Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama

Dan and Nathan jump on the show this week to share with me their pride and joy, PodcasterPlus Blocks. A WordPress plugin that lets podcasters build customisable, automated podcast websites using modular blocks that pull content directly from RSS feeds, enabling design freedom without having to rely on third-party player embeds. Some of the best products are born out of a problem the creators had. Not market research. Not competitor analysis. Just someone annoyed enough to fix what is bugging them! Exactly what Nathan and Dan have done! I loved hearing how they have developed this WordPress plugin together, especially the dynamics of their working relationship. It's always so much fun to get a behind the scenes glance at the development of a product. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/build-what-you-know/

Accessibility is often an after thought to a web build, even considered optional. We assume that most people are able to access our content and at best slap on a third party accessibility widget to tick a box. Gen Herres, my guest today, challenged several of my limiting beliefs... more people have hidden disabilities than we realiseeven if it were only a few, why exclude themand automation alone isn't enough, we need manual testing too She also smashes the perception that Accessibility is only something that folks with big budgets can do. She shares practical advice for supporting ALL users of your site without breaking the bank, breaking a sweat, or losing your sanity! Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/the-forgotten-many/

What do you normally sacrifice when delivering for a client whilst trying to stay within the budget AND meet deadlines!? Look, we're all small businesses here, how on EARTH do we deliver quality without overwhelm? I am sure we'd love nothing better than to tinker till we hit perfection but that aint gonna pay the bills right!? What if there was a way to do it all tho!? Sam Sayer is here to share how! He's a bloody legend, and so was his Grandad (literally)... no spoilers, you HAVE to listen to this episode. Enjoy! Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/form-and-function/

I can't doomscroll for 5 seconds without some "marketing guru" telling me what I should be doing to market my business. It's bloody exhausting! You might remember I burned out trying to do everything back in 2023 and I nearly closed down this very podcast as a result! Rob Cairns is a long time friend of mine, who's championed both my mental health and the work I do with the podcast. I asked him to come on to sanity check the advice we receive as small business owners, and to help us market without the burnout. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/marketing-till-you-drop/

Posts, pages, categories, media, WordPress has you covered. But when it comes to complex builds where do you turn? Great Opomu suggests... WordPress!? Whaaat!? Well I happen to agree if I am honest, I was saying this in 2016! WordPress and the ecosystem has done a LOT of growing up since then. The code base has matured, there are epic tools out there for rapid application development and the community is huge. Great has authored the WPforOPs Manifesto where he encourages folks to consider WordPress as a powerful business operations platform capable of doing the work of multiple SaaS tools all in one place, where you own the data and can customise till your hearts content... within reason right!? Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/more-than-just-a-wordpress/

When asked what you do, what do you say? "I build websites" or "I am a web developer". Heck even "I build websites in the XYZ industry". Sounds nice and nichey right!? Well maybe not. Alex Curtis joins us today and shares his own experience of niching down. He shares what he does, who he does it for and the all important ingredient that defines your business, the end result. Spoiler alert: The niche is the who you help and the result they pay for. And he points out that what you do to GET those results is not necessarily as important to clients, nor to hang your entire marketing around. In episode 400, Adam and I talked about becoming a generalist in a changing world, and perhaps a niche is not so important. Yet in this episode, even with AI, automation, machine learning and Donald Trump, Alex shares how you can be a "generalist" within a niche. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/what-you-do-isnt-the-niche/

I having banged on for years about niching down have to admit that today's epic guest, young Adam Lowe is right when recommends we consider becoming a little more generalist! Why? Because like it or loath it, AI, machine learning, automation and other tools are making building websites a commodity and we might wanna consider become the "glue" that holds our client, their team and systems together. Don't drop your niche straight away tho! Listen to the show as it should inspire you to add other services or fill other gaps within the industry or industries you serve as a good starting point! There is still a LOT going for niching especially if you do have a wider skill set than making a site look pretty. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/uno-reverso-niche-o/

"Why are most WordPress developers musicians" was a throw away comment from Zack during a random online natter. What was likely meant in jest sent my mind in circles. If it was a movie you'd see flashbacks of all the podcasts I have done in the past and behind most folks being interviewed, hanging on the wall would be a guitar, or a keyboard nearby. "YES.... WHYYYYYY".... and with that I invited the old chap onto the show for a completely random chat to see if we can make any sense of this riddle. I actually thought this would be a laugh a minute (there are a few laughs don't get me wrong), but we went deep! And I mean REALLY deep! The sort of deep that leaves you staring blankly at the shower wall for 30 mins. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/why-most-wordpress-devs-are-musicians/

Feeling stuck, and don't know how to get... well... unstuck!? What does stuck even look like? How do you know you're stuck? Why is this opening so confusing? What's with all the questions? Let's face it, running a creative business is hard work. We wanna do that thing we love (be creative) but we own a business. The business has SO many demands on our time and attention that we can no longer enjoy the creative bit. If we do, we can't see the wood for the trees when it comes to developing our business. Over time this robs us of our joy, our passion and we're soon wondering about giving it all up! Remember I was at that point with this very podcast!? In this episode we meet Philip VanDusen, who you may recognise from waaaaay back in 2018! He helps us recognise what being stuck looks like, and how to get unstuck! Simple as! Really worth a listen because this is a ridiculously frank and practical episode. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/how-to-get-unstuck/

Finding it a slog to market your business, plugin or theme? You might be missing the secret ingredient... Passion. In today's episode I chat with my good pal Davinder where he unpacks his experience of creating content focused on WordPress and how it naturally grew into a profitable business model that pays well, allows him to do what he loves and brings real value to the community as a result. As you heard in episode 395, when your passion or joy is being robbed, things feel like a slog. For Davinder, it was a joy and the results are super encouraging. Have a listen, it's a cracking chat between to old (literally) mates! Oh, and Davinder old me to use my affiliate link so here it is. Beaver builder if you wanna jump on the stability bandwagon! Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/your-passion-can-make-it-pay/

AI streamlines your processes and makes you more productive right? I learned the hard way that it can seriously affect the quality of my output, my happiness and my reach! In this episode I share how AI nearly led to me completely shutting this podcast down, and how my relationship with AI is evolving and changing for the better. No hate toward it (AI), but this is a warning to myself and others not to over rely on automation and lose what makes you special! Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/does-ai-help-or-hinder/

You know that thing you love doing that lights you up? What happens when it becomes your job and you feel completely overwhelmed by it? In this episode I share how Trailblazer FM once fulfilled me, then became a burden. How trying to monetise a hobby robbed me of the joy of creation, and led me to burnout, to the extent I felt I had no choice but to stop podcasting. Thankfully the story doesn't end there! I am back, and in this episode I share what's changed, why I am back and how I intend to retain the JOY of my hobby rather than feel the pressure of a "job". Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/when-your-hobby-becomes-your-job/

Overwhelmed, overworked, on the brink of burnout? Agency life is known for its fast pace and demanding clients, and I know from personal experience how burnout can completely de-rail you. As I slowly return recovery, I invited Cat Burchmore onto the podcast to help me learn how I could prevent burnout as a business owner by leaning on automation more. In this episode we explore how implementing automation strategies can help you avoid burnout and take control of your well-being. Cat shares her insights on how automating tasks like client onboarding, invoicing, and project management can free up your time, reduce stress, and improve your overall work-life balance. Of course automation isn't just about making your life easier – it's also about providing a better experience for your clients. Cat shares how automation can help you deliver a more personalised and efficient service, without sacrificing the human touch. Heck in this day and age we all need a more human touch! Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/can-automation-prevent-burnout/

Struggling to break out of the feast and famine cycle? Do you feel like you're constantly putting out fires and not making the progress you want in your business? Brent is a seasoned agency owner who started his first digital agency at the tender age of 17. In this episode, he shares his journey of navigating the challenges of running an agency, from landing his first clients to eventually selling his business not once, but twice. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/freelancer-to-agency-owner/ Free training: https://ugurus.com/launch-live-training/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=leejackson&utm_campaign=q12024

Time tracking is often seen as a necessary evil - something that takes time away from doing client work or feels like micromanaging employees. In this episode I interview Ilia from Toggl to discover why those assumptions are wrong. We discuss real-world examples of how time tracking provides valuable data to help agencies work more efficiently, provide better project estimates, optimise team members' time, identify profitable versus unprofitable clients, and ultimately achieve better profitability and work-life balance. Ilia shares tips on how agency owners can implement time tracking in a way that gets buy-in from employees and avoids it feeling punitive. If you think time tracking is a drag that holds your agency back, this myth-busting episode will surprise you and highlight the many bottom-line benefits tracking time can unlock! Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/is-time-tracking-holding-you-back/

Running an agency is tough, but invaluable lessons can be learned from those who've spent years growing in the trenches. In this episode, I sat down with Jon Tsourakis, a veteran agency owner of over 15 years, who doesn't look a day over 30. (Had to say that in case he reads this.) As the founder of Oyova, Jon has led his digital marketing agency from humble beginnings to a thriving team of 30. He's made mistakes, evolved his offerings, and learned countless tips for building an agency poised for longevity. In an honest, insightful conversation, Jon shares the failures, adaptations, and wins he's experienced on his agency journey. Expect hard-won advice on finding your niche, leading remote teams, bouncing back from burnout, building community, and having the flexibility to grow successfully.  Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/lessons-from-an-agency-leader/

Do you feel like your website or brand is lost in the endless sea of search engine results? Does it seem like no matter what you do, you just can't break onto page one or get those coveted top rankings? Well, today's guest, Jason Barnard is here to help you finally stop getting buried by search engines. Known as the "Brand SERP Guy," Jason is an international authority on managing brand search optimisation and online reputation. In this info-packed episode, he shares insider tips to take control of how you appear on Google, Bing, and other search platforms. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/buried-by-search-engines/

Are you struggling to attract high-paying clients who see the immense value in what you offer? Do you find yourself exhaustively pitching potential clients who just don't get what makes you different? In this eye-opening episode, Helen Knight joins us to share her proven framework for positioning yourself as the obvious choice for your ideal clients. You'll discover new ways to identify and align with your dream clients, create offers tailored specifically to their needs, and leverage social media to establish yourself as the go-to expert in your niche.  Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/ideal-clients-obvious-choice/

Struggling to build your business? Cash strapped and wish you had investment? What if I told you, you already have everything you need to build an exciting and growing business? Meet Zara and Aaron, the founders of Choppity. They are building their business in public, keeping costs razor thin and laser focusing on their niche. The results are difficult to deny! A powerful solution, tonnes of potential, and a growing MRR. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/low-cash-growth/

The vast sea of online courses makes it challenging for any one course to stand out. But what if there's a method that not only grabs attention but also ensures course completion, builds trust, and positions you as an expert they can't wait to buy from? In this episode, we unravel the secret sauce behind course delivery that people are ignoring. Discover the transformative power of email-delivered courses and why they're growing in popularity. Learn how this simple shift in delivery can skyrocket course completion rates, deliver value to participants, and nudge them toward the right purchase. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/unignorable-courses/

Do you ever feel like your web agency is stuck in a cycle of one-and-done projects? You deliver an exceptional website, only to watch the client fade away, turning what could have been a fruitful, ongoing collaboration into a fleeting transaction. But what if there was a way to turn that one-time project into a long-term partnership? In this episode, we explore an often-overlooked tool that can transform your client relationships and significantly boost your agency's recurring revenue. Providing a website owners manual with web builds can help educate clients on what is involved in keeping their website maintained, performing, and delivering results for them. As clients recognise the value and what is involved, they are significantly more likely to take up your maintenance and support services, allowing you to develop a long lasting relationship. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/website-manual/

Struggling to make logo design pay? In this episode, we meet Ian Paget, the man behind Logo Geek, who turned his passion for logo design into profit. I ask: What does it take to go all in on logos? What can we learn from others? How can we improve our skills? How do we keep motivated? Ian delivers! Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/make-a-living-designing-logos/

Struggling to grow your agency or finding it tough to reel in new clients? Perhaps you feel conscious that your agency isn't yet what you'd hoped it would be? Simon Penson's journey is sure to inspire you. His own agency journey began at his kitchen table, of all places, where he faced and overcame a multitude of challenges, ultimately leading to the successful sale of his agency. His story highlights the importance of perseverance and the transformative power of a good mentor.  Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/simons-agency-exit/

Ever felt like you're on a never-ending hamster wheel of agency life? Trying to build a business that will support the life you want for you and your family, but never quite getting there? You're not alone. Many of us are caught in this relentless cycle, believing that success is just around the corner if we work harder, grow bigger. But what if there's another way? My guest in today's episode, Daniel Hutt, found himself in the same exhausting cycle. A seasoned content marketing expert and the current head of content for Zero to Mastery, Daniel dared to question the status quo. He realized that doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results, was a path to nowhere. With one powerful mindset switch, he decided to go against conventional wisdom and take a completely different direction. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/mindset-shift/

Creating website policies can feel pretty overwhelming. It’s easy to think copying and pasting templates will do, but this shortcut can put both agencies and clients at risk. In this episode, I was really pumped to chat again with Hans from Termageddon. He walks us through his journey of building a tool that does the heavy lifting. He shares valuable insights into building a business on a firm foundation and developing relationships that last. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/privacy-policies/

Do you get anxious when updating your client's WordPress website, wondering what will break? Do you spend hours running tests in staging, before finally pushing everything live? In this episode, we explore WordPress maintenance and look at a solution designed to help developers and designers catch issues before they cause a real problem. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/streamlining-wordpress-maintenance/

Meet Michelle Frechette, a trailblazer in the WordPress community who is bridging gaps and building connections in ways you wouldn't imagine. Michelle, the Director of Community Engagement for StellarWP at Liquid Web, takes us on a journey from her first encounter with WordPress to her current role as a community leader. She shares her insights on the power of inclusivity, the thrill of her first WordCamp, and the delicate art of fostering diversity without tokenism. If you've ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the WordPress community or how to make a real impact in your own circles, this episode is a must-listen. Get ready for a conversation that will challenge your perspectives and inspire you to action. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/bridging-gaps-building-community/

Find yourself ignoring newsletters you receive? Think that having your own newsletter is therefore a waste of time? Think again. I was challenged when our guest Shiven shared insights into building your own newsletter and audience that I had never considered. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/newsletter-success/

Fed up installing fresh copies of WordPress to test themes, plugins or code? What if you could spark up a blank WordPress instance directly in your browser in seconds, without even needing a host? Watch the video: Today we dive into the exciting world of WordPress Playground with special guest Adam Zielinski, a WordPress core developer at Automattic. Learn how this web-based development environment revolutionizes WordPress site creation and modification without any setup required. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/wordpress-playground/

Introducing ChatGPT to our entire team has been a game-changer! While some folks worry AI will take their jobs, our team is thriving with enhanced productivity and an improved work-life balance. Discover how we're leveraging AI to supercharge our efficiency in coding, content creation, email management, translations, and beyond! Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/chatgpt-in-a-web-agency

As an agency owner, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day demands of running your business. But what happens when your work starts to take a toll on your health and happiness? For many agency owners, the answer is a frustrating cycle of too much work and not enough time for self-care. But it doesn't have to be this way.  Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/fit-with-small-steady-steps/

Feel like the internal communication at your agency is a little bit of a mess? Perhaps you're missing deadlines, upsetting clients, or duplicating your efforts internally. In this episode, Lee shares how stand-up meetings in his agency help solve these problems. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/implement-stand-up-meetings

Imagine a mastermind group that catapults your business to new heights, helps you make bold moves, and pushes you to reach your full potential. Lee shares his own incredible journey of growth and transformation, thanks to the power of these game-changing meetups.  Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/mastermind-effect-agency-transformation

Ever felt swamped, stressed, or on edge due to tough clients? In this honest and unplanned episode, our host Lee gets real about how his mental health has been impacted by tricky client relationships. Tune in to hear his personal story, insights, and advice on dealing with toxic clients and safeguarding your well-being in the digital world. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/toxic-clients-mental-health

Are you having a tough time providing top-notch support to your clients? In this episode, Lee spills the beans on how his agency, Event Engine, turned their messy support system into one with a perfect 100% client happiness rating. Discover the super simple process they put in place to bring order to their support system, improve communication, and take a more proactive approach to helping their clients.  Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/optimise-support-win-clients-hearts/

Have you ever been excited to receive a new lead in your inbox, only for the communication to fizzle out over time? As a web agency owner, this can be a frustrating experience. In this episode, Lee shares his agency's solution to this problem. By implementing a simple process using a CRM, they were able to track their communications and convert more leads. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/track-and-convert-leads/

Are you tired of trying to sell your web design services to potential clients, only to be met with hesitation and skepticism? It can be difficult to convince someone to invest a large sum of money in your services when they don't really know you yet. But what if there was a better way?  Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/selling-value-not-just-websites/

Are you tired of constantly comparing yourself to others in your industry? Do you struggle with defining success for yourself and staying motivated to achieve your goals? In this episode, Lee and Candy dive into the world of pricing, money, and success in the agency and freelancer space.  Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/defining-success-for-your-agency/

📈 Candy explores hiring and compensating employees. It's all over the news; countries are entering or on the brink of recession. We've teamed up with Candy Phelps to explore essential financial skills freelancers and agency owners should flex during these times. In this episode, we discuss hiring, including when to hire, alternatives to full-time hiring, and preparing ahead to avoid stress. Full show notes:

📈 Candy shares how to develop a business plan. It's all over the news; countries are entering or on the brink of recession. We've teamed up with Candy Phelps to explore essential financial skills freelancers and agency owners should flex during these times. In this episode, we discuss the common struggles of business planning and financial management. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/business-planning-and-projections

📈 Candy shares how to price for web design projects. It's all over the news; countries are entering or on the brink of recession. We've teamed up with Candy Phelps to explore essential financial skills freelancers and agency owners should flex during these times. In this episode we break down how to calculate your rates and price for projects. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/pricing-for-web-design

📈 Candy shares the effects of macroeconomics on freelancers and agencies It's all over the news; countries are entering or on the brink of recession. We've teamed up with Candy Phelps to explore essential financial skills freelancers and agency owners should flex during these times. In this episode, we discuss how macroeconomics and personal finances affect our businesses, how to plan our finances and future-proof our organisations. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/pricing-in-a-weak-economy/

🎃 A visual builder that produces fast-loading WordPress websites. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/an-otherworldly-site-builder Join the conversation: https://trailblazer.fm/an-otherworldly-site-builder/#respond All WordPress tools to try before you die: https://trailblazer.fm/category/halloween-2022/wordpress-tools/

🎃 Protecting content within WordPress for members only. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/conjuring-membership-magic Join the conversation: https://trailblazer.fm/conjuring-membership-magic/#respond All WordPress tools to try before you die: https://trailblazer.fm/category/halloween-2022/wordpress-tools/

🎃 No-code animations and effects in WordPress. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/adding-hocus-pocus-to-a-website Join the conversation: https://trailblazer.fm/adding-hocus-pocus-to-a-website/#respond All WordPress tools to try before you die: https://trailblazer.fm/category/halloween-2022/wordpress-tools/

🎃 Moving a large WordPress website from one host to another. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/attack-of-the-clones/ Join the conversation: https://trailblazer.fm/attack-of-the-clones/#respond All WordPress tools to try before you die: https://trailblazer.fm/category/halloween-2022/wordpress-tools/

🎃 How to manage SEO in WordPress. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/supernatural-search-engine-optimization Join the conversation: https://trailblazer.fm/supernatural-search-engine-optimization All WordPress tools to try before you die: https://trailblazer.fm/category/halloween-2022/wordpress-tools/

🎃 How to clean a slow and bloated WordPress database. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/battling-a-gruesome-wordpress-database Join the conversation: https://trailblazer.fm/battling-a-gruesome-wordpress-database/#respond All WordPress tools to try before you die: https://trailblazer.fm/category/halloween-2022/wordpress-tools/

🎃 Make it easier to access and sort data in the WordPress admin. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/cobwebs-in-the-wordpress-admin Join the conversation: https://trailblazer.fm/cobwebs-in-the-wordpress-admin/#respond All WordPress tools to try before you die: https://trailblazer.fm/category/halloween-2022/wordpress-tools/

🎃 How to provide a more accessible website. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Notice: This is a re-record due to discovering the third-party tool that we believed was providing people with a better browsing experience, was potentially hindering their access and not helping at all!!! :( Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/dont-fear-accessiblity/ Join the conversation: https://trailblazer.fm/dont-fear-accessibility/#respond All WordPress tools to try before you die: https://trailblazer.fm/category/halloween-2022/wordpress-tools/