In this episode of WP Legends, we sit down with Blake Whittle, founder of ClikIT and the driving force behind popular WordPress plugins like Secure Forms, Infinite Uploads, and Big File Uploads. From fixing real estate websites in high school to managing hundreds of client sites and acquiring plugins with over 100,000 active installs, Blake shares his journey of mastering the WordPress ecosystem balancing agency life, plugin development, and building a support-first culture.
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From High School Projects to WordPress Agency Owner
Blake’s WordPress journey started as a high schooler when a teacher connected him with a local real estate agent who needed a new site. Diving into WordPress for the first time, Blake found his passion for web design and development. This early experience laid the foundation for what would eventually become ClikIT, officially launched in 2017 during his freshman year at Illinois State University.
Pivoting to Plugins: Secure Forms & Beyond
After years of running a growing agency, Blake set his sights on product development. His first foray into plugins was Secure Forms, created to make Forminator forms HIPAA-compliant a critical need for healthcare professionals, therapists, and businesses handling sensitive data. Achieving HIPAA compliance and passing a third-party audit in just five months was a major milestone, and the plugin is now expanding to support Gravity Forms as well.
Acquiring Infinite Uploads & Big File Uploads
In 2024, Blake made a bold move: acquiring Infinite Uploads and Big File Uploads, two plugins with over 100,000 active installs that offload WordPress media libraries to CDN-powered storage. Blake shares how a casual thought “That’s such a great product; I wish I could buy that someday” turned into reality when he saw the plugins for sale.
Keeping It Simple: A Philosophy for Products & Clients
One of Blake’s core product philosophies: “If it needs a manual, it’s too hard.” Drawing inspiration from Apple and Steve Jobs, Blake believes plugins should be both powerful and intuitive easy enough for beginners, but feature-rich for advanced users. He explains how Infinite Uploads achieves this balance with a straightforward setup process while delivering robust functionality.
Agencies in the AI Era: Adapting to Change
Blake also discusses how AI, Wix, Squarespace, Framer, and other no-code tools are reshaping the agency landscape. His advice? Agencies can no longer survive by simply building websites they must deliver holistic value, from web design to SEO to marketing, ensuring clients get a measurable ROI.
ClikIT Today: Team & Culture
ClikIT has grown from Blake’s solo college hustle to an agency managing hundreds of websites for clients ranging from small businesses to VC-backed SaaS ventures. Blake credits his success to maintaining a support-first culture, ensuring every tool and service his team builds makes life easier for clients.
Lessons, Growth & The Road Ahead
From bootstrapping his agency to acquiring major plugins, Blake reflects on his entrepreneurial journey. He emphasizes the importance of community feedback, staying close to user needs, and building tools people genuinely love. Looking ahead, Blake sees exciting opportunities in expanding his plugin suite while continuing to scale ClikIT.
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