Have you ever searched for a way to make a WordPress.com blog more robust? How about a way to make a WordPress hosted blog or site more secure and simpler to set up and maintain?
A few WordPress superstars have teamed up to create WPEngine, a new and very exciting platform that promises to do all of the above and more.
WordPress has become the killer platform for many bloggers, small businesses and developers/consultants with multiple clients.
However, there’s a middle ground between a WordPress.com blog and a hosted WordPress site that a few apps are attempting to cover. This middle ground includes people who don’t have the technical skills of a WordPress developer or even a website administrator but who still want to take advantage of a greater part of the WordPress ecosystem of plugins and other benefits.
About the Product
WPEngine offers a WordPress VIP-type experience for smaller-scale websites, and it includes top-notch support, one-click backups, optimization for speed and scalability, and security features that include automatic software upgrades. Also, you’ll be able to use any WordPress plugins, themes, custom CSS or JavaScript you like.
The platform gives users a set of specially curated plugins that have been vetted for security and have the WP Engine team’s absolute recommendation. “If there is a plugin that isn’t in our list,” reads the site, “you should feel empowered to use it anyway.”
Most of all, WPEngine promises its users simplicity and a seamless transition and integration experience.
The platform seems like it will work for bloggers, for businesses, and also for small dev shops that need to keep an eye on several WordPress-based sites.
About the Team
While the product sounds fabulous and, indeed, just what the WordPress ecosystem needs, product is only part of what makes a good startup; the company also needs to have a great team. WPEngine was developed by Aaron Brazell, a well-known figure in the WordPress universe who authored The WordPress Bible; blogger and developer Jason Cohen; and Cullen Wilson, an Austin-based developer. The startup is also under the wing of Ben Metcalfe, who has made a habit of picking good bets in the startup world. His last pick, NutShell Mail, experienced the Silicon Valley version of a Cinderella story and was acquired recently by Constant Contact. Altogether, it’s a bit of a dream team for a WordPress product.
Finally, the platform got the following 140-character thumbs-up from WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg this afternoon: “I think it’s a nice complement to first-party solutions, especially for businesses that use [WordPress] as a CMS.”
About Signup and Migration
We talked a bit with some of the WP Engine team today about migrating blogs — including themes, customized TypeKit fonts, comments and more — over to the WP Engine platform, and it’s a process we’re eager to test. We’ll be trying it out soon, and we will report back on the results.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more, sign up for WPEngine’s beta program. The platform will be open to the public very soon. You can test the platform for 15 days free of charge, and it costs $50 per month thereafter. There are no contracts, and you’re free to move your blog elsewhere at any time.
What do you think so far? Is this something you’d be interested in trying? Do you think it will be useful for businesses and WordPress developers? Let us know in the comments.
More About: aaron brazell, ben metcalfe, Wordpress, wpengine
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