Scale: The Modern Media Podcast

Pull up a chair and join us as we navigate the thrilling world of digital and online media with none other than Brian Halvey, the CTO of WordPress VIP. We take an extraordinary trek through Brian's illustrious career, unpacking his groundbreaking work with heavyweights such as TMZ, Business Week, and TV Guide. You’ll get an insider’s look at WordPress VIP, understanding its design for large, high-traffic businesses, and how it provides an unsurpassed platform for companies reaching millions of customers.Brian really opens the vault on this one, offering invaluable insights from his experience building startups and media brands. You'll be gripped as we dissect the triumphs and trials of growing from zero to one, emphasizing the critical role of setting clear goals. We take the conversation a notch higher, exploring the concept of iteration and the importance of a minimum viable product. You'll learn why feedback isn’t just valuable; it’s vital for growth and constant improvement.But that's not all - we also pull back the curtain on the often-misunderstood world of lifestyle businesses. Brace yourself as we engage in a candid discussion around the pressures to scale, the implications of taking on investors, and the realities of selling a business you’re profoundly attached to. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a digital media enthusiast, or just a keen learner, this is a conversation you don't want to miss. Tune in and be part of this enlightening journey with Brian Halvey.If you have any questions or need help with Word Press VIP, you can contact Brian or the Word Press VIP team using the following methods: • Website: https://brianalvey.com • Website: https://wpvip.comSubscribe, Follow, or say Hello!To keep up to date with the podcast, you can follow us on Spotify, Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us, Powered by Coffee, the team behind Scale: The Modern Media Podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.If you'd like to talk code or site solutions with Stewart directly, he can be found on LinkedIn, Twitter, Mastodon or you can email the Powered by Coffee team: coffee@poweredbycoffee.co.uk

Curious about using specialised content analytics over generic alternatives? How can Content Analytics influence your strategy? Join us as Neil Powell, a solutions engineer at Parsely, highlights the nuances of content versus web analytics and underscores the immense value a dedicated content analytics tool can bring to an editorial team.About NeilNeil Powell is a seasoned solutions engineer at Parse.ly and Automattic, a web-based content analytics platform. With a background in publishing, Neil later moved into a product management role, which led him to his current focus on content analytics. He has unique expertise in understanding the nuances of content and web analytics and advocates for the importance of data in shaping content strategies.If you have any questions or want to reach out to Neil directly you can find him atParse.lyParse.ly on Linkedin@Parsely on TwitterYou can find show notes, transcript and more on this episodes page at https://poweredbycoffee.co.uk/podcasts/scale/19-publish-content-analytics-neil-powell-parsely/Subscribe, Follow, or say Hello!To keep up to date with the podcast, you can follow us on Spotify, Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us, Powered by Coffee, the team behind Scale: The Modern Media Podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.If you'd like to talk code or site solutions with Stewart directly, he can be found on LinkedIn, Twitter, Mastodon or you can email the Powered by Coffee team: coffee@poweredbycoffee.co.uk

Discover the secrets of monetising your readership and mastering paywall strategy with our special guest, Peter Ericson, founder and CEO of Zeen101, the makers of Leaky Paywall for WordPress. Peter shares the fascinating story of how Leaky Paywall was developed to help universities publish content online and how it has evolved into an essential tool for publishers to control content access and profitsAbout PetePete Ericson is the founder and CEO of ZEEN101, the creators of Leaky Paywall for WordPress. With over two decades of experience in the web development industry, Pete has been instrumental in developing innovative solutions for online content publishing and monetisation. His expertise in paywall strategy, digital subscriptions, and maximising revenue for niche publishers has helped many publications successfully navigate the challenges of the digital age. Under Pete's leadership, Zeen101 has evolved into an integrated platform for publishers, offering an essential tool for controlling content access and generating profits from their readershipIf you have any questions or want to reach out to Pete directly you can find him atLeaky PaywallLeaky Paywall on TwitterPete on TwitterPete on LinkedinYou can find show notes, transcript and more about Paywalls and Publishing on this episodes page a https://poweredbycoffee.co.uk/podcasts/scale/publisher-monetisation-paywalls-pete-ericson/Subscribe, Follow, or say Hello!To keep up to date with the podcast, you can follow us on Spotify, Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us, Powered by Coffee, the team behind Scale: The Modern Media Podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.If you'd like to talk code or site solutions with Stewart directly, he can be found on LinkedIn, Twitter, Mastodon or you can email the Powered by Coffee team: coffee@poweredbycoffee.co.uk

In today's episode, we discuss various ways to monetize your email newsletter. Learn how these tactics can be applied to other platforms and mediums, like podcasts and video.About JustinJustin Duke is the founder of Buttondown, a simplified email service that focuses on strengthening the connection between authors, writers, producers, and readers. With a background in English literature, Justin pivoted into software development and gained valuable experience working at tech giants like Amazon and Stripe. His journey led him to create Buttondown, a service that sets itself apart from competitors like MailChimp and TinyLetter by offering a more personalised and streamlined approach to email communication. As an industry expert, Justin shares his insights on monetising email newsletters through advertising and fostering loyal audiences for brands, businesses, and media companies.If you have any questions or want to reach out to Justin directly you can find him atButtondown.email@jmdukeSubscribe, Follow, or say Hello!To keep up to date with the podcast, you can follow us on Spotify, Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us, Powered by Coffee, the team behind Scale: The Modern Media Podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.If you'd like to talk code or site solutions with Stewart directly, he can be found on LinkedIn, Twitter, Mastodon or you can email the Powered by Coffee team: coffee@poweredbycoffee.co.uk

Web hosting can be complex and confusing but picking the right hosting partner for your brand is critical. The right host can be the difference between making the most of that viral article and loosing a great chance at revenue, audience growth and ultimately, success. In this episode we talk with David Smith, senior DevOps engineer at Pagely about the changing needs of media brands as they grow and how the right web host makes all the difference.About DavidDavid Smith is a Lead DevOps Engineer at Pagely, a leading provider of managed hosting services for WordPress. With a background in working with small internet service providers and higher education institutions, David has a wealth of experience in the hosting space. As a DevOps engineer, he specialises in server automation, custom software development, and ensuring seamless integration of various systems. David is passionate about providing upscale WordPress hosting solutions and helping clients effectively scale their websites, while also prioritising security and compliance. With his expertise in hosting and website development, David can help businesses of all sizes boost their website performance and stand out from the competition.If you have any questions or need help with Pagely, you can contact David or the Pagely team using the following methods:davidsmith.ispagely.comSubscribe, Follow, or say Hello!To keep up to date with the podcast, you can follow us on Spotify, Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us, Powered by Coffee, the team behind Scale: The Modern Media Podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.If you'd like to talk code or site solutions with Stewart directly, he can be found on LinkedIn, Twitter, Mastodon or you can email the Powered by Coffee team: coffee@poweredbycoffee.co.uk

Discover the fascinating world of content syndication platforms in our engaging conversation with Kieran Delaney, CEO of FlatPlan. We uncover how FlatPlan simplifies the process of delivering content to Apple News without plugins or development resources, drawing on Kieran's vast experience in media and technology. Prepare to be amazed by the power of technology in shaping the media landscape today! Together, Kieran and I dive into the opportunities and challenges presented by Apple News for publishers. We discuss how the platform is revolutionising the way publishers and readers interact, and the role it plays in driving readers into the publisher's own environment. As we venture further into the world of Apple News, learn how the platform can help better understand users' preferences over time and create new opportunities for medium-sized publishers. Finally, we explore various monetisation strategies employed by publishers to strike the perfect balance between providing quality content and generating revenue. Uncover the role of newsletter campaigns and data capture in driving readers to subscribe, and how discoverability on syndication platforms can be used to reach new audiences. As we wrap up this insightful conversation, Kieran shares some helpful advice for publishers looking to get started with syndication, suggesting platforms like FlipBoard and Pinterest. Don't miss this exciting episode with Kieran Delaney!About Kieran (From Kieran)Kieran is CEO at FlatPlan. FlatPlan helps media brands distribute content to news apps including Apple News, Flipboard and Upday.If you have any questions or would like to hear more about FlatPlan, you can contact Kieran or the FlatPlan team at https://flatplan.ioSubscribe, Follow, or say Hello!To keep up to date with the podcast, you can follow us on Spotify, Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us, Powered by Coffee, the team behind Scale: The Modern Media Podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.If you'd like to talk code or site solutions with Stewart directly, he can be found on LinkedIn, Twitter, Mastodon or you can email the Powered by Coffee team: coffee@poweredbycoffee.co.uk

In this podcast episode, join Stewart Richie and Steve Burge as they discuss Publish Press, a WordPress plugin business that provides tools and solutions for publishers. Steve shares his journey from teaching to self-publishing and eventually building software to fill in the gaps he noticed in WordPress for local journalism sites. Stewart and Steve also talk about the popular WordPress plugins from Published Press, including Future, Capabilities, and Authors. They touch upon the importance of tailoring solutions for each publisher and discuss the potential for local news start-ups to reshape the media industry. If you're interested in WordPress and the world of publishing, this is an episode you won't want to miss!About Steve Steve Burge is a co-founder of PublishPress, a WordPress plugin business that provides tools and solutions for publishers. Originally from Britain, he moved to the US where he founded Open-Source Training, a teaching and training company that eventually became a self-published book publisher. If you have any questions or need help with Publish Press, you can contact Steve or the Publish Press team using the following methods:Twitter: @SteveJBurgeWebsite: https://publishpress.comSubscribe, Follow, or say Hello!To keep up to date with the podcast, you can follow us on Spotify, Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us, Powered by Coffee, the team behind Scale: The Modern Media Podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.If you'd like to talk code or site solutions with Stewart directly, he can be found on LinkedIn, Twitter, Mastodon or you can email the Powered by Coffee team: coffee@poweredbycoffee.co.uk

In this episode we talk to Jason Agnew co-founder and CTO of Big Bite, a WordPress agency that works exclusively with Enterprise Publishers and News Rooms to streamline operations and publish rich digital content faster.Whether you're a publisher looking to understand the difference between what seemingly very similar agency promise, a developer looking to get started with media or just interested in the future of software development, this episode has something for you.About Jason >Jason is the CTO and Co-founder Big Bite. Big Bite helps enterprise organisations to publish rich digital content faster and easier than ever before with WordPress. If you have any questions or need help with Newsletter Glue, you can contact Lesley or the Newsletter Glue team using the following methods:Twitter: JasonAgnew__, @bigbiteWebsite: bigbite.netSubscribe, Follow, or say Hello!To keep up to date with the podcast, you can follow us on Spotify, Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us, Powered by Coffee, the team behind Scale: The Modern Media Podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.If you'd like to talk code or site solutions with Stewart directly, he can be found on LinkedIn, or you can email the Powered by Coffee team: coffee@poweredbycoffee.co.uk