Andrew Palmer

Because Community Matters: My Journey Through WordPress, WordCamps, and the Power of People

None of this would have happened—none of the businesses, opportunities, speaking gigs, partnerships, or products—if it weren’t for the WordPress community.

When I first stepped into the WordPress space, I wasn’t just adopting a content management system—I was welcomed into a global family. The people I met at WordCamps, in online forums, and across the ecosystem opened their arms to me. They offered help, insight, encouragement, and opportunities without hesitation. They believed in me before I had fully figured things out myself. That generosity gave me the confidence and support I needed to chase dreams I didn’t know were within reach.

And because of that, I gave back—in kind too. Whether through mentorship, collaboration, contributing time, or offering financial support when I could, I’ve always believed in returning what was given to me. Community is not a transaction—it’s a responsibility, a privilege, and a joy.

My Work: Built With and For the WordPress Community

🧱 Entrepreneurial Ventures

• Elegant Marketplace (2015–2019): I launched this platform to serve designers and developers using Divi and WordPress. It grew to serve over 100,000 users and was acquired by InMotion Hosting. I owe its success to the creators and contributors who made it what it was.

• Page Builder Cloud & Layouts Cloud: Alongside my friend Sean Barton, we built tools that helped agencies and freelancers reuse layouts across builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder. It made development easier, but more importantly—it empowered people to work faster and smarter.

• CommentLuv: I acquired and brought back this beloved plugin to give bloggers more ways to connect. It was a labor of love.

• Bertha AI (Since 2021): Co-founding Bertha AI let me merge my passion for WordPress with the power of artificial intelligence. We built something to help creators write better content, directly inside the dashboard. It’s still going strong because the community keeps giving us feedback and ideas.

💼 Agencies, Fulfillment, and Purpose

• Somebody’s Hero: My agency in the UK was all about helping small businesses and nonprofits do great things online. It was sold in 2025, but it will always be a chapter I cherish—especially the people I worked with.

• Atarim (2025–present): I joined Atarim first as a Customer Success Manager for Agencies, helping users streamline their work. Now, I focus on Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) sales—partnering with hosts to deliver complete solutions to their clients. It’s all about enabling others to do their best work.

🎙️ Podcasting & Speaking: Learning Out Loud

• Tools Are Tools: I co-hosted this podcast with Mike Demo, exploring the tools and people that shape our digital lives. It was fun, real, and packed with learning.

• Speaking: I’ve spoken at WPLDN and CloudFest Europe, among others. Whether I was sharing a talk like “Being Your Best Self Under Pressure” or speaking on AI panels, my aim was always to share what I’ve learned, with honesty and heart.

📹 Teaching, Training, and Breaking Things Down

I’ve always loved helping others understand complex tools. From webinars to tutorials, I try to make things approachable and useful—whether someone’s a solo freelancer or running a large agency. If I’ve helped someone feel a little more confident using WordPress or AI, I’ve done my job.

What Really Made the Difference: You

This journey has spanned decades, and sure, there are businesses, projects, and exits to talk about. But the real story? That’s about the people.

The WordPress community lifted me up, opened doors, and stood by me through thick and thin. And I’ll never forget that. I do my best to pay it forward—because it matters.

So if you’ve ever wondered whether helping someone at a WordCamp, replying to a forum question, or taking a call with a fellow creator makes a difference… let me tell you: it does.

Community matters. I’m living proof.