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Is the market too crowded for your WordPress plugin?
In 2013 there were two caching plugins that dominated the market: W3 Total Cache & WP Super Cache.
But that didn’t stop two developers from France launching a new caching plugin.
Time for a thread
In 2013 there were two caching plugins that dominated the market: W3 Total Cache & WP Super Cache.
But that didn’t stop two developers from France launching a new caching plugin.
Time for a thread
7 years later, WP Rocket is the market leader, synonymous with WordPress caching.
@wp_rocket in numbers:
- $4,215,000 in revenue for 2019
- 60% revenue growth from 2018
- Over 148,000 customers
- 36 people work remotely for WP Media
Let’s look at how they did it
@wp_rocket in numbers:
- $4,215,000 in revenue for 2019
- 60% revenue growth from 2018
- Over 148,000 customers
- 36 people work remotely for WP Media
Let’s look at how they did it
Value:
It all started with a tutorial to create a static cache system in WordPress, outlining the problems with existing solutions.
This proved popular & valuable with over 270 comments.
The tutorial code has since been transformed into WP Rocket https://www.geekpress.fr/systeme-cache/
It all started with a tutorial to create a static cache system in WordPress, outlining the problems with existing solutions.
This proved popular & valuable with over 270 comments.
The tutorial code has since been transformed into WP Rocket https://www.geekpress.fr/systeme-cache/
Launch:
They started only launching to the French market to test the water, refine and improve the plugin and test the market potential.
In 2014 they launched fully and hit the WP news with a @wptavern post which drove traffic and interest.
They started only launching to the French market to test the water, refine and improve the plugin and test the market potential.
In 2014 they launched fully and hit the WP news with a @wptavern post which drove traffic and interest.
Price:
The biggest differentiator was the price tag. WP Rocket has always been a premium plugin, in contrast to its free competitors.
There’s an argument that users perceive more value in a premium product over a free one. It’s a strategy that’s worked well for @gravityforms.
The biggest differentiator was the price tag. WP Rocket has always been a premium plugin, in contrast to its free competitors.
There’s an argument that users perceive more value in a premium product over a free one. It’s a strategy that’s worked well for @gravityforms.
Content:
The team really doubled down on writing valuable content for the blog - checklists, case studies, guides, and information posts that got shared and ranked well on Google.
Good content marketing can really accelerate the growth of a company - think @kinsta
The team really doubled down on writing valuable content for the blog - checklists, case studies, guides, and information posts that got shared and ranked well on Google.
Good content marketing can really accelerate the growth of a company - think @kinsta
Learning:
The team took inspiration from other companies to build their business.
They found a mentor in @kgjerstad from @mail_poet, who was on the same journey as them, but just further along.
The team took inspiration from other companies to build their business.
They found a mentor in @kgjerstad from @mail_poet, who was on the same journey as them, but just further along.
Growth:
They tried to get in front of as many eyes as possible - attending and sponsoring WordCamps, guest posting, and email marketing with @wpappstore_
They tried to get in front of as many eyes as possible - attending and sponsoring WordCamps, guest posting, and email marketing with @wpappstore_
Support:
Being a premium-only plugin meant they could dedicate excellent support to all customers instead of having to support a large free user base as well.
They hired two dedicated support team members in 2015 and kept on growing the support team from there.
Being a premium-only plugin meant they could dedicate excellent support to all customers instead of having to support a large free user base as well.
They hired two dedicated support team members in 2015 and kept on growing the support team from there.
Social Proof:
They have a large number of testimonials from customers & WordPress influencers like @chrislema, & been featured on various WordPress blogs.
Coupled with a large amount of Trust Pilot reviews, their testimonials page is very convincing https://wp-rocket.me/testimonials/
They have a large number of testimonials from customers & WordPress influencers like @chrislema, & been featured on various WordPress blogs.
Coupled with a large amount of Trust Pilot reviews, their testimonials page is very convincing https://wp-rocket.me/testimonials/
This isn't to say what they've done is easy and anyone can do it. Their growth is insane and it takes a lot of hard work.
But by taking a good look at what they've done and how they've done it, we can get an insight in what we can do for our own plugins.
@wp_rocket 
But by taking a good look at what they've done and how they've done it, we can get an insight in what we can do for our own plugins.
@wp_rocket
Remember the two caching plugins W3TC & WP Super Cache?
They are still going strong with millions of installs on the repo, and are successful in their own right.
But it just goes to show, it's a big enough pie to go round. Don't be put off by a busy market.
They are still going strong with millions of installs on the repo, and are successful in their own right.
But it just goes to show, it's a big enough pie to go round. Don't be put off by a busy market.
Sources:
https://www.geekpress.fr/systeme-cache/
https://wp-rocket.me/blog/1-year-report-feedback/
https://wptavern.com/wp-rocket-launches-commercial-caching-plugin-for-wordpress https://wp-rocket.me/blog/2-years-reports-feedbacks/
https://www.geekpress.fr/systeme-cache/
https://wp-rocket.me/blog/1-year-report-feedback/
https://wptavern.com/wp-rocket-launches-commercial-caching-plugin-for-wordpress https://wp-rocket.me/blog/2-years-reports-feedbacks/
