Member Spotlight: Alex Standiford

Alex Standiford has been an active member of the WordPress community since 2014. During his time in this space, he’s built hundreds of WordPress plugins for other people, and spent some time working on several plugins you have probably used. Alex created Siren out of a profound belief that his extensive network deserved better, more dynamic online partnerships, driven by a passion to revolutionize how these collaborations are managed and maximized.

What do you enjoy most about working in WordPress?

I love open-source in general because it fosters a spirit of collaboration and freedom, but WordPress in particular has captivated me due to the ownership it promises. I really value the ability to own his content and platform, and that always always leads me to WordPress. This has embodied everything I do online, from running Siren Affiliates to publishing all of my content, including tweets, through my personal website first. WordPress serves as my go-to tool for all of these things, mostly because the platform’s versatility supports his diverse needs. For me, WordPress is more than just a CMS; it’s a digital representation of independence, and ownership, which is something I value very much.

What do you love most about your Post Status membership?

Oh gosh, so much to say about my love for Post Status. It has truly become a central hub for interacting with the WordPress community for me. Post Status is often the first place I go to connect with someone, as most of my network is already active there. I appreciate the diversity of discussions, from sharing a new bread recipe to finding potential partners and securing lucrative freelance gigs. Post Status is as a vital tool in my networking arsenal, moreso than any single social network. The sense of community and the wealth of opportunities available really helped me push my career to a higher level. I love the genuine connections and the collaborative spirit that Post Status fosters, and there would be a big hole in WordPress space if it wasn’t here.

What business/web/WordPress advice do you have for others in our industry?

Partnerships and networking is everything here. If you’re deep in this community, and understand it well, you can find a lot of opportunity here. This crowd is a curious mix of post-great recession era freelancers who had to make their way without a job, and so much of this community has been built on that counterfactual belief that a 9-5 job is not the only way you can make a living (although it’s fine if you do!) But because of that, there’s so many people here who see the value in partnerships, and understand them on a deep level, and are excited to work with you.