Last week, I packed my bags and headed out to Phoenix, Arizona for WordCamp US 2026, which is the big annual event for WordPress developers, designers, and web agency owners.
As much as I like keeping up with web tech, the best part of these trips is easily the human side. I went with my friend Jayne, who owns Luna Creative Studio. We’ve been close friends for about 10 years now, but since we live far apart, WordCamp is our annual excuse to hang out, talk shop, compare notes on running our businesses, and explore a fun city together.
Between catching up, drinking delicious coffee in the hotel lobby bar, and enjoying Phoenix, I sat in on a handful of talks. If you weren’t following the event online, here is my honest takeaway from the trip for small business owners.
A Few Highlights From Phoenix
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Privacy is No Longer Optional (And Hans Skullrud Proved It)
One of my favorite sessions of the entire trip was a talk by Hans Skullrud from Termageddon about website privacy laws and compliance.
Legal stuff can sound pretty dry on the surface, but Hans did a great job explaining why website privacy policies are changing so fast right now. With new state laws popping up and tech moving fast, copying a random privacy template from five years ago just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Your privacy policy needs to match how your specific website collects data and handles contact forms. Protecting your business legally isn’t just about avoiding some random fine. It shows your clients that you respect their data from day one.
You can watch Hans’ full presentation right here:
If you haven’t checked your own site policies lately, take a look at our quick guide on Why Your Small Business Website Honestly Needs a Privacy Policy for a simple breakdown.
The AI Noise is Loud, But You Can Ignore Most of It
You couldn’t walk ten feet at the convention center without hearing someone talk about AI. There were sessions on AI agents, automated coding tools, and machine learning search features.
I will be completely honest with you: even as someone who builds websites for a living, a lot of it was confusing and hard to follow.
A lot of the tech world is currently obsessed with shiny new tools, building things just because they can, rather than asking if a real business owner actually needs them.
My advice? Don’t stress about the hype. You do not need a complex AI bot running on your website to get clients. What actually works for your business stays the exact same: a fast website, crystal clear text, easy contact options, and a great mobile experience. Tech tools should make your life easier, not more complicated.
Real Connections Still Drive the Web
Despite all the talk about algorithms and automation, the biggest highlight of the week was just being around real people.
Getting to brainstorm with Jayne, talk directly with the developers who build the tools we use, and share real-world business experiences reminded me why I love what I do.
The web isn’t built by robots. It is built by real people trying to help other people solve problems. Whether that is Jayne helping her clients at Luna Creative Studio or our team helping you build a site that actually brings in work, human trust is something code will never replace.
Bringing It Back Home
WordCamp was a great reminder that web design is always evolving, but our core goal at Pinecoast Creative stays identical: filtering out the confusing tech noise so you get a website that is fast, legal, secure, and built to get you more clients.
If you want to make sure your site is up to date without having to decipher tech jargon, we are always here to help.
Book a quick discovery call with Pinecoast Creative today, and let’s get your website in great shape.
Termageddon Referral:
Use code PINECOAST or follow this link: https://app.termageddon.com?fp_ref=pinecoast to get 10% off your first year!
I'm Katie, the owner, project manager, website designer, and front-end developer of Pinecoast Creative. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Web Design and Web Technologies, I started my business in 2015, and I’ve loved every minute of it! I love to read, drink coffee, go to yoga, and listen to music. Your website will likely be crafted to the sounds of Taylor Swift, Noah Kahan, and Hozier.