Trying to Connect: “Hello, World” No Response

Trying to Connect: Hello, World No Response

Stick around until the end to discover what might be the most amazing photo of Mount Fuji, ever.

In this issue:

A summary of useful guides & resources for the rollout of 6.7.
The feedback is in regarding the perception of WordPress’s communication style.
Author? Editor? Contributor? Who? Some tips to assist you in managing user roles effectively.

Fresh Off the Press: What’s New?

The Insights Are Here: The WordPress Communication Style is “All Over The Place”

Recall when WP Shout requested your opinions on the tone of voice used by the WordPress brand?

Well, the community has voiced their thoughts, and the buzz indicates that the WordPress brand tone is… well… somewhat chaotic.

22.1% of respondents perceived the brand as “friendly” – but they also mentioned that it seemed “unclear,” “inconsistent,” and even “confusing.” (And from what we can gather, nobody labeled the brand as “thoughtful,” “whimsical,” or “subdued.”)

In reaction to, “I feel that the WordPress brand communicates with a single, clear voice,” 46.51% of participants replied either “Disagree” or “Strongly Disagree.” That stands in contrast to 22.09% who replied “Agree” or “Strongly Agree.” Oh dear…

Yet, it’s important to remember that defining a brand voice is NOT straightforward.

With so many varied components within the WordPress ecosystem, creating a cohesive tone is nearly impossible as it would be in a smaller company or individual publication.

As Katie Keith, Co-Founder and CEO of Barn2 Plugins, observes, “The primary issue is the implementation, as (the brand voice) is not being applied consistently by all stakeholders.”

Nicholas Garofalo, Marketing Director at WordPress.org, mentions, “The findings prompt the question of whether WordPress should or can even aspire to communicate with one unified voice… The WordPress brand signifies numerous individuals and interests.”

You can read the blog entry analyzing the survey findings here, and explore the comprehensive survey results here.

They See Me Rollins, They Hatin’. WordPress 6.7 Has Finally Arrived!

Named in honor of the iconic jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, WordPress 6.7 is finally making its entrance into our lives.

The latest release showcases the Twenty Twenty-Five theme, which appears rather stylish if we’re being honest, along with a host of other new features.

Excited to dive into 6.7 and start discovering? Here are some valuable resources for you:
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Here’s a Roadmap to 6.7 to see what’s changed, including links to pull requests.
Discover every single detail regarding the new release on the 6.7 Source of Truth at Gutenberg Times.
Timothy Jacobs from Solid Academy walks through the new changes in this livestream. (Don’t fret, there’s a replay if you miss it live.)
Pascal Claro from WP Roads also offers a detailed tour of the new release, highlighting everything from mix-and-match color palettes, typography adjustments, enhanced image lightbox effects, and beyond.

Have you started experimenting with 6.7 yet? What are your thoughts? Share with us in the comments!

WordPress Theme Repository Reaches Significant 1k Milestone

WordPress.org achieved a monumental milestone: there are now 1,000 block themes in the repository, increasing from 536 late last year.

This is excellent news for anyone weary of generic website designs, as block themes allow you to modify layout details and completely personalize your site.

Ganga Kafle from the WordPress Themes Team attributes this growth to community enthusiasm and developer contributions from companies like Automattic.
Certainly, adoption has been a bit sluggish, but industry advocates like Brian Gardner and Mike McAlister have endorsed them, stating that block themes represent the future of WordPress customization. WordPress has even added a “Block Themes” filter to the theme directory, simplifying the process of finding them for users.

Eager to explore block themes? There are a plethora of great resources available, such as Carolina Nymark’s fullsiteediting.com or the handy Create Block Theme plugin.

Fascinating Facts & Statistics

Since the inaugural one in San Francisco in 2006, 1,275 WordCamps have taken place in 404 cities worldwide. That’s a significant number of business cards, lanyards, and keynote speakers! (Source)
Data USA revealed that in 2022, 30.6% of web developers were women and 69.4% were men. The average salary for male web developers was $86,017, compared to $65,913 for females. (Source)
According to their 2024 Developer Survey, Stack Overflow discovered that 76% of respondents were utilizing or planning to use AI tools, yet only 43% expressed confidence in the accuracy of those tools. Hmm… (Source)

In-Depth: Securing Your WordPress Site with Intuitive User Roles

Let’s be honest: we’ve all witnessed user roles spiraling out of control. Sometimes, there are ten individuals wielding Admin access, essentially inviting disaster.

WordPress’s default roles are effective, but they can also lead to disorder if not managed properly. The solution? More intelligent user role management.

Assigning users only the permissions they require is not only practical— it’ll also safeguard against unintentional (or deliberate!) chaos. Here’s how to maintain orderly user roles and secure your site:

Expert Tips for a Secure User Role Configuration

Adhere to the “Need-to-Know” Principle – Consider, “What does this individual truly require access to?” If someone is solely posting blogs, they shouldn’t need editing capabilities. Keep it minimal. Regularly and rigorously trim permissions.
Custom Roles: Your Secret Asset – Employ plugins like Members or User Role Editor to craft custom roles that fit your requirements. This is particularly useful for clients who could otherwise end up with excessive access.
Routine Permission Audits – Every few months, conduct a brief review of who has what access. People change, roles evolve, and permissions should adapt accordingly. If someone has departed? Time to remove them.
Admin Access Should Be Exclusive, Not Open-Access – Limit Admin access to a select few. Although it may be tempting to designate everyone as Admin to “simplify matters,” this can lead to chaos. Reserve Admin privileges for those you trust.
Eliminate Dormant Accounts – Inactive accounts are akin to uninvited guests who refuse to leave. If someone no longer needs their account, delete or deactivate it. Dormant accounts = easy targets for hacking.
Track Activity – A logging plugin (think WP Activity Log, Stream, or our own plugin, Defender Pro) acts as a digital guardian. It monitors user actions, allowing you to know if anyone is up to no good. Within Defender Pro, there’s an Audit Logging feature that keeps track of events, making it easy to identify what triggered any undesirable behavior on your site.
Strong Passwords + 2FA = A No-Brainer – Don’t let users slide by with weak passwords. Implement a robust password policy and, if possible, introduce two-factor authentication to tighten security. (By the way, Defender includes features for 2FA and password security too.)

When your user roles are well-organized, you’re not just decluttering—you’re constructing a fortress. Keep things secure, and your WordPress site will be prepared for anything.

Blogs & Resources You Can’t Afford to Miss

WordPress.com recently launched its AI-driven Studio Assistant, a digital chatbot co-pilot for local site building. Matt Medeiros from WP Minute Tutorials examines its functionality.

Could WordPress transition into something more akin to a social media platform? In this episode of The WordPress Way, Robert Windisch and Matthias Pfefferle share insights.

Are you an accessibility specialist in the WordPress ecosystem? If so, Tia Wood is looking to connect with you for the November edition of What’s the Word.

Beware: there’s a serious security vulnerability in the WPLMS WordPress theme that permits hackers to stealthily access your files. Ensure you update to safeguard your site!

Seamless workflow, here we come! The design team has introduced a new WordPress Design System library for Figma.

In a recent blog entry, Marieke van de Rakt and Joost de Valk remind us that the true treasure is the WordPress friendships we’ve developed throughout the journey.