37 - Evaluating WordPress software for website building businesses

We’re always in groups talking about WordPress software, but rarely do we talk about how we evaluate it. That’s what this episode is about. Do we:

Test software for ourselves?
Trust the views of leading influencers?
Follow the majority view?

How much are we swayed by our knowledge of the companies that make the software. Do we know what they stand for and believe in? Do we know them more by reputation. Does the personalities of developers and plugin owners matter?

Also what of pricing models? As Appsumo knows only too well most of us have an eye for a great deal, but are we wary of models that seem unsustainable in the long term?

Premium software in WordPress still seems to be relatively new so it was unlikely that we would come up with a perfect system for choosing the tools. Nevertheless we had a nice chat and hope the topic might generate further conversation.

News Section

Ah, yes about that … stuff definitely did happen this week. In fact had there been a news section in this episode we would have probably talked about:

1. GoDaddy’s recent subscription service for WordPress support.
goo.gl/ckRYq2

2. Possibility we would have talked about a new plug-in called Dobby that hides annoying admin notices.
goo.gl/TPEyRP

3. Chances are Nathan might have talked about how hackers are targeting fresh installs of WordPress.
goo.gl/ef9uFp

Unfortunately Nathan is still on his holiday and David(close to death, but heroically managing to get this episode out) has lost his voice!

Links

trends.builtwith.com (this was mentioned as tool for seeing what software is used on the web)
goo.gl/eGDhJJ

WP toolkit. (this is the GPL club wrongly called Toolset in the episode)
goo.gl/wrqTps

We are not recommending GPL clubs. In fact this one already looks to be slow with updates.