There has been a lot happening in the WordPress world this month, and we’re here to break it all down for you!
There are plenty of new developments, including WPForms’ new instant SMS/WhatsApp notifications. We also cover the exciting launch of WPConsent, a plugin for managing cookie consent and compliance with the GDPR and other privacy regulations. Plus, WordCamp Asia brought together over 1400 attendees from 70 countries.
We’ve also got new tools and integrations on the way—AIOSEO is making keyword tracking smarter, and Uncanny Automator is adding even more powerful integrations.
And don’t miss WooCommerce’s fresh rebrand, along with a few other exciting plugin launches.
Let’s dive into all these updates and explore what’s new in the world of WordPress!
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WPForms Introduces ⚡ Instant SMS & WhatsApp Notifications to Boost User Engagement
WPForms has just introduced a game-changing update for users with the new WPForms Twilio Addon. It allows you to send instant SMS and WhatsApp notifications directly to people who submit your forms.
This feature is perfect for businesses looking to deliver personalized messages, whether it’s a friendly confirmation, appointment details, or a follow-up message—all with just a few clicks.
WPForms co-founder, Jared Atchison, explained the simplicity of the setup:
“Within the form builder, select either SMS or WhatsApp and then choose the recipient’s phone number from the available dropdown menu. Next, input the exact message you wish to send immediately after the form submission. It’s really that straightforward.”
The Twilio integration boasts effortless setup, enabling immediate message sending without requiring specialized technical skills.
After connecting your Twilio account, customize the notifications by incorporating individualized details like the user’s name, a summary of their order, the appointment’s timing, or a booking confirmation. This personalization adds relevance and meaning to each message, potentially enhancing the overall user experience.
WPForms further empowers users with conditional logic, providing the flexibility to select their preferred method for receiving updates, be it SMS or WhatsApp.
For broader reach, you have the option to combine text messages and email notifications, guaranteeing your message’s delivery regardless of the customer’s location.
This feature is now available to all WPForms Plus, Pro, and Elite subscribers, presenting a valuable opportunity to enhance engagement and maintain real-time user updates.
WPConsent Has Launched — A Powerful New Plugin for Managing Cookie Consent and Privacy Compliance
Managing cookie consent has never been easier with WPConsent—a new, robust plugin crafted to assist WordPress site owners in adhering to privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.
WPConsent distinguishes itself from other cookie plugins by automatically identifying and blocking scripts that utilize cookies until the user explicitly allowsThese scripts often involve the use of cookies and may originate from services like Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Facebook Pixel.
In his announcement, Mircea Sandu, the Co-Founder of WPConsent, stated:
‘WPConsent allows you to design and oversee cookie banners, ensuring adherence to privacy standards without complex technical procedures. It is designed for simplicity and clarity, offering complete transparency to your users.’
Due to WPConsent’s straightforward installation, you don’t need to manually input cookie information. The plugin manages everything with a single click, and cookie settings are controlled from a unified dashboard.
Furthermore, you have the ability to personalize cookie categories and design banners that align with your website’s brand identity, all without the need for coding.
WPConsent also provides a geolocation feature, allowing you to display cookie banners only to visitors from specific countries or regions, such as the EU.
The plugin simplifies the process of incorporating a cookie policy page into your site using a shortcode, ensuring that users can easily view the policy details via the consent banner.
WPConsent is currently available for download. A complimentary version of the plugin is also offered, allowing users to test its features before committing to a paid subscription.
Over 1400 Attendees from 71 Countries Gathered for WordCamp Asia 2025 in Manila
WordCamp Asia 2025 in Manila attracted over 1,400 participants from 71 countries, with approximately 15,000 individuals participating online. The event included motivational speeches, interactive workshops, and valuable networking possibilities.
ℹ️WordCamps are community events organized in a conference format by passionate members of the WordPress community. Click here to learn more about WordCamps.
This year’s event introduced new ways to engage:
- Spotlight on SolutionsConcise, impactful talks covering novel products and methods, presented in a rapid-fire format.
- YouthCampInteractive learning experiences for young people (ages 8 to 17) covering fundamental web concepts, design principles, and development techniques.
- Career and Networking HubsDedicated areas facilitating networking, professional relationship-building, and casual conversation.
Contributor Day launched the event, drawing nearly 800 participants who addressed bug fixes, improved Gutenberg, and boosted accessibility. This underscored open-source’s collaborative power.
🔗Related: Contributing to the WordPress Ecosystem (My Thoughts)
Matías Ventura gave a keynote about WordPress and Gutenberg’s trajectory. Attendees also learned about SEO, performance, and AI-driven workflows.
A panel discussion, ‘WordPress in 2030’, covered the open-source community’s growth and future hurdles for WordPress.
The event concluded by previewing upcoming WordPress advancements, leaving attendees feeling motivated and prepared for what’s ahead.
Awesome Motive’s CEO, Syed Balkhi, Talks Business Strategy, WordPress Growth, and AI at Annual Retreat
Syed Balkhi, Awesome Motive’s CEO, provided insights at the company retreat on business strategies, WordPress’s progress, and AI’s potential.
When discussing business strategy, Syed detailed his methods for overseeing his company’s increasing number of brands:
The objective is to remove obstacles, increase support wherever possible, and then let the team, who knows the customer base intimately, do their job.
Switching gears toWordPress growthSyed voiced optimism about the platform’s trajectory:
“I see WordPress powering over 50% of websites in the next five years. The ecosystem is evolving, and there’s so much to be excited about.”
He also noted the increasing significance ofAIand its potential effect on the future of work:
“AI is as transformative as electricity and the internet. It’s going to reshape how a lot of things are done, and I’m more excited than concerned about it.”
Syed also gave a personal opinion about the importance of work-life balance, stating:
“Nobody will remember you working late more than your kids. Prioritizing family is important, but balance comes in stages.”
▶️Watch the full interview on the Thrive Themes YouTube Channel.
Remove Unused Media from Your WordPress Site with Search & Replace Everything
Search & Replace Everything now offers a feature to remove unused media. It’s crafted to assist WordPress site managers in tidying up their media collections.
This tool identifies and deletes unused media, allowing users to reclaim important storage on their websites.
The plugin conducts a thorough examination of the entire WordPress database, not just posts and pages. This makes certain that all media files which are not in use are found. After scanning, a list appears, showing title, path, and size details. Files are easily removed, either one at a time or all at once, with a click.
Remove Unused Media simplifies media library management. It assists site owners in maintaining efficient and lean WordPress sites. It also prevents unintentional deletion of necessary files.
This functionality is exclusive to Search & Replace Everything plugin’s professional version users.
WordPress.org Shares Noel Tock’s “WordPress in 2025” Report
Noel Tock’s comprehensive WordPress in 2025 report has been released by WordPress.org, providing essential perspectives on WordPress’s future.
The report emphasizes WordPress ecosystem’s future direction. It gives a defined path for growth and long-term viability over the next several years.
Predictions regarding WordPress’s continued development as the leading platform for website creation are among the report’s main conclusions.
Tock’s research emphasizes the rising significance of the block editor, the continuous work to improve WordPress’s user-friendliness, and the increased emphasis on performance and security improvements.
The report also examines the potential function of AI in WordPress development. It looks at the rising necessity of community involvement to aid the open-source WordPress project’s success.
AIOSEO’s Newest Update Improves Keyword Tracking and WooCommerce SEO Features
A significant update has been rolled out for All in One SEO for WordPress, enhancing its capabilities in keyword tracking and WooCommerce SEO.
This update presents an improved keyword rank tracker, giving users more comprehensive insights and greater control for refining their SEO approaches.
Notable features include the ability to track keyword rankings for individual posts, integrate with Google Search Console to import relevant keywords, and see related keywords alongside performance metrics.
Ben Rojas, the President of AIOSEO, expressed enthusiasm regarding the new capabilities:
“One of the coolest features added to our already powerful Keyword Rank Tracker is the Related Keywords tab. This lets you see suggested terms for the keywords you’re already tracking.”
AIOSEO has streamlined WooCommerce product attribute handling by enabling global settings application, attribute data exportation, and inclusion of product attributes in XML sitemaps, thus improving consistency and efficiency for online stores and boosting WooCommerce SEO.
In Other News
- Smash Balloon, a widely used suite of social media plugins for WordPress, now features integrations with GDPR compliance plugins such as GDPR Cookie Compliance and Real Cookie Banner, facilitating cookie consent management and adherence to privacy regulations.
- FunnelKit released Funnel Builder 3.9. This introduces new UTM campaign tracking for detailed traffic analysis, new order bump positions, and better revenue attribution for online stores.
- WordPress 6.7.2 has been launched as a maintenance release, incorporating security fixes and addressing 16 bugs affecting WordPress core and the block editor.
WP Simple Pay – Effortless Stripe Payments for WordPress
WP Simple Pay makes it easy to accept Stripe payments in WordPress securely. Easily create payment forms for one-time or recurring payments. Its user-friendly interface lets you start accepting payments immediately without writing any code.
- Advanced Coupons has released a PushEngage integration, which allows users to send coupons via push notifications. This can help to improve engagement and conversion opportunities directly on WordPress websites.
- WordPress.com has renamed Demo Sites in Studio to Preview Sites. They have also added extra storage and personalized URLs to offer users more flexibility and control over their preview environments.
- Uncanny Automator version 6.2 introduced new integrations for Threads, Duplicator, SeedProd, and Thrive Theme Builder, along with powerful new automation features for WordPress sites.
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- WooCommerce introduced a new logo and color palette as part of their rebranding, aiming to better match their visual identity with the growth and future of the platform.
- WordPress.com launched 100-year hosting and domain plans. These plans offer users the unique opportunity to secure their domain names and websites for an entire century, which ensures long-term ownership and peace of mind.
- A2 Hosting was acquired by World Host Group, marking a significant expansion in their hosting services and strengthening their market presence.
New Plugins
- WPConsent – A powerful plugin designed to help WordPress site owners comply with GDPR and other privacy regulations. WPConsent provides customizable cookie banners, script blocking, and an easy-to-use interface for managing cookie consent.
- ScreenGlow Image Editor – This plugin allows users to paste, upload, and edit images and screenshots within the WordPress dashboard. It offers tools to create mockups, add backgrounds, annotate screenshots, and beautify designs.
- Shortcodes Analyzer – A plugin designed to help developers and site owners keep track of and manage shortcodes on their WordPress sites. It allows users to easily identify, optimize, and troubleshoot shortcodes across posts and pages.
That wraps up this edition of CanadaCreate Spotlight! We’re always eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions on how we can make this series even better.
If there’s any exciting WordPress news or updates you’d like to see featured in our next issue, feel free to send us a message.
We’ll be back next month with more news, insights, and updates from the WordPress world. Thank you for being such a valued part of our community!
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