257 - Realistically defining our business model. WordPress Business Bootcamp - Series 1 / Episode 1

December 02, 2021 01:00:29
257 - Realistically defining our business model. WordPress Business Bootcamp - Series 1 / Episode 1
WP Builds
257 - Realistically defining our business model. WordPress Business Bootcamp - Series 1 / Episode 1

Dec 02 2021 | 01:00:29

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Show Notes

‘WordPress Business Bootcamp – Series 1 / Episode 1’ with Nathan Wrigley and David Waumsley

Intro to the series…

We relearn EVERYTHING we know about building WordPress sites, and running a web design business from start to finish.

The Premise:

We have our first potential website client “Ms. A.”. All we know is that she is a lawyer in a large city. She asked a mutual friend who thought of us. We have few skills and no business or processes in place. She has no previous website. No branding or copy.

The Cast:

The WP Builds group, Google and specific experts provide us with the options on how to progress. It is up to Nathan and David to individually decide which will suit us at each point and try to proceed with our own consistency.

The Plot:

5 seasons of WordPress Business Bootcamp. With 5 – 8 episodes in each. 

SEASON ONE:  BEFORE THE BUILD

SEASON TWO: THE  DESIGN

SEASON THREE: THE TECHNICAL BUILD 

SEASON FOUR: CLIENT TRAINING 

SEASON FIVE: AFTER THE BUILD

Episode 1.  Realistically defining our business model:

Episode intro:

We suspect many started client website businesses like us…

We first wanted to build something for ourselves. We enjoyed it so much that we amassed skills that seemed in demand (even if just from family and friends wanting a freebie website).

We did not start with a proper business plan in mind. We did not even think there could be a range of business models. Some that might suit our personalities and lifestyles better than others.

At some point, we think we must get serious and look for advice or courses to learn this stuff from people who have been doing this business longer than us. It’s tricky though…

We might find a mentor who gives us a great formula, but it could be entirely wrong for us. We could learn topic by topic from numerous advisors and end up with inconsistent models. 

We are in a dynamic industry where the best model might not be any that has gone before. Much like how University degrees in Web Tech. have not impressed potential employers. The time it takes to agree on a curriculum and deliver it could be longer than the life of what is being taught.

In this episode, we are going to take ourselves back to where we thought we might get serious and look at what our options would be now. Ready to face Ms A., potentially our first proper client.

NB: this is not necessarily as a full time business. The fragmented skills based economy has developed along with the internet. More of us wear different hats these days.

Did we start part time? Did the modal change? Did we flounder?

Basic design approaches will dictate our business models to some extent.

Traditional Agency (Waterfall process)

Scoped projects, propositions, contract. The end product is the site.

Agile

Iterative design usually starts with a Minimal Viable Product. (examples are the gov.uk website and Google design sprints).

Fixed price

One Day Webs, cookie cutter sites, WaaS.

Probably there are only two: Waterfall and Agile. Business intent is probably what separates them.

Known advisors 

Let’s pick some options:

How will we sell ourselves to Ms A?

David’s considered model

My location and free  lifestyle restricts me, but also gives me low cost living. I know we are relearning here, but my model has to be roughly the same with some major tweaks. I am strictly an Agile person.

Previously, I flipped my business model entirely to a hosting/care business for small mostly “budget” businesses. The website being the incentive. In truth the companies may not be budget, but the staff responsible for the website have not got access to much budget.

Everyone would need hosting anyway, so I bought that down to a price similar to what they had no choice but to pay. The plus for them is they got editing control via premium plugins, that if they paid for themselves would mean paying more.

Low, but consistent, profit and there is no reason for them to leave. The process for building is, pay as you go, after booking the hosting. Chances are I will get all their future jobs and don’t have to worry about finding new people all the time. It is a slow burner. It might sound like the quality of the site is less important, but it is the opposite. It needs to be built to last.

4 major tweeks for this series:

The answer to the latter being, I can’t unless we start over from the beginning. I want to get ahead of them being sold a page builder platform on the premise they need no skills, but let them feel the power of having that control.

I feel I can do this only now, because it has taken me a decade to put my own ego aside and feel confident enough with other people. Also, relaxed enough about the money to spot the honest people and reject those who will be a problem.

Mentioned in this episode:

David’s new KissThis.Design site. Which now redirects to https://simplerevolutions.design/.

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