{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The WP Minute+","title":"Two Decades Running A WordPress Agency","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/8c7840ed\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2842,"description":"On this episode of the WP Minute+ Podcast, Matt chats with Toby Cryns, founder of Minneapolis-based agency The Mighty Mo!, about what it’s like to run a WordPress agency for 20 years. From building sites in Flash before pivoting to WordPress after Steve Jobs’ infamous “Flash is dead” moment, Toby reflects on the evolution of the web industry, the rise of page builders, and the growing influence of AI on development and client expectations.\nToby shares his journey of overcoming fear around AI, his experiments with ChatGPT and Copilot, and how he’s using these tools to develop a WordPress-based project management app. He discusses how the small business and nonprofit web design market is shifting, the impact of DIY platforms like Wix and Squarespace, and the growing divide between clients who want $300 websites and those who need reliable long-term partners. Through honest anecdotes and hard-earned lessons, Toby explores pricing strategies, client relationships, project management, and the power of sticking with WordPress – even amid uncertainty in the ecosystem.\n\nKey Takeaways\nAI and WordPress Development:\nAI is useful as a junior-level coding assistant but still requires deep domain knowledge.\nTools like ChatGPT and Copilot have saved Toby hundreds of hours on plugin development.\nAI won’t replace agencies but it will change workflows and create new opportunities.\nAdapting to Market Shifts:\nThe entry-level web market is increasingly lost to AI and DIY tools.\nHigh-end clients may be exploring prototyping internally before approaching agencies.\nAdaptation is key: agencies that don’t evolve risk becoming obsolete.\nRunning a Sustainable WordPress Agency:\nProject managers and account managers are game changers for scaling without burnout.\nWordPress plugins like Beaver Builder and services like ManageWP streamline delivery and maintenance.\nRaising prices (even a little) can be a healthy, overdue adjustment.\nCommunity and the Future of WordPress:\nDespite recent...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/Sc_eJunw7xigqxjwbAQZm4WVha2xRuUoFYgmWEEXnaU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hODUy/NDIxOTQzZmFmNDk3/ZDk4ZGUzZTQ3NzA3/NTk5MC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}