Episode 553 All About Plugins With John Overall

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Show Summary

This excerpt is from the SDM show podcast, hosted by Rob Cairns, featuring guest John Overall from the WP Plugins A to Z podcast. The conversation primarily focuses on the WordPress plugin ecosystem, discussing its evolution from donation-based models to premium offerings, the impact of support tickets on development costs, and the trend of large hosting companies acquiring plugins. They also touch upon the rise of Shopify as an e-commerce platform, the issue of abandoned plugins and potential solutions like mirrored or federated repositories, and advice on selecting plugins and the importance of website backups. The discussion highlights the complexities and ongoing changes within the WordPress world.

Show Notes

In this episode, Rob Cairns welcomes fellow Canadian and WordPress veteran, John Overall, the creator and host of the “WP Plugins A to Z” podcast. With over 1500 plugin reviews under his belt, John shares his journey from a computer store owner to a WordPress expert and podcaster. He discusses the evolution of WordPress plugins, the rise of the premium model, the challenges of plugin maintenance and support, and the future landscape, including the impact of major acquisitions and the potential for federated repositories. John also offers valuable advice on plugin selection, security, and the importance of website maintenance.

Guest:

• John Overall: Creator and host of the “WP Plugins A to Z” podcast. A long-time WordPress expert, developer, and website maintenance provider.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

• The Genesis of “WP Plugins A to Z”:
  • John started his WordPress journey after selling his computer store, choosing WordPress over other CMS options.
  • The introduction of plugins with WordPress 3.0 sparked his interest, seeing it as a “game-changer.”
  • He launched the podcast to establish himself, research, learn, and build his business.
  • His initial (and quickly abandoned) idea was to cover plugins from A to Z literally.
  • Podcasting established him as an expert and built trust, leading to long-term client relationships.
• The Value of Podcasting for Business:
  • Both Rob and John agree that podcasting, while a passion, provides significant ROI for their businesses.
  • It establishes expertise and builds a unique rapport with listeners who feel they “know” the host.
• The Evolution & Future of WordPress Plugins:
  • The Rise of Premium: John foresaw the shift from donation-based models to freemium and now towards “absolute premium” plugins.
  • Why Premium? Developers need sustainable income to cover development and, crucially, support costs. Support tickets are a major expense.
  • Changing Models: Lifetime licenses proved unsustainable for many. Annual subscriptions, even at higher tiers, are becoming standard and necessary.
  • Plugin Demos: Expect more developers to offer demos on their sites rather than free versions in the repository.
• Plugin Support is Key:
  • Support is often the biggest cost for successful plugin developers (e.g., WS Forms, Conversion Bridge).
  • End-users often don’t read documentation, increasing support load.
  • The cost of support necessitates higher plugin prices.
• The Impact of Acquisitions:
  • Major web hosts (Bluehost, GoDaddy, Liquid Web/StellarWP) are acquiring popular plugins and themes (Yith, SkyVerge, Cadence).
  • The Risk: Sometimes, acquisitions lead to a decline in development or a shift in direction, making the plugin less useful.
  • The Positive: When the original developers stay involved (like Ben Ritner with Cadence), it can help maintain quality and direction.
• Plugin Security & Maintenance:
  • Plugins remain a primary vector for attacks, but security is improving, thanks partly to initiatives like Patchstack’s bounty program.
  • The Owner’s Role: Average users can’t track all vulnerabilities; this falls to professionals.
  • Maintenance Plans: Essential for identifying abandoned or vulnerable plugins and finding replacements or fixes.
  • Backups: Crucial! John shares a story emphasizing the need for multiple, long-term backups, as corruption can go unnoticed. Backups are only as good as your ability to restore them.
• Hot Plugin Categories:
  • John identifies Club and Organization Management as a major up-and-coming category, which he is developing a plugin for. This includes membership, bookings, waiver management, and communication tools.
• WordPress vs. External Services (CRM, Email, etc.):
  • The decision depends on needs and, significantly, server resources.
  • Some functions (like MailPoet for email) integrate well and save work.
  • Others (like a robust CRM like WHMCS) might be better kept separate.
  • Having your own server provides flexibility and control over resources.
• WordPress vs. Shopify:
  • Shopify’s success is attributed to its ease of use for e-commerce compared to early WooCommerce.
  • WordPress developers are branching out to Shopify due to the packed WordPress market and Shopify’s appeal.
  • John sees a potential trend: Successful Shopify users facing high-tier fees may migrate back to WooCommerce for more cost control, effectively making Shopify a “training ground.”
• The Future of the Plugin Repository:
  • Concerns over a single point of failure (highlighted by events at WordCamp US) are driving discussions.
  • Mirrored Repos: Good for enterprise but might lack install/download data.
  • Federated Repos: John believes this is the likely (and better) future, offering decentralization while potentially retaining key data. This is likely being developed in the background.
  • Users just want a vetted, reliable source, regardless of the underlying structure.
• Advice for Plugin Users:
  • How Many Plugins? Use the number needed to achieve the required functionality – it varies greatly (5 for a blog, 40+ for e-commerce). It’s code, whether in a plugin or custom.
  • Vet Your Plugins: Check the developer’s reputation, look for unnecessary “junk” or aggressive upsells, and ask questions before installing (especially for premium plugins).
  • Hosting Matters: If you have many plugins, ensure your hosting can handle it. Don’t blame just the code; cheap hosting often can’t keep up.

Listen to WP Plugins A to Z:

• Find John Overall’s podcast, “WP Plugins A to Z,” on your favourite podcast platform or visit his website to discover new and essential plugins for your WordPress site.