Two Worlds of WordPress

Why is open source so very cool?

Marieke van de Rakt

January 17, 2024

I am an open source fangirl. And I think it should be celebrated much more. In a world that needs more sustainability, transparency, and equality, open source should be more prominent, embraced, acknowledged, and applauded by the whole world. The…

Why raise capital?

Marieke van de Rakt

January 10, 2024

BusinessTwo Worlds of WordPress

In her weekly column, the first of 2024, Marieke speaks about getting investment, or not! Selling part of your company to investors can spur rapid growth, but it means losing some ownership. If you take investment, choose investors who offer more than money, like valuable advice and market expertise!

Looking back on 2023

Marieke van de Rakt

December 20, 2023

Two Worlds of WordPress

In her post, Marieke reflects on the year 2023 and looks forward to 2024.

Open source beyond WordPress

Marieke van de Rakt

December 13, 2023

Two Worlds of WordPress

Marieke van de Rakt encourages exploring and learning from other open-source communities beyond WordPress, emphasizing the benefits of such engagement for innovation and addressing common challenges.

Agile all the way

Marieke van de Rakt

December 6, 2023

PlanetTwo Worlds of WordPress

I am a true entrepreneur. I like to do things lean, mean, and quick. And I genuinely believe in an agile business model, especially in the WordPress world. At Yoast, we used to call it ‘hup hup hup’. It means…

Gender diversity in the WordPress community versus the WordPress boardrooms

Marieke van de Rakt

November 29, 2023

PlanetTwo Worlds of WordPress

In her post, Marieke van de Rakt discusses the contrast between the gender diversity seen at WordCamp events and the disparity in WordPress boardrooms, highlighting the need for more female representation in leadership roles.

On sponsored talks, paid talks, and WordCamps

Marieke van de Rakt

November 22, 2023

PlanetTwo Worlds of WordPress

I spoke at quite a few conferences over the years. Mainly WordCamps, but I also did an occasional SEO conference and made an appearance at a conference for bloggers. At WordCamps, it is always clear: speakers do not receive compensation.…

Why marketers should not try to measure everything

Marieke van de Rakt

November 15, 2023

PlanetTwo Worlds of WordPress

I hate data. And I love data. Safe to say, my relationship with data is somewhat complex. I love statistical analysis; I love getting new insights out of data. But I hate it when the data is incomplete, doesn't answer…

Free versus premium

Marieke van de Rakt

November 8, 2023

BusinessPlanet

In her weekly post, Marieke talks about how the WordPress plugin directory is a pivotal feature that has propelled the CMS to success. She notices there is a concerning shift among new developers towards bypassing free plugins for premium versions. Read her thoughts!

On funding and business success

Marieke van de Rakt

November 1, 2023

BusinessTwo Worlds of WordPress

Sometimes it seems like a startup is only successful if it has raised capital from investors. These startups are featured in the media. On the business side of WordPress, there’s a lot of talk about acquisitions and the raising of…

Knowing me, knowing you

Marieke van de Rakt

October 26, 2023

BusinessTwo Worlds of WordPress

Marieke writing about navigating the dynamics of the WordPress community, which can be a unique experience. While newcomers often find it challenging to integrate, even long-standing contributors sometimes feel like outsiders. Striking a balance between embracing the old and welcoming the new is crucial. But how do we ensure everyone feels appreciated?

On people breaking up with WordPress

Marieke van de Rakt

October 18, 2023

Two Worlds of WordPress

Marieke explains what she thinks about people publicly breaking up with WordPress.

Just like Spiderman

Marieke van de Rakt

October 11, 2023

BusinessTwo Worlds of WordPress

In her weekly column Two Worlds of WordPress, Marieke van de Rakt explains how leaders sometimes have to be just like Spiderman.

Confidence and getting lucky

Marieke van de Rakt

October 6, 2023

BusinessTwo Worlds of WordPress

In this installment of her weekly column, Marieke explains how she become confident about her abilities "after the fact" and what else is important in starting a business.

Marieke van de Rakt

September 28, 2023

BusinessTwo Worlds of WordPress

WordPress has two faces, two different sides, two different worlds even. At least, that’s what I see when I look at WordPress. You have the community side, with people enthusiastic about open source, contributing to the project, organizing amazing events.…