Opportunities as a Plugin developer - WCAhmedabad2018

Transcript

1. Welcome to WordCamp Ahmedabad 2018 https://2018.ahmedabad.wordcamp.org/
2. Ronik Patel CEO – JD Softtech Opportunities as a Plugin developer #WCAHMEDABAD
3. Who Am I and Why This Talk? • Web agency owner. • Plugin owner experience. • Growing demand for WordPress Plugins.
4. What Are WordPress Plugins? • Plugin has a set of functions that can be added to a WordPress site to improve and enhance the features & functionalities of default WordPress site. • Plugin can be coded to perform simple tasks such as to create custom menu, for updating color scheme of the site or to implement a complex system like a eCommerce or LMS portal into the WordPress site. • Currently there are 55,868 plugins that are available on WordPress directory submitted by developers and agencies. And many more can be downloaded from 3rd party developer and agency websites.
5. Why WordPress Plugin instead of custom function files? • You develop a very useful and interesting plugin which you think might be helpful to other WordPress site builders. • You can upload this Plugin to WordPress.org for other developers to implement the same functionality. • You want to create business opportunity out of your code. • Prevent overwriting of your code from new WP versions updates.
6. Business Models • Wordpress Plugin can be used for a recurring revenue business opportunity. There are 3 different type of Business Models that can be used to generate revenue through your plugin. ◦ Free and Premium version of Plugin. ◦ Premium add-ons for Free plugin. ◦ Hybrid subscription based model – Software as a service (SAAS).
7. I. Free and Premium plugin • In this model, developer builds 2 different versions of plugin. ◦ Free version is available to global community without any charge. Free version has limited access to all functionality or limited usage of plugin. ▪ Limited access to functionality: Basic feature is provided to all users. ▪ Limited usage: All feature is provided to use but for a limited period of time. • Premium version is payable (One time fee). It provides all the features and functionalities of the plugin to the user for unlimited amount of time. • Example: Free version: ACF or ToolSet and Paid version: ACF PRO
8. II. Premium Add-ons for a Free Plugin • In this business model, there is only one FREE version of the plugin. To enhance and integrate more features to the FREE version, there are paid add-ons (modules) that can be purchased based on the user’s requirement. Does not need to provide all the features altogether. User only pays for features required. • Examples: ◦ Free version: Woocommerce. ◦ Paid add-ons (One time fee and yearly updates): Woocommerce subscriptions, Woocommerce Bookings, Woocommerce Product Search, Ship station, Paypal, Square, Mailchimp etc.
9. III. Hybrid Subscription Based Model– SAAS (Software as a service) • Very few developer or agency use this business model with their plugin. In this model, Users pay for a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription to use plugin. • Example: Sucuri, Gravity Forms or OptinMonster ◦ Retain control over data ◦ Better service usage insights ◦ Pay for updates and support
10. A Billion Dollar Market • Wordpress.org plugins received 1 billion total downloads, and counting. [1] • Beaver builder plugin has 1 million download in < one Year. 1+ Million downloads 7+ Million downloads  Hello Dolly  W3 Total Cache  Contact Form 7  Really Simple CAPTCHA  All in One SEO Pack  Google Analytics by Yoast  Google XML Sitemaps  WordPress Importer  Regenerate Thumbnails  WooCommerce  WP-PageNavi  WP Super Cache  Jetpack  TinyMCE Advanced  NextGEN Gallery  Wordfence Security  Yoast SEO  Advanced Custom Fields  Akismet. [2]  WooCommerce  NextGEN Gallery  WordPress Importer  WP Super Cache  Google Analytics by Yoast  Google XML Sitemaps  Jetpack  Contact Form 7  Yoast SEO  All in One SEO Pack  Wordfence Security. [2] [3] Plugins that have reached
11. How Profitable? • Considering you sell your plugin for 50 USD. • Your plugin has a useful functionality and starts getting popular with nearly 20 paid downloads a week. • 50 USD x 20 = 1000 USD / Week • i.e. 4000 USD / Month (~ 2,80,000 INR per month) • And this is just the beginning…
12. How to calculate conversion?
13. Other Benefits of Developing a Plugin • Customization work requests. • Opportunities to build more add-ons. • Stable revenue inflow. • Productization of your services.
14. How to get started? • Market research to see what is available and what is being asked for in forums. • To get started, you can develop an add-on for any existing plugins. For eg., you find a small functionality missing in a popular plugin like Contact Form 7. • Research on plugin submission and maintenance process. • Networking with other plugin owners.
15. Other Things to Keep in Mind • Team is more important than your plugin idea. • Support is key to success. • Ongoing development is must. • Smooth onboarding to reduce churn rate.
16. References 1. https://wordpress.org/plugins/ 2. https://wordpress.org/plugins/browse/popular/ 3. https://woocommerce.com/posts/woocommerce-7-million-downloads/
17. Ronik Patel www.jdsofttech.com +1 781-974-4568 RONIK@JDSOFTTECH.COM