On today’s episode, Sam and Corey interview Darren Ethier and Garth Koyle the co-founders of Event Espresso and Event Smart. They discuss how to take your successful WordPress plugin and turn it into a SaaS. This is a lively technical discussion about spinning up a SaaS startup using the WordPress framework.
How to start a WordPress theme business w/ Mike McAlister
With so many WordPress themes available on the market, it might sound crazy to even try and start a business selling your own. There are super-huge, multi-purpose themes selling $100k worth a week with option panels the size of their revenue charts, others with big passionate communities supporting them, and countless other shops just as successful in their own right. How can you compete?
What would make someone choose you over anyone else?
And that’s the rub, isn’t it? What makes you different? As you will find out in this episode with Mike McAlister of Array.is, that’s the key ingredient in today’s theme market. It’s not just your theme’s code, your support, or even your price point — give your customer a new reason to choose you over their never ending suite of choices.
If I haven’t scared you off by now, let’s dive into how to start a theme business.
Pioneer of creative accounting, Jason Blumer
Creative accounting.
Have you heard that phrase used before? I certainly didn’t until I met today’s guest, Jason Blumer. Jason runs a virtual accounting practice specifically designed for creative agencies and development firms. I love this business idea because it focuses on a specific vertical, with a specific customer type, translating to a better level of service — something we can all learn from.
He wraps it all together nicely by producing a podcast called, The Businessology Show. A podcast I got hooked on quite some time ago. He speaks to his potential customer and provides value at the same time, it’s genius. He offers a wide-range of guests that have boutique agencies (like me), all the way to larger 40+ person shops, each producing their own unique product or service. I have no issues if you add his show right next to mine on your playlist!
We cover a TON in this (almost) hour-long podcast. From team building to the client sales process and everything in between. This has become one of my favorite conversations on the show, and I hope you enjoy it too!
Getting started with Drip for WordPress
This week we find ourselves diving deeper into the Drip marketing service and exploring how to connect it to our WordPress websites.
Last week I eluded to the idea that a lot of marketing tools and tactics fall victim to becoming fads. Unfortunately, many of the tools and web marketing strategies of today are perceived as quick fixes that can be mastered in short time, with little focus.
Not the case. Lucky for you, this article, along with a series of follow-up posts, will break that barrier and give you a taste of marketing automation mastery.
Managing the $50k web project
Enter part 4 of our web design series, Managing the Fifty-Thousand Dollar Web Project.
The Matt Report Web Design Series
- Part 1: Discovery Process
- Part 2: Setting the budget & expectation
- Part 3: Managing the $5 – $15k web project
I’m stoked for this episode, not just because of the size budget we’re discussing, but because we aren’t focusing on WordPress.
Carson McComas is founder of Shopify Custom, a (you guessed it) custom Shopify agency. He recently re-designed Andrew Youderian’s e-commerce site, which included a $50k budget. He’s joining Matt Report today to discuss that project and others that move through the pipeline at his agency.
Why you should listen if you’re a client: At first the budget might scare you, but you will quickly realize there’s a lot more value included in a project of this size than just pushing pixels. We explore how we focus on your business goals and put a plan in place to reach them.
Why you should listen if you’re an agency: Carson brings a healthy perspective on delivering the value our clients want. We explore the best phases to invest time and money into, with all roads leading back to a solid ROI.
By the way, if you’re not just a little attracted to the Shopify ecosystem after this interview — you might need to check your pulse. 🙂
This is a must-listen episode. Enjoy!
Startup Platform Episode 1
Looking to work up a sweat optimizing your next WordPress website launch this summer?
Of course you are!
In this premier of The Startup Platform, we cover the major building blocks of launching a successful web project from bottom to top. Kristin and I take you through this fast paced boot camp of goal setting, content planning, and measuring results.
Look for more of these free sessions in the future and drop your requests in the comments!