The business model for running a WordPress agency has changed in recent years. It used to be that we had an overflow of new projects coming our way. Business was plentiful, and there was little reason to think outside the box. That’s no longer the case.
These days, it seems like everyone already has a website. And clients aren’t necessarily keen on spending large sums on building new ones. For many, it’s about improving what they have. This strategy makes sense, as websites have grown more complex by the year. Starting from scratch isn’t an attractive option.
It also leaves agencies and freelancers in a strange spot. We traditionally rely on new website projects as a major source of revenue. This model isn’t nearly as reliable as it used to be.
The emergence of WordPress and other open-source content management systems (CMS) also created a strong market for website maintenance. That continues, but is it enough to grow your business?
It’s time to look for new opportunities in the WordPress market. Here are a few ideas on how your agency can adapt to the time we live in.
Start Selling Solutions
Existing and prospective clients may already have a website. However, they still face challenges. Identifying their pain points and creating solutions is a natural extension of your business.
It’s an opportunity for your WordPress expertise to shine. For example, let’s say your clients using WooCommerce have a common issue with managing orders: perhaps they find the process confusing or it has too many steps.
You can use that knowledge and experience to build a better solution. It could be a custom plugin or even a dashboard that provides all the data your clients need. You can sell it as an add-on to your current customers. Even better, you might also sell it to the general public.
The key is to find a problem that needs solving. From there, you can create a repeatable process for addressing it.
This strategy can increase your revenue and diversify how you earn it. The result is no longer relying solely on new website projects to survive. Now, you’re proactively improving your business and connecting with clients.
Become a Resource for Client Education
Both the web and WordPress never stop evolving. There are always new tools and technologies to consider. It’s our job to learn about them to improve our workflow and better serve clients.
Why not share what you know? Even if you already have a newsletter or blog to serve this purpose, you can still level up.
Creating online courses is a way to attract new clients and engage with existing ones. It’s useful information for people outside of our industry. It also enables you to teach them at scale.
What’s more, WordPress is a great platform for creating online courses. There are several learning management system (LMS) plugins available to help. Find your favorite and use it organize lessons, create quizzes, and add multimedia content.
You don’t have to focus solely on new technologies. There are plenty of “evergreen” topics, like the Block/Site editors, accessibility, and security best practices. Look for topics that interest your audience.
On the business side, you can follow up with students to collect feedback. There may also be an opportunity to book projects based on your course topics.
It’s worth noting that educational content is a long-term investment in your business. You may not see an immediate impact. But it can position you as an expert clients can turn to when they’re ready to move forward.
Adapt to What’s Next With WordPress
Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) are changing rapidly. Not only is it impacting how we build sites, but it also changes how we manage them.
New features coming to WordPress will also make it easier for developers to add AI to any website. It could fundamentally change how people work with the platform. We’re likely to see changes in everything from content creation to security.
SEO is a prime example. These days, search engines are prioritizing AI-generated summaries on results pages. Maintaining a solid ranking may require a different approach, even if we don’t have all the answers yet. Tools and strategies to optimize client websites will be in demand.
This is another opportunity for agencies to both create solutions and educate clients. It may also be something more. AI and other technological advancements offer agencies the opportunity to reinvent themselves. It’s a chance to branch out into new service areas and gain expertise.
Learning to leverage AI could improve your efficiency and capabilities. That means you can accomplish complex tasks faster than before. Plus, our clients will need someone to guide them during this shift.
Your Agency Can Still Thrive in a Changing Landscape
It seems like the agency business model changed in the blink of an eye, or at least in the past few years. Technological and economic shifts have kept us on our toes and changed client expectations. At least it hasn’t been boring!
The challenge is to keep up with the times and find ways to make the most out of what’s changing. It’s daunting, but far from impossible. The good news is that we have options.
By combining smart technology use with old-fashioned creativity, we can deliver greater value to our clients. It’s a sustainable way to grow into the future.
Surely, more shifts are on the horizon. But navigating this one will help us prepare for whatever comes next.
here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.
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