On September 20th, at Automattic’s stunning Noho space, artist Ana Teresa Fernández and a panel of other leaders—including Cristina Gnecco, Co-Founder of HOPE Hydration, and Whitney McGuire, Esq., Director of Sustainability at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum—will gather to discuss and confront our current climate crisis. This unique evening aims to delve into the compelling intersections of art, climate change, and social innovation.

We’d love for all of you to join us virtually for this event via livestream, starting at 6:45pm ET. 

Held against the backdrop of Fernández’s incredible Under Pressure series, this event aims to spotlight how art and innovation can catalyze positive change. We hope to inspire attendees to become more than observers—to take their newfound insights to their communities and inspire collective action.

Here’s a statement about Under Pressure from Fernández’s website (which, of course, is powered by WordPress): 

Human beings have a hard time facing ugly truths. But what if an artist makes them beautiful? How then might we respond? Rather than turn away, would we change our ways, could we turn the tide against oncoming disaster? . . . 

Fernandez is not only an artist of stunning visual poetry, she is also an astute social activist. It is not guilt and shame that motivate people to be their best selves; it is inspiration, empowerment, and hope that remind us of how intrinsically we are all connected in thought and deed.

We hope to see you there at 6:45pm ET on Wednesday, September 20th!

The WordPress.com team is always working on new design ideas to bring your website to life. Check out the latest themes in our library, featuring beautiful new options for bloggers and creators of all stripes.

Al Dente

Al Dente is a blog theme that will captivate both creators and readers who prefer a classic layout imbued with an aura of familiarity. Its front page, adorned with stunning, colorful images, has been designed to effectively engage visitors right away while also fostering email sign-ups with a prominent Subscription Block.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

Otis

Otis is well-suited for personal blogging. It provides a polished, modern user experience. The default templates include an opinionated header with large type as well as straightforward post and page templates, which are particularly useful for those who don’t want to include images on their site. This theme is focused on simplicity and readability, with a clean and uncluttered layout that allows readers to easily navigate content.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

Exmoor

Exmoor is a refreshed, modernized version of the popular Exford theme. We kept that theme’s general vibe while updating the layout and typography. We scraped the center-aligned header, significantly shortened the height of the Cover Block (which makes the headline seem bolder and stronger), and decluttered the homepage overall to make it cleaner and less repetitive. This is a great theme that will serve a variety of uses for bloggers, creators, small businesses, and WordPressers of all stripes.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

Cortado

The design featured in Cortado is simple and elegant. The color palette and typography work together to deliver a subtle style, especially well-suited to restaurants and coffee shops. Single post pages are constructed to work well for short and medium-length copy—which can stimulate succinctness and more frequent publishing.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

Freddie

Freddie uses a full-screen background image to captivate the viewer with an immersive introductory moment. The design is straightforward and utilizes a semi-bold typography with a tighter-than-usual line height. This theme is perfect for creators who want to showcase visual projects.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

To install any of the above themes, click the name of the theme you like, which brings you right to the installation page. Then click the “Activate this design” button. You can also click “Open live demo,” which brings up a clickable, scrollable version of the theme for you to preview.

Premium themes are available to use at no extra charge for customers on the Premium plan or above. Partner themes are third-party products that can be purchased for $79/year each.

You can explore all of our themes by navigating to the “Themes” page, which is found under “Appearance” in the left-side menu of your WordPress.com dashboard. Or you can click below:

September is here, bringing a rich array of learning opportunities to help you elevate your website to new heights. Our team of expert WordPress.com Happiness Engineers is poised to assist you with essential tasks every new site owner should master, including new webinars on choosing the perfect plugins and navigating the intricacies of theme switching.

All of our webinars are designed to be accessible for all skill levels, whether you’re just starting out or already have some experience with WordPress. What’s more, every session concludes with a live Q&A, so your burning questions won’t go unanswered. Below is what we have on tap this September.

[New!] Picking the Perfect Plugin

This webinar will demystify the world of plugins, guiding you toward making informed decisions. You’ll walk away with actionable insights tailored to your unique website needs:

• Understand the role plugins play in augmenting your site’s functionality.
• Evaluate plugins based on compatibility, updates, and user reviews.
• Implement best practices for effective plugin management.

[New!] Fearless Theme Switching

Switch themes with confidence and explore a new look for your site with our expert tips and tricks. Our live demonstrations will empower you to navigate theme transitions confidently:

• Utilize best practices for an effortless theme switching experience.
• Recognize caveats and issues to watch out for during the process.
• Gain actionable tips and tricks to make theme transitions as smooth as possible.

Mastering Custom Domains

Maximize your online presence by understanding the ins and outs of custom domains. This session will offer valuable guidelines for making a lasting impact on your visitors:

• Choose and register an ideal custom domain to boost your branding and credibility.
• Seamlessly connect your domain for enhanced SEO and a better user experience.
• Employ best practices for efficient domain management and email setup.

Site Editing: Custom Headers

Craft a memorable header effortlessly using point-and-click tools, ensuring your site radiates a distinct and polished vibe from the outset. Step-by-step, using the robust tools within the WordPress.com Site Editor, learn how to transform a header to something that resonates with your vision:

• How to select, customize, and replace header templates in the WordPress Site Editor.
• How to add and edit your site title, logo, navigation menus, and other blocks in your custom header.
• Tips and tricks for troubleshooting common issues if they arise.

Don’t miss this chance to secure your spot for our September webinars. Elevate your skills and enrich your WordPress.com experience. We look forward to your participation!

We’re thrilled to unveil the new and refreshed WordPress.com learning hub! This new resource is easily accessible at WordPress.com/learn. Our mission is to create a central place for all your educational needs. In this post we’ll give you a tour of the new digs and explain the behind-the-scenes design work that has made this resource more accessible, more navigable, and more enjoyable to use.

Let’s take a look!    

Why the refresh?

We’ve always been inspired by the passion and curiosity of our users. To better serve your thirst for knowledge, we’ve kickstarted an ambitious journey to bring together the best of our educational content under one roof.

While there’s plenty to explore right now on WordPress.com/learn—including free courses, webinars, and step-by-step tutorials—know that this is just the beginning. We’re continually evolving and adding material to create a resource-rich hub for all your WordPress.com endeavors.

What’s new?

• Fresh and intuitive design: A sleek new interface that makes navigating through courses and webinars a breeze.

• Webinar times shown in your timezone: We’re thrilled to let you know that webinar sessions are now shown in your local timezone.
• Enhanced functionality: With improved search and responsive design, you’ll find what you need in no time.

• Courses come with more details: You’ll find time estimates and expertise levels (Beginner, Intermediate, etc.) listed on each course page.
• Unified experience: We’ve made the design consistent with our WordPress.com/support and WordPress.com/forums pages, ensuring a seamless experience across our platforms.

Big thanks to our team!

Behind the scenes, an incredibly dedicated team worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life. From our designers and developers to our course and webinar coordinators, we’re grateful for every single effort.

Here’s what Vini M., the lead designer on this project, had to say about his vision for this new learning hub:

“Design was the heartbeat of this project. Our revamp aimed to weave together functionality and visual appeal, creating a learning experience that’s both intuitive and captivating.

While crafting this new learning experience, we envisioned a space where interactivity meets accessibility; a place where every learner feels right at home. With resources for diverse users and specific tools to guide beginners, we’ve met diverse needs.

Take a moment to explore, feel the depth, and share our vision. This project is the culmination of passion, dedication, and the combined brilliance of many. We’re immensely proud of our accomplishments, and I hope you feel the same exhilaration. Here’s to the beginning of a renewed journey of learning and growth with WordPress.com!”

Join the adventure!

The journey doesn’t stop here. Our eyes are set on the future as we continue to evolve based on your feedback and needs. Dive in, explore the new WordPress.com/learn hub, and let us know your thoughts. This upgrade will redefine your WordPress.com learning experience!

You deserve only the best for your website. World-class performance. Air-tight security. Top-tier support. So we decided it was time to give you a couple of quick and easy ways to move your site to WordPress.com. 

We’ve made the migration process a seamless and refreshing experience with two new tools we’re excited to share with you.

Move from another WordPress host to WordPress.com  

We understand the hassle of moving your website from one host to another. That’s why we’ve developed a new, free migration plugin that takes the stress out of the process. Simply install, activate, and run the plugin on your WordPress site, and let it handle the entire migration for you. You’ll be up and running on WordPress.com in no time. 

Move from another platform to WordPress.com 

We believe in providing a first-class experience for anyone who wants to move their content to WordPress.com, regardless of platform. That’s why we’ve unified the migration process for users coming from Blogger, Medium, Squarespace, Substack, Wix, and others. No matter where you’re coming from, you’ll receive the same exceptional service and modern import interface. 

Say goodbye to complexities and embrace the simplicity and convenience of migrating your content to WordPress.com.

Make the switch 

With our new migration plugin and content importer, transitioning to WordPress.com has never been easier. Let us take care of the technicalities while you focus on what matters most—creating and managing an outstanding website. 

At WordPress.com, we empower you with the tools and features needed to give your website a competitive edge. With our managed hosting service, you can enjoy world-class performance, robust security measures, and a dedicated support team that’s always ready to assist you. We are committed to providing you with everything you need to thrive in the online world.

Embrace the simplicity, convenience, and seamlessness of migrating your website to WordPress.com.

Last week, the WordPress.com team joined nearly 2,000 WordPress creators and users at WordCamp US in National Harbor, Maryland. If you’ve never been, a WordCamp is an informal, volunteer-organized event where everyone who knows, loves, and builds with WordPress is welcome. 

The talks ranged from how whitehouse.gov was relaunched in six weeks (supported by our VIP division) to the work/life tightrope of a woman working in technology leadership. There was plenty of space for hallway conversations and the memorable closing social was held at the beautiful Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Overall, it was an action-packed couple of days!

At WordPress.com, we were especially excited about Matt Mullenweg’s announcement of the 100-Year Plan. One of Matt’s inspirations is the Long Now Foundation, which is designing a clock to keep accurate time for the next 10,000 years. Thinking about a similarly aspirational goal is a worthy exercise. What does it mean to provide web services for 100 years? How do you register a domain for 100 years? Will people buy it at the beginning of their lives or at the end? 

As WordPress hits 20 years, we’re thinking deeply about how it can continue to be a thriving software and community for the decades to come.

Our colleagues from Woo, Jetpack, and the WordPress Project also participated in WordCamp US.

At the Woo booth, attendees experienced what it’s like to be a merchant with the Woo Mobile app. They used magic credit cards to “pay” for swag from the Woo Store. 

Meanwhile, at Jetpack’s booth, attendees explored the Jetpack Pro Dashboard as well as Jetpack AI, and left with a custom-engraved battery pack. 

The WordPress Project helped produce the very first WordCamp art gallery: Open Source, Open Canvas.

When it comes to the talks, one of the clear favorites was sci-fi author Ken Liu’s “Tell the Story You Want To Tell”:

You can view all of the talks over on the WordPress YouTube channel, or via WordCamp.tv (where they’ll be uploaded shortly). 

Keep an eye out for WordCamp US 2024 dates and location — we’d love to see you!  

Today we’re excited to announce a free resource that’s going to take your website to new heights. Get ready to delight your audience, share exclusive content, and build a loyal community that keeps coming back for more.

Introducing our newest course: Membership Sites 101.

Ever imagined having a slice of your website dedicated exclusively to your most loyal supporters? With a membership site, that dream is just a click away. Whether you’re an artist, educator, blogger, or entrepreneur, our latest course unveils the secrets of crafting a thriving membership site.

What you’ll learn

In this engaging course, you’ll dive into:

• Setting up the Paid Content Block: Learn how to blend free content with paid content and entice new members with exclusive perks.
• Crafting membership plans: Discover the magic of one-time, monthly, or annual payments, along with the power of “Pay what you want.”
• Multiple membership levels: Unveil the secrets of Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels, or even create specialized topical memberships.
• Managing subscriptions: Get insights on handling subscribers, earnings, and payment plans with ease.

Lessons tailored for you

We’re committed to your success, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro. From no-cost options to the dynamic WooCommerce Memberships, we’ve got you covered. Each lesson guides you step-by-step, ensuring you have the necessary foundation to build your membership site.

The Membership Sites 101 course is your passport to creating an online sanctuary that your audience will adore. Our community forum is here to fuel your inspiration, answer questions, and share success stories.

Join the movement of website creators transforming their passion into thriving online communities. Let’s make your website the ultimate destination!

Ready to learn? Head over to our Learning Hub and ignite your website’s potential with our Membership Sites 101 course. Your digital adventure awaits:

For almost 20 years, WordPress.com has been committed to providing a user-friendly and stable platform where anyone with a story to tell can do so freely and securely. Many of our customers have been with us from the beginning, and we’re proud to have been a partner in their digital journeys. 

Now, we’re thrilled to announce something truly new and exceptional: a plan designed exclusively for those seeking the ultimate in security and longevity for their digital presence.

Safeguard your online legacy with the 100-Year Plan. This brand-new offering is for:

• Families who wish to preserve their digital assets—the stories, photos, sounds, and videos that make up their rich family history—for generations to come.
• Founders who want to protect and document their company’s past, present, and future.
• Individuals seeking a stable, flexible, and customized online home that can adapt to whatever changes the future of technology will bring.

WordPress.com has played an integral role in creating and stewarding the software that powers nearly half the web and remains the most trusted CMS on the planet. Our managed hosting provides blazing fast load times, airtight security, privacy protection, and everything else you’ve come to expect from a top-of-the-line host. Those elements remain our north star and are a crucial foundation for the millions of customers who trust us with their online presence.

But the 100-Year Plan transcends conventional hosting. Included in this unique offer:

• Century-Long Domain Registration: A domain is your most valuable digital asset. While standard domain registrations last a decade, our 100-Year Plan gives you an opportunity to secure your domain for a full century.
• Even More Peace of Mind: As guardians of your life’s work, we take our duty seriously. At the platform level, we maintain multiple backups of your content across geographically distributed data centers, automatically submit your site to the Internet Archive if it’s public, and will provide an optional locked mode.
• Enhanced Ownership Protocols: Navigate life’s milestones with ease. Whether you’re gifting a site to a newborn or facilitating a smooth transfer of ownership, we’re here to assist every step of the way.
• Top-Tier Managed WordPress Hosting: The very best managed WordPress experience with unmetered bandwidth, best-in-class speed, and unstoppable security bundled in one convenient package.
• 24/7 Premier Support: The WordPress.com 100-Year Plan includes dedicated, personalized support that begins with your interest form submission.

The 100-Year Plan isn’t just about today. It’s an investment in tomorrow. Whether you’re cementing your own digital legacy or gifting 100 years of a trusted platform to a loved one, this plan is a testament to the future’s boundless potential.

If you’re interested in learning more, fill out the form found here:

The WordPress.com team is always working on new design ideas to bring your website to life. Check out the latest themes in our library, featuring beautiful new options for bloggers and creators of all stripes.

Negai

Negai (which means “hope” or “wish” in Japanese) is a bold blogging theme built on unadorned simplicity and minimalistic elegance. With monochromatic hues and oversized headlines, its straightforward and unapologetic style stands out in a world saturated with visual overwhelm.

Negai comes in nine color variations if blue/white isn’t the style you’re looking for.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

Sten

Sten is a minimal blogging theme with a simple, straightforward homepage that displays a headline-only list of posts. Pages and posts are similarly spare, displaying a text-forward style that will appeal to writers and readers alike.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

Overlaid

Overlaid is a theme that displays large titles and post excerpts that scroll over an image on the homepage. Text over an image doesn’t always work, but we solved that with large, center-aligned, and capitalized headings. Its blog post pages are crafted especially for users who want their writings to be simple yet beautiful.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

Reverie

Reverie is a theme inspired by the work of Mark Rothko. It features four style variations, one for each season—Spring (default), Summer, Fall, and Winter. Use it to illuminate your prose, poetry, stories, photos, and more. Reverie is based on WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg’s site at ma.tt, which was designed by Joen Asmussen.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

DOS

DOS is a blog theme designed for the nostalgic creators of the ’80s and ’90s, as a tribute to the folks who invented computing as we know it today. With its monotype font and contrasting hues of green or amber over black, you’ll be transported back to the early days of coding when anything on a computer screen was inviting and exciting.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

To install any of the above themes, click the name of the theme you like, which brings you right to the installation page. Then click the “Activate this design” button. You can also click “Open live demo,” which brings up a clickable, scrollable version of the theme for you to preview.

Premium themes are available to use at no extra charge for customers on the Premium plan or above. Partner themes are third-party products that can be purchased for $79/year each.

You can explore all of our themes by navigating to the “Themes” page, which is found under “Appearance” in the left-side menu of your WordPress.com dashboard. Or you can click below:

Ever wished you could seamlessly guide visitors from one domain to another? That’s precisely what domain forwarding does. 

We frequently use it here at WordPress.com. For instance, when you type in ownyouridentity.online—a catchy and memorable URL, if we do say so ourselves—you’re taken straight to our page at WordPress.com/domains. 

Today, we’re happy to let you know that domain forwarding is available and easily accessible on WordPress.com. 

This feature is perfect for folks who want to utilize a unique domain name that will lead visitors to a specific site or page. Forwarding can be used for a number of purposes: 

• E-commerce Campaigns: Launching a product? Secure a catchy domain and point it directly to your product page.
• Rebranding: If your long-established domain isn’t snappy, mask it with a more memorable one.
• Social Media Simplification: Make it easy for people to find your Facebook or LinkedIn by redirecting a unique domain straight to your profile.

Set up domain forwarding in minutes

You can use a domain already registered at WordPress.com, transfer a domain from an existing registrar (like Google), or purchase a brand new domain. 

To set up domain forwarding today, follow these three easy steps:

1. Visit your domain management dashboard at WordPress.com/domains/manage.
2. Click the domain you’d like to forward, which will bring you to that domain’s settings page.  
3. Click the “Domain Forwarding” section, enter the URL you’d like to forward to, and hit save. 

Use WordPress.com for all your domain needs. If you’re looking for a Google Domains alternative due to their recent sale to Squarespace, we’re offering seamless transfers to WordPress.com and paying all your fees (which also extends your registration by one year).  

Out of the box you’re getting:

• A faster domain than you’ll get at GoDaddy, DigitalOcean, or Google
• Free privacy protection 
• Free SSL certificate (when you host with us) 

Learn more at ownyouridentity.online.