As we wrap up the first work week after WordCamp US (and before we all have to stop saying “we’re still settling back into our regular schedules”), we wanted to take a moment to share a recap of our experience.
This year, Vito Peleg (Co-Founder & CEO) and Andrew Palmer (Account Executive) represented Atarim. If you crossed paths with them in the hallways, you probably noticed they were either in the middle of a deep conversation or on their way to the next one.
While there was no booth to “anchor” us, we quickly realized how freeing it was.
It gave us the chance to truly immerse ourselves in sessions, join discussions, and spend time one-on-one with the people who make this community so special.
A Shout-Out That Made Our Week
One of the highlights for us came during a masterclass led by Katie Keith (Barn2 Plugins) and Matt Cromwell (GiveWP/StellarWP).
This 2-hour session was part founder therapy, part tactical playbook, and all-around energizing for anyone building or growing a WordPress product. Katie and Matt shared insights from their own journeys, along with lessons learned from interviewing more than 40 product company founders on the WP Product Talk podcast.
The session was full of practical strategies, case studies, and group discussions, but what made it even more memorable for us was hearing Atarim mentioned as part of the conversation. A small moment, but one that meant a lot. Thank you, Katie and Matt, for weaving us into your story. 🙌
Vito’s Talk: The Silent Killer of Agency Growth
Vito also took the stage with a topic he knows intimately: The Silent Killer of Agency Growth.
He started with a simple question:
“Have you ever celebrated a record-breaking month only to be scrambling the next?”
Plenty of hands shot up.
From there, he unpacked the real culprit behind the feast-and-famine cycle many agencies face: process. Not the clients. Not the tools. Not the economy. But the delivery drag that stretches projects weeks beyond what they should take.
Some of the key takeaways included:
- One-time projects vs. long-term relationships. The first website build shouldn’t be treated like the grand finale, it’s really just the first step in a bigger partnership. Agencies that only chase one-off projects end up constantly hunting for new clients, while those who focus on ongoing care plans, optimizations, and growth support build stability.
- Scope creep = inspiration. When clients ask for “one more thing,” it’s not necessarily a bad thing: it’s often a sign they’re excited about the possibilities of working with you. Instead of saying no, capture those requests in a backlog and position them as phase two or three of the project. This way, scope creep becomes a pipeline of future paid work rather than a drain on current profitability.
- Deadlines matter. Telling a client “whenever you get to it” is an open invitation for months of delay. By setting a clear review window, like “two days and a weekend”, you create urgency without being unreasonable. Framing feedback in short, actionable timeframes keeps projects moving forward and prevents them from getting stuck in limbo.
You can catch a replay of the talk here. Make sure you have a large bag, it’s filled with golden nuggets.
Looking Ahead
The first half of 2025 has already been transformative for Atarim, and this WordCamp felt like a checkpoint along the way. From agencies to product companies to enterprise teams, we’ve seen firsthand how collaboration challenges are universal, and how much impact better processes can have.
We’re not done. Far from it. But events like WCUS remind us that we’re building alongside an ecosystem of smart, generous, and relentlessly creative people.
