Dear WordPress,
20 years, that’s amazing!
It’s an understatement to say that we’re beyond grateful for what you are. As a company that has been with you every step of the way, we have watched with pride as you have grown into the world’s most popular content management system.
Our early beginnings in 2003
It’s hard to believe that Bluehost and WordPress started together in 2003. We’ve come so far since then. And built an open-source ecosystem that has improved the lives of website owners across different niches and industries.
From the very beginning, we saw something special in you. Something that spoke to the very heart of our mission to make the internet a more accessible and user-friendly place.
You had a vision for an open-source platform that would empower people of all skill levels to create beautiful, functional websites with ease. And you have never wavered in your commitment to that vision.
Celebrating 20 years and beyond
As we look back on our history, there are so many milestones to celebrate.
From the launch of the first version of WordPress in 2003 to the release of Gutenberg in 2018 – each step forward has brought us closer together. And through it all, you’ve continued to amaze us with your incredible features and the vibrant community that surrounds you.
Your journey is a remarkable one that have helped shape the digital landscape. You introduced the WordPress plugin system in 2004 and launched the “Five-Minute Install” in 2005. You have made it possible for users of all levels to create beautiful, functional websites with ease.
But you didn’t stop there. With each new release, you have continued to innovate and improve. You introduced features like WYSIWYG editing and custom post types that have empowered developers to create more complex and sophisticated websites.
And your latest release, Gutenberg, has taken things to a whole new level, providing a cutting-edge content editor that has redefined what’s possible with WordPress.
Your reach has extended offline as well.
You have managed to bring together WordPress enthusiasts around the world through WordCamps. Flagship events in Asia, Europe, and Central America represent everything WordPress stands for: Diversity, collaboration, and passion.
The very first WordCamp took place in 2006. Now there are over 1,150 WordCamps held in 385 cities across 65 countries and six continents!
It’s a testament to the incredible growth and dedication of the WordPress community, which has always focused on innovation and collaboration.
We feel proud to have been one of the first Global WordCamp community sponsors, and we continue to be one. Our support for this amazing ecosystem extends to local WordPress meetups as well – as we help with venue and other things the community needs.
How WordPress and Bluehost are enabling getting further, faster
Matt Mullenweg was recently asked (at WordCamp Asia) on how WordPress is making it easier for self-creators, bloggers and the novice users to get onboarded. He answered this by mentioning that there has been a ton of innovation in this area. He specifically acknowledged Bluehost and the onboarding experimentations being conducted by us.
Thank you, Matt. Our goal is the same as you and WordPress. And we continue to evolve. Our new onboarding offers exactly what users are looking for, so they can get started more easily. In the months to come, we will only be adding more, including the use of AI, Blocks, Patterns to allow anyone to create a website faster than ever.
What does the future hold?
Speaking of the future, we are thrilled to see the big projects you have planned to move forward in pieces over the course of multiple years.
Following the successful release of WordPress 6.2 “Dolphy,” which has garnered over 31 million downloads (and counting), you are already planning future major releases, including versions 6.3 and 6.4.
While WordPress 6.3 will focus on refinements to the site editing experience, 6.4 will reprise the underrepresented gender release initiative introduced in WordPress 5.6 “Simone.”
And, with WordCamps continuing to happen around the world, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for WordPress.
Thank you, WordPress, for all that you are and all that you do. Here’s to many more years of partnership, growth, and success. We have and will continue to be part of this family for years to come.
With love and admiration,
Bluehost
