In the ever-evolving world of web hosting, few brands have cemented their place in the WordPress community as firmly as Bluehost. As a key brand under the Newfold Digital umbrella, Bluehost has been a pivotal player in the open-source ecosystem since its inception in 2003, the same year WordPress was born. Today, Bluehost continues to push boundaries, driven by a team of experts who are as dedicated to innovation as they are to the open-source philosophy that powers WordPress and its users to break glass ceilings with their online presence and grow their businesses.
Leading the way on this journey is Mike Hansen, a seasoned WordPress leader and innovator who has been with Bluehost through its various phases of growth and transformation. Mike’s career began in the world of freelancing and marketing, where he quickly recognized the power of WordPress as a tool that put control in the hands of its users. His journey with WordPress started in 2008, and over the years, he’s become not only an expert on the platform, but a passionate advocate for it.
“I love the aspect that it enables both ambitious freelancers who want to start a hustle, but also dreamers who want to start their first business,” says Mike. He appreciates the open-source side of WordPress, too. “We can see the code, we can contribute to the code,” he says. “You can export your information. You can migrate it from one place to another. That aspect is also nice in a world where algorithms are changing, search engine algorithms are changing, social media algorithms are changing, all of these things are changing, and those things can hurt your business and WordPress is yours. Those other things are important, but they’re channels and WordPress is your home.”
Mike’s passion for WordPress plays a major role in his approach to leadership and is rooted in his deep technical expertise and involvement in the WordPress ecosystem. “I was one of the first sponsored core contributors and helped build WordPress for a number of years,” Mike shares. His journey at Bluehost began when the company was searching for a way to contribute more meaningfully to the WordPress project. Bluehost has always had its customers, the WordPress users and the community as whole, as its number one priority. Mike joined the team to help Bluehost further with its goal of offering WordPress users the best innovative solutions possible. His role evolved as he recognized that his impact could be even greater within Bluehost, driving the company’s efforts to stay at the forefront of WordPress technology.
One of the key challenges Mike faces in his role is balancing the fast-paced evolution of WordPress with the need to provide a consistent and modern experience for Bluehost customers. “We want to make sure we’re on the cutting edge of WordPress,” he says. “But that’s a difficult thing to do when things move both fast and slow.” This nuanced understanding of the platform’s dynamics is what sets Mike and the Bluehost team apart.
Mike has brought together a diverse team at Bluehost, made up of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. The team includes members who have come from customer support, engineering, billing and experienced product teams, with each contributing their own unique perspective. The diversity in experience and skill levels across the team allows them to approach WordPress challenges from various angles, paving the way for high efficiency collaboration and ensuring that Bluehost remains a leader in the WordPress hosting space while providing its customers with the highest quality products and service.
One of the most significant contributions Bluehost has made to the WordPress community is its role in establishing the global sponsorship program for WordCamps. As one of the first global sponsors, Bluehost helped simplify the sponsorship process, making it easier for companies to get involved and support the WordPress community. The company also helped power WordPress’ remarkable growth over the years. “We were one of the first hosts to do a one-click install of WordPress and help drive the widespread adoption of WordPress,” Mike recalls. This early commitment to the open-source community is still evident in Bluehost’s culture and innovations today.
Looking ahead, Mike is excited about the future of WordPress and the role Bluehost will play in its continued evolution. The company is heavily invested in the development of WordPress’s block-based future, contributing to the Gutenberg project and ensuring that Bluehost’s platform is the best place to build a WordPress site for small-to-medium sized businesses (SMBs), freelancers, web professionals, agencies and beyond. “We’re doubling down on WordPress,” says Mike. “Our intentions are to be the best at WordPress and offer the best solutions for its users in every way we approach it.”
Beyond his professional achievements, Mike also enjoys tackling complex and fast-moving projects in his personal life. Whether it’s remodeling his house or riding his motorcycle, Mike’s approach to problem-solving is as methodical and technical as it is in the office. His love for reverse engineering and understanding the mechanics of things is a trait that has clearly influenced his work at Bluehost over the years.
In a rapidly changing digital landscape, Bluehost’s commitment to WordPress and open-source principles remains unwavering. Under the guidance of Mike Hansen and his team, Bluehost is not just keeping up with the times, it’s helping to shape the future of the web. For future candidates looking to join this dynamic team, or for those already contributing to the WordPress community, Newfold Digital offers a front-row seat to the ongoing evolution of one of the world’s most powerful and flexible web hosting solutions providers.
