[photomatt]

Where it's possible, I'll always invest in product and engineering over marketing (specifically external ad spend). The Tumblr acquisition is a good example of that, we actually scaled back WP.com marketing in anticipation of that to give more room to bring on Tumblr's entire 200ish-person team. 90%+ of our growth is organic, and that percentage is going up.

[gk1]

Translation: We're actually doing well, but you only hear about Wix and others because they spend more money on advertising than we do.

[ksec]

I wish I could stop having Wix ads on youtube, I have seen it like 500 times already. While Squarespace is on all the information channel as sponsors.

I have yet to see a single ads on Wordpress.

Not necessarily a bad thing, but now whenever I think of doing a simple website my brains clicks on Wix or SqaureSpace instead of thinking about Wordpress.com

[davidjnelson]

Youtube premium removes video ads. Plus you can skip the product placement ads if you want.

[notatoad]

(only if you live in countries where youtube premium is offered)

[whalesalad]

I see a lot of WP ads lately so perhaps I’m just being targeted.

[jakoblorz]

300m in pure ads incoming

[Johnyma22]

Sensible and pragmatic.

How dare you be a valley CEO with such an attitude? ;) /s

Also, congrats on the raise! *Coughs in IPO...

[buboard]

Is he in the valley?

[csomar]

Automattic is fully remote, so it doesn't matter if he's in the Valley. They are not in the Valley.

[josephjrobison]

Valley state of mind, though.

[plehoux]

"I'll always invest in product and engineering over marketing"

This is an often overlooked strategy from small to to big businesses, but one that pays off long term. We're a 3 people SASS having the same philosophy, and it's starting to pays off (we're 100% organic :)). Nice to hear Wordpress has the same.

[burnte]

If you ever have offices in Atlanta, let me know, I'd love to apply. :)

[gibrown]

We don't have offices. 100% distributed. You should apply: https://automattic.com/work-with-us/

[vachi]

hi Matt :))) congrats!!!