Shownotes
Join us as Miriam Schwab shares her impressive evolution from freelancing and agency ownership to joining Elementor, along with her innovative approaches to using AI in web development. Whether you're an agency owner or interested in AI's role in the future of websites, this episode offers actionable insights and inspiring stories.Key Topics:
- Miriam Schwab's transition from agency founder to corporate innovator at Elementor
- Lessons learned from managing agency life and re-entering the corporate world
- The strategic use of AI tools like Claude for building and optimizing websites
- How websites remain critical in the AI era, emphasizing content importance
- Practical workflows combining AI with WordPress development
- Impact of AI on agency business models and project pricing
- The significance of documentation and organized AI workflows
- The evolution of WordPress and its integration with AI, including future-proofing strategies
- Static site generation and AI’s role in improving performance and security
- Addressing AI exhaustion and maintaining mental health in a tech-driven environment
Timestamps:
- (00:00) - Intro: Deep insights from Miriam Schwab, from agency to Elementor
- (02:24) - Miriam's journey: From freelancing to agency ownership to corporate role
- (03:17) - Shift from agency to corporate: motivations and lessons learned
- (08:24) - Managing large organizations like Elementor: navigating new scales
- (12:15) - Why websites are still vital in 2026: content and AI intersection
- (13:52) - Building Miriam’s personal website with AI for creativity and control
- (15:54) - The role of agencies and their evolving value with AI tools
- (16:45) - Using Claude to customize website architecture and design workflow
- (20:00) - Documenting AI projects: lessons learned and future strategies
- (26:33) - Why Miriam prefers Claude over AI tools inside Elementor for initial builds
- (29:15) - WordPress and AI: emerging partnerships, dependencies, and future outlook
- (32:12) - The new era of static WordPress sites powered by AI
- (34:04) - Static sites, caching, and security considerations in an AI-driven web
- (36:14) - Preparing hosting infrastructures for high AI demand and resource management
- (41:14) - How clients will demand AI integration and the importance of ownership
- (43:12) - Shifting agency pricing models: from hours to outputs with AI
- (45:18) - Strategic planning and documentation for AI-enhanced website projects
- (50:20) - Legacy WordPress features still vital: customizer, post types, and custom fields
- (55:12) - The future of web development: no-code, low-code, and AI abstractions
- (62:48) - Miriam's thoughts on the role of PHP and emerging no-CMS sites
- (66:36) - Practical advice: combating AI exhaustion with pauses and reflection
- (69:11) - The importance of financial management via QuickBooks Online for agencies
- (73:46) - The importance of shutting down and taking breaks for sustained creativity
Resources & Links:
Connect with Miriam Schwab:
