Real People

I’m always looking for ways to make WordPress a better experience. It’s powerful, flexible, and capable of much—but the real test of any improvement is how well it helps real people accomplish real goals.

When my friend Chad asked for help with his website, it gave me a chance to see WordPress through his eyes. He runs More Music Foundation, a local nonprofit that makes music education available to underprivileged kids. His website isn’t just a digital presence—it’s how he connects with donors, shares success stories, and builds community support.

Like many, he had run the full gamut of website solutions. He started with a proprietary website builder that got the job done but left him wanting more. Then he hired someone who took the “everything-you-could-ever-want” page builder route—powerful, but bloated and difficult to manage.

It was in rough shape.

So we moved his site to WordPress.com, gave it a fresh design, and embraced the block editor to give him the tools he needed to best tell his organization’s story. 

Working with Chad, I pay close attention to how he uses his site. What’s easy? What’s too complicated? What does he actually need to get his message across?

The more I focus on his experience, the more I see opportunities to refine WordPress—not just for one person, but for every person trying to make a difference through their website. This is why adopting a real user matters.

It’s not about abstract personas or analytics. It’s about understanding how real people use the tools we build and helping them focus on their mission—not wrestle with technology. When you design with real people in mind, you create tools that make a real difference.

I’m curious: have you adopted a user? I’d love to hear about your experience. Leave a comment and share your story.