Building SaaS With WordPress

Mario Peshev / CEO at DevriX

➔ CEO, WordPress Architect @ DevriX

➔ Former Java/PHP/Python Developer

➔ Consultant and Technical Lead for several SaaS Solutions

➔ Marketing and Project Management chops

➔ @no_fear_inc

➔ Open Source addict and Cofficer

About Me

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

What is SaaS?

➔ WordPress platform management – ManageWP

➔ Restaurants’ website platform – happytables

➔ Book publishing solution – Pressbooks

➔ Real estate website package – Placester

➔ Game Publishing Platform – Gamefroot

➔ Well, WordPress.com with its verticals, of course.

Applications of SaaS

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

My 2013 WP SaaS slides

Plugin vs. SaaS Model

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

AppPresser vs. Reactor example

Reactor AppPresser

Hosted app builder (SaaS) WordPress Plugin(s)

Push notifications and stats Not supported OOTB

Easy mobile app builder More tech skills to make it work

Native features, lighter Web browser wrapper, slow and clumsy

Offline mode Stateless

Limited support of tech features Supports custom plugins codeshortcodes rendering etc.

➔ What is your business model?

➔ How does it scale?

➔ What parameters would be growing intensively during the scaling process?

➔ What would be the main performance bottlenecks?

➔ How would you handle roles and capabilities?

➔ How can you leverage your server stack?

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

Single vs. Multisite

➔ Distributed database structure

➔ Separate environment for each subsite

➔ Manage per-site permissions and global

administration

➔ Different plugin and theme management for

every site

➔ Domain mapping capabilities

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

Multisite Features

Quick SaaS Building

Guide

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

➔ Install WordPress

➔ Convert it to Multisite if needed

➔ Deal with the standard setup/configuration

➔ Pick/Build a theme (or more for different sites)

➔ Build the main business logic for your SaaS

➔ Add external plugins and integrate your solution with them (or

build more)

WordPress Setup and Development

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

Technical Toolkit

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

➢ Deep technical know-how and professional processes

➢ Implementing Continuous Development best practices

➢ Profiling, debugging, benchmarks

Membership Management

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

➔ One-time payments

➔ Regular payments (monthly, annually)

➔ OTOs and Upsells (add-ons model)

➔ Extended plans (per user, per account, per X views)

➔ Paid updates

➔ Paid or Priority support

➔ Consulting

Pricing Options

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

➔ Freemium model➔ Dead easy sign-up process➔ Plenty of payment options➔ Find out your CAC and LTV➔ Brand awareness➔ Build your pricing plans right➔ Customer research, case studies➔ Testimonials➔ Growth Hacking!➔ Affiliate and referral programs!➔ Cheap vs. Enterprise sales➔ JV and Affiliate Networks➔ payment-processors➔ saas-business-model

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

Boost Some Marketingand Sales

JV and Affiliate Networks

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

➔ Starter contacts and partnerships for initial leads

➔ Marketing offloading to professional Internet marketers

➔ Submissions in startup networks such as Product Hunt

➔ Beta Test submission to Beta Testers Hub

MySLP Case Study

Store Locator Service

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

Reactive Locations Manager

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

Alternative Look and Feel

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

Complete Hosted Management

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

SaaS is Already Here

Mario Peshev, @no_fear_inc

Let’s SaaS!

Questions? Tweets as @no_fear_inc

Mario Peshev on LinkedIn

nofearinc on WordPress.org

GitHubbing like mpeshev

Blogging at DevWP.eu

CEO @ DevriX.com