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In this talk, I discuss the issues I've faced and mistakes I've made throughout my seven years of running a WordPress-focused agency. This talk was given at WordCamp Europe 2013.
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WordCamp Europe 2013
Learn from my mistakes! The Business of WordPress
Miriam SchwabWordCamp Europe 2013
(Yay!)
WordCamp Europe 2013
7 Years in the WP biz
3 WordCamps organized
100 WP sites built
5 Continents with clients
Here’s my gang
WordCamp Europe 2013
1. Diversify your services
WordCamp Europe 2013
Us, looking for new projects.
WordCamp Europe 2013
Projects vs. Recurring
Jan
Feb
Mar
chAp
rilMay
June
July
Aug
Sept Oct
Nov Dec0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
45000
RecurringProject
Breakdown of services today
WordPress sites70%
WP Hosting/Maintenance
10%
Digital Mktg.10%
Courses/consulting10%
Goal breakdown of services
WordPress sites40%
WP Hosting/Maintenance30%
Digital Mktg.20%
Courses/consulting10%
WordCamp Europe 2013
2. Much ado about clients &
chemistry
WordCamp Europe 2013
Who is your ideal client?
Budget Industry
Referral
Timeline
Mentsch?
WordCamp Europe 2013
Same conditions…
Client 1 Client 2
Industry Tech Tech
Project Manager X X
Type of project Theme + custom design
Theme + custom design
Designer Theirs Theirs
Developer Y Y
WordCamp Europe 2013
Results: Client 2
“Grumble, grumble, you provide bad
service, we don’t like you. Grrrrrrr.”
WordCamp Europe 2013
Conclusion: we can only do our best.(So go have a cuppa.)
Global Workforce: 3.4 billion(IDC)
Using CRM: 15 million(SugarCRM)
CRM Penetration: 0.5%(ReadWriteWeb)
56%44% Using CRM
No CRM
Forrester CRM Study Q3 2012
WordCamp Europe 2013
Why so serious
WordCamp Europe 2013
Why so serious CRM?
WordCamp Europe 2013
CRM Options
WordCamp Europe 2013
Zoho CRM
WordCamp Europe 2013
HiringWhat you are looking for• Experience• Portfolio• Personality• References• Test them!
What they are looking for• Compensation• Respect• Opportunity to learn• Flexibility• Passion
WordCamp Europe 2013
Collect Freelance Talent
WordCamp Europe 2013
You might be fired.
Open Source means it’s free,so why do you cost so much?
I read that WP is easy, so can’t you just add this feature?
You will always cost more, and less, than others
WordCamp Europe 2013
x = number of billable hours per month = 60% of available work hoursy = overall overhead per month (salary, taxes, rent, office expenses)z = profit goalsa = hourly rate
(y + z) / x = a
WordCamp Europe 2013
Differentiate yourself
• Service• Skills• Holistic• Give• Social media
• Teach• Organize• Publish• Wow them
WordCamp Europe 2013
6. Do not live by data alone
WordCamp Europe 2013
WordCamp Europe 2013
THANKS!
Miriam Schwab miriam@illuminea.comLearn more about illuminea at illuminea.com
WordCamp Europe 2013
Credits
Photos• Church of All Nations – Wikipedia• Western Wall – Wikipedia• Armenian Quarter – Jaime.Silva, Flickr• Southpark image – Southpark downloads• Running guys in black and white – New Old Stock• Sunset – Unsplash• The Aussie Troops – FlickrLinks• IDC report on CRM• SugarCRM data on usage• ReadWrite web on CRM
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