What your mother never taught you ???
WordPress as a Business
● Many years of data driven efforts● Got fired (I mean fired, not laid off - everyone should try this)
○ started my first of many businesses in the Valley○ Currently have 3
■ WP for small/medium biz & orgs■ Business Intelligence, Analytics & Data Mining■ Bonsai
● Wrote my first CMS before WordPress in 2002● Chair 2 Silicon Valley groups
○ Tech Women (1,300+ members)○ Business Intelligence (4,000+ members)
● Started doing WP sites pro bono around 2.7-2.9○ word spread○ people wanted to give me money
A little Background - Sonja
About Anca
Software Engineering and Consulting in the enterprise.
Built Web Apps, custom Content Management Systems
Large and small organizations / projects
- Cisco, Sony, Nike, Disney, several .com’s you’ve never heard of
Now building custom apps with WordPress
Coaching & Training
Weekly groups at Tech Liminal
About Josh Visick
● Freelance graphic & web designer.● Started coding static sites in ‘98.● WP bridge to becoming my “own developer”.● Developing with WP for the last 4 yrs.● Currently build sites and provide
hosting/maintenance for small businesses.
[email protected] @JoshVisick
Making money with WordPress
● Building Websites ● Writing content for blogs, ads, affiliates● Custom Design / Programming● Support● Selling themes and plugins● Selling hosting/maintenance● Training and coaching
WordPress is different
● It is FREE!● It has a massive, growing market● It moves fast and you MUST keep up!● From small business to corporations● Nothing is completely custom
○ We all use the same ~14MB from the mothership● Very user-friendly, easy to use
WordPress is different...
● 5+ languages● Solutions for all, from pre-built themes to highly
custom “iceberg” sites● Updates happen, for better or for worse● Pants are not required (some of the time)
○ Teams and work have a new virtual model● Uniquely accessible community
What this means for my Business
● Offer high value product● Price point that more customers can afford● I can build sites faster and be more profitable● Reputation - WP is a household term● Scale business easier - pool of developers● Stability in business model - marketshare
Business 101
● Business form● Licenses● Contract● Don’t forget to ask for money (invoicing)● Scheduling (time lines and cash flow)● When to say no● Insurance
What is your value proposition?
● websites vs success-what are you selling?● Vertical market value?● golden triangle
○ Good, Fast, Cheap (pick 2)● 14mb foundation (did I mention free!)
Revenue vs income?
● Website creation/updates/conversions● recurring revenue:
● Sales of themes, plugins, API services● maintenance● hosting● other added value (SEM)● Training
Pricing?
● hourly○ WordPress mean/median
● fixed price○ WordPress mean/median
● retainer/contract● value vs market● the right price for your clients vs the right income for you
○ A) What do you need to make to survive○ B) What value do you provide○ If A>B, not sustainable - new business plan
● calculator - (share a google spreadsheet?)
Estimating a Project
● Do they know what they want?● Do they have their content?● Do they want a custom design?● Is there a plugin? Are there tons of plugins?● Custom code/ front + backend ● Are there interactive elements (storefront, forums, forms,
games, etc)● Talking to third parties (FB, custom API’s, CRM’s,maps)● Custom Admin Workflow?
We are at the Epicenter
Are you leveraging the Bay Area?● Automattic● EBWP● SFWP● WordCamp SF● Zurb● Twitter● FaceBook
protecting yourself
● contract:■ website (new vs conversion/upgrade)■ enhancement, change orders, kill fees ■ maintenance/hosting/support/added value
● change orders● site turnover/golive (after payment)● Risk of developing on account you do not control● Client mistakes
expenses
● open source model● time● tools - cost vs savings● sub-contractors
Marketing
● What is your target market● How do reach your target market● Cost of acquisition
○ Initial consultation - free or billable○ RFP’s
● Word of mouth● The 20 word pitch have it ready at ALL times
Appearing Being Bigger than you are
● Collaboration○ Resources who can help with a quick tip○ GIVE BACK
● Virtual Teams - ○ follow the lead of the mothership (Automattic)○ A Year Without Pants
● Referrals● Business form
Resources
● WordPress.org - Codex, blogs, docs● Tech Liminal - classes, workspace● WordPress survey● Remote managers
○ InfiniteWP, manageWP● WAMP / MAMP stacks
○ http://serverpress.com/products/desktopserver/ ● Version control
○ Git, Github (interfaces to WordPress SVN, Probably easier)
Resources pg 2
● Pricing - ○ http://allindiewriters.com/freelance-hourly-rate-calculator/○ http://chrislema.com/changing-the-pricing-conversation-with-clients/
● Freemium Business services● Project management
○● accounting/time tracking● chrislema.com/books● www.workformoneydesignforlove.com/
