When folks talk to me about InfluenceWP (IWP), one of the first questions goes something like, “How are you doing this?” They’re asking because I’ve just told them that IWP is not my job. Running an agency is.
On the surface, the answer is easy. “I put in the work.”
Since September 2024, I’ve run IWP as if it were my job, and while I never prioritized it over my agency, the gap was closing. Creating a positive impact on the lives of product creators is intoxicating.
I’ve helped product creators change the direction of their products, quite literally.
People also ask me, “How long are you going to keep IWP going?” They’re asking because, again, IWP is not my job. It’s not how I earn a living.
My answer has always been that IWP will continue on as long as I feel like I’m making a difference and I’m enjoying the journey.
IWP is making a difference. But…
Towards the end of 2025, I started enjoying the IWP journey less and less. It began to wear on me.
The actual work wasn’t the issue. It was the mental part. It was resentment.
I’m doing all this stuff for free. Why are some partners doing this and not doing that?
I pressed on.
By mid-Feb, 2026, I’d reached a point where a big change was needed. It was my fault.
I offered everything for free, assuming respect and courtesy would be reciprocated. I offered everything for free while still hoping to be taken seriously.
I met with some IWP partners, asking for unfiltered feedback based on some things I was hearing and feeling. The message was clear: “Ryan, you need to charge for the work you’re doing.”
New Partner Membership Plans
IWP has new partner membership plans.
This will go a long way toward making IWP sustainable and curbing any future resentment.
The free partner membership plan is still in place, but it’s been slightly stripped back, removing the most time-intensive benefits—video creation and video companion posts. If partners want to join under the free membership and not contribute more, that’s fine.
Not Just a Deals Website
Some people have mentioned they thought IWP was just a place to get WordPress and WordPress-adjacent deals. It stings to hear that because IWP is about so much more than that, so steps have been taken.
- Home Page: The IWP home page has been completely redesigned to place more focus on partners.
- Home Page Takeover: Partners can take over the IWP home page for a time to increase their exposure.
- Home Page Featured Listings: As new listings are added to IWP, they will appear on the home page for a time to further increase partner exposure.
- Brand Listings: This new type of listing serves as a starting point to learn about the partner and find everything associated with them on IWP (deal listings, non-deal listings, posts, guides, videos, etc.).
- Newsletter Takeover: Partners can take over the IWP newsletter for a time to increase their exposure.
- Newsletter Post Takeover: Partners that take over the IWP newsletter get a featured section in the corresponding newsletter blog post, which exists for years, to increase their exposure.
Unique Selling Proposition
The need for human voices and authenticity is more important than ever with where AI is now and where it’s headed. This is something I bring to the table.
I’ve been running a WordPress agency since 2016, helping clients build, design, launch, support, and maintain WordPress-based businesses. When creating content, I bring the perspective of someone working in the trenches—a blue-collar digital worker, if you will.
I can speak to how your solution really could positively impact an agency or a professional. Conversely, I can offer honest feedback to let you know something doesn’t resonate and might be the wrong direction to go in.
Everything I do is with a partner’s success in mind, rather than chasing followers, subscribers, and affiliate sales.
“If you could snap your fingers and have IWP be everything you ever wanted it to be tomorrow, what would that look like?”
This question, from an IWP partner, was sitting in my inbox this morning. It’s such a great question, and I thought this post would be a great place to answer it.
“IWP would be the community that finally bridges the gap between product creators and the customers of other product creators.“
As product creators, we are talking in silos. We’re talking to other creators. We’re talking to our customers. That’s where it ends, and it’s a massive missed opportunity.
I launched a version of the community back when IWP was in its infancy. It was too early. Perhaps now’s the time to try again.