Episode 578 Team Collaboration, AI, and WordPress Business Evolution With Andrew Palmer

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Show Summary

This podcast features an interview with Andrew Palmer, who discusses the new AI-powered “teammates” being integrated into Atarim, a WordPress website feedback and project management platform. These AI teammates, such as Lexi (proofreader), Index (SEO master), Nav’i (accessibility expert), Pixel (UI/UX expert), Glitch (link checker), and Claro (client clarity), aim to streamline web development by automating various checks and providing actionable insights. Palmer also shares his personal journey, including a severe back injury that led him to sell his previous business and ultimately join Atarim, highlighting the importance of mental health and work-life balance for entrepreneurs. The discussion further touches upon the “Do It For Me” (DIFM) service offered by Atarim for hosts and the philosophy of using preferred tools in WordPress development.

Show Notes

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Guest and Topic Introduction

Rob Cairns opens the podcast with guest Andrew Palmer. The two catch up, referencing a previous podcast they were on together, “This Week in WordPress.” Rob introduces the show’s topics: Andrew’s new role at Atarim and their new AI features.

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Atarim’s AI Teammates

Andrew introduces the AI Teammates, a group of six new characters that act as an “inner circle” of experts within the Atarim platform. They are designed to work together and with users to improve websites. These teammates are:

• Lexi: A “pedantic secretarial” character who proofreads content and ensures it’s on-brand.
• Index: An SEO master who provides feedback on titles, keywords, and overall search engine optimization.
• Nav’i: An accessibility expert who checks for issues like missing alt text and keyboard navigation problems.
• Pixel: A UI/UX expert who analyzes CSS and code for design and user experience issues.
• Glitch: A “surfer dude” character who scans for broken links and other errors in the site’s code.
• Claro: The only teammate visible to clients, who provides clarity on vague feedback and helps translate client comments into actionable tasks for developers.

The teammates work together, analyzing a webpage with over 2,500 queries, then generate comments and tasks within the Atarim system. The system also provides positive feedback, with 20% of comments being affirmations for a job well done.

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The Origin of Atarim’s AI and Early Access

The idea for the AI teammates evolved over the last two years. Andrew shares that Atarim founder Vito Peleg, who he co-launched the AI writing tool Bertha AI with, had always been interested in AI. The goal was to make AI not just intuitive but also functional, giving it the ability to analyze a website based on brand values and even comment on issues without being explicitly asked.

Andrew also discusses how this new AI-integrated system required a complete rewrite of Atarim’s code, a project that took developers a year to complete. The development team is so enthusiastic that they are working weekends, fueled by the excitement of building a cutting-edge product.

To get early access to the new Atarim AI, interested users can sign up at atarim.io/access. Andrew explains that early access is limited to a few thousand users to ensure the team can gather valuable feedback. This new version will not be part of the free basic plan, and pricing will be a “very affordable” SaaS system, with costs expected to be around $50 a month, depending on the service level. Andrew justifies the cost by comparing it to the equivalent of hiring a team of six experts, which would be prohibitively expensive.

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Andrew’s Personal Journey and Return to WordPress

Andrew shares his personal story of leaving the WordPress space and then returning. After struggling with a severe back injury that left him unable to walk for two years, he fell into a deep depression. This health struggle, coupled with the pressures of running an agency, led him to sell his business and retire.

He briefly opened a restaurant with a friend, which was so successful it sold in six weeks. After taking some time off, he received a call from Vito Peleg, his long-time friend and business partner. Andrew went through a formal interview process to join Atarim, emphasizing that he wanted to be treated like any other employee despite his long-standing relationship with the company and its founder. He is now the Head of Sales for the company.

Andrew and Rob connect over their shared experiences with health issues and burnout, underscoring the importance of mental health for entrepreneurs. Andrew stresses the need for freelancers to set strong boundaries, take care of themselves, and not undercharge for their services, even with the help of AI tools.

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The “Do It For Me” Service

Andrew also discusses a new service for hosts called “Do It For Me” (DIFM). Atarim’s pro services team offers a white-labeled solution for hosting companies to provide a truly managed hosting service. This service is designed to help hosts build brochure-style or small e-commerce websites for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that don’t have the time or expertise to use a page builder or AI tools themselves. Andrew’s role is to persuade hosts to adopt this service, as well as to manage partnerships and reseller programs for Atarim.

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WordPress Philosophy: Gutenberg vs. Page Builders

Rob asks for Andrew’s opinion on the long-standing debate between using Gutenberg versus page builders like Divi, Beaver Builder, or Elementor. Andrew’s philosophy is simple: Do what makes you happy.He explains that WordPress is a platform, not just a single tool. Its power lies in the fact that users can customize it to their needs, whether that means using a classic editor, full-site editing, or a page builder. Andrew argues that WordPress’s flexibility, supported by a massive community and a vast plugin repository, is its key strength. He believes that AI will only enhance WordPress’s status as an incredible, adaptable platform.