Maple Creative

February 2025

Issue #1: Building a website that grows in value.

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Hello Reader,

Welcome to our new monthly newsletter! This is both a recap of our latest content and a bulletin of what's next.

First, I just want to say this. We've got your back.

There's a lot of fear & uncertainty here in the US. Many of our clients, friends, and family are involved in social justice and environmental defense. We work on websites that provide direct support to immigrants, trans folks, and others targeted by the political right.

Our team, and other professionals are here to help. Reply if you'd like more info on pro-bono advocacy/campaign support.

Okay, onward. This first edition of our newsletter includes upcoming events, a useful summary of the new WordPress editor, and a reflection on our own content planning process.

Ultimately, it's about building a website that grows in value.

This applies to your website as well. My goal is to bring my experience and skills to help you clarify your strategy, create value, and get the platform you need to grow.

In this issue: ​

Events Upcoming Website Trainings! Tip What you need to know about the new WordPress Full Site Editor (FSE) Examples Behind the Scenes of a Website Rebuild

🗓️ Events

Free Website Trainings

Our Wednesday workshop series kicked off last month and is in full effect. It's all part of our goal to deliver even more value to you all.

Today we did a content brainstorm – which included input from our audience as well.

After our first one on content planning, we moved to a 3-part series on what's possible with the new WordPress Block themes. The replays are being uploaded and organized in our new care plan client resource hub as we speak!

If you want to learn with us, subscribe to our event calendar here. ​

And if you're enrolled in a care plan, join us for Office Hours to work on your website.

Brainstorm....

• Mind-mapping Your Content
• Website Audit : A checklist for engagement
• Setting up an events calendar system
• Website Strategy Basics (Align Your Offer)
• How to get the best photos for your website
• Book Discussion – This is Strategy by Seth Godin
• Sharing resources on your website (Let's build a document library)
• Website Accessibility Checklist
• Block theme rebuild (full over-the-shoulder series)
• And more....

Reply and let me know which topic you want to learn, even if it's not on the list!

📌 From the Blog

What you need to know about the new WordPress Full Site Editor (FSE)

It's here and there's no turning back – and I couldn't be more excited. For way too long, WordPress themes cluttered the options, misleading people and causing a great deal of confusion.

In every instance where someone is struggling with WordPress, it's related to their theme not being compatible with something or another.

As the site grows, it get even more complicated.

Today there is a distinction that changes everything – Block Themes & Classic Themes.

Block Themes unlock a new era of options for website owners. They are faster, more accessible, and interoperable.

Classic themes can feel like a bait and switch if you aren't a web developer.

• You activate a new theme, and your website basically breaks.
• It's difficult to edit content, and none of it looks like the demo.
• You end up installing a page builder, so now you edit in two or three different ways with entirely different look and feel to the options.
• Eventually your site is lop sided and cluttered.

It's all changing. Read more on our blog. ​

Finally!

🌱 Examples

Be Generous & show the work

A core value at Maple is a practice orientation – always iterating and learning, not trying to be perfect. Easier said than done – but a worthy cause.

I developed a bad habit of documenting things and never sharing them. Last year I created 15 block theme websites that I never announced!

Instead of hiding these things away, I want to uphold my values and show the work. iteration is core to my work – and over the past year I haven't shared much. to myself has felt a

This is aligned with the Creator Flywheel concept, in which the products/offers we create are part of a cycle of learning, practicing, and sharing. I'll be real, this requires some vulnerability, especially because I struggle with perfectionism.

Introducing the Website Showcase

With Liz's help, I'm overcoming perfectionism and sharing a more behind the scenes look at the projects we're working on.

The first one is with Gwyn Wansbrough, who I consider a mentor in facilitation and workshop design. I went through her cohort based program Breakthrough Facilitation twice!.

I was thrilled to work with her to design her new website – and it's become one of my favorite examples of a professional WordPress site.

​I highly recommend her newsletter. I stand by my testimonial (you'll see it on her website). Gwyn's emails are pure gold! . In fact, I've just added it to our Creator Network profile in Kit.

I use the skills I learned from Gwyn every day.

Stay tuned for a full break-down of the website design strategy that helps grow her business.

A final update...

Thanks for reading our first newsletter in this new format!

This project has taken a big mindset shift for me. See, it's important that I'm being consistent, and as mentioned above I want to share regularly.

But it's hard. And I've been on and off with it for years.

So eventually I realized I needed to build a team that would support the consistent practice. The mindset shift is about letting go of doing everything myself.

Building a team is all about recognizing the unique "zone of genius" we all have, and trying to fit it all together like a puzzle. The Maple team is evolving and our roles are becoming more clear each day, and here's how.

We split things into three big areas of focus;

Fulfillment. This is the work we deliver for clients. Website strategy, design projects, and care plans.

Operations. This is the work of running things. Invoicing, project management, deadlines, communication, scheduling.

Growth. This is the work of fine tuning our connections, outreach, and engagement. We do this through free workshops, case studies, and thought pieces.

For me, as a visionary and recovering perfectionist, I start a lot of projects and have a lot of ideas. It's my greatest strength and greatest barrier.

So building a team around these areas of focus is helping Maple grow to be stronger, more rooted in our values, and capable of providing more value to our clients.

What is your growth edge right now? What are you reading, working on, thinking about?

Let's chat. Or maybe I'll see you at the next event. ​

In Solidarity,
Ryan Clover 🍀