Block Editor on the Rise, Positive Feeling about Contributing Drops – WP Tavern

The outcomes of the 2023 WordPress Annual Survey are in, revealing a gentle progress within the adoption of the Block Editor, together with a lukewarm response to approaching Gutenberg enhancements.

Automattic-sponsored contributor Dan Soschin posted a breakdown of the results:

“Total, consciousness and/or use of block-based options is up 12 months over 12 months, in addition to sources reminiscent of Be taught.WordPress.org. This displays project-wide efforts to extend utilization of those respectively. Nonetheless, optimistic sentiment about WordPress is down modestly, and extra so amongst contributors.“

The information collected is used as considered one of many alerts that inform the project’s road map and areas of focus, each close to and long-term.”

A complete of three,922 individuals accomplished this 12 months’s survey, a rise of 17% in comparison with 2022 however nonetheless decrease than the aim set by the workforce. Curiously, a brand new metric captured this 12 months reveals that roughly 11,153 considered the survey with out answering a query (extra on that later).

Under are a number of fascinating findings from the slimmer-than-usual 54-page report (PDF):

Key findings

• NPS, measuring responders’ willingness to advocate WordPress, is down, marking a steady downward pattern: 27.9 amongst contributors and 32 amongst non-contributors.
• Most responders use WordPress for business-related actions: 48.8% provide the service to shoppers, and 43.1% use it to run their enterprise.
• The bulk (39.9%) use the Block editor or Gutenberg plugin, 20.2% use the Traditional editor, and 19.9% use each. These figures signify a gentle rise within the adoption of the Block editor. Nonetheless, this 12 months, 12.3% of respondents selected the Different class (seemingly referring to web site builders).
• As to their satisfaction with the Web site Editor, 45.1% stated it meets their wants for constructing web sites.
• 51.7% constructed web sites for others, and 41.9% created a plugin, theme, model variation, or a block sample.
• Some actions that noticed a major improve embrace consuming studying supplies on learn.wordpress.org and numerous varieties of contributions and involvement with the group: participated in a meetup/WordCamp, contributed to the platform, and joined the Making WordPress Slack.
• Seeing as most responders develop, design, or keep WordPress web sites, it’s good to see that 61.1% say they’re acquainted with Block-based themes and plugins.
• 63.3% suppose WordPress is pretty much as good as, or higher than, different web site builders and CMSs, down from 68% in 2022. Curiously, many additionally commonly use different running a blog and e-newsletter instruments to publish content material, primarily Medium, Tumblr, and Blogger. The highest causes respondents most popular WordPress had been open-source, familiarity, maturity, and value.
• The figures above correspond with solutions to the query, What’s the very best factor about WordPress? the place efficiency, scalability, and accessibility registered an enormous spike whereas parameters like ease of use, flexibility, price, and block themes dropped considerably.
• Rating “important plugins” out of the 20 hottest ones offers a glimpse into day-to-day use: Yoast web optimization, Traditional Editor, and WooCommerce had been the highest three, with Not one of the above coming fifth, Elementor Web site Builder coming at eighth, and two plugins that allow put up and web page duplication closing the checklist. Gutenberg is absent.
• However, too many plugins had been the first reason behind frustration (133% rise from 2022, with too many themes seeing a 72% rise), adopted by dissatisfactory web site modifying, designing, configuring, and publishing expertise. The fee complaints, in the meantime, are directed at internet hosting firms: 7% in 2023 vs. 3% in 2022.
• 57.5% see phases 3 and 4 of the WordPress roadmap as useful for builders, creators, and publishers alike, with the remainder both impartial or disagreeing. Efficiency, safety, and developer sources had been the highest three areas responders needed the undertaking to concentrate on, with collaborative modifying on the very backside of the checklist.
• Lastly, many had poor experiences when contributing to the group, with fewer individuals feeling welcome to take part in numerous methods. Requested what prevents you from contributing extra, 35.3% cited dangerous experiences and never feeling protected, welcome, or appreciated.

Mapping the Street Forward

After studying by way of the outcomes, one can’t assist however discover a sure disconnect between the individuals who use WordPress and people tasked with sustaining and main it into the longer term.

Responders seem much less thinking about new options than they’re in optimizing core performance and delivering a secure expertise; many nonetheless discover the Web site Editor and blocks-based posts overwhelming, holding on to the Traditional Editor plugin; and each audiences—extenders and end-users—crave steerage, coaching, and assist.

Summarizing the subsequent steps, Soschin talked about the plan to exchange or refine a few of the questions “to make sure individuals proceed to offer beneficial perception into the undertaking’s developments”.

One attainable manner is to bring back open-ended questions that could assist the workforce higher perceive what issues to individuals.

Trying on the excessive proportion of people that replied “Not one of the above” to a number of questions and the feedback to the post inviting WP Tavern readers to take part within the survey, group members appear desirous to share their opinions; they’re simply pissed off with the format.

Have you ever participated within the newest annual survey? Share your expertise within the feedback.