Issue 111 - Big Things - ACF Makeover, Inclusive SEO, Cloudways Acquired

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WP Weekly 111 / Big Things

This was the week of big things in the WordPress space. Be it one of the biggest managed cloud platform popular among WordPress users, Cloudways getting acquired. Or the ACF plugin, after changing ownership hands twice in the recent past, is finally getting the much-needed makeover. Also, that big and sticky question – is Wix and Squarespace beating WordPress? Well, there is another study analysis to ponder more over this competition!

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What’s Buzzing in WordPress 💖

Got Noticed… a free Google Chrome extension called License Buddy, which allows you to save and quickly use license keys of your huge list of WordPress plugins. Also, check the interesting TaxoPress plugin that lets you organize all your WordPress content with the power of taxonomies and much more.
New Plugins… there is a new free plugin that allow you to add members in the MemberPress powered website to a Discord server and assigned a specific role. Also, the newsletter plugin Mailster has released a new free plugin that allows you to create an email newsletter sign-up form for Mailster with the block editor.
SEO Updates… Call it a welcome new territory, the Yoast SEO is working on inclusive language analysis that would help you avoid expressions that imply ideas that are otherwise biased and prejudiced. Also, SEOPress 5.9 update has added a new HTML sitemap block for the Gutenberg block editor users.

Extended WordPress Buzz 🔥

WP Up & Down… Are Wix and Squarespace ahead of WordPress? Well, that’s the result of the Creators Friendliness Index study using a specific methodology for such calculation. (Wix Score: 79.22, Squarespace Score: 75.32, and WordPress Score: 68.33).
Acquisition Train… is big this time, and no one saw this coming! Cloudways, a popular managed cloud platform, has been acquired by DigitalOcean for $350 million in cash to be paid over 30 months following the closing. The existing Cloudways users would be served like it is, with no change for them.
Welcome Changes… ACF Pro (6.0 RC1) has an all-new user interface that looks very neat and user-friendly, feels like the plugin is still alive and kicking. Also, WebP support in the core WordPress is now on hold for WP 6.1 after new objections from the community. While this is a good feature but it should be only optional.
Blocks Life… Jeremy Anderberg shared a few of his favorite patterns from the collection of 260 patterns. Also, Theme Redone is a new block-based starter WordPress theme for the Gutenberg block editor users for creating custom websites with the power of the block editor.
WP Block Perspective… are third-party block plugins heading in the wrong direction? Jamie from Pootlepress explains, and do check interesting comments on that article. Also, Fränk Klein highlighted why we should stop saying Gutenberg as this project involve a lot more than just block editor plugin.
WordCamps Action… want to connect and chat with people attending the WordCamp US event? Well, you can chat with them at the Make WordPress Slack community. While WordCamp Asia 2023 is calling on Wapuu fans to propose a Wapuu design for this event.

Quick Bits 👍

GiveWP now with SendWP delivery service integration for emails.
A new addon called Performance Reports for AffiliateWP users.
WP Social Ninja with new template style module to custom styling.
WordPress 6.0.2 RC1 download is now available for your testing.
The WP Awards 2022: Still time to nominate your favorite one!

Fresh WP Plugins Stash of the Week!

For Block users, get your text moving (meaning cool scrolling) with Marquee Block Plugin from Themes Kingdom. Also, here is an easy way to add back the customizer to block themes – Alan Fuller shared the code and plugin to get going.

For Bricks Builder users, check the Bricks Navigator plugin by Sridhar Katakam. Also, the iFolders plugin by Max Lawrence is another way to bring some sanity to media management on WordPress websites.

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Upcoming Events...

Sep 02, 2022: WordCamp Jinja 2022 in Jinja City, Uganda.
Sep 03, 2022: WordCamp Kathmandu 2022 in Nepal.
Sep 09, 2022: WordCamp US 2022 event at San Diego, CA.
Sep 15, 2022: WordCamp Netherland 2022 at Arnhem.
Oct 01, 2022: The WP Awards 2022 voting starts for all.

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