The two most common questions I get about running an agency / freelancing successfully are what to charge and how to land large 6 figure+ projects. If you are ready to step up your business, this will be worth your time. I’ll walk you through the fundamentals of enterprise sales and what changes in lead generation, negotiation, procurement & contracts and the execution of large contracts. I’ll teach you how to land the big fish, and even more important, how to navigate it gracefully after you win.
Category: Business
What got you here won’t get you there – moving from developer to WordPress business owner
Kevin had no clue what he was doing when he wrote the code that would become Ninja Forms six years ago, and not just as a developer. He didn’t know that the plugin would go on to be installed on millions of sites and become a sustainable business. He didn’t know the changes he’d need to go through to become a good business owner. Early on, his partner handled everything related to running the business and Kevin felt like the lesser part of a 50-50 partnership. Now Kevin is involved in all aspects of the business and will talk about the transition from developer to business owner.
More aim, less blame: How to use postmortems to turn failures into something valuable for your team
Mistakes and failure are inevitable. Instead of being afraid of them, we should use them as lessons that help identify weak points in our organisations and systems. One way to do this is by writing blameless postmortems. Daniel details exactly how postmortems can help organisations and teams focus on improvement, and how that boosts work morale, makes products better, and strengthens your relationship with customers.
Business planning: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail
The WordPress ecosystem is a tough place to be and only those prepared for competition will survive. Movies show us how ideas sketched on a restaurant napkin magically turn into flourishing business ventures, but reality proves this is impossible 99.9% of the time. Having a seemingly innovative idea and a strong desire for success are simply not enough to differentiate your business from all others competing for a slice of the pie. Entrepreneurs need to master the art and science of business planning and analysis to ensure a long and prosperous life and future.
Pause. Think. Create.
Spark your creativity in just a few minutes a day! The session begins with an inspirational talk that explains why it’s difficult for us to leave our connected devices alone. Dennis will share anecdotes and stories about disconnecting, as well as ideas on how to adopt these ideas to help you de-stress and enjoy the moment. The second part applies concepts from the talk. Dennis teaches an easy-to-learn and proven non-linear thinking technique designed to draw inspiration from within and help you capture ideas quickly.
Required skill set
None needed beyond being curious.
Technical requirements
None.
Renaissance jobs in WordPress: Skills you need to survive the 21st-century career
The idea of a single long-lasting career is fast becoming a thing of the past and, according to Dell’s report, 85% of jobs in the year 2030 haven’t been invented yet. WordPress disrupted the publishing industry in 2003, and with Gutenberg is at the forefront of innovation, but what skills are needed for WordPressers to survive the 21st-century career? Nevena will focus on results from world-renowned surveys conducted globally and a survey conducted in the WordPress community. She will attempt to answer questions about ‘renaissance jobs’ we find ourselves in and how to attract new talent through WordPress education.
How fast-growing agencies win business
Simon tells his story of becoming a salesperson after 20 years as a designer. Now heading up the Commercial team at Pragmatic, one of Europe’s largest WordPress agencies, he reveals how agencies experiencing rapid growth can win business and retain valuable clients. For agencies and freelancers who want a professional approach to sales with a creative touch, Simon shares practical advice on positioning your business, pitching digital solutions, and creating a unique value proposition, with a sprinkle of sales presentation tips to ensure you stand the best chance of success.
Understanding what makes a website landing page convert
Attention spans are diminishing online, so we need to get to the point with our landing pages. We should start by identifying the user problem, then promote just one solution in an uncluttered and direct manner. This allows the visitor to make a quick decision, rather than sending them to a bloated website with many options. Rob covers the essential things to include on your landing page while encouraging a minimalistic design approach.