Insights from the WordPress 2023 Survey: Growing Popularity of Block Editor, Decrease in Positive Sentiment towards Contributing
The results of the 2023 WordPress Annual Survey have been released, shedding light on the current state of the platform and its user base. One key takeaway from the survey is the growing popularity of the Block Editor, also known as Gutenberg, among WordPress users. This reflects a steady increase in the adoption of block-based features and resources such as Learn.WordPress.org.
However, the survey also revealed a decrease in positive sentiment towards contributing to WordPress. Contributors, in particular, reported a lower level of satisfaction compared to previous years. This decline in positive sentiment is an important signal for the WordPress project’s road map and areas of focus in the near and long term.
A total of 3,922 people completed this year’s survey, marking a 17% increase compared to the previous year. While this is a positive trend, it fell short of the team’s goal. Interestingly, a new metric captured this year shows that approximately 11,153 people viewed the survey without answering a question, indicating a level of engagement with the survey even among non-responders.
The survey also provided insights into the age distribution of WordPress users. It revealed that most users have been using WordPress for several years, indicating a loyal user base. Additionally, the majority of respondents reported using WordPress for business-related activities, either for their own businesses or for clients.
In terms of the editor preference, the survey found that the Block editor or Gutenberg plugin is the most popular choice among users, with nearly 40% using it. This represents a steady rise in adoption compared to the Classic editor. However, a significant number of respondents chose the “Other” category, likely referring to site builders. This suggests that there is still a diverse range of editing preferences among WordPress users.
When it comes to satisfaction with the Site Editor, 45.1% of respondents said it meets their needs for building websites. This indicates that while there is room for improvement, a significant portion of users find the Site Editor satisfactory.
The survey also highlighted the activities that saw a significant increase among respondents. These include consuming learning materials on Learn.WordPress.org and various types of contributions and involvement with the community. This shows that users are actively seeking out resources to enhance their WordPress skills and are interested in engaging with the WordPress community.
Despite the positive findings, the survey revealed a downward trend in the Net Promoter Score (NPS), which measures respondents’ willingness to recommend WordPress. The NPS was lower among contributors compared to non-contributors, suggesting that contributors may have specific concerns or issues with the platform.
The survey also provided insights into the reasons why respondents prefer WordPress over other site builders and CMSs. The top reasons cited were open-source nature, familiarity, maturity, and cost. However, it is worth noting that many respondents also regularly use other blogging and newsletter tools to publish content, such as Medium, Tumblr, and Blogger.
The survey concluded with a look at the road ahead for WordPress. It highlighted a disconnect between the desires of users and the priorities of those leading and maintaining the platform. While users expressed a preference for optimizing core functionality and delivering a stable experience, the focus of the project seemed to be on introducing new features. This disconnect emphasizes the need for better guidance, training, and support for both extenders and end-users of WordPress.
To address these concerns, the survey team plans to refine future surveys by reintroducing open-ended questions to better understand what matters most to users. This will allow the team to gather more valuable insights and address user needs effectively.
In conclusion, the 2023 WordPress Annual Survey provides valuable insights into the current state of the platform and its user base. It highlights the growing popularity of the Block Editor and the need for improved user satisfaction and support. By listening to user feedback and aligning the project’s priorities with user needs, WordPress can continue to evolve and meet the expectations of its diverse community of users.
