At Runningfish, we pride ourselves on helping small businesses thrive through effective website design and SEO services. Recently, the actions of WP Engine have raised concerns about transparency and user control within the WordPress community. As a company committed to the open-source values that WordPress stands for, we feel it’s important to voice our position and explain why WP Engine’s practices are concerning for website owners and developers alike.
What’s Happening Between WordPress and WP Engine?
WP Engine has recently been banned from WordPress.org for actions that go against the core values of the platform. WordPress, known for its open-source nature, allows users complete control over their websites and provides tools for managing content effectively. WP Engine’s practices have challenged this, leading to a public disagreement with WordPress that has many users reevaluating their hosting options.
Key Issues with WP Engine’s Practices
- Disabling Post Revisions: WP Engine has turned off WordPress’s post revision feature, which helps users track and restore changes to their content. This compromises one of the core functions of website development.
- Controlling Negative Feedback: WP Engine has been accused of manipulating user experiences by removing negative feedback on the WordPress dashboard.
- Trademark Disputes: WP Engine has also faced legal challenges with WordPress over trademark infringement, which has escalated tensions between the two companies.
Why These Issues Matter for Small Businesses
At Runningfish, we understand the unique challenges that small businesses face when building and maintaining their online presence. These challenges are only magnified when hosting providers like WP Engine limit access to important tools and features. Here’s why this matters:
- Content Management: Small businesses often need to make frequent updates to their websites. Losing access to WordPress’s revision system makes this difficult and increases the risk of data loss.
- SEO Optimization: Successful SEO for websites requires full control over content. Disabling features or restricting plugins can hurt your site’s ability to rank well on search engines.
- Trust and Transparency: When hosting providers filter out negative reviews or feedback, it makes it hard for businesses to make informed decisions about the services they are using.
How WP Engine’s Actions Hurt SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a crucial part of any successful website strategy. WP Engine’s recent actions, such as disabling post revisions and restricting user plugins, make it harder for businesses to achieve SEO optimization and effectively manage their websites.
- No Revisions: Without the ability to track and restore content changes, businesses could lose valuable SEO gains when errors occur or content is accidentally deleted.
- Restricted Plugins: SEO relies on various plugins to optimize metadata, URLs, and content structure. WP Engine’s restrictions on certain plugins prevent businesses from fully optimizing their websites.
- Reduced Flexibility: For small businesses, flexibility in website design is key to standing out. WP Engine’s practices limit customization, which can impact both user experience and SEO results.
Why Running Fish Supports WordPress’s Decision
WordPress is more than just a platform—it’s a community-driven ecosystem that prioritizes user empowerment. WordPress’s decision to ban WP Engine and make a public stand is about protecting the open-source nature of the platform. At Runningfish, we believe this is crucial for the long-term success of both the platform and its users, particularly small businesses who need flexibility and transparency to succeed.
We fully support WordPress’s stance and encourage our clients to consider other hosting providers that align with the platform’s values. Hosting should support open access, not limit it.
Partner with Runningfish for Transparent Web Design and SEO
Runningfish is committed to helping small businesses succeed with custom web design development and SEO marketing strategies that put you in control. We believe in the open-source principles that WordPress stands for and will continue to support businesses in navigating the ever-changing landscape of website development.
If you want to work with a partner who prioritizes transparency, user control, and long-term growth, Runningfish is here to help.