How Marketing and Engagement Impact The WP Awards

On this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Matt Medeiros and The WP Weekly’s Davinder Singh Kainth discuss the challenges and opportunities in plugin development, the importance of sponsorships, and insights from the annual WP Awards. They also explore the dynamics of plugin marketing, the significance of community engagement, and the future of WordPress, particularly in relation to AI advancements.

Takeaways:

• Davinder encouraged Matt to start the first iteration of The WP Minute.
• Rebranding can be essential for clarity and marketability.
• Sponsorships are vital for sustaining WordPress projects.
• Marketing is crucial for plugin developers, not just development.
• AI is influencing plugin development positively.
• The WP Awards have evolved to ensure fair voting.
• Categories in awards can be contentious and require careful management.
• Community engagement is key to successful nominations.
• Transparency in voting is crucial for integrity.
• WordCamp events continue to grow internationally, even as they shrink in the US.
• We’ll see more AI integrations in WordPress.

Important Links:

• The WP Weekly
• The WP Awards 2025
• Plugins Daily
• Connect with Davinder: LinkedIn | Twitter/X
• The WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe