officehours.fm

Putting WordPress to Work

Getting Schooled with WP101, Episode 101

with Shawn Hesketh on May 05th, 2016

Shawn Hesketh
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Welcome to Season 3 of OfficeHours.fm, where we’re focusing on Growing Your Business!

In this episode I’m chatting with Shawn Hesketh, creator/owner of WP101 WordPress video tutorials. Shawn is passionate about education and is a master of recording and screencasting. He’s also an avid fan of great cigars and the Indy 500.

Shawn is someone who understands the importance of customer service

Watch this episode

Show Notes

We are in business to serve other people – Shawn Hesketh

  • WP101 was created to address training for Shawn’s clients because he was performing one on one training with his clients showing them how to update their Websites through the WordPress admin panel.
  • WP101 was built as a membership site in 2008 with written content and videos.
  • The training videos are kept up to date with each release of WordPress.
  • The WP101 plugin is installed on half a million web sites and offers a licensed level for the product.
  • The WP101 plugin was created to address training for developers, freelancers and designers that were needing to perform WordPress training for their clients.
  • There is an affiliate program which is being updated for the plugin.
  • If a developer cancels their subscription for the WP101 plugin, the videos are stopped and an invitation is generated to the served client to buy their own license.

Business

  • Deep conversations with business owners of “Why” they are doing things led to the WP101 business creating a wide range of materials.
  • Have clear communication with your client from the beginning.
  • A simple one-page outline was created for every client to keep them up to date.
  • The same content for WP101 was used for the plugin focusing on WordPress beginners.
  • Always offer maintenance to your client. The WP101 plugin is a value add for maintenance to your client.
  • WP101 is looking for a series on WooCommerce and Yoast SEO where many other options may be offered.
  • #neverstoplearning – Shawn Hesketh’s personal mantra

Scaling the Business

  • In order to scale, you need to partner with other subject matter experts.
  • WP101 licensed their videos with GoDaddy.
  • Keeping the training videos up to date is a lot of work.
  • It adds to consistency when the recorded voice is the same in the videos.
  • Content for different areas of WordPress grows the video creation.
  • WP101’s membership list can be leveraged for additional distribution channels.
  • Bottlenecks have come up in video creations in other areas of WordPress.
  • Additional languages can grow the video creation market.
  • Closed captions have been added to all new video creations to help with translations into other languages.
  • Don’t be afraid to spend money on pay per click ads or sponsoring at a WordCamp.

Links from this Episode

WP101
Start with Why
Secure WordPress
Lifter LMS
Carrie’s ebook