WPBeginner

Big blog buys the plugins its readers already want

Shaan describes Saeed Balkhi's model: run a massive WordPress blog (WPBeginner), see which tool categories readers search for most, then buy or build the plugin in each category and funnel the blog's traffic to it - owning distribution and product together.

“So basically, super popular blog looks at which tools people want, goes and buys the tool because he knows I can funnel a fuck ton of traffic to this, and then owns those tools in each of the categories of like, ah, a lot of WordPress sites need a form, a lot of WordPress sites want to capture emails, so they do— they need OptinMonster.”

Steal thisBuild (or buy) an audience first, watch what tools they search for, then acquire the product in that category and feed it your traffic.

Saeed Balkhi's plugin empire: ~$30-40M recurring revenue

Sam estimates Saeed Balkhi owns around 8 WordPress plugins outright plus 30-40% stakes in ~50 more, in the $30-40 million recurring revenue range, with WPBeginner driving 5-10 million uniques a month.

“I heard it's in the $30 to $40 million recurring revenue range, which is pretty cool. And it's probably very profitable. On his personal blog, like Saeed, and then his last name dot com, he talks about buying property. So he owns a bunch of gas stations.”

Start a blog, see what sells, then build that product

Sam's go-to advice for anyone unsure what to start: launch a blog. The model is Neil Patel and WPBeginner, who blogged, watched which topics/plugins/ads performed best, then launched their own products into that proven demand. He claims Patel may have made $100M in profit over a decade.

“Whenever people ask me what company they should start, if they don't like, they're like, I'm not sure what to start. I always say start a blog. And the reason why is his insight. He's probably, I bet you he's made $100 million, this Neil Patel guy in profit over the last 10 years.”

Steal thisBlog first, measure what audiences and advertisers respond to, then build the product they're already demanding.

Envato: $300M lifetime sales, $94M revenue, $33M profit in 2017

Sam cites Envato, a marketplace for WordPress themes and plugins, as having grossed $300M in sales since 2008 and doing $94M revenue with ~$33M profit in 2017.

“And Envato, all they are, they probably wouldn't like my oversimplification, but it's basically a marketplace for WordPress themes and plugins. And since 2008, this thing has grossed $300 million in sales. And in 2017, they did $94 million in revenue with something like $33 million in profit.”