WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.050 --> 00:00:00.800 Matt: Matt Cromwell. 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:02.660 Welcome to the WP Minute. 00:00:03.440 --> 00:00:04.460 Hey, thanks for having me. 00:00:04.460 --> 00:00:07.520 I forgot to say 9999th Matt. 00:00:08.255 --> 00:00:08.795 Matt C: Nice. 00:00:08.855 --> 00:00:10.565 It's so old hat at this point. 00:00:12.605 --> 00:00:14.525 Matt: You know, the great thing is though, I'm going to press. 00:00:14.555 --> 00:00:15.544 Are you going to press comp? 00:00:16.205 --> 00:00:16.834 I am. 00:00:16.834 --> 00:00:17.645 I wasn't. 00:00:17.645 --> 00:00:17.944 Oh God. 00:00:17.944 --> 00:00:18.455 Can't wait to see. 00:00:18.459 --> 00:00:19.140 Thinking I would, but I am. 00:00:19.145 --> 00:00:19.625 I'm going. 00:00:19.715 --> 00:00:20.645 Matt C: I'm gonna see you there. 00:00:21.035 --> 00:00:22.084 Matt: I can't wait to see you. 00:00:22.385 --> 00:00:25.324 And yeah, I think that's where this whole thing started. 00:00:25.474 --> 00:00:27.184 This whole, like you're the. 00:00:27.949 --> 00:00:28.789 18th mat. 00:00:28.789 --> 00:00:30.619 I'm the third mat kind of thing. 00:00:31.129 --> 00:00:33.649 Matt C: It could have been, it could have been one of those. 00:00:33.769 --> 00:00:36.050 Or Orange County or something like, actually, I don't know. 00:00:36.050 --> 00:00:36.800 I've never been to Orange 00:00:36.800 --> 00:00:37.129 Matt: County. 00:00:37.279 --> 00:00:38.269 Never stepped foot in it. 00:00:39.199 --> 00:00:39.559 No, no. 00:00:40.459 --> 00:00:43.220 Yeah, San Diego, either Diego, like that whole San Diego region. 00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:46.620 a lot of folks from around my area transplant to 00:00:49.080 --> 00:00:52.440 is San Diego, orange County, roughly in the same, is that all the same? 00:00:52.830 --> 00:00:52.950 Matt C: Yeah. 00:00:52.950 --> 00:00:54.780 No, it's all Southern California, but yeah. 00:00:55.304 --> 00:00:56.864 All the smart folks go there, right? 00:00:57.194 --> 00:00:57.375 All 00:00:57.375 --> 00:00:58.035 Matt: the, yeah. 00:00:58.845 --> 00:00:59.235 Yes. 00:00:59.235 --> 00:01:00.045 It is like 50. 00:01:00.254 --> 00:01:01.364 No, I shouldn't even say that. 00:01:01.364 --> 00:01:05.625 It's 43 degrees today and I'm like, I, you know, when, when Is 00:01:05.625 --> 00:01:09.405 there ever gonna be four Seasons, like folks promise in New England? 00:01:09.405 --> 00:01:09.464 Yeah. 00:01:10.075 --> 00:01:12.235 anyway, great to have you back on the show. 00:01:12.235 --> 00:01:16.015 We're here to talk about some stuff that Stellar has launched, is launching, 00:01:16.015 --> 00:01:18.365 has launched, set the stage for us. 00:01:18.695 --> 00:01:21.875 What is the new product and how can folks find it? 00:01:22.940 --> 00:01:27.680 Matt C: We are on the Verge, as of right now, April 16th, of, 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:32.750 launching our biggest product, as a brand, which is Stellar sites. 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:36.890 And, it's a big deal for us because it does change the narrative. 00:01:36.900 --> 00:01:40.800 Quite a bit in terms of Stellar, WP is now a go-to market brand. 00:01:40.870 --> 00:01:45.100 whereas before a lot of folks thought of us as an umbrella brand for a 00:01:45.100 --> 00:01:46.630 lot of different various products. 00:01:46.690 --> 00:01:48.660 but it's come together in a really great way. 00:01:48.690 --> 00:01:51.119 we're really excited about, what it is and what it does. 00:01:51.220 --> 00:01:53.809 and it's, something that we put a lot of heart and soul into. 00:01:54.229 --> 00:01:54.529 So 00:01:54.919 --> 00:02:01.159 Matt: how does this go beyond the, Hosting with, let's say hosting with 00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:04.729 Cadence pre-installed, how does it go beyond this kind of offering? 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:10.940 Matt C: Yeah, so I think uh uh, one way to navigate that question a 00:02:10.940 --> 00:02:13.940 little bit is like, you could think of like a WP N Engine and Kinta. 00:02:14.209 --> 00:02:17.510 They're like, host all your WordPress stuff with us kind of thing. 00:02:17.869 --> 00:02:22.190 Or you could think about Elementor that does hosted Elementor, right? 00:02:22.549 --> 00:02:23.510 We could have done like. 00:02:24.604 --> 00:02:25.864 Sites or whatever. 00:02:25.964 --> 00:02:31.675 but Stellar as a whole is bigger and broader than just, Cadence, which 00:02:31.675 --> 00:02:33.025 cadence is awesome and amazing. 00:02:33.395 --> 00:02:38.875 but, we're actually using our stellar products to niche into the specific 00:02:38.875 --> 00:02:41.935 verticals that we feel like have a lot of potential, a lot of options. 00:02:42.365 --> 00:02:47.405 cadence and solid WP in particular, they really help give a foundation 00:02:47.405 --> 00:02:49.000 for any website that you wanna build. 00:02:49.454 --> 00:02:53.325 but then those, those verticals that we're gonna lean into are of course, the 00:02:53.325 --> 00:02:55.305 nonprofit sector where Give is kind of. 00:02:55.445 --> 00:02:57.334 Excel and the events calendar as well. 00:02:57.334 --> 00:02:57.905 Actually. 00:02:58.184 --> 00:03:02.764 we're also gonna lean in on, the LMS area with Learn Dash of course. 00:03:03.034 --> 00:03:07.824 And then, with, events, you can also lean in there and then also with WooCommerce. 00:03:08.064 --> 00:03:12.984 So every single, site that we sell through stellar sites is immediately a cadence 00:03:12.984 --> 00:03:17.694 and solid WP site, but you also have the ability to go into one of these four 00:03:17.694 --> 00:03:20.944 verticals of a store, an event site. 00:03:21.169 --> 00:03:24.629 A learning site, a fundraising site, as well. 00:03:24.689 --> 00:03:28.899 So more of a niche, WordPress hosting environment, rather than 00:03:28.899 --> 00:03:31.029 a catchall hosting environment. 00:03:32.289 --> 00:03:35.519 Matt: I'm wondering how much you can, show us behind the scenes with this 00:03:35.519 --> 00:03:41.019 question, but how much of this was driven this decision to, launch stellar sites? 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:42.849 How much of this decision was. 00:03:43.654 --> 00:03:47.704 Because folks would get your end product and be like, oh God, I 00:03:47.704 --> 00:03:48.904 don't know how to use this thing. 00:03:48.964 --> 00:03:52.564 Like, I, I thought I could just install, give WP and I, I, this 00:03:52.564 --> 00:03:55.504 is just too cumbersome and it's not the fault of your own product. 00:03:55.504 --> 00:03:58.714 It's the fault of just WordPress at large, right? 00:03:58.714 --> 00:04:00.754 Like, take this thing, put it in this thing over here. 00:04:00.754 --> 00:04:02.584 You probably don't even know what that thing is over there. 00:04:02.584 --> 00:04:04.984 And now you just have to make it work with all the other stuff you have. 00:04:05.254 --> 00:04:06.094 How much of that. 00:04:06.754 --> 00:04:09.844 Scenario has played into the decision to do this? 00:04:09.844 --> 00:04:13.414 Or is this just like, Hey, new opportunity, let's try to bundle 00:04:13.414 --> 00:04:20.264 this stuff and package it up in that loosely used word, SaaS kind of, yeah. 00:04:20.264 --> 00:04:20.924 Mentality. 00:04:21.914 --> 00:04:25.604 Matt C: I think it's more the latter rather than the, than the first, honestly. 00:04:25.924 --> 00:04:26.734 the. 00:04:26.979 --> 00:04:31.269 When it comes to the first problem, like in terms of you're gonna get one 00:04:31.269 --> 00:04:34.299 of our products and then you're in a WordPress environment and you might 00:04:34.299 --> 00:04:39.779 struggle a bit, we really had a couple different things that told us that no 00:04:39.779 --> 00:04:44.909 matter what we do here, yes, we wanted to feel kind of like more like a competitor 00:04:44.909 --> 00:04:49.079 to a Wix website or a competitor to a Squarespace website for sure. 00:04:49.414 --> 00:04:53.344 We wanna also be super transparent that it's not a cookie cutter 00:04:53.704 --> 00:04:55.804 situation like Squarespace or Wix. 00:04:55.804 --> 00:04:59.794 It is still WordPress and you still do need to have a DIY mentality when 00:04:59.794 --> 00:05:01.384 you go into a WordPress website. 00:05:01.774 --> 00:05:05.134 So trying to play a little bit of both there because it's a little 00:05:05.134 --> 00:05:08.794 bit disingenuous for any WordPress host to be like, Hey, just get 00:05:08.794 --> 00:05:10.864 in here and then everything will be great and fine and dandy. 00:05:10.914 --> 00:05:14.124 it's still WordPress and you still gotta get hands on with it, and 00:05:14.124 --> 00:05:18.174 we're trying to be transparent about that front, but the opportunity is. 00:05:18.504 --> 00:05:23.824 That we do think that the suite of tools that Stellar has been, accumulating over 00:05:23.824 --> 00:05:28.754 the last few years really do, amplify each other in really special ways, and that 00:05:28.754 --> 00:05:34.304 the opportunity really is to combine them and for you and our customers to be able 00:05:34.304 --> 00:05:39.564 to get kind of the benefits of all of our worlds, not just, in the individual paths. 00:05:40.884 --> 00:05:43.554 Matt: Walk me through the experience if you can. 00:05:43.654 --> 00:05:45.964 Somebody says, I want a fundraising site. 00:05:45.964 --> 00:05:49.154 They click a button, to purchase this site. 00:05:49.454 --> 00:05:53.804 Is this ready-made WordPress where just all of your products, 00:05:53.864 --> 00:05:55.664 are just, are pre-installed? 00:05:56.064 --> 00:06:01.314 how does one say, oh, I have a donation site now, nonprofit donation site. 00:06:01.674 --> 00:06:02.214 I feel good. 00:06:02.244 --> 00:06:03.354 Like I, I'm, I'm ready to go. 00:06:03.354 --> 00:06:06.264 Like, how do, how do you smooth this over like again? 00:06:06.264 --> 00:06:06.324 Yeah. 00:06:06.924 --> 00:06:09.384 Knowing that this is still early days for you. 00:06:09.414 --> 00:06:11.034 'cause I can, I totally understand. 00:06:11.034 --> 00:06:12.744 Like the ramp up to something like this. 00:06:12.834 --> 00:06:13.164 Matt C: Yeah, yeah. 00:06:13.164 --> 00:06:13.644 Totally. 00:06:14.034 --> 00:06:19.114 So another interesting, thing that happened very recently is wordpress.com 00:06:19.114 --> 00:06:20.944 launched this AI builder, right? 00:06:21.214 --> 00:06:23.984 And you did a great little segment on it, showing, the thing, I was 00:06:23.984 --> 00:06:28.514 probably recording a loom internally at Stellar at the same time you 00:06:28.514 --> 00:06:29.894 were recording yours honestly. 00:06:30.374 --> 00:06:30.764 and. 00:06:31.189 --> 00:06:33.679 They went to market saying AI builder. 00:06:34.189 --> 00:06:37.069 We actually also built an AI builder a long time ago. 00:06:37.069 --> 00:06:41.269 Cadence AI is really powerful and amazing, and we're not going to market 00:06:41.269 --> 00:06:42.949 with seller sites as an AI builder. 00:06:42.949 --> 00:06:44.089 It's not an AI builder. 00:06:44.629 --> 00:06:45.679 AI is a feature. 00:06:45.789 --> 00:06:48.609 it's a tool that makes things nicer and easier for folks. 00:06:48.999 --> 00:06:52.569 And when it comes to like, I wanna build a fundraising site, there is a 00:06:52.569 --> 00:06:54.699 path, when you get into stellar sites. 00:06:55.099 --> 00:06:58.309 You start without even giving us your email or anything 00:06:58.669 --> 00:07:00.650 with, cadence AI essentially. 00:07:01.069 --> 00:07:06.729 And it will, walk you through building out your fundraising website all the way 00:07:06.729 --> 00:07:09.260 till you get to actually see it, visually. 00:07:09.620 --> 00:07:12.500 And then it's like, oh, that's exactly what I want. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:14.030 And then you click the buy button. 00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:17.990 You go through the purchase and then the site that you built gets 00:07:17.990 --> 00:07:21.200 propagated and you get to land right into that site right away. 00:07:21.470 --> 00:07:25.910 So like, like I said, it's not an ai it, we're using AI of course, 00:07:25.910 --> 00:07:28.940 and it is an AI builder, but it's just an onboarding experience. 00:07:28.940 --> 00:07:32.390 It's gonna optimize the way in which you experience all of our products together. 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:35.990 And you're ideally gonna get a big headstart towards the 00:07:35.990 --> 00:07:37.640 website that you actually want. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:40.620 not just the idea of a website that you want. 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:40.860 Yeah. 00:07:41.849 --> 00:07:44.999 Matt: I think one of the criticisms I had, for the.com 00:07:45.029 --> 00:07:46.709 AI builder, and it's not just them. 00:07:46.709 --> 00:07:49.979 I mean, it's, it's literally like every, every site that one might 00:07:49.979 --> 00:07:51.929 launch with WordPress is, okay, great. 00:07:51.929 --> 00:07:54.779 Like you helped me get to from point A to point, let's say 00:07:54.779 --> 00:07:57.329 d in this case, with the.com 00:07:57.359 --> 00:07:58.019 AI builder. 00:07:58.269 --> 00:07:59.709 you've made some pages for me. 00:07:59.709 --> 00:08:01.569 You've put some temporary content there. 00:08:01.569 --> 00:08:04.149 There's some like placeholder images and, and that was quite. 00:08:05.064 --> 00:08:07.914 Enjoyable right from that video, and I'll try to link that up in the show notes. 00:08:08.304 --> 00:08:12.444 But the issue is, is for the, the type of, in my opinion anyway, the type of customer 00:08:12.444 --> 00:08:17.334 that's going to use that now doesn't know like why they have what they have. 00:08:17.724 --> 00:08:20.484 Like ai, why did you build these pages? 00:08:20.964 --> 00:08:24.204 And you know, in your case you might have on a donation 00:08:24.204 --> 00:08:25.944 page, on on a donation website. 00:08:25.944 --> 00:08:27.384 Of course, like the donation form. 00:08:27.744 --> 00:08:32.754 But then maybe your system has put in a, a newsletter page and they're 00:08:32.754 --> 00:08:35.334 thinking, oh my God, I don't even have, I wasn't even thinking newsletter. 00:08:35.334 --> 00:08:36.144 Why do I need this? 00:08:36.354 --> 00:08:41.064 So at at what point do you bring in either professional services, if that's 00:08:41.064 --> 00:08:45.594 even a thing that's gonna happen, or how do you smooth over the understanding of 00:08:45.594 --> 00:08:47.179 like, this ready-made site for folks? 00:08:47.994 --> 00:08:51.774 Matt C: Yeah, I mean, in many ways it still does go back to that, 00:08:51.924 --> 00:08:54.144 that WordPress as a DIY solution. 00:08:54.534 --> 00:08:59.214 I don't mind that little bit of tension where it's like I built something 00:08:59.214 --> 00:09:00.954 that gets me 80% of the way there. 00:09:01.164 --> 00:09:02.724 The next 20% is I. 00:09:02.754 --> 00:09:04.254 Hard for a lot of folks. 00:09:04.564 --> 00:09:07.745 but that experience of like, okay, here's a whole bunch of content on the 00:09:07.745 --> 00:09:10.115 page in a layout that I didn't build. 00:09:10.444 --> 00:09:13.685 And I honestly, when I look at that layout, it's a bit complicated. 00:09:13.995 --> 00:09:17.685 but if I want to go and actually put in my own images and my own content 00:09:17.685 --> 00:09:19.665 there, I'm gonna actually learn. 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:24.310 The blocks that create this layout as I'm doing that, I do think that 00:09:24.310 --> 00:09:27.970 that's the type of customer that we are trying to find are the ones that 00:09:27.970 --> 00:09:32.130 want to get hands-on, who want to actually, customize it in the way that 00:09:32.130 --> 00:09:35.420 they feel, really good about it and that are happy with the end product. 00:09:35.780 --> 00:09:40.170 So, that is, you know, not the absolute, like I would say, cookie 00:09:40.170 --> 00:09:41.580 cutter folks who just want like. 00:09:42.225 --> 00:09:45.795 Gimme a brochure site that works outta the box and I don't wanna mess not those 00:09:45.795 --> 00:09:50.385 folks necessarily, and not necessarily the big, like I can fine tune everything 00:09:50.385 --> 00:09:54.855 with H-T-M-L-C-S-S, JavaScript, just let me have the code and I can do it. 00:09:55.305 --> 00:09:58.065 It's the folks in between, who are happy to do that. 00:09:58.065 --> 00:09:58.545 So. 00:09:59.230 --> 00:10:02.230 I, I think that's where we're trying to target for the most part. 00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:05.850 that doesn't answer your question exactly, but, it gets there. 00:10:06.900 --> 00:10:11.030 Matt: So one of the things that's sort of like, in the zeitgeist these days 00:10:11.030 --> 00:10:15.620 is AI coming for our jobs, air quotes. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:15.710 Mm-hmm. 00:10:15.710 --> 00:10:15.920 Right? 00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:19.745 Our jobs meaning, the freelancer who, might lose a. 00:10:20.465 --> 00:10:25.475 A client due to WordPress dot com's, AI builder, possibly even your 00:10:25.475 --> 00:10:28.865 tool, how do you hedge against that? 00:10:28.865 --> 00:10:34.385 Is, is this squarely marketed at the end user who wants something easy 00:10:34.385 --> 00:10:39.215 to use for that solution, or do you see this as an accessory service? 00:10:39.545 --> 00:10:43.355 I call it an accessory service to an agency who's like, I'm gonna build you 00:10:43.355 --> 00:10:47.195 either something custom or we can use this thing over here that's ready made. 00:10:49.370 --> 00:10:50.330 Matt C: It's a good question. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:54.710 Honestly, I think it's worth talking about a year from now. 00:10:54.930 --> 00:11:00.240 again, honestly, because I'm interested to see who finds the most value here. 00:11:00.540 --> 00:11:04.840 We definitely have a large, group of agency customers, in 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:07.810 our various brands who I think will find this very interesting. 00:11:08.150 --> 00:11:10.400 one of the great things that we're offering is. 00:11:10.495 --> 00:11:13.585 like I said, you are a solid customer right out of the gate and one of 00:11:13.585 --> 00:11:17.335 the things that Solid has is solid central, and every single person 00:11:17.335 --> 00:11:21.325 who becomes a Stellar Sites customer automatically has solid central as well. 00:11:21.565 --> 00:11:26.185 So you could be spinning up additional stellar sites and manage them all 00:11:26.515 --> 00:11:29.875 directly through solid Central, and it's really powerful tool overall, 00:11:29.875 --> 00:11:31.345 really perfect for agencies. 00:11:31.705 --> 00:11:35.815 So there's benefits that go outside of just the website building that I think 00:11:35.815 --> 00:11:38.995 will be really attractive for agencies with stellar sites in particular. 00:11:39.590 --> 00:11:43.160 But I think the target that we're looking for is more of like. 00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:48.610 The mom and pop shop owner, who wants to make a site that will enable them to 00:11:48.610 --> 00:11:50.500 have, be successful in their business. 00:11:50.880 --> 00:11:55.050 in general, like we, I think that's in many ways what we all want. 00:11:55.050 --> 00:11:58.890 We want folks to be able to build a website that's gonna help them be 00:11:58.890 --> 00:12:03.930 successful so that they can spend more time in their actual business, and 00:12:03.930 --> 00:12:06.720 that the website just empowers them to do better in what they're doing. 00:12:07.140 --> 00:12:09.600 I think that's what we all want with WordPress in general. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:10.140 Now. 00:12:11.055 --> 00:12:16.125 What is and what today in terms of that, that's not always the case. 00:12:16.165 --> 00:12:18.325 and that sometimes WordPress itself gets in the way. 00:12:18.695 --> 00:12:20.855 that does make the question a little bit more challenging. 00:12:21.005 --> 00:12:23.225 I mean, that, you know, you and I talked about these lots of 00:12:23.225 --> 00:12:24.365 different times over the years. 00:12:24.395 --> 00:12:29.265 I think that like 10 years ago we all were like, you know, WordPress, can 00:12:29.265 --> 00:12:31.815 do a lot of things for you, but if you're serious about your website, 00:12:31.815 --> 00:12:32.955 you're gonna need to hire a pro. 00:12:33.160 --> 00:12:34.360 Professional for sure. 00:12:34.710 --> 00:12:37.320 and that changed a bit and then Gutenberg came and it kind 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:38.550 of changed everything again. 00:12:38.850 --> 00:12:40.710 It kind of ebbs and flows over time. 00:12:40.780 --> 00:12:45.580 yeah, I do think AI is an opportunity for more folks to get a powerful website 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:48.060 quickly, and focus on their business. 00:12:48.370 --> 00:12:53.800 but again, only to 80% and that last 20% is hard. 00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:53.860 So. 00:12:54.765 --> 00:12:57.615 Matt: You might not have a direct solution for this, but I'll advocate 00:12:58.035 --> 00:13:01.305 for the consultant who's listening to this or the freelancer or boutique 00:13:01.305 --> 00:13:04.035 agency as a way to pair folks up. 00:13:04.065 --> 00:13:04.455 Right. 00:13:04.535 --> 00:13:07.965 You know, there's a, at the time of this recording, there's a, a current debate 00:13:07.965 --> 00:13:10.775 going on about, $5,000 budget, right? 00:13:10.775 --> 00:13:14.085 And, there are those that squarely say like, Hey, if you want, if you 00:13:14.085 --> 00:13:17.625 want to make a real go at having a web business, you should never service 00:13:17.625 --> 00:13:19.265 customers under this, threshold. 00:13:19.445 --> 00:13:22.730 You should only really focus up market because anyone's sub 00:13:22.730 --> 00:13:26.795 5,000 isn't thinking about, Their business properly, effectively. 00:13:26.795 --> 00:13:29.585 I'm kind of paraphrasing the argument, but this is an argument as 00:13:29.585 --> 00:13:31.235 old as time, like I started mm-hmm. 00:13:31.475 --> 00:13:34.655 The Matt Report podcast years and years ago, and the biggest 00:13:34.655 --> 00:13:37.265 question I had was like, what do we do about the $500 website? 00:13:37.625 --> 00:13:37.715 Right? 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:38.500 Mm-hmm. 00:13:38.580 --> 00:13:43.025 Which was like, you know, you and I probably chatted about that 18 years ago 00:13:43.205 --> 00:13:44.825 as, as one of the biggest challenges. 00:13:45.305 --> 00:13:48.575 I think like most things, it depends, but. 00:13:49.625 --> 00:13:53.345 Even in the face of ai, I know this is long-winded, but even in the face 00:13:53.345 --> 00:13:58.925 of ai, yeah, sure you can make an AI website, but the, and you might still 00:13:58.925 --> 00:14:03.905 pay a consultant $5,000 to figure out what the hell to do with your business. 00:14:03.905 --> 00:14:08.225 You like, you could hire me and I could build your website for $1, and then for 00:14:08.225 --> 00:14:15.815 $4,999, you would pay me for my entire experience of how this whole thing works. 00:14:16.265 --> 00:14:18.815 So this isn't a direct question, but I would advocate mm-hmm. 00:14:19.115 --> 00:14:23.245 On your side to maybe find ways to pair up, yeah. 00:14:23.635 --> 00:14:26.515 Recommended freelancers and agencies with these customers 00:14:26.515 --> 00:14:27.865 that might be looking for help. 00:14:28.015 --> 00:14:29.515 Because ultimately it's like I. 00:14:30.010 --> 00:14:33.100 You made me a nonprofit site and now I need, like, how 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:34.270 the hell do I get donations? 00:14:34.900 --> 00:14:34.990 Mm-hmm. 00:14:34.990 --> 00:14:36.550 Like how do I raise that awareness? 00:14:36.550 --> 00:14:36.610 Yeah. 00:14:36.760 --> 00:14:38.410 Like what do I do next? 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:41.150 you know, and I don't know if that's something that maybe your team is gonna 00:14:41.150 --> 00:14:46.290 service, but if not, maybe pairing that up with, with, a community of agencies. 00:14:46.290 --> 00:14:46.350 Yeah. 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:49.770 Matt C: I, you know, you're making me think I, one, one thing I, I love the 00:14:49.770 --> 00:14:55.020 idea of is an agency that's like, look, I recommend you use stellar sites for your 00:14:55.020 --> 00:14:56.610 hosting and for your website solution. 00:14:56.910 --> 00:15:00.780 What you need to do is go through their AI onboarding wizard and 00:15:00.780 --> 00:15:02.040 purchase your site right away. 00:15:02.040 --> 00:15:04.620 That will get you 80% of the way there, and then you just 00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:06.390 pay me to finish it up like. 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:10.230 That's actually a really cool, unique kind of hybrid solution that 00:15:10.230 --> 00:15:14.070 I, that, you know, it could result in a thousand dollars website. 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:18.360 and those folks who are saying don't pay less than 5,000, they won't like that. 00:15:18.420 --> 00:15:21.630 But at the same time, you know, it's that last 20%. 00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:21.681 yep. 00:15:22.730 --> 00:15:22.852 Matt: So, yeah, for sure. 00:15:23.705 --> 00:15:26.795 Coaching somebody over the co coaching, somebody over that finish line for, 00:15:26.895 --> 00:15:28.245 would definitely be beneficial. 00:15:28.735 --> 00:15:29.845 let's talk about the logistics. 00:15:30.235 --> 00:15:34.825 It sounds like the, there's no additional plugin licensing fees. 00:15:34.825 --> 00:15:38.215 Like you might go to Stellar and buy these individual, individual plugins, 00:15:38.425 --> 00:15:41.035 sign up and get these individual licenses. 00:15:41.125 --> 00:15:44.035 This is gonna be all baked in one, one monthly price. 00:15:44.035 --> 00:15:44.905 How does that all work out? 00:15:45.265 --> 00:15:45.775 Matt C: Yeah. 00:15:45.805 --> 00:15:50.275 that's one thing, like from the nerdy, Tech side, I'm actually really excited 00:15:50.275 --> 00:15:52.255 about the way that we navigated this. 00:15:52.255 --> 00:15:55.735 A lot of the work that we've been doing to make this possible is on 00:15:55.735 --> 00:15:57.445 the licensing side in particular. 00:15:57.975 --> 00:16:00.855 and it, yes, it's all baked in basically. 00:16:00.855 --> 00:16:03.975 So once you go through and you purchase your site, whether it has. 00:16:03.995 --> 00:16:06.935 Either just two of our brands or three of our brands or four, 00:16:07.175 --> 00:16:08.585 and you could add add-ons later. 00:16:08.885 --> 00:16:12.635 You get issued a stellar sites license key, and that is valid and 00:16:12.635 --> 00:16:16.085 good for any of the products that you have purchased along the way. 00:16:16.485 --> 00:16:20.345 we are having, monthly options to, to renew monthly, and we do of 00:16:20.345 --> 00:16:24.105 course also have annual plans as well, that come at a small discount. 00:16:24.435 --> 00:16:26.395 So, that's the great part about it. 00:16:26.445 --> 00:16:31.395 and we made it so that if a license is issued through stellar sites, then. 00:16:31.780 --> 00:16:35.440 The Give team, for example, they will see that license in their system. 00:16:36.415 --> 00:16:39.635 Even though there's no revenue on their side, they still know that 00:16:39.635 --> 00:16:42.665 there's a customer there and they can support that person just like normal. 00:16:43.075 --> 00:16:45.835 so it, that's all worked out really well under the hood. 00:16:46.125 --> 00:16:47.295 and it's really slick system. 00:16:47.345 --> 00:16:51.035 also, honestly, a lot of that infrastructure is just through our 00:16:51.035 --> 00:16:54.995 licensing, stellar licensing in particular, but also solid central 00:16:54.995 --> 00:16:58.475 is becoming more and more important in the way that we kind of use that 00:16:58.475 --> 00:17:02.405 to be a cohesive way to manage a lot of what's going on at Stellar. 00:17:04.005 --> 00:17:05.325 Matt: put you in the hot seat for a second. 00:17:05.325 --> 00:17:09.015 Can somebody move away from stellar sites and migrate? 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:10.830 Matt C: It's WordPress. 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.670 Absolutely. 00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:14.370 it, you know, there's, it's open source. 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:18.560 you can, you know, build whatever you want, export it out, go somewhere else. 00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:19.410 for sure. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:23.590 Now there are, you know, per, domain license, restrictions, 00:17:23.590 --> 00:17:24.580 just like any plugin. 00:17:24.850 --> 00:17:28.240 But if you come to us and you are like, Hey, I moved my site somewhere 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:32.440 else, and it's a different domain now, then we can help turn one domain off 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:34.120 and let you do it on the other one. 00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:34.630 No problem. 00:17:34.780 --> 00:17:35.020 So. 00:17:35.815 --> 00:17:40.525 Matt: Is this a new hosting infrastructure, specifically for Stellar, 00:17:40.525 --> 00:17:45.865 or is this backed by the parent company and the resources already over there? 00:17:45.925 --> 00:17:48.715 In other words, are you building something brand new in the 00:17:48.715 --> 00:17:50.185 background to power all this stuff? 00:17:51.175 --> 00:17:52.945 Matt C: There are some things about it that are new. 00:17:52.995 --> 00:17:56.505 if you, if anyone's familiar with LearnDash Cloud, we definitely are 00:17:56.565 --> 00:17:58.515 leaning on that experience already. 00:17:58.515 --> 00:18:00.585 That's the other thing is like, we're not new to this. 00:18:00.585 --> 00:18:04.155 We've been doing this with LearnDash Cloud already for about a year and a half. 00:18:04.525 --> 00:18:07.315 we took a lot that we learned from that experience and, and 00:18:07.315 --> 00:18:08.815 just amplified it and did more. 00:18:09.115 --> 00:18:10.255 It's definitely what. 00:18:10.630 --> 00:18:14.350 What a lot of folks probably understand is the Nexus infrastructure. 00:18:14.630 --> 00:18:18.350 and, that's what's going on under the hood, but we have kind of 00:18:18.410 --> 00:18:21.710 beefed it up a bit specifically for stellar side's purposes. 00:18:22.050 --> 00:18:25.440 there's some really great auto-scaling that happens on the PHP worker side 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.670 that we're really excited about. 00:18:27.010 --> 00:18:30.875 there's a really great visual compare tool for auto updates of plugins and 00:18:30.875 --> 00:18:35.565 themes, that will roll back updates if, if it visually breaks any of your pages. 00:18:35.965 --> 00:18:37.465 there's a lot of that type of information. 00:18:37.465 --> 00:18:41.095 Structure that makes this a really powerful and interesting, 00:18:41.195 --> 00:18:42.665 hosting stack no matter what. 00:18:42.965 --> 00:18:47.085 We're trying not to lead, the ME messaging and marketing with like, here's 00:18:47.085 --> 00:18:51.165 your PHP workers and here's your MySQL version, and here's all of those things. 00:18:51.485 --> 00:18:55.145 'cause that's not the, the primary, but all that detail will be there as well. 00:18:56.405 --> 00:18:59.155 Matt: Which leads me to the last question about the product, pricing. 00:18:59.155 --> 00:19:00.265 Have we announced that yet? 00:19:00.265 --> 00:19:03.475 Have we said where it's starting at and, and what the plans are? 00:19:04.510 --> 00:19:08.330 Matt C: I could say the basic, one is that 19 bucks a month, and, it 00:19:08.330 --> 00:19:12.640 does go up from there in terms of which plan you're, gonna work on. 00:19:13.050 --> 00:19:15.930 and, we actually feel like altogether, considering the. 00:19:16.635 --> 00:19:21.145 Plugins that you're getting, and the stack that you're getting as well, that it's 00:19:21.325 --> 00:19:23.485 actually probably too cheap, honestly. 00:19:24.265 --> 00:19:25.525 Matt: the, that, so let me just ask that. 00:19:25.525 --> 00:19:27.955 19, would that include the suite of plugins? 00:19:27.955 --> 00:19:28.825 Matt C: Mm-hmm. 00:19:29.250 --> 00:19:29.450 Absolutely. 00:19:29.695 --> 00:19:33.835 That, that's what I'm saying at the, at the bo at the bare minimum with cadence 00:19:33.835 --> 00:19:36.215 and solid, built in, 19 bucks a month. 00:19:36.275 --> 00:19:36.455 Yep. 00:19:36.905 --> 00:19:38.975 Matt: Well, if you need me to append the show notes with a different 00:19:38.975 --> 00:19:40.295 price later on, Matt, you just. 00:19:42.540 --> 00:19:43.680 it sounds like a pretty sweet deal. 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:47.020 let's transition to just talking about, one other, important 00:19:47.350 --> 00:19:49.350 part of WordPress, these days. 00:19:49.350 --> 00:19:55.980 I just wrapped up a quick three minute and 32nd recap on WordPress 6.8, 00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:58.140 which launched, I don't know, a couple of days ago. 00:19:58.800 --> 00:19:59.730 Yeah, a day ago. 00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:03.330 And, it was quick because there's not much there. 00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:05.910 And as we all know, WordPress 6.8 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:07.650 is the last major release. 00:20:08.415 --> 00:20:14.305 So we're told, for the rest of 2025, and, we'll have a sprinkle or smattering, 00:20:14.305 --> 00:20:17.845 whatever word you want to use of minor updates throughout the rest of the year. 00:20:18.265 --> 00:20:23.395 What are your thoughts on this being the final major release of 2025? 00:20:23.485 --> 00:20:26.725 And what does your outlook hold for, for the improvements 00:20:26.725 --> 00:20:27.895 of WordPress moving forward? 00:20:28.675 --> 00:20:30.175 Matt C: Yeah, it's a really good question. 00:20:30.175 --> 00:20:30.805 Overall. 00:20:31.130 --> 00:20:33.890 one that we can debate from a several different angles. 00:20:34.300 --> 00:20:37.240 I'll say the angle that I feel like I can control. 00:20:37.340 --> 00:20:41.090 there's the whole conversation of like, why in the world is it the, 00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:44.450 the wand release and is that good for WordPress and things like that. 00:20:44.790 --> 00:20:46.440 I don't have a lot of control over that part. 00:20:46.840 --> 00:20:51.520 but I think what we do in terms of folks who commit to help 00:20:51.550 --> 00:20:53.140 in the WordPress community. 00:20:53.630 --> 00:20:57.320 I actually feel like I'm ready for slow releases right now. 00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:02.930 I feel like there's a lot to be said about this release not being full 00:21:02.930 --> 00:21:08.470 of a bunch of drastic change, but instead a lot of net sum improvements. 00:21:08.470 --> 00:21:12.220 I really like seeing all the performance improvements that were baked into it. 00:21:12.610 --> 00:21:15.820 I really like seeing the accessibility focus that was put into it. 00:21:16.210 --> 00:21:18.150 I think there's a big, case. 00:21:18.415 --> 00:21:22.695 For the next, small releases and even the next couple large releases, 00:21:23.065 --> 00:21:25.105 basically being very similar to this one. 00:21:25.445 --> 00:21:29.765 a lot more of taking what is there and just making it even more stable, 00:21:29.795 --> 00:21:34.485 more of a UI improvement, more beneficial as a, as a platform. 00:21:34.775 --> 00:21:39.175 Rather than, trying to reach at like, it, like if we did a, a 6.9 00:21:39.385 --> 00:21:43.165 and it was like, WordPress is now this giant AI builder thing, 00:21:43.255 --> 00:21:44.785 I'd be like, oh geez, I'm tired. 00:21:45.115 --> 00:21:48.865 Like, I like the incremental approach. 00:21:48.915 --> 00:21:52.755 and I think that, that will be just fine from a platform and 00:21:52.755 --> 00:21:54.555 a software project perspective. 00:21:55.685 --> 00:21:59.015 Matt: Matt Cromwell, all just aside, it's always great to have conversations 00:21:59.015 --> 00:22:02.495 with you and catch up and think about the future of WordPress. 00:22:02.495 --> 00:22:06.545 Where can folks go to find out more about Stellar pages? 00:22:06.755 --> 00:22:06.965 Matt C: Stellar 00:22:06.965 --> 00:22:07.445 Matt: sites, 00:22:08.015 --> 00:22:08.885 Matt C: stellar sites? 00:22:08.975 --> 00:22:10.595 Go to stellar wp.com. 00:22:10.685 --> 00:22:12.545 It's big right there on the homepage. 00:22:12.605 --> 00:22:14.445 and, we'll be, selling it there. 00:22:14.475 --> 00:22:14.865 So 00:22:15.315 --> 00:22:15.945 Matt: fantastic stuff. 00:22:15.945 --> 00:22:20.985 I'll be looking forward to seeing you at press conf in just about a week from now. 00:22:21.375 --> 00:22:24.975 I played disc golf last year. 00:22:24.975 --> 00:22:25.935 Did I tell you that? 00:22:26.205 --> 00:22:26.625 No. 00:22:26.715 --> 00:22:28.995 It was insanely challenging. 00:22:29.715 --> 00:22:29.865 Yeah. 00:22:29.865 --> 00:22:30.525 It's not what 00:22:30.525 --> 00:22:31.425 Matt C: people think it is. 00:22:31.455 --> 00:22:32.535 Matt: No, no. 00:22:32.535 --> 00:22:37.845 I played with, my friend who lives, just about an hour north of, Orlando, Florida. 00:22:38.625 --> 00:22:40.485 And it was hot. 00:22:40.635 --> 00:22:42.075 Like it was hot. 00:22:42.135 --> 00:22:44.205 Like I played golf, regular golf, you know? 00:22:44.505 --> 00:22:49.175 And it often gets hot and there's no shade, but it's like a searing heat 00:22:49.625 --> 00:22:53.525 versus when I was playing disc golf, we were like in the woods and it's 00:22:53.525 --> 00:22:55.715 sort of like a jungle in Florida. 00:22:55.715 --> 00:22:55.775 Yeah. 00:22:55.955 --> 00:22:59.015 So it's just like an intense steam heat. 00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:02.160 And, bugs and branches. 00:23:03.450 --> 00:23:03.990 I'm like, what? 00:23:04.260 --> 00:23:04.710 Wait a minute. 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:06.390 Where's the enjoyment in this? 00:23:06.390 --> 00:23:09.090 And maybe it was just that course that I played, but I was like, 00:23:09.300 --> 00:23:10.620 wow, how does Cromwell do this? 00:23:11.100 --> 00:23:11.460 Matt C: Yeah. 00:23:11.470 --> 00:23:13.480 Florida's not my favorite place, honestly. 00:23:13.790 --> 00:23:15.680 so I don't, I, I can sympathize with that. 00:23:15.860 --> 00:23:19.250 I played last year at, work camp us in, in Portland. 00:23:19.550 --> 00:23:20.090 They have a. 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:22.650 Gorgeous course out in the woods. 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.280 it was a beautiful weather. 00:23:24.280 --> 00:23:27.250 It was cool and shady and wonderful. 00:23:27.250 --> 00:23:27.340 Mm-hmm. 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:28.480 Like it was amazing. 00:23:28.810 --> 00:23:32.740 Tempe is supposed to be about in the like mid eighties I think, which is not 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:34.540 awesome, but it's also not terrible. 00:23:34.930 --> 00:23:35.020 Right. 00:23:35.020 --> 00:23:35.680 Super dry. 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:39.820 So, and there is a really amazing course there called Shelly Sharp Memorial. 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.740 I'm really looking forward to playing there. 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.370 Cool. 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:42.970 Matt: Fantastic 00:23:42.970 --> 00:23:43.330 Matt C: stuff. 00:23:43.410 --> 00:23:44.910 Matt: Matt, thanks for hanging out today and I look forward 00:23:44.910 --> 00:23:46.530 to seeing you next week. 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:47.880 Same to you, Matt. 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:48.330 Thanks.