WP-Tonic | WordPress | SaaS | Bootstrap SaaS | Startups

In this episode, we look at local development, and how that can help your workflow. What options are there for local development, and what do you do with a local site when it's time to deploy.

We examine why you need a local environment in your workflow, and some choices for getting started.

Our WordPress panel this week:

Jackie D'Elia: https://jackiedelia.com

/

Morten Rand-Hendriksen: https://www.lynda.com/

Sallie Goetsch: https://wpfangirl.com

Jonathan Denwood: https://www.wp-tonic.com/

John Locke:  https://www.lockedowndesign.com/

==================

Our episode this week is sponsored by LiquidWeb. Liquid Web is offering a 33% discount for your first 6 months of managed WordPress hosting.

Head over to https://LiquidWeb.com/wordpress and use the code WPTONIC33 at checkout for your discount.

==================

Table of Contents for Episode 188

0:00 Podcast intros.

4:08 WordPress News Story #1: Scaling WordPress Image Serving with Tachyon

14:57 WordPress News Story #2: Is The Design Firm an Endangered Species?

28:20 Main Topic: Local Development Environments in WordPress

28:28 Why should you develop locally? What advantages are there by incorporating it into your workflow?

30:50 Use the simplest possible setup for local development when you're getting started.

35:02 The panel has lots of thoughts on different local development setups.

50:28 You should always backup your database when working locally.

57:25 Podcast outros.

==================

Links mentioned during the show:

Amazon Web Services by Delicious Brains

Design Thinking (IDEO)

Teehan+Lax Partners Join Facebook Design (2015)

Discussion: The Future of the Digital Design Agency (2015)

"Anyone who influences what the design becomes is the designer."

DesktopServer

Installing and Running WordPress: DesktopServer

Migrate DB Pro

Moving WordPress with WP Migrate DB and DB Pro

Local by Flywheel

Bitnami

Mergebot

MAMP & MAMP Pro

XAMPP

Vagrant

Source Tree

Rethink.fm Schedule

WordPress: REST API

East Bay WordPress Meetups

==================

Find bonus content for this episode on the WP-Tonic website:

https://www.wp-tonic.com/podcast/188-local-development-environment-wordpress/

===================

Subscribe to WP-Tonic on iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wp-tonic-wordpress-podcast/id893083124?mt=2

===================

WP-Tonic is both a WordPress maintenance and support service, and the publisher of a weekly WordPress business podcast.

In this episode, we look at local development, and how that can help your workflow. What options are there for local development, and what do you do with a local site when it's time to deploy.

We examine why you need a local environment in your workflow, and some choices for getting started.

Our WordPress panel this week:

Jackie D'Elia: https://jackiedelia.com

/

Morten Rand-Hendriksen: https://www.lynda.com/

Sallie Goetsch: https://wpfangirl.com

Jonathan Denwood: https://www.wp-tonic.com/

John Locke: https://www.lockedowndesign.com/

==================

Our episode this week is sponsored by LiquidWeb. Liquid Web is offering a 33% discount for your first 6 months of managed WordPress hosting.

Head over to https://LiquidWeb.com/wordpress and use the code WPTONIC33 at checkout for your discount.

==================

Table of Contents for Episode 188

0:00 Podcast intros.

4:08 WordPress News Story #1: Scaling WordPress Image Serving with Tachyon

14:57 WordPress News Story #2: Is The Design Firm an Endangered Species?

28:20 Main Topic: Local Development Environments in WordPress

28:28 Why should you develop locally? What advantages are there by incorporating it into your workflow?

30:50 Use the simplest possible setup for local development when you're getting started.

35:02 The panel has lots of thoughts on different local development setups.

50:28 You should always backup your database when working locally.

57:25 Podcast outros.

==================

Links mentioned during the show:

Amazon Web Services by Delicious Brains

Design Thinking (IDEO)

Teehan+Lax Partners Join Facebook Design (2015)

Discussion: The Future of the Digital Design Agency (2015)

"Anyone who influences what the design becomes is the designer."

DesktopServer

Installing and Running WordPress: DesktopServer

Migrate DB Pro

Moving WordPress with WP Migrate DB and DB Pro

Local by Flywheel

Bitnami

Mergebot

MAMP & MAMP Pro

XAMPP

Vagrant

Source Tree

Rethink.fm Schedule

WordPress: REST API

East Bay WordPress Meetups

==================

Find bonus content for this episode on the WP-Tonic website:

https://www.wp-tonic.com/podcast/188-local-development-environment-wordpress/

===================

Subscribe to WP-Tonic on iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wp-tonic-wordpress-podcast/id893083124?mt=2

===================

WP-Tonic is both a WordPress maintenance and support service, and the publisher of a weekly WordPress business podcast.

We sit down to talk with Dusty Davidson, the CEO and co-founder of Flywheel. He tells us how the hosting company got started, early years and growing, what they look for in hiring, their acquisition of Local, and much more.

We also ask Dusty about early years and growing, what they look for in hiring, their acquisition of Local,  and much more.

==================

Our episode this week is sponsored by LiquidWeb. Liquid Web is offering a 33% discount for your first 6 months of managed WordPress hosting.

Head over to https://LiquidWeb.com/wordpress and use the code WPTONIC33 at checkout for your discount.

==================

Table of Contents for Episode 187

0:00 Podcast intros.

2:57 How did Flywheel get started? Why they decided to start a hosting company in the first place.

5:39 What gaps in the hosting market was Flywheel trying to fill?

9:06 Some common hosting problems that Flywheel sought to solve. Growing the company using pure hustle and guerrilla marketing.

16:47 What does Flywheel look for when hiring? What challenges have they faced when growing the company?

20:44 As Flywheel grew, who did Dusty look to for advice? How do organizations change as they grow?

23:21 Dusty's early involvement in Silicon Prairie News and the growing tech scene in the Midwest.

30:34 Bootstrapped vs. Venture Capital funded.

32:49 The trend of hosting companies consolidating services by buying other companies and tools. The decision process behind Flywheel purchasing Pressmatic (now Local by Flywheel). Thoughts on GoDaddy acquiring Sucuri.

39:21 Is the future bright for plugin developers? What's the future for themes and plugins? How does this affect the perception of other products in the WordPress space, like hosting?

46:44 What is the future for growth for WordPress the platform?

49:00 Podcast outros.

==================

Links mentioned during the show:

Silicon Prairie News

One Million Cups

Local by Flywheel

==================

Find bonus content for this episode on the WP-Tonic website:

https://www.wp-tonic.com/podcast-episodes/

===================

Subscribe to WP-Tonic on iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wp-tonic-wordpress-podcast/id893083124?mt=2

===================

WP-Tonic is both a WordPress maintenance and support service, and the publisher of a twice-weekly WordPress podcast.

We sit down to talk with Dusty Davidson, the CEO and co-founder of Flywheel. He tells us how the hosting company got started, early years and growing, what they look for in hiring, their acquisition of Local, and much more.

We also ask Dusty about early years and growing, what they look for in hiring, their acquisition of Local,  and much more.

==================

Our episode this week is sponsored by LiquidWeb. Liquid Web is offering a 33% discount for your first 6 months of managed WordPress hosting.

Head over to https://LiquidWeb.com/wordpress and use the code WPTONIC33 at checkout for your discount.

==================

Table of Contents for Episode 187

0:00 Podcast intros.

2:57 How did Flywheel get started? Why they decided to start a hosting company in the first place.

5:39 What gaps in the hosting market was Flywheel trying to fill?

9:06 Some common hosting problems that Flywheel sought to solve. Growing the company using pure hustle and guerrilla marketing.

16:47 What does Flywheel look for when hiring? What challenges have they faced when growing the company?

20:44 As Flywheel grew, who did Dusty look to for advice? How do organizations change as they grow?

23:21 Dusty's early involvement in Silicon Prairie News and the growing tech scene in the Midwest.

30:34 Bootstrapped vs. Venture Capital funded.

32:49 The trend of hosting companies consolidating services by buying other companies and tools. The decision process behind Flywheel purchasing Pressmatic (now Local by Flywheel). Thoughts on GoDaddy acquiring Sucuri.

39:21 Is the future bright for plugin developers? What's the future for themes and plugins? How does this affect the perception of other products in the WordPress space, like hosting?

46:44 What is the future for growth for WordPress the platform?

49:00 Podcast outros.

==================

Links mentioned during the show:

Silicon Prairie News

One Million Cups

Local by Flywheel

==================

Find bonus content for this episode on the WP-Tonic website:

https://www.wp-tonic.com/podcast-episodes/

===================

Subscribe to WP-Tonic on iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wp-tonic-wordpress-podcast/id893083124?mt=2

===================

WP-Tonic is both a WordPress maintenance and support service, and the publisher of a twice-weekly WordPress podcast.

Lee Jackson returns to talk his other company, Event Engine. This is a web agency devoted entirely to website design for conferences, events, and expos.

We look the unique challenges faced by conference website managers, and some great tips for digital marketing for events, expos, and conferences.

Links

Event Engine

The Event & Expo Podcast

Angled Crown

==================

Our episode this week is sponsored by LiquidWeb. Liquid Web is offering a 33% discount for your first 6 months of managed WordPress hosting.

Head over to https://LiquidWeb.com/wordpress and use the code WPTONIC33 at checkout for your discount.

==================

Table of Contents for Episode 185

0:00 Podcast intros.

3:29 What made Lee choose events and expos as a vertical? What led to him developing the Event Engine CMS?

6:50 What research went into adding features and modules to the Event Engine CMS? (built on top of WordPress). How did this product evolve?

11:09 How do they get in front of these event companies? What marketing methods work?

13:13 The benefit of publishing content year round for conferences and expos that only happen once a year?

17:07 Why giving away free content year round doesn't hurt ticket sales, but rather helps it. Tools for building a social element on a conference website.

19:40 Using the Facebook Pixel for retargeting and follow-up marketing. You can also do this on Twitter and LinkedIn.

22:39 Tips for marketing in person.

27:09 How Lee decided what to keep and what to turn off by default in the modules of Event Engine. Thoughts on the possibility of modules in WordPress. Backwards compatibility in WordPress.

30:28 Thoughts about WordPress growing the market share, and what it is happening to the market as a result.

37:10 Overcoming design by committee, and how Lee's process has changed over time to smooth this out.

41:22 Working with WordPress with outside apps using the REST API.

43:51 Podcast outros.

===================

Additional Links mentioned during the show:

BuddyPress

165 WP-Tonic: Mojca Marš – All About Facebook Ads

WP Innovator Podcast

WP Innovator YouTube channel

===================

Find bonus content for this episode on the WP-Tonic website:

https://www.wp-tonic.com/podcast/185-event-website-design/

===================

Subscribe to WP-Tonic on iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wp-tonic-wordpress-podcast/id893083124?mt=2

===================

WP-Tonic is a WordPress maintenance company, and the publisher of a twice weekly WordPress business podcast.

Lee Jackson returns to talk his other company, Event Engine. This is a web agency devoted entirely to website design for conferences, events, and expos.

We look the unique challenges faced by conference website managers, and some great tips for digital marketing for events, expos, and conferences.

Links

Event Engine

The Event & Expo Podcast

Angled Crown

==================

Our episode this week is sponsored by LiquidWeb. Liquid Web is offering a 33% discount for your first 6 months of managed WordPress hosting.

Head over to https://LiquidWeb.com/wordpress and use the code WPTONIC33 at checkout for your discount.

==================

Table of Contents for Episode 185

0:00 Podcast intros.

3:29 What made Lee choose events and expos as a vertical? What led to him developing the Event Engine CMS?

6:50 What research went into adding features and modules to the Event Engine CMS? (built on top of WordPress). How did this product evolve?

11:09 How do they get in front of these event companies? What marketing methods work?

13:13 The benefit of publishing content year round for conferences and expos that only happen once a year?

17:07 Why giving away free content year round doesn't hurt ticket sales, but rather helps it. Tools for building a social element on a conference website.

19:40 Using the Facebook Pixel for retargeting and follow-up marketing. You can also do this on Twitter and LinkedIn.

22:39 Tips for marketing in person.

27:09 How Lee decided what to keep and what to turn off by default in the modules of Event Engine. Thoughts on the possibility of modules in WordPress. Backwards compatibility in WordPress.

30:28 Thoughts about WordPress growing the market share, and what it is happening to the market as a result.

37:10 Overcoming design by committee, and how Lee's process has changed over time to smooth this out.

41:22 Working with WordPress with outside apps using the REST API.

43:51 Podcast outros.

===================

Additional Links mentioned during the show:

BuddyPress

165 WP-Tonic: Mojca Marš – All About Facebook Ads

WP Innovator Podcast

WP Innovator YouTube channel

===================

Find bonus content for this episode on the WP-Tonic website:

https://www.wp-tonic.com/podcast/185-event-website-design/

===================

Subscribe to WP-Tonic on iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wp-tonic-wordpress-podcast/id893083124?mt=2

===================

WP-Tonic is a WordPress maintenance company, and the publisher of a twice weekly WordPress business podcast.

We look at event management plugins, what they do, and when you will need specific ones. What if you run recurring events? Say you run a once a year event, and need to sell tickets? What if you're a musician or band posting gigs? We give our recommendations for these scenarios and more.

Our WordPress panel this week:

Sallie Goetsch: https://wpfangirl.com

Kim Shivler: https://howtobuildanonlinecourse.com/

Lee Jackson: https://angledcrown.com/

Jonathan Denwood: https://www.wp-tonic.com

John Locke: https://www.lockedownseo.com/

==================

Our episode this week is sponsored by LiquidWeb. Liquid Web is offering a 33% discount for your first 6 months of managed WordPress hosting.

Head over to https://LiquidWeb.com/wordpress and use the code WPTONIC33 at checkout for your discount.

==================

Table of Contents for Episode 184

0:00 Podcast intros.

3:08 WordPress News Story #1: Advanced WordPress Facebook Group Moves to Curb Low Quality Content with Admin-Approved Posts

11:16 WordPress News Story #2: WordPress Editor Experience Survey Shows 75% of Respondents Don’t Use Distraction-Free Writing Mode

WordPress News Story #3: Recommended Reading: Resilient Web Design, a Free e-Book from Jeremy Keith

25:56 Main Topic: Event Management Plugins

26:12 The Events Calendar

31:05 Lee has a clever tip for creating event listings without a plugin.

35:20 Google Calendar Events

Event Organiser

Event List

Events Manager

39:10 Why you might need an events management plugin in the first place. Your blog is not the proper place for upcoming events!

41:09 Lee's thoughts on Event Espresso and Tickera

44:22 Plugins for bands and musicians: GigPress (recommended) and Gigs Calendar (Not actively maintained)

48:01 The competition isn't other plugins, but online services like Eventbrite.

50:18 Tips about buying tickets or registering with WooCommerce.

56:38 Podcast outros.

==================

Links mentioned during the show:

Grammarly

WP-Tonic Episode 162: Jeremy Keith on Resilient Web Design

Resilient Web Design

The Web is responsive by default

Getting the Perfect Website (2008)

Event Engine

Event Engine: The Event & Expo Podcast

WooCommerce Simple Registration

Hallway Chats

100k Freelancing: EP 0107 Real World Marketing with John Locke

==================

Find bonus content for this episode on the WP-Tonic website:

https://www.wp-tonic.com/podcast/184-wordpress-event-management/

===================

Subscribe to WP-Tonic on iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wp-tonic-wordpress-podcast/id893083124?mt=2

===================

WP-Tonic is both a WordPress maintenance and support service, and the publisher of a twice-weekly WordPress business podcast.

We look at what a marketing funnel is, and how they can help grow your business. Then we analyze how to build funnels in WordPress, methodologies for building funnels, and moving people down the funnel to close a sale.

At the top of the funnel is awareness, further down the funnel is interest, evaluation, and finally commitment, and closing the sale.

Our WordPress panel this week:

Adam Fout of Blue Steele Solutions

Sallie Goetsch of WP Fangirl

Jonathan Denwood of WP-Tonic

John Locke of Lockedown SEO

==================

Our episode this week is sponsored by LiquidWeb. Liquid Web is offering a 33% discount for your first 6 months of managed WordPress hosting.

Head over to https://LiquidWeb.com/wordpress and use the code WPTONIC33 at checkout for your discount.

==================

br />

Table of Contents for Episode 186

0:00 Podcast intros.

3:50 WordPress News Story #1: This (WordPress) community is not for the taking

12:14 WordPress News Story #2: Automattic to Host a Free, Remote Conference on Design and Exclusion on April 21

17:31 WordPress News Story #3: Transparency Report #26 – The Future of ThemeIsle and How Often People Change Themes

24:40 Main Topic: Marketing Funnels

24:44 The top of the funnel: Identifying potential customers and creating an avatar. Finding your target customers. Building awareness for people that they even have a problem that needs solving in the first place.

32:41 Other means of lead generation. Doing off-site and on-site marketing to build awareness. Moving from a generalist position to a vertical over time.

40:07 Lead nurturing:  email marketing, reaching out to engaged prospects, looking at data, measuring engagement. Picking up the phone is still effective.

43:21 Establishing your niche. Following up with referrals, and communicating with the people who send you send referrals and inquiries.

47:57 Lead nurturing by focusing your content, curating similar content, and having a consistent newsletter. Great content is table stakes.

51:11 Comparison and consideration. Strategies for overcoming objections. Your proposal shouldn't be a pitch, but things you have already agreed on.

57:25 Podcast outros.

==================

Links mentioned during the show:

)The Art of Paid Traffic Podcast (Rick Mulready

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHE0wmgljco8 Mile Final Battle

The Ultimate Customer Persona Template

East Bay Meetup

Five ways your auto body shop can bring in more work (Go Daddy Garage)

==================

Find bonus content for this episode on the WP-Tonic website:

https://www.wp-tonic.com/podcast-episodes/

===================

Subscribe to WP-Tonic on iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wp-tonic-wordpress-podcast/id893083124?mt=2

===================

WP-Tonic is both a WordPress maintenance and support service, and the publisher of a weekly WordPress business podcast.

We look at event management plugins, what they do, and when you will need specific ones. What if you run recurring events? Say you run a once a year event, and need to sell tickets? What if you're a musician or band posting gigs? We give our recommendations for these scenarios and more.

Our WordPress panel this week:

Sallie Goetsch: https://wpfangirl.com

Kim Shivler: https://howtobuildanonlinecourse.com/

Lee Jackson: https://angledcrown.com/

Jonathan Denwood: https://www.wp-tonic.com

John Locke: https://www.lockedowndesign.com/

==================

Our episode this week is sponsored by LiquidWeb. Liquid Web is offering a 33% discount for your first 6 months of managed WordPress hosting.

Head over to https://LiquidWeb.com/wordpress and use the code WPTONIC33 at checkout for your discount.

==================

Table of Contents for Episode 184

0:00 Podcast intros.

3:08 WordPress News Story #1: Advanced WordPress Facebook Group Moves to Curb Low Quality Content with Admin-Approved Posts

11:16 WordPress News Story #2: WordPress Editor Experience Survey Shows 75% of Respondents Don’t Use Distraction-Free Writing Mode

WordPress News Story #3: Recommended Reading: Resilient Web Design, a Free e-Book from Jeremy Keith

25:56 Main Topic: Event Management Plugins

26:12 The Events Calendar

31:05 Lee has a clever tip for creating event listings without a plugin.

35:20 Google Calendar Events

Event Organiser

Event List

Events Manager

39:10 Why you might need an events management plugin in the first place. Your blog is not the proper place for upcoming events!

41:09 Lee's thoughts on Event Espresso and Tickera

44:22 Plugins for bands and musicians: GigPress (recommended) and Gigs Calendar (Not actively maintained)

48:01 The competition isn't other plugins, but online services like Eventbrite.

50:18 Tips about buying tickets or registering with WooCommerce.

56:38 Podcast outros.

==================

Links mentioned during the show:

Grammarly

WP-Tonic Episode 162: Jeremy Keith on Resilient Web Design

Resilient Web Design

The Web is responsive by default

Getting the Perfect Website (2008)

Event Engine

Event Engine: The Event & Expo Podcast

WooCommerce Simple Registration

Hallway Chats

100k Freelancing: EP 0107 Real World Marketing with John Locke

==================

Find bonus content for this episode on the WP-Tonic website:

https://www.wp-tonic.com/podcast/184-wordpress-event-management/

===================

Subscribe to WP-Tonic on iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wp-tonic-wordpress-podcast/id893083124?mt=2

===================

WP-Tonic is both a WordPress maintenance and support service, and the publisher of a twice-weekly WordPress business podcast.

We look at what a marketing funnel is, and how they can help grow your business. Then we analyze how to build funnels in WordPress, methodologies for building funnels, and moving people down the funnel to close a sale.

At the top of the funnel is awareness, further down the funnel is interest, evaluation, and finally commitment, and closing the sale.

Our WordPress panel this week:

Adam Fout of Blue Steele Solutions

Sallie Goetsch of WP Fangirl

Jonathan Denwood of WP-Tonic

John Locke of Lockedown Design

==================

Our episode this week is sponsored by LiquidWeb. Liquid Web is offering a 33% discount for your first 6 months of managed WordPress hosting.

Head over to https://LiquidWeb.com/wordpress and use the code WPTONIC33 at checkout for your discount.

==================

br />

Table of Contents for Episode 186

0:00 Podcast intros.

3:50 WordPress News Story #1: This (WordPress) community is not for the taking

12:14 WordPress News Story #2: Automattic to Host a Free, Remote Conference on Design and Exclusion on April 21

17:31 WordPress News Story #3: Transparency Report #26 – The Future of ThemeIsle and How Often People Change Themes

24:40 Main Topic: Marketing Funnels

24:44 The top of the funnel: Identifying potential customers and creating an avatar. Finding your target customers. Building awareness for people that they even have a problem that needs solving in the first place.

32:41 Other means of lead generation. Doing off-site and on-site marketing to build awareness. Moving from a generalist position to a vertical over time.

40:07 Lead nurturing:  email marketing, reaching out to engaged prospects, looking at data, measuring engagement. Picking up the phone is still effective.

43:21 Establishing your niche. Following up with referrals, and communicating with the people who send you send referrals and inquiries.

47:57 Lead nurturing by focusing your content, curating similar content, and having a consistent newsletter. Great content is table stakes.

51:11 Comparison and consideration. Strategies for overcoming objections. Your proposal shouldn't be a pitch, but things you have already agreed on.

57:25 Podcast outros.

==================

Links mentioned during the show:

)The Art of Paid Traffic Podcast (Rick Mulready

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHE0wmgljco8 Mile Final Battle

The Ultimate Customer Persona Template

East Bay Meetup

Five ways your auto body shop can bring in more work (Go Daddy Garage)

==================

Find bonus content for this episode on the WP-Tonic website:

https://www.wp-tonic.com/podcast-episodes/

===================

Subscribe to WP-Tonic on iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wp-tonic-wordpress-podcast/id893083124?mt=2

===================

WP-Tonic is both a WordPress maintenance and support service, and the publisher of a weekly WordPress business podcast.