“WordPress is facing its biggest crisis in 20 years”
That’s what the headlines want you to believe.
And as I read through another article about the WordPress drama this morning, I couldn’t help but think about all the developers and business owners losing sleep over this.
Let me be honest with you: as someone who’s been part of the WordPress community for years, watching this drama unfold is painful.
The community infighting, the harsh words, the legal battles – none of this is good for the ecosystem we’ve all built together.
Full disclosure: As a WordPress-focused software house that bridges the gap between traditional WordPress agency and custom WordPress development, we’ve been building WordPress solutions for over 15 years. This situation affects us directly, especially emotionally as community members.
But here’s the thing: while my heart hurts for the community, my business brain sees a different picture entirely. When I look at this situation pragmatically, analyzing the actual impact on businesses using WordPress I see no threat to your business operations.
So, getting back to the point: you’re seeing these headlines everywhere. Matt Mullenweg calling companies a “cancer”. Legal battles. Plugin takeovers. And you’re thinking: “Is my business screwed?”
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Hell no. And I’ll tell you exactly why.
The Truth About Your WordPress Business
I stick to WordPress for so long not because I’m some WordPress fanboy, but because it works. I’ve seen companies making millions on WordPress sites. I’ve watched businesses scaling from zero to hero using WordPress as their foundation.
Yes, my company benefits when WordPress succeeds. But you know who benefits more? The millions of businesses running on WordPress. Here are some interesting statistics from the latest WordCamp Europe:
(btw. how ironic that those stats comes from WP Engine)
What do I think about this drama? It’s a corporate theatre. Nothing more.
Your websites and ecommerce systems run on open-source code. That means NO ONE – not Matt Mullenweg, not Automattic, not WP Engine – can take it away from you. Period.
“But I’m on WP Engine! Am I Screwed?”
Let me address this head-on.
If you’re hosted on WP Engine right now, here’s what you need to know:
First off, breathe. WP Engine is not some small player that’s going to disappear overnight. They’re a publicly traded company managing over 1.5 million websites. They’ve already implemented solutions to ensure their customers aren’t affected by this drama.
Specifically:
- They’ve deployed their own update system that doesn’t rely on WordPress.org
- Your site updates and security patches continue to work
- All your WP Engine-specific features and tools are functioning normally
But here’s the real kicker: Even if you want to leave WP Engine, you can. Your WordPress site is 100% portable. You own it all. The code, the content, the data – everything. That’s the beauty of WordPress that no corporate drama can change.
“I’m Using Advanced Custom Fields. Should I Panic?”
Here’s the situation with Advanced Custom Fields plugin:
- If you’re using ACF Pro, nothing changes. Zero. Nada. You’re getting updates directly from WP Engine
- If you’re using the free version, you’ve got two options:
- Download the latest version directly from advancedcustomfields.com
- Keep using your current version (it will keep working)
And what’s important, ACF is not going anywhere. It’s used by millions of sites. WP Engine invested huge money in buying it in 2022. They’re not going to let it die.
How about the absolute worst-case scenario? Your existing ACF data remain completely intact. They’re part of your site’s data, stored in your database. No one can take that away from you.
Let’s Talk Real Numbers
- WordPress powers 43% of the internet
- Millions of businesses run on it
- Billions in revenue flow through WordPress sites daily
You know what all those numbers mean?
The platform is too big to fail. Too vital to break. Too valuable to mess up.
Here’s What Actually Matters
While everyone’s freaking out about trademark disputes and corporate drama, here’s what remains absolutely unchanged:
Your website? Still works. Your WooCommerce store? Still processing orders. Your customers? Still buying. Your SEO rankings? Still solid. Why? Because the core technology doesn’t depend on any of these companies’ dramas…
That also means if you’re a WordPress developer – no matter if freelance, or working full-time in a WordPress agency – you don’t need to worry about suddenly losing your job.
What Smart Business Owners Are Doing Right Now
The smart money isn’t jumping ship. They’re doubling down.
Because here’s what seasoned developers know that most don’t: WordPress’s strength isn’t in any one company. Not in Automattic’s, not in anyone’s. It’s in its open-source nature and massive ecosystem.
You can:
- Move your site to any host
- Modify any code
- Own all your data
The Real Risk (That No One’s Talking About)
Want to know the actual risk to your business?
It’s not the WordPress drama.
It’s letting this drama distract you from what actually matters: serving your customers and growing your business. Your competitors who are busy panicking? They’re losing focus. They’re wasting energy on things they can’t control.
Don’t be them.
The Bottom Line
Look, I’ve got skin in this game. My company’s success is tied to WordPress’s success. I acknowledge that bias openly.
But I’ve also built hundreds of WordPress solutions. Worked with businesses of all sizes. And I’m telling you straight up:
Your WordPress business is fine.
I’m giving you raw facts about WordPress platform stability – beyond optimism, beyond sales pitches, beyond our WordPress agency interests.
Because that’s the reality of how open-source software works.
Tip from WordPress Agency: What You Should Actually Do
- Keep your backups current
- Stay updated on security patches
- If you’re using ACF free, grab the latest version from advancedcustomfields.com
- If you’re on WP Engine, you’re already covered by their update system
- Focus on growing your business
That’s it.
No need for drastic moves. No need for platform changes. And most importantly: no need for panic.
At the end I’ve got one more statistic – according to the “State of Enterprise WordPress” report, approximately 75% of surveyed brands reported that their WordPress sites provided strong to exceptional ROI:
Final Truth Bomb
You know what successful businesses do during market uncertainty?
They focus on fundamentals while others panic.
The WordPress ecosystem will be fine. Your business will be fine.
And if you’re smart? You’ll use this time to focus on what matters while your competitors waste time worrying about corporate drama.
