Impressive Hosting

What happens when WordPress hosting is built by the team behind WordPress.com? Jesse Friedman and Joshua Goode explore how WP Cloud elevates the entire hosting ecosystem with WordPress-first infrastructure. Bluehost CloudPork BunConvePressableAWSWordPress VIPJoshua Goode on LinkedInClick here to watch a video of this episode.

The days of selling disk space and bandwidth are over. Vikas Singhal explains why hosting companies must embrace the 'saasification of WordPress' to compete with platforms like Shopify and Squarespace. InstaWPBluehost CloudGutenbergVikas Singhal on LinkedInClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Hosting companies can't just sell hosting anymore, they need to sell experiences. Vikas Singhal discusses how InstaWP's ephemeral sites let customers try WordPress instantly, reducing churn and creating tailored experiences for specific niches like hairdressers or dentists. InstaWPVikas Singhal on LinkedInCloudFestContact Form 7Gravity FormsElementorClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse Friedman continues his conversation with Konrad Keck about AI in hosting support. They discuss how AI can enhance support teams rather than replacing them, why forcing customers through AI chatbots creates frustration, and how hosting companies should measure success by customer time saved instead of just cost reduction. They also explore Web Hosting Today and innovation opportunities in the hosting industry.PanelAlphaModulesGardenKonrad on LinkedInEpisode with Tom Fanelli from Convesio Episode with OliverClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Agencies are already doing the work of hosting companies. They just aren't getting paid for it. Discover how WordPress professionals can transform their existing workflows into recurring revenue streams. Konrad Keck on LinkedInPanelAlphaModules GardenWeb Hosting TodayWHMCSClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse Friedman talks with Jeffrey Golenski from Automattic for Agencies about product management, innovation, and the future of WordPress hosting. They discuss unplugging from technology, customer feedback versus competitor watching, light-switch features, and how AI tools are empowering designers to expand into full-service agency work without devaluing their expertise. GuestJeffrey Golenski on LinkedInJeffrey Golenski on blueskyCompanies & Products MentionedAutomattic for Agencies (A4A)WP CloudPressableJetpackTools & Technologies MentionedWordPress Block EditorFramerFigmaCursor AIRemarkable TabletDesign & Web History ReferencesCSS Zen GardenA List Apart - Responsive Web Design by Ethan Marcotte"The Web We Lost" by Luke DornyWordPress ResourcesWordPress.orgFive for the FutureOther ResourcesCloudFestClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse talks with Jeffrey Golenski, Product Manager for Automattic's Agency Program, about what agencies really need from hosting providers. They explore support expectations, flexible billing models, and how hosting companies can help agencies compete against platforms like Shopify. Jeff shares insights from working with agencies of all sizes across global markets. Automattic for AgenciesWordPress VIPWordPress.comPressableJetpackWooCommerceClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse Friedman continues his conversation with Wes Tatters from Rapyd Cloud, exploring performance benchmarking through Orderly Apes, why successful sites need white-glove service expectations, and how WordPress hosts defend against SaaS platform migration. They discuss WordPress scalability challenges, the importance of contributing to WordPress core, and why data ownership makes WordPress superior to closed platforms. Performance and Testing ToolsOrderly Apes - Open source performance testing dashboard forked from K6K6 - Performance testing tool acquired by GrafanaGrafana - Monitoring and observability platformWP Hosting Benchmarks - Kevin Ohashi's WordPress hosting performance reviewsReview Signal - Web hosting reviews and benchmarksPlatforms and ProductsBuddyBoss - WordPress community platform and social networking pluginThe Happy Pear - Vegan lifestyle community that started on BuddyBossFluent Communities - WordPress community platform with BuddyBoss importerSureCart - WordPress e-commerce pluginFluent Cart - WooCommerce alternativeLearnDash - WordPress LMSTutor LMS - WordPress learning management systemLifterLMS - WordPress LMS platformElementor - WordPress page builderAdvanced Custom Fields - WordPress custom fields pluginWordPress Community ResourcesWordPress Make Hosting Team - WordPress hosting contributor teamWordPress Make Slack - WordPress contributor Slack channelsWordPress TV - WordCamp presentations and talksFive for the Future - WordPress contribution initiativeWordCamp EuropeWordCamp BrisbaneWordCamp USCloudFestSecurity ToolsWP Scan - WordPress security vulnerability databasePatchStack - WordPress vulnerability protection (mentioned in previous episode)Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse Friedman speaks with Wes Tatters, Managing Director of Rapyd Cloud, about WordPress hosting for high-concurrency sites like BuddyBoss communities and LearnDash courses. They discuss why traditional page caching fails for dynamic sites, how data privacy drives WordPress community platforms, and why security should be foundational rather than an afterthought in managed hosting. Guest InformationWes Tatters - Managing Director, Rapyd Cloud BuddyBoss - WordPress community platform and social networking plugin BuddyPress - Open source social networking software for WordPress LearnDash - WordPress LMS (Learning Management System) MemberPress - WordPress membership plugin LifterLMS - WordPress LMS platform Tutor LMS - WordPress learning management system Elementor - WordPress page builder Crocoblock - JetPlugins suite for dynamic WordPress sites Security and Performance ToolsPatchStack - WordPress vulnerability protection and virtual patchingImunify - Server-level malware detection and securityObject Cache Pro - WordPress object caching for performanceRelay - Object caching solutionWP Fusion - WordPress CRM integration toolEvents and CommunityWordCamp EuropeFive for the Future - WordPress contribution initiativeClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse Friedman continues his conversation with Brad Williams from WebDevStudios, exploring how hosting companies should adapt to agency workflows, the value of diversifying hosting partnerships, and WebDevStudios' innovative approach to migrating legacy WordPress sites to the block editor. They discuss why WordPress needs better enterprise marketing and how hosts can help promote modern WordPress features. WebDevStudiosBrad Williams: X.com, web, LinkedInPressableBuddyworksPagelyOllieWPClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse Friedman speaks with Brad Williams, co-founder of WebDevStudios, about the critical partnership between WordPress agencies and hosting companies. They discuss why relationships matter more than vendor transactions, the "triangle dynamic" between agencies, hosts, and clients, and what managed WordPress hosting means from an agency perspective. Brad shares practical strategies for building partnerships that help clients succeed. WebDevStudiosBrad Williams: X.com, web, LinkedInPressableClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse Friedman continues his conversation with Jeffrey Zeldman about the open web versus social media platforms, AI's role in WordPress hosting, and empathetic design. They explore how hosting companies can help users reclaim individual voice from algorithm-controlled platforms while using AI responsibly to enhance website building without replacing human creativity and authentic expression. A List ApartAn Event ApartA Book ApartJason Kottke’s BlogClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse talks with web standards pioneer Jeffrey Zeldman about surviving the browser wars, empathetic design versus data extraction, and why hosting companies should focus on customer success over conversion optimization. They explore how WordPress can restore individual expression to a web increasingly dominated by sterile, algorithmic platforms. A List ApartAn Event ApartA Book ApartJason Kottke’s BlogClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse Friedman and Jamie Marsland explore why 70% of WordPress users are DIYers, yet hosting companies focus on agencies. They discuss strategies for supporting DIY success, leveraging educational content, and avoiding the race-to-the-bottom pricing that hurts the entire ecosystem. Jamie WPJamie MarslandPootlepress@pootlepressWP101WordPress.org AI InitiativeWordCamp CentralJamie talks with James LePageClick here to watch a video of this episode.

In this episode of Impressive Hosting, Jesse Friedman sits down with Jamie Marsland, head of WordPress YouTube at Automattic, to explore the evolution of WordPress education and hosting. With over 12 years of experience training 5,000+ people on WordPress, Marsland shares insights from his journey from in-person training to building a successful YouTube channel. They discuss how hosting companies can better serve WordPress users, especially DIY website builders, by simplifying technical complexity while maintaining robust functionality. Jamie WP (on YouTube)WordCampClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse Friedman talks with Chris Reynolds from Pantheon, and together they explore the evolving role of developer relations in WordPress hosting. From organizational structure challenges to community contribution responsibilities, the two discuss how DevRel teams bridge customer needs with product development while giving back to the WordPress ecosystem beyond code commits. PantheonConvesio10upAlleyLinchpinProductBoard

Jesse interviews Chris Reynolds, developer advocate at Pantheon, exploring how empathetic development and technical support experience shape enterprise WordPress hosting. They discuss developer relations as "customer zero," innovative content publishing solutions, and how understanding actual customer challenges drives better platform development and user experiences. PantheonWebDev StudiosHuman MadeEvent EspressoPluralsight10upWordCampPantheon Community SlackClick here to watch a video of this episode.

Jesse continues his conversation with Gravity Form's Matt Medeiros, exploring podcast hosting, content ownership, and RSS feeds. Jesse and Matt discuss how WordPress agencies can leverage content strategies, navigate the risks of platform dependence, and why open-source publishing provides critical independence for businesses. WP MinuteTransistor.fmRSS.comBuzzsproutPodcasting 2.0PocketCasts10upAgency MavericksThe FuturDo the WooAutomattic for AgenciesWordPress.com PodcastingClick here to watch a video of this episode.

In this episode of Impressive Hosting, Jesse Friedman talks with Matt Medeiros from Gravity Forms about defining community in WordPress hosting. They explore what "WordPress community" really means, different ways to contribute beyond code, and why hosting companies need deeper agency partnerships that focus on mutual success rather than just reselling infrastructure. WP Minute YouTube ChannelMatt's WebsiteGravity FormsPagelyWordPress GitHubClick here to watch a video of this episode.

In this episode of Impressive Hosting, Jesse Friedman continues his conversation with SEO expert Joe Hall about essential WordPress hosting tools, customer support quality, and how AI is reshaping SEO. They explore bundled plugins like Yoast, the importance of knowledgeable hosting support, AI Overviews' impact on search traffic, and technical considerations for AI crawling. Previous episode: How Do Great Hosts Make WordPress SEO Better?Hall Analysis - Joe Hall's SEO consultancyYoast SEO pluginScreaming Frog SEO SpiderLooker StudioLink Whisperer pluginWordPress CodexPressableBluehost Cloud hostingClick here to watch a video of this episode.