In this episode of WP Legends, we talk to Blair Williams, the founder of MemberPress, about his journey building one of the most successful membership plugins for WordPress.
From the early challenges to future predictions for WordPress, Blair shares real, behind-the-scenes insights that every developer, creator, and entrepreneur should hear.
Watch the Episode
From Developer to Product Founder: The MemberPress Origin Story
MemberPress didn’t just happen overnight. In the early part of the conversation, Blair shares how the idea came from a real need, building flexible, scalable membership functionality that WordPress didn’t natively support.
He touches on the first version of the plugin, how he worked with clients while bootstrapping development, and how WordPress’s open-source model gave him a unique advantage to experiment and improve rapidly.
“It started as a need I had myself. Then others needed it too. That’s when I realized — we’re onto something bigger.”
Facing Early Challenges and Learning from Failure
Every founder has their own set of hurdles, and Blair is candid about his. From scaling support, managing feature creep, to dealing with impostor syndrome, he talks about the highs and lows of building in public.
There’s a moment where Blair reflects on shipping too early and dealing with technical debt that still resonates with many developers. He emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking in WordPress product development.
Building SaaS Tools the WordPress Way
The conversation naturally transitions into Blair’s thoughts on SaaS and WordPress, two ecosystems that are often seen as separate. Blair believes the gap between them is narrowing, and that plugin creators have a big opportunity to blend the best of both worlds.
With MemberPress introducing integrations, recurring payments, and a usage-based pricing model, it’s clear that the plugin is more than just a download-and-install tool; it’s a fully capable SaaS-style solution inside WordPress.
Meeting the Community at WordCamp Europe
One of the most heartwarming parts of the podcast is when Blair shares his experience meeting people at WordCamp Europe. From casual meetups to deep, late-night conversations about the future of WordPress, these moments, according to Blair, are what make the community truly special.
On Mentors, Mindset, and Looking Ahead
When asked about mentors and influences, Blair opens up about the people who helped shape his thinking, not just about code, but about leadership and product vision.
He also shares his thoughts on where WordPress is headed in the next 10 years: more no-code tools, better user experience, and a bigger focus on creators who want to own their audience and platform.
Blair’s message is simple, keep building, stay curious, and serve your users well.
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