And, should you have created a WordPress plug-in, and if this plug-in is a solution to a real problem then it is likely that other people would be willing to pay them. The WordPress ecosystem is huge. The number of websites using WordPress is estimated to be more than 800 million websites with a huge proportion relying on the use of a plugin to add in features and functionality. It can make your development process a stream of income that can be sustained, in case you know how to sell WordPress plugins the right way.
This is not simply a matter of posting file to some market place and waiting. To sell plugins well, you need to understand your market and set the correct price, selecting the correct platform and marketing your product on a regular basis. I would like to show you the entire picture.
Understand the WordPress Plugin Market First
You must know what you are getting into before you begin to sell it. The market of WordPress plug-ins is competitive. WordPress.org alone hosts more than 60000 free and several thousand premium plugins are sold through a variety of marketplaces and personal websites.
Saying that the market has its share of opportunity also. The buyers do not necessarily want to find out which kind of the most popular reveals itself. They are now seeking the one that best addresses their particular problem. When your plug-in is doing something that it can communicate effectively then you have a potential to successfully create a customer base. Weaknesses: The company must concentrate on a niche and own it instead of focusing on trying to compete with large, general purpose, and generic economies of scale.
Choose the Right Platform to Sell Your Plugin
The location on which you sell is a big difference. There are a number of major options and each of them has trade-offs.
WordPress.org is an open source repository free to list on but not charge the plugin directly. Nevertheless there are numerous developers who use a freemium model, in which the free version stays on WordPress.org, and a premium version with additional features is sold elsewhere. It is amongst the best distribution strategies since the free version will be your marketing engine.
One of the largest marketplaces of premium plugins is the Envato Market (CodeCanyon). You reach a big audience, but Envato will take a nice commission and there is a lot of competition. It still makes a worthwhile consideration, particularly at an early age.
The greatest amount of control in pricing customer relationships and revenue is gained by selling directly through your own web site by using tools such as Easy Digital Downloads or WooCommerce. The negative side is that you will have to carry your own traffic.
Price Your Plugin the Right Way
One of the many things that a lot of developers fail to do right is with regards to pricing. They underprice since they are not sure of what they have built or they overprice without sufficient evidence that buyers will convert.
See similar plugins in your niche. Look at their prices and what their pricing levels would be like. The vast majority of successful premiums rely on annual licensing schemes instead of being a one time purchase. This will be more conducive to your cash flow and it will promote further growth.
Suppose a tiered pricing scheme. One-on-one license with a lesser cost structure applies to individual site owners. A higher-priced agency or developer license would be rational with individuals utilizing the plugin across numerous client websites. It is by doing this that you capture more money and do not turn away those buyers that have lesser budgets.
Build a Strong Free Version First
In case you intend to adopt a freemium model your free version must be really helpful. No skety-looking teaser that hardly works but a working tool that produces value in and of itself. This creates trust and takes your plugin to the real world usage that translates to reviews ratings and organic growth.
The essential issue should be addressed by the free version. The high end version must result in that solution being more powerful efficient or scalable. Once users realize the worth of the free version and reach a limit that the premium version eliminates conversion will become natural rather than forced.
Market Your Plugin Consistently
Half of the task is to create a terrific plug-in. The other half is to get people to know it exists. Begin with your own web site. Create blog posts which target the keywords which your potential users are searching as well. When someone is searching a product in the form of a plugin that has the same feature as yours wants your website to be ranked above others in those searches.
Get in touch with WordPress bloggers and YouTubers that test out plugins. Obtaining a review or mention of a trusted voice in the community can result in a large spike in downloads and sales. Join Facebook groups and communities where your target users socialize on WordPress forums.
Most developers of the plugins also do not use email marketing. Develop an email list already on the first day although it is only people who downloaded your free version. One of the best assets you can have when launching updates new features and premium upgrades are a list of engaged users.
Handle Support Like a Professional
The reason is that one of the largest determinants of long-term success in terms of the sale of your plug-in is how you go about the issue of support. The buyers review them and one of the things they consider is whether the developer will promptly and usefully respond to support questions. A single or even two negative reviews of bad support can kill your conversion rate.
Create clear documentation. Turnaround time 24- 48 hours respond to support tickets. When bugs are reported, they are fixed in no more than a few hours and the plugin is updated. When you send updates notify what was changed. So much more you retain and grow through word-of-mouth after treating your plugin like a true product with a real customer base.
Final Thought
The process of learning how to sell WordPressplugins without problem is a process that not only requires a technical ability to do so, but also business thinking. Create something that actually benefits people and price it in a reasonable way, select the proper platform and advertise it in a consistent manner. The developers that consider their plugins as products and their users as customers are the ones that generate long-term revenues out of this ecosystem. Keep small and always remain the same and always get better.
FAQs
Do I need to be a professional developer to sell WordPress plugins?
Not necessarily. Many successful plugin developers are self-taught. What matters most is that your plugin works well solves a real problem and is maintained regularly.
How much can I earn selling WordPress plugins?
Earnings vary widely. Some developers earn a few hundred dollars a month while established plugin businesses generate six or seven figures annually.
Is it better to sell on a marketplace or my own website?
Marketplaces give you immediate traffic but take a commission. Your own site gives you full control and higher margins but requires you to drive your own traffic. Many developers use both.
What license should I use for my WordPress plugin?
WordPress plugins that use WordPress code must be GPL licensed. Most premium plugins use GPL for the code but restrict service and support to paying customers.
How do I handle plugin updates after selling?
Use a licensing system like Easy Digital Downloads with Software Licensing or a similar tool. It lets you push updates automatically to customers who have valid licenses.
