Design crafted delicious visuals and updated more than 200 pages to improve PageSpeed Insights Accessibility scores on both mobile and desktop.

Peak Performance Award

The Peak Performance Award honors agency-built sites that combine complex features with exceptional speed and reliable performance across all digital touchpoints.

Each entry had to achieve a PageSpeed Insights Performance score of 85 or higher on both mobile and desktop and prove significant before-and-after performance improvements.

Freeman site by WebDevStudios

Freeman is an events services company focused on making moments that matter for exhibits, corporate events, trade shows, and more.

Through innovative use of Advanced Custom Fields and database optimization best practices, agency experts at WebDevStudios increased the site’s PageSpeed Insights Performance score by more than 30 on both mobile and desktop.

Factorial Energy site by 500 Designs

Factorial Energy is a pioneering company that’s revolutionizing battery technology to improve performance, sustainability, and safety.

The new site, created by 500 Designs, emphasizes the clean energy potential of Factorial Energy’s technology through simple storytelling, effective design, and the power of WordPress. 

Boomshot site by Coalition Technologies

Boomshot’s production experts are skilled at crafting distinctive, exceptional video content for their clients, but their own website was feeling the weight of that work and slowing down under the stress of heavy media files.

Digital experts at Coalition Technologies implemented a headless architecture and fully optimized the new Boomshot site, so the team’s award-winning videos now load and play faster than ever. 

Ocean Outdoor site by Plug & Play

Ocean Outdoor is a specialist media company that asks companies to see beyond the smartphone and take digital advertising out into the world, turning spaces into places that bring a brand closer to its audience.

They tapped the experts at Plug & Play to help reimagine their own digital presence, which has since achieved a PageSpeed Insights Performance score of 96 on mobile and 98 on desktop, even while organizing hundreds of thousands of large high-resolution media files.

Victaulic site by Crowd Favorite

Victaulic delivers advanced technologies and engineering services to address complex piping challenges faced by residential and commercial engineers.

The complexity and multitude of services provided by Victaulic—and its immense digital content library—was no problem for the digital architects at Crowd Favorite, who optimized the massive database on WP Engine’s platform to make finding information simple and speedy for users.

Future-ready Innovation Award

The Future-ready Innovation Award acknowledges innovative agencies using AI, headless architecture, and other cutting-edge WordPress technologies to set a new standard for modern web development.

Each agency entry had to include before-and-after examples showing how the applied technology translated into operational efficiency, scalability, or cost savings for the client.

The New Home Company site by Wpromote

The New Home Company is passionate about building homes with the latest ideas and innovations in mind to create a truly personalized, curated home-buying experience.

Its new website, built by the experts at Wpromote, uses headless technology to provide buyers with real-time, regional pricing data on homes, leading to a huge spike in user satisfaction and a more than 20% increase in engagement.

Farber Debt Solutions site by Art & Science

Farber Debt Solutions Farber has helped more than 100,000 Canadians successfully get out of debt throughout its 43 years of financial counseling and services.

Creative experts at Art & Science tapped into the power of headless to transform Farber’s digital presence, leading to a more than 150% increase in organic leads from the new site!

ACI Worldwide site by Vital Design

Secure digital payment processing is a complicated but necessary component of modern commerce. ACI Worldwide processes billions of transactions per day, equating to trillions of U.S. dollars, through its suite of electronic payment software solutions.

When ACI Worldwide needed a new website to better illustrate the advanced, cutting-edge technology it provides, agency experts at Vital Design utilized WP Engine’s Headless WordPress Platform to improve scalability and performance.

I Hate It Here site by Refact

Burnout isn’t a buzzword—it’s a very real issue experienced by up to three-quarters of professionals at some point in their lives. I Hate It Here is a site that acts as equal parts a safe space and an advice column for HR professionals experiencing burnout.

A project for Workweek created by agency professionals at Refact, the site is an exercise in community building, providing a place to vent as well as actionable insights for changing company cultures through its associated newsletter and podcast.

Cleveland Institute of Art site by thunder::tech

Showcasing a maximalist, media-rich design, and a clean, sophisticated bottom navigation, thunder::tech has seamlessly interwoven artistic flair and simple, intuitive UX design for the Cleveland Institute of Art.

The private, nonprofit college of art and design, which has been a training ground for students for more than 140 years, now has a striking, modern digital face to attract emerging artists to enroll. 

Business Transformation Award

The Business Transformation Award recognizes sites that drove impressive user engagement, conversions, or overall brand elevation after migrating or replatforming from another CMS or host.

These agencies created solid, scalable foundations on which their clients can continue to thrive in the modern market.

The Florey site by Spark Digital

Researchers at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health—the largest brain research center in the Southern Hemisphere—work tirelessly to identify causes, interventions, and cures for conditions that affect brain function, including dementia, epilepsy, and mental health issues. 

Its new website—created by Spark Digital—requires lower IT support which has led to operational savings for the nonprofit, and visitors are viewing the site’s donation page 40% more post-migration to WordPress.

Financial Advice Association of Australia site by 3 Phase Marketing

The Financial Advice Association of Australia is (FAAA) the country’s leading professional organization for financial advisers.

After replatforming to WordPress and WP Engine, 3 Phase Marketing helped the FAAA dramatically reduce the total cost of ownership of their site and drive a 133% increase in user engagement by making sweeping changes to UX and SEO strategies and cleaning up more than 1,000 pages of content.

Safe Events site by Granite

When the “figure it out” safety people at Safe Events couldn’t figure out the best solution for their digital presence, agency artisans at Granite were there to help.

After a migration from ModX to WordPress, the new site and rebrand increased site session duration by more than 40% and decreased its bounce rate by more than 30%.

Halls Gap Zoo site by Defyn

Halls Gap Zoo, Victoria, Australia’s largest privately owned regional zoo, migrated its site from a custom CMS to WordPress with the help of digital specialists at Defyn agency.

In doing so, the zoo saw an increase in both site traffic and foot traffic thanks to a 230% increase in memberships sold through the site!

Prosper Home & Land site by DeltaV Digital

When agency experts at DeltaV Digital suggested that Prosper Home & Land move their website from Squarespace to WordPress, they could never have imagined the impact it would have on their digital performance.

The new site saw a 45% increase in conversions, a 30% increase in time spent on site, and a whopping 60% increase in organic traffic, helping this small second-generation family business thrive in the digital market.

Committed to Give Back Award

The Committed to Give Back Award celebrates agencies that are using their talents for good. Each entry had to demonstrate exceptional design and show that the site made a positive, real-world impact on a nonprofit organization.

These mission-driven sites foster support, generate engagement, and advance the missions of the important causes they serve. 

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation by StrategiQ

Established in 1984 by conservationist David Shepherd, this nonprofit has helped turn the tide on species extinction.

Working pro-bono for a cause that resonated with their team, the experts at StrategiQ ended up completing a major site audit and refresh for the foundation, improving performance, functionality, and overall engagement.

Clooney Foundation for Justice site by Redback Solutions

Founded by George and Amal Clooney, the Clooney Foundation for Justice addresses human rights abuses on a global scale through on-the-ground investigations, trial monitoring, litigation, and advocacy.

Redback Solutions sought to center the people most affected by the nonprofit’s work by using high-quality, fast-loading video and multimedia content across the site. 

weADAPT site by Flipside Group

One of the world’s leading collaborative platforms for climate change knowledge and collaboration now focuses on sustainability in its own site design, thanks to the creatives at Fipside.

weADAPT’s new site makes it easy for visitors to learn about the effects of climate change, contribute content related to climate news, or connect and discuss these topics with like-minded peers. 

Cost of Inequity site by Online Optimism

The Cost of Inequity site explores scholarship related to the economic burden caused by racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in the U.S. healthcare system. 

Agency consultants at Online Optimism helped bridge the gap between data and storytelling with a new site that includes an interactive map of state-by-state statistics and other research done by Tulane University’s Institute for Innovation in Health Equity.

MIT MLK Scholars site by GraVoc

The MIT MLK Scholars Program welcomes outstanding scholars to MIT each year to share lectures, collaborate with other researchers, and deepen their scholarship. 

The organization tapped agency experts at GraVoc to build its new site, providing a digital face for the impact of this auspicious program.

What are WP Engine’s Agency Partner Awards?

WP Engine’s Agency Partner Awards recognize outstanding digital agencies that deliver exceptional site design, development, and innovation for their clients. 

Now in its second year, the awards aim to shine a light on some of the creative agencies enrolled in the company’s Agency Partner Program—the largest agency ecosystem in the WordPress community. You can learn more about 2024’s winners here.

Meet our winners next week!

Watch out for more news next week when we’ll share the winners for each of these categories!

In the meantime, check out some of the 2024 Agency Partner Award winners, or learn more about WP Engine’s Agency Partner Program!

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

WP Engine’s mission to power confidence online relies on the dedication and expertise of more than 1,000 global employees.

The combined effort of our whole team—from the support specialists solving technical challenges to the engineers driving performance and innovation across our fully managed hosting platform to the passionate professionals supporting our agency partners and everyone in between—ensures continued growth and success for WP Engine and our customers alike.

Our Meet the Experts series highlights some of the people who bring this mission to life, showcasing their roles, areas of expertise, and invaluable contributions to WP Engine’s success.

In this feature, we’ll introduce you to Kimberley Molloy, a culture and engagement team lead based in Limerick, Ireland.

Say hello to Kimberley!

Meet Kimberley Molloy, the culture and engagement team lead for WP Engine’s global locations. 

Based in Limerick, Kimberley is the person responsible for tracking the pulse of our workplace culture by creating meaningful events, fostering connections, and ensuring that WP Engine employees around the world feel supported and valued.

From managing regional town halls to organizing community give-back initiatives to running our two-day onboarding program for new hires in EMEA, Kimberley’s efforts make a lasting impact that helps WP Engine retain top talent.

“I think what I do contributes to the company’s success by making work better and easier for our employees,” Kimberley explains. 

“When people feel connected and appreciated, they’re more inspired to do their best work.”

When she’s not at work, you can find Kimberley at her CrossFit gym, headed to a horror movie, or tucking into a meal and a pint of Guinness in one of Limerick’s many exceptional restaurants. (She highly recommends The Buttery’s buffalo chicken burger.)

Kimberley’s career journey

Kimberley’s WP Engine journey began in technical support nearly seven years ago. 

“I had heard of this startup coming to Limerick, and everyone who joined couldn’t stop raving about the company,” Kimberley recalls. 

“I thought, ‘I want in,’ and here I am almost seven years later!”

Part of the reason she’s still with WP Engine after seven years is due to the support she received from her own managers. When she expressed an interest in moving to a different department, the company encouraged and celebrated her transition into a role that aligned with her passions.

As the culture and engagement team lead, Kimberley now plays a key role in driving initiatives that bring people together and elevate the employee experience. 

Whether it’s through small moments, like hosting weekly coffee mornings, or larger programs, like organizing the company’s quarterly culture awards, Kimberley’s work highlights the essence of WP Engine’s culture.

“It’s all about thoughtfulness,” Kimberley says. 

“We want people to feel like they’re part of something special, whether it’s their first day here or their thousandth.”

Words of wisdom: Take a break

One lesson Kimberley has learned both in her own career and in her work as a people motivator is the importance of self-care.

“When things get overwhelming, it’s important to prioritize looking after yourself,” Kimberley says. 

“Take a walk, book a day off, call a friend for a chat. No one will commend you for pushing through burnout—they probably won’t even notice. The only person who feels the effects is you.”

Her advice for aspiring culture and engagement professionals is equally pragmatic.

“Have fun with it! You’ll make mistakes and get things wrong, but those are the moments where you’ll learn the most.”

Powered by people

At WP Engine, culture isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a collective effort led by passionate individuals like Kimberley.

When asked what she loves most about her role, Kimberley doesn’t hesitate.

“It might sound cliché, but it’s the people,” she says. 

“The amazing culture we have at WP Engine exists because of every person here. Even on the busiest or toughest days, there’s always someone to make you laugh or brighten your day.”

Want to find out more about what it’s like to work at WP Engine? Visit our careers site to see the roles we currently have open, and check out our blog for more information about all the great people who work here!

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

Innovation is a continuous process of turning bold ideas into reality, and true innovators are those who dare to push the bounds of what’s possible. 

To explore how the fusion of creativity and technology is shaping the future of the web, WP Engine and The Webby Awards hosted Crafted Future: Driving Innovation. 

In this most recent Crafted Future event, experts discuss the strategies and tools they’re using to push boundaries, craft scalable solutions, and redefine the standards of digital excellence. Whether it’s through adopting cutting-edge technology, embracing new ideas, or ensuring seamless user experiences, the conversation explores what it takes to lead the charge in crafting forward-thinking, memorable digital experiences.

Panelists included Long Lead Editor John Patrick Pullen, DD.NYC^Ⓡ Creative Director and Managing Partner Anjelika Kour, and WP Engine Director of Digital Experience Caleb Eubanks. Together, they shared their perspectives on the big question facing agencies and developers today: How do you successfully balance creativity with technical excellence in the pursuit of digital greatness?

Read on for insights about the tools and perspectives that are setting new digital standards and driving the future of web design and development.

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Defining innovation: a thoughtful, collaborative process

The panel opened with a discussion that addresses the big theme of the day: What does “innovation” really mean in a technological sense, and how do we define it?

Panelists’ unique experiences informed their understanding of what innovation means. 

For Pullen, everything comes back to an editorial lens, so innovation means telling a story that imparts crucial knowledge to an audience in the most resonant way. 

For Kour, innovation means taking a sober look at a specific industry, deciding what changes would make the most impact, and taking meaningful strides within that niche to drive better experiences. She also cautioned against a need for speed, sharing that true innovation requires thoughtfulness, not haste.

“The best way to describe it is to take strides within each industry to push it forward,” she said. 

“But you can go too fast if you’re not communicating to your audiences.”

For Eubanks, innovation means improvement for both the storytellers and product designers behind the scenes and for the end consumers of that content.

“For me, it’s about solving age-old challenges in new ways,” he says. 

“As long as you’re focused on the end user and solving problems in better, faster, and more efficient ways to reduce strain on them, that’s innovation.”

From there, The Webby Awards general manager and panel moderator Nick Borenstein asked for specifics about two sites featured in this year’s Crafted With Code showcase: Hawkridge by DD.NYC and Lifting Ukraine by Long Lead. 

When asked how he approached digital design as a non-technical professional, Pullen shared that asking questions and dreaming big are vital to an innovative design process.

“I ask a lot of stupid questions, I say a lot of uninformed things, and then ask how we make this a reality,” he said. 

“A lot of times the answer is that it can’t be done, but I’m often surprised how often things can be done.”

Eubanks echoed that sentiment, taking a moment to share how collaboration is key to driving innovation.

“We have a fantastic product team here at WP Engine, and what they create is amazing. So, on the marketing side, we like to drink our own champagne by using those products and tools,” he said. 

“Then, we’re lucky enough to partner with those teams to create real-time feedback loops which allow us both—product and marketing—to innovate together and ultimately provide better service to the designers and storytellers using those products every day.”

Headless architecture, personalization, and embracing humanity in technology

As developers and creatives collaborate to drive thoughtful innovation across the web, choosing the right tools and technologies is vital to creating better, more human-centered products.

One such technology is headless development, which provides the foundation for both the Hawkridge Austin and Lifting Ukraine sites. Borenstein asked each panelist for their thoughts on headless technology and how it can enable more personalized web experiences.

“There are a lot of benefits to a headless platform. At a base level, headless technology allows greater flexibility across your entire ecosystem and is inherently modular and more flexible,” says Eubanks. 

“The separation of the front and backends allows you to choose the tools that are right for you, and headless allows content to be delivered across multiple platforms to improve the omnichannel experience.”

According to panelists, two of the main benefits of headless web architecture are the flexibility it offers and its ability to enable more personalized experiences.

“Headless architecture really gives us that flexibility across every project. We use headless in most of the projects that we do at DD.NYC,” she said. 

“Our agency utilizes headless to be able to create any design possible. By disconnecting frontend from backend, we can further scale even highly custom environments.”

And because even the most beautifully designed sites aren’t guaranteed to resonate with all users, headless’ ability to enhance personalization is a huge boon for both web developers and businesses that rely on web traffic for continued growth and brand awareness.

A truly personalized site must simultaneously gain valuable information about users and apply that knowledge to their on-site experiences. 

“Personalization is incredibly important—frankly, it’s table stakes in the modern digital economy,” said Eubanks. 

“Personalization is a matrix, so the more you know, the greater your technology stack is connected, the more you can personalize.”

Headless technology enhances the ability to create deeply personalized experiences on lightning-fast, completely custom websites, which is why experts believe it will continue to drive innovation web-wide.

Innovations on the horizon

As the conversation took a turn from what’s happening now to what’s possible in the future, experts discussed a number of trends they expect to continue growing, from minimalist site design to embracing artificial intelligence. 

“I would say that minimalism is one of the trends we do employ quite often at DD.NYC, and that’s because we want sites to be innovative at launch but also have longevity,” said Kour.

“We’ve built websites nine years ago that are still referenced today in client briefs today because they think it’s something that we built last year.”

Embracing artificial intelligence (AI) was another hot topic of discussion, and experts were excited to see how AI can be leveraged to drive future innovation.

“AI and machine learning are just tools that speed up the processing of data, which you can then leverage, but data is the important piece,” said Eubanks.

“Embracing AI is about using data for rapid experimentation to get to better outcomes faster.”

The most important innovation panelists noted, however, doesn’t come down to a single tool or technology—it comes down to design. Innovating the way information is presented to make it more attractive to a wider audience will be the driving force behind how and why designers make certain decisions.

“What we’re trying to do is push the [journalism] industry forward. There’s better ways to present information, and that’s what we’re endeavoring to show,” said Pullen. 

“Lifting Ukraine, for example, is a photo essay, so I think it would surprise some of you to know that it’s 7,500 words. You don’t feel that because it’s so rich in its visuals, but it’s a long story.”

In the end, innovation is about using creativity and technology in tandem to create compelling digital experiences that impart both knowledge and a specific sentiment upon the end users.

“For me, it’s about an emotion. Design depends on your audience, who you’re trying to reach, and what emotion you’re trying to convey,” said Eubanks. 

“A lot of websites look a lot of the same ways, so you have to be innovative and exploratory to create truly new experiences.”

What is Crafted Future?

Crafted Future is a series of compelling panel discussions created in partnership with The Webby Awards. The virtual event series explores topics impacting the work of digital professionals as told by top-level experts in their fields.

You can find previous Crafted Future discussions on The Webby Awards’ YouTube channel.

Craft your future with WP Engine

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Crafted Future: Driving Innovation—we hope the discussion inspired you to explore new ideas and find ways to infuse creativity into your workflows.

At WP Engine, we are dedicated to empowering developers, designers, and businesses to push the boundaries of what’s possible online. With cutting-edge WordPress solutions, we help our customers build secure, high-performance, and scalable websites that drive innovation and deliver exceptional user experiences.

Ready to craft the future of the web? Explore our hosting plans or connect with an expert to discover how WP Engine can support your next big idea!

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

Crafted With Code 2024 has reached an exciting conclusion with its innovation showcase—a collection of some of the most groundbreaking and imaginative WordPress-powered projects recognized by the Webby Awards throughout the year.

A collaboration between WP Engine and the Webby Awards, Crafted With Code has spent the past five years exploring the stories behind Webby-recognized websites, offering a glimpse into the creativity and technical expertise required to bring them to life.

Through in-depth video interviews with creators, the innovation showcase examines how technology and artistry merge to create unforgettable digital experiences.

“Innovation is what drives the web forward, and these projects demonstrate the limitless possibilities of WordPress,” said WP Engine Director of Brand Regina Yuan. 

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Webby Awards to celebrate the ingenuity of these creators and inspire others to push boundaries and break the mold.”

Final edition: Innovation

The first phase of 2024’s Crafted With Code showcase focused on design and accessibility, featuring projects that are equal parts beautiful and functional, striking a balance between style and user convenience. The second phase, the performance showcase, highlighted sites designed to deliver lightning-fast load times and optimized content delivery, all powered by WordPress.

The third and final phase of the 2024 Crafted With Code showcase is focused on innovation. The exhibition spotlights five sites that seamlessly blend creative vision with cutting-edge technology, illustrating how WordPress can be harnessed to craft scalable, memorable, and future-ready digital experiences.

2024’s most innovative projects

The following are three of the projects that earned a spot in this year’s innovation showcase—all hosted on WP Engine’s platform!

These sites deliver engaging content in unique ways and show how the world’s most popular CMS continues to redefine what’s possible on the web.

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Mentorship is a vital part of career development, but for many up-and-coming creatives and agencies hiring young professionals, finding the right person or resource to mold their raw talent is a challenge. 

Jason Bagley, former ECD of Wieden+Kennedy agency, founded the Audacious School of Astonishing Pursuits (ASAP) to fill that need. With programs and coaches that teach proven principles and techniques, ASAP aims to inspire the next generation of creative professionals and help them advance their careers to unlock their full potential. 

The Webby-nominated site is exactly as creative as the organization’s name might suggest, offering a unique parallax scrolling experience, fast-loading video, subtle glitch animations, and a distinctly ‘80s vibe.

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Candice B. Groot (1954–2015) was a prominent philanthropist and collector who earnestly believed in the transformative power of art. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Texas Tech University and spent much of her personal and professional life surrounding herself with as many works of art as possible.

Her legacy continues to inspire through several grants, awards, and scholarships named for her (provided through the Virginia A. Groot Foundation which she established in 1988), and her impactful contributions left a lasting impression on the art community at large.

The Art is Everywhere site was named a Webby Honoree in 2024 and acts as a digital exhibition of the work Groot collected over a lifetime of art appreciation. It shares images of the work itself alongside quotes and stories that honor the life and legacy of a true artist. Featuring an imaginative cursor and a minimalist layout that lets the art speak for itself, the site leans into some of the trends at the forefront of modern web design.

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Hawkridge is a subdivision located just south of downtown Austin, TX in the heart of the Hill Country. Named after the native hawks that soar the skies, Hawkridge represents the marriage of natural beauty and artful architecture.

Luxury developer Kirby Walls spearheaded the project, which covers 88 acres of land and incorporates local architectural materials like aged corten, weathered limestone, textural concrete, and river rock to complement the stunning aesthetic of the natural surroundings. 

The Webby-nominated Hawkridge website mirrors the project’s elegance and focus on natural beauty. Featuring subtle micro-interactions and stunning photography that captures the beauty of the Texas Hill Country, users are encouraged to explore available lots, schedule a tour, and imagine themselves nestled in the quiet luxury community.

Tune into our Crafted Future event to learn more 

Want to dive deeper into the cutting-edge projects in the innovation showcase and hear directly from the creators behind them?

Join us on January 22 for Crafted Future: Driving Innovation, a special event co-hosted with the Webbys, where digital leaders from the innovation showcase will share their insights on creativity, technology, and the future of WordPress.

Register now to secure your spot, and stay tuned to our blog for more updates about Crafted With Code 2025.

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

The relentless drive to simplify our customers’ workflows, enhance their websites, and invest in open-source tools beloved by the community—such as Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), Local, and NitroPack—inspired a banner year for innovation at WP Engine. 

Building on our 2024 Year in Review, which highlighted key upgrades and enhancements, we’re excited to present this comprehensive view of the innovations and improvements we launched for our customers and the wider WordPress community in 2024. 

From Smart Search AI, which transforms how site owners and online retailers connect with their users, to Page Speed Boost enhancements that make websites faster than ever, 2024 saw us redefine the possibilities of what your websites can do. 

Additionally, our developer sandbox environments and improved site transfer workflows simplified agency operations, while our Conversational AI search experience offered a glimpse into the future of website interactions. 

But that’s just the beginning. All of these innovations reflect our commitment to our customers, our agency partners, and WordPress users worldwide. They are embedded in the DNA of our industry-leading platform and products to help our customers and WordPress developers win online. 

Let’s keep evolving, improving, and innovating together in 2025! 

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WP Engine’s 2024 Key Improvements & Innovations

Performance innovations & insights

Frontend optimization

• Page Speed Boost optimizations tuning
  • Page Speed Boost’s 30+ code-level enhancements now further increase page speed, optimizing images, cleaning up code, and prioritizing loading.
• Page Speed Boost troubleshooting

Analytics

• Performance Insights & Recommendations
• Lighthouse scores monitoring with Page Speed Boost

Platform performance

• Edge Full Page Cache
• Improved Object Cache
• Entri Connect for automating DNS pointing
• Increased reliability and security 
  • We implemented robust security enhancements, resolved customer pain points, and upgraded hardware for faster, safer, and more reliable user experiences.

UI & accessibility improvements 

WP Engine User Portal

• Switch network workflow update
  • Effortlessly switch to our advanced network and receive DDoS mitigation. 
• Multi-factor authentication enhancements
• Copy site error handling &  status updates
  • More detailed updates throughout the copy site process, ensuring transparency to keep customers informed of progress and completion.
• Integrated search for support and account information
  •  Easily locate support resources and account information directly in the WP Engine User Portal 
• AI-powered chat support
• Automatic Search-Replace for primary domain updates
  • Take the hassle out of manual updates with our new auto search-replace feature.
• Site navigation redesign
  • We refined our core navigation to make the WP Engine User Portal easier and more intuitive.
• [Beta] Dark mode
  • Save energy and give your eyes a break with our new dark mode option.
• Account dashboard, usage reporting, and invoice updates
  • We’ve enhanced the Dashboard, Billing, and Usage pages in the User Portal, ensuring the most important information about your plan and website(s) is readily available.      

Specialized solutions

AI

• Smart Search AI
  • A natural-language search experience that understands user intent and delivers highly relevant, accurate results—even for vague, misspelled, or conversational queries.
• Conversational AI search experience
  • AI-powered hybrid search for both keywords and natural language. 
• [Beta] AI Recommendations
  • Enhance content, product pages, and more with AI-generated recommendations for your users.  
• [Beta] AI chatbot template
  • Our AI-powered vector-as-a-service technology gives you easy access to an out-of-the-box chatbot template.   

eCommerce

• Slow Query Monitor
• Smart Search AI for eCommerce
• Dynamic plugin loading
• Stripe Checkout integration

Headless

• Performant Node Package Manager (pnpm) support
  •  Added support for fast, space-efficient disk space management. 
• Improved runtime logs
  •  Gain an aggregated, real-time view of recent application logs generated by WordPress and Node.js environments.
• Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR) 
  • Ensure dynamic content freshness with incremental static regeneration. 
• Cache purge library
  •  Removes resources from your cache without waiting for the cache to expire.
• Enhanced User Interface
  • In alignment with WP Engine’s UX and design standards, we refined our Headless Platform UI to boost usability and intuitiveness. Try it out for free for a firsthand look!
• HTTP health checks
  •  Monitor the health of HTTP servers with ease. 

Agency workflows & developer tooling

Solutions for agencies and large-scale sites

• All Accounts view
  • See all of your client accounts in one place, at once. 
• Bulk plugin and theme ZIP file upload
  • Say goodbye to individually installing plugins and ZIP files and get back to focusing on what matters most.  
• Developer Sandboxes
  • Give your devs access to a safe, secure development environment for building and testing your latest work. 
• Improved account switcher
  • Switch between accounts more seamlessly than ever. 
• Improved site transfer
  • Transfer client sites faster, with more intuitive workflows and dedicated support throughout. 
• Managed Migration Service
• New Push/Pull functionality
  • Update client sites and their content faster and seamlessly. 
• Status visibility for backups
  • Gain a clear line of sight into your backup processes. 

Tooling

• Smart Plugin Manager visual regression testing sensitivity configuration
  • Smart Plugin Manager now ensures plugin and theme updates haven’t caused site errors with even greater granularity.  
• Bulk plugin upload available for customers with Site Management 
  • Install multiple plugins at once to save time and refocus efforts elsewhere. 
• Smart Plugin Manager users can change the limit of tested URLs
  • Test more URLs for available plugin and theme updates.
• WP Engine Site Migration plugin  
  • The WP Engine Site Migration plugin simplifies the process of moving your local or hosted WordPress website to WP Engine or Flywheel.
• WP Offload SES: Enqueue Only mode and improvements for high-volume senders
  • Per Version 1.7, capture or pause emails in any environment and streamline email logs to reduce database bloat for high-volume senders.

Open-source tools

Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)

Free

• New icon picker field type
• Support for WordPress Block Bindings API
• Multiple releases improving plugin security

ACF PRO

• Field validation for ACF Blocks
  • ACF now supports block field validation directly in the editor. 
• Store ACF Block field data in post meta 

Local

• Create a new WP Engine site from within Local
  • As of Local 9.0.1 WP Engine customers can create sites directly in Local, no browser needed. 
• Select and filter connected sites by individual accounts 
  • Sites dropdown now filters by account for easier navigation.
• Database-only pushes and pulls
  •  Push and pull databases instantly without file dependencies.
• Visual Studio Code integration
  • A new “VS Code” button opens sites in Visual Studio Code, providing users with a streamlined editing option that opens sites in new windows instead of replacing existing open VS Code windows.

NitroPack

Free

• Secure Cloudflare integration
• Faster JavaScript minification
• Improved Lazy Loading
• CSS optimizations
  • NitroPack’s new Critical CSS feature inlines essential styles for above-the-fold content, while asynchronously loading non-critical CSS to improve page speed.

Paid Plans

• Improved Adaptive Image Sizing
• Enhanced image optimization 
• Up to 60x faster font optimization
  • NitroPack’s Font Subsetting feature removes unused glyphs, reduces font sizes, and prevents FOUT/FOIT.

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All of these innovations exemplify our commitment to empowering you with cutting-edge tools, seamless workflows, and unparalleled site performance. 

As we begin the new year, we remain dedicated to pushing boundaries and delivering solutions that redefine what’s possible for WordPress users, ensuring your digital experiences stay ahead of the curve.

Find out more at wpengine.com or connect with a representative now for answers to your questions! 

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

WP Engine’s mission is to power confidence online, and every one of our more than 1,000 global employees is vital to fulfilling that mission. 

From the support specialists providing technical troubleshooting to the engineers driving performance and innovation across our fully managed platform to the ardent professionals aiding our agency partners, it takes the combined effort of a unified, goal-oriented team to keep WP Engine and our customers growing and thriving.

In our Meet the Experts series, we celebrate the people who are driving our mission forward by exploring their roles, areas of expertise, and contributions to the WP Engine’s success.

In this interview, we speak with Neil Daly, a senior software engineer based in Limerick, Ireland.

Say hello to Neil!

Neil Daly is a tinkerer and adventurer, both in and out of the digital world. When he’s not leading software engineering projects, you can find him scaling bouldering walls, crafting intricate Lego builds, or exploring Ireland’s picturesque trails.

Originally from Limerick, Neil discovered WP Engine during a university work placement. From day one, he was captivated by the opportunity to solve real-world customer challenges using modern tools and technologies.

“I was drawn to the idea of breaking down complex problems and collaborating with brilliant minds,” Neil says. 

“It’s incredibly satisfying to see a feature go live and know it’s making a real difference for our customers.”

Neil’s passion for engineering stems from a deep-rooted love of learning—a mindset that has helped him thrive at WP Engine. Whether he’s perfecting his guitar skills, diving into design pattern books, or building a Lord of the Rings Lego set, Neil’s enthusiasm for picking apart and solving problems is evident in everything he does.

Neil’s career journey

Since joining WP Engine in 2019, Neil’s role has evolved from intern to senior software engineer and tech lead. His work focuses on improving the customer experience in both the WP Engine User Portal and on their WordPress sites.

“I enjoy breaking large, complex projects into smaller, more manageable pieces,” Neil explains. 

“It helps our team move faster and stay focused while ensuring we’re solving the right problems.”

As a tech lead, Neil also mentors his teammates, helping them navigate technical challenges and develop innovative solutions. This collaborative approach helps fuel WP Engine’s culture of continuous improvement, which Neil finds particularly rewarding.

“I’ve learned so much from others here,” he says. 

“Our culture encourages knowledge-sharing, whether through tech talks, documentation, or even casual conversations. It’s a big part of what makes WP Engine such a great place to work.”

Words of wisdom: Communication is key

For Neil, one of the most challenging aspects of his role is ensuring effective communication—both within his team and across the organization.

“Whether it’s code, documentation, or diagrams, clearly presenting information takes thought and care,” Neil says. 

“I try to put myself in others’ shoes and imagine I’m encountering the information for the first time. It helps me think about different perspectives and find better ways to explain things.”

Neil’s thoughtful approach also extends to problem-solving. When tackling complex challenges, he emphasizes the importance of taking a step back to see the bigger picture.

“It’s easy to get tunnel vision,” he says, “but when you pause and reassess, you often uncover a better solution.”

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We’re passionate about building a culture where a problem-solving mindset and collaborative approach are the keys that unlock success. 

As Neil says, “Working with a brilliant team where I know I can be myself, provide and receive constructive feedback, and be open and honest makes my life easier.”

Want to find out more about what it’s like to work at WP Engine? Visit our careers site to see the roles we currently have open, and check out our blog for more information about all the great people who work here!

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Our view at Stack - we've been using WP Engine in our business for 12 years so that should say it all! WP Engine offers optimized performance, enterprise-grade security, award-winning support, unique WordPress features, scalability, and developer trust. So what makes wp engine hosting different? If you want the best hosting then WP Engine is the answer

As 2025 gets off to a fast start, the world of web development is poised for several exciting advances, each driven by a blend of innovative technology and evolving user preferences.

From AI’s expanding role in web development and shifts in preferred coding languages to the emergence of new cybersecurity strategies, keeping up with the latest trends is crucial for web developers as the pace of innovation accelerates.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the key trends set to shape the world of web development in 2025 and what they could mean for WordPress users. Here’s what we’ll cover:

AI will continue to redefine the web development landscape  

It should come as no surprise that artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to remain a transformative force in web development throughout 2025. 

Building on unprecedented advancements and adoption in 2024, AI continues to revolutionize web development by enhancing workflows, optimizing user experiences, and reshaping how websites are built, maintained, and scaled. 

While AI’s influence now spans every stage of web development, its impact is set to grow. Tools like GitHub Copilot and Tabnine are already widely used to automate repetitive coding tasks, providing real-time suggestions that free developers to focus on more complex challenges. 

On the user-facing side, AI also powers dynamic personalization. Platforms like WordLift analyze user behavior to deliver tailored content, boosting engagement and conversions. Meanwhile, advanced search solutions such as WP Engine’s Smart Search AI leverage natural language processing (NLP) to provide intuitive, highly relevant search results.

AI will remain a transformative force in web development throughout 2025, building on unprecedented advancements and adoption in 2024.

In the background, AIOps solutions from providers like New Relic and Dynatrace proactively monitor site performance, detect anomalies, and recommend optimizations to prevent downtime and enhance reliability. 

While these trends are set to continue, the next evolution of AI in web development will emphasize creativity and innovation. With AI-assisted coding and automation now standard practice, the real differentiator in 2025 will be how developers leverage AI for advanced applications, such as predictive user journey mapping, generative content creation, and adaptive, AI-driven chatbots. 

AI’s integration with edge computing and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) is also unlocking new opportunities for speed and responsiveness. By processing data closer to end users, this combination enhances performance for dynamic, content-rich websites, ensuring seamless, real-time interactions. 

As AI matures, its potential to elevate web development will only grow. In 2025, it will challenge teams to move beyond the basics, crafting smarter, more innovative solutions that continue to redefine the web’s possibilities.

Low-code/no-code platforms will accelerate time-to-market 

Low-code/no-code (LC/NC) solutions have already revolutionized web development by democratizing the creation of applications and digital solutions. 

As their name suggests, these tools empower non-technical users to build applications through visual interfaces and pre-built components, reducing reliance on traditional coding expertise. As we enter 2025, the appeal of these tools—many of which have achieved mainstream adoption in recent years—is set to grow further.

LC/NC solutions excel in streamlining workflows and enabling teams with varying levels of technical expertise, making them invaluable for organizations of all sizes. However, these platforms are not a one-size-fits-all solution. 

While they are ideal for prototyping, workflow automation, and internal tools, complex projects often require skilled developers to address challenges like security, scalability, and integration. 

In 2025, look for LC/NC solutions to increasingly complement traditional development by automating routine tasks, enabling faster time-to-market without sacrificing quality. Startups and resource-constrained teams will leverage these tools for quick wins, while larger enterprises will adopt them for rapid prototyping and empowering non-technical teams.

The growing adoption of LC/NC tools like Bubble and OutSystems highlights their potential to balance speed and sophistication, making them indispensable in modern web development. 

For WordPress users, low-code solutions like Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) and Gravity Forms, as well as the WordPress block editor and Site Editor are all being used to streamline content creation, build dynamic digital experiences, and customize websites without writing code. 

Given the ability of LC/NC solutions to empower users while maintaining scalability and flexibility, look for this trend to gain steam in the months ahead as more businesses embrace these tools to enhance efficiency and meet evolving market demands.

Programming languages will evolve to meet modern demands

As we kick off 2025, the programming landscape is undergoing a remarkable transformation, with emerging languages like Rust, Go, and Kotlin gaining momentum alongside established leaders such as Python and JavaScript. 

This evolution reflects the growing need for languages that address specific challenges and unlock new opportunities in web development. 

Python continues to lead in AI, data science, and machine learning, thriving in data-intensive workflows and fields that demand rapid prototyping. Its versatility and robust library ecosystem make it indispensable for applications ranging from predictive analytics to automation. 

Meanwhile, JavaScript remains the backbone of web development, driving modern front-end frameworks like React and enabling scalable server-side solutions with Node.js. 

At the same time, newer languages are also making their mark. Rust, known for its focus on memory safety and concurrency, is becoming a go-to for systems programming and performance-critical applications. 

Go’s simplicity and efficiency position it as a favorite for cloud-native development, powering tools like Docker and Kubernetes. Kotlin, initially popular for Android development, is expanding into backend and enterprise applications with its concise syntax and seamless Java interoperability. 

This shift offers opportunities for WordPress developers to integrate emerging technologies into their workflows. Whether leveraging JavaScript for headless CMS solutions, using Python for AI-driven features, or exploring Rust and Go for performance optimization, the ability to adapt to modern languages will be a key differentiator. 

Developers who embrace this evolution will be well-prepared to meet the demands of increasingly complex software ecosystems.

Headless CMS adoption will continue to grow 

Building on the evolution of programming languages, the rise of API-first approaches, including headless CMS architecture, is reshaping web development, offering new ways for developers to harness flexibility and scalability. 

Headless decouples the frontend and backend, enabling developers to use modern programming languages, frameworks, and tools to create tailored solutions that excel across platforms and devices. 

In a headless setup, content is managed in a backend CMS and delivered to the front end through APIs. This allows developers to design unique user interfaces without being constrained by traditional CMS templates. 

For WordPress developers, headless solutions represent a significant opportunity. By leveraging tools like the WordPress REST API or GraphQL integrations, developers can combine WordPress’s robust content management capabilities with cutting-edge front-end technologies like React, Vue, or Next.js.

This approach enables faster load times, seamless omnichannel experiences, and the ability to push updates to multiple platforms simultaneously. The growing adoption of headless reflects a broader industry focus on performance and user experience. 

With consumer expectations higher than ever, organizations are embracing headless architecture to deliver faster, more dynamic websites that meet the demands of modern audiences. 

In 2025, headless solutions will remain at the forefront of innovation, giving developers the freedom to experiment with new technologies and create unique experiences.

Heightened regulatory scrutiny will expand to more sectors 

As data privacy becomes a global priority, regulatory scrutiny is set to intensify in 2025, affecting more industries than ever before. 

High-profile regulations such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) have already reshaped how organizations handle user data, but the landscape is evolving. Expansions to existing laws and the introduction of new regional standards—such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the EU or stricter privacy laws in the U.S.—will require businesses to adopt more comprehensive compliance strategies. 

For web developers, this means data protection and privacy must be integrated into every stage of the development lifecycle. Developers will need to ensure websites and applications are designed with features like cookie consent management, opt-in/opt-out mechanisms, and robust data encryption to meet regulatory requirements. 

Additionally, implementing privacy-first approaches such as anonymizing user data and minimizing data collection will become best practices to avoid penalties and build trust with users. Industries like healthcare, finance, and eCommerce—already subject to stringent compliance standards—are likely to see even stricter requirements. 

Meanwhile, emerging sectors like IoT (Internet of Things) and AI-powered applications will come under increased scrutiny, especially regarding data collection, usage, and storage. In this environment, developers who stay ahead of regulatory changes will play a crucial role in helping businesses adapt. 

As compliance evolves from an operational necessity to a competitive advantage in 2025, web developers will be at the forefront of building secure, privacy-conscious digital experiences.

DevSecOps will become a cybersecurity mainstay 

In 2025, DevSecOps will solidify its role in modern web development, embedding security practices directly into the development lifecycle. 

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and frequent, traditional approaches to security—often treated as a post-launch checklist—are no longer sufficient. Instead, DevSecOps integrates security into every stage of development, ensuring web applications are resilient from the outset. 

At its core, DevSecOps weaves security into CI/CD pipelines, enabling teams to identify and address vulnerabilities early. Automated tools for vulnerability scanning, static code analysis, and dependency management are critical components of this approach, providing real-time feedback to developers without disrupting workflows. 

Solutions like Snyk and Checkmarx, for example, scan open-source libraries and application code for potential risks, reducing the risk of breaches caused by unpatched vulnerabilities. Real-time monitoring and threat detection further enhance DevSecOps practices. 

AIOps solutions like Splunk proactively identify anomalies and recommend mitigations, helping teams respond swiftly to emerging threats. In tandem, infrastructure-as-code (IaC) security ensures that cloud environments are configured securely, preventing misconfigurations that could expose sensitive data. 

The rise of DevSecOps reflects a broader shift toward shared responsibility for security across development, operations, and security teams. 

In 2025, organizations that embrace this proactive approach will not only reduce risks but also build user trust by demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding data. As cyberattacks become increasingly prevalent, DevSecOps will be essential for delivering secure, reliable digital experiences.

Decentralized web technologies will finally go mainstream  

In 2025, decentralized web technologies are set to move from niche adoption to widespread implementation, fundamentally changing how digital systems operate. These tools, including blockchain and peer-to-peer networks, promise to address critical challenges in data security, privacy, and control. 

Decentralized identity systems, like Microsoft’s Azure AD Verifiable Credentials and W3C’s Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), empower users to securely authenticate without third-party intermediaries. They reduce the risk of data breaches while enabling granular control over personal information. 

For WordPress users, these shifts present unique opportunities to integrate decentralized technologies into their websites and digital experiences. 

The adoption of protocols like ActivityPub, which allows WordPress sites to federate with other platforms in the Fediverse, enables a new level of interconnectivity and user engagement Additionally, OAuth-based authentication systems and plugins built on decentralized frameworks empower WordPress administrators to offer privacy-focused features that align with users’ growing demand for secure, decentralized alternatives. 

In a similar vein, decentralized storage solutions, such as InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) can also enhance the resilience and security of WordPress-hosted content by providing distributed backups resistant to server outages and access restrictions.

By distributing data across multiple nodes, these systems ensure greater resilience against censorship and server outages. Peer-to-peer communication protocols like Secure Scuttlebutt (SSB) and Matrix further enhance privacy through encrypted, serverless messaging and collaboration. 

As these technologies become more accessible, they will spur a shift toward a more secure, user-driven web. Developers and organizations that embrace them in 2025 will lead the way in building a decentralized digital future where users control their own data.

Web performance and Core Web Vitals will become pivotal

In 2025, web performance will continue to become an increasingly critical factor in delivering exceptional user experiences and achieving competitive SEO rankings. 

With user expectations for fast, seamless interactions at an all-time high, Google’s Core Web Vitals will become essential benchmarks for website success. These metrics—focusing on loading speed (Largest Contentful Paint, or LCP), interactivity (Interaction to Next Paint, or INP), and visual stability (Cumulative Layout Shift, or CLS)—will continue to shape user satisfaction and search engine visibility.

To meet these demands, developers will adopt advanced tools and optimization techniques. Performance monitoring platforms like Lighthouse and WebPageTest will play a larger role in identifying bottlenecks, while real-time analytics tools such as New Relic and SpeedCurve will enable teams to proactively address performance issues. 

Techniques like image optimization, lazy loading, and server-side rendering (SSR) will become standard practices for ensuring faster load times and smoother interactions. Additionally, the increased adoption of edge computing and wider use of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) will enable developers to process data closer to users, reducing latency and improving site speed for global audiences. 

Tools like Cloudflare and WP Engine’s Page Speed Boost are expected to gain more traction as businesses prioritize responsiveness across devices and regions. In this performance-driven landscape, success will depend on more than just meeting technical benchmarks—it will require a user-first mindset. 

Developers who invest in optimizing Core Web Vitals in 2025 will improve their sites’ search rankings and create frictionless digital experiences that build trust and drive engagement.

Preparing for a stellar 2025

2025 promises to be a year of evolution, as developers navigate a landscape defined by innovation and complexity. 

From AI-driven advancements to the rise of decentralized systems, these trends highlight a future where adaptability and creativity will drive success in web development.

Getting your digital presence ready for a stellar 2025? Check out WP Engine’s flexible hosting for WordPress sites and expansive set of developer tools.

Hopefully you've now see what makes wp engine hosting different. If WP Engine is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

 

Credit: Original article published here.