As a member of a recent WordPress Meetup panel, we were asked what new capabilities or solutions we were most looking forward to from WordPress.  The question did not produce much in the way of a response as I recall.

I circled back to this question later in the meeting with an answer.  Possibly not a very popular one.  Although a handful of people came up to thank me for making the point.   So, let me lay some groundwork before getting to my point.

1. Since 2002  entrepreneurs, marketers, authors, churches, attorneys, restauranteurs and large service companies have worked with JBS Partners mostly in developing new website and blogs, as well as various marketing services related to search marketing.
2. WordPress has been the platform of choice and has shown remarkable improvements in ease of use and additional capabilities over the years.
3. Using WordPress.com the average person can setup a new blog themselves.  Self-hosted WordPress installations can be as easy as a few clicks.
4. There are many extremely customized and advanced configurations of WordPress out there that small business folks want to emulate.

Here is my point

When the small business owner sees the fantastic capabilities that are produced by a talented team of developers, it is immediately assumed that the self-help approach is enough to complete an equally complicated configuration by themselves.  It is true that there is the added encouragement of the repeated message that “WordPress is easy”.

After repeated failed attempts to emulate the rock stars of WordPress, the enthusiasm for WordPress being “so easy to work with ” fades and frustration sets in.

By contrast, it is my opinion that Drupal does not have the same reputation.  Those who have not worked extensively with Drupal find it “hard”.

I have been known to explain that Drupal was built by developers for developers, while WordPress was built for writers and is therefor easier to work with, especially on your first project.  I am not here to stir a debate between Drupal and WordPress lovers and haters. Both platforms have a richly deserved place in the Open Source marketplace.

I am concerned with the issue of WordPress having a great reputation that encourages folks to feel like they have a SuperMan suit on and are now professional WordPress programmers and PHP coders.

What is your view?

Is this an issue you have come across?

What are possible solutions?

Jim Spencer answering questions at the Boston WordPress Meetup