How Are The WordPress Folks Making Money?

10 replies
Okay, I gotta ask because I just don't get it.

I love WordPress. Tons of people love WordPress.

But I haven't spent one dime in my use of this wonderful platform and don't
plan on ever spending a dime...not even to third party theme developers.

So how in the hell does WordPress make any money?

Donations?

How many donations do you really think they get?

Just curious, because I don't see where these folks are making a living
from this.
#folks #making #money #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author ~kev~
    Is wordpress.org supported by wordpress.com? Because wordpress.com has banners on it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2307270].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author theemperor
      Originally Posted by ~kev~ View Post

      Is wordpress.org supported by wordpress.com? Because wordpress.com has banners on it.
      I think you hit the nail on the head. If you have millions of visitors you can make enough from advertising to provide a free product the size of Wordpress (which is an extensive CMS) Firefox is the same

      Combine that with developers happy to work for free for open source and I think that is your answer.
      Signature
      Learn to code faster, and remove the roadblocks. Get stuff done and shipped! PM me and I can help you with programming tutoring, specialising in Web and the following languages: Javascript ~ HTML ~ CSS ~ React ~ JQuery ~ Typescript ~ NodeJS ~ C#.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2307379].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    Consulting and support. Like RedHat.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2307390].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    There is a long version of the story... if you read its history at wikipedia + the story of Automattic (the company that runs everything WP and some...)

    The short version is here: WordPress.com VIP
    (look at the clients list for WP support and hosting)
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2307400].message }}
  • Probably like YouTube or Blogger made their money at their first stage: they just didnt make a dime. They simply hoped for a big dog to buy them out.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2307613].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BlazingSwitch
    I would say it's a combination of the following...

    1. Sell Links.
    2. Sell Offers/Products/Affiliate Marketing.
    3. Sell Traffic.
    Signature


    SEO VPS & DEDICATED WEB HOSTING | 5000+ SUBNETS | DOZEN+ COUNTRIES
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2307663].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
      Originally Posted by Barefootsies View Post

      I would say it's a combination of the following...

      1. Sell Links.
      2. Sell Offers/Products/Affiliate Marketing.
      3. Sell Traffic.
      lol.. did you even bother to read steve's post, or just the headline?
      Signature

      -Jason

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2308569].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author JEL0221
        Originally Posted by jasonl70 View Post

        lol.. did you even bother to read steve's post, or just the headline?
        At first I thought this was what was being asked just from looking at the title.

        But, then I looked at the OP, and then the post itself lol
        Signature
        Future Options Trading, a free subscription on trading the commodity markets.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2308592].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author freudianslip27
    I've wondered this myself Steven. No doubt things go on behind the scenes, but can you imagine the power Wordpress would have if they decided to promote something? How many hundreds of thousands of people (targeted people that built websites) would listen to what they have to say. I guess they know what they are doing.

    Matt
    Signature

    WarriorForum Rules!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2308582].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AndyBeard
    For .org

    They are affiliates for hosting companies

    For .com (automattic)

    Ads
    VIP hosting
    High end $5000/year tech support
    Really high end support - e.g. for Yahoo
    Domain upgrades
    CSS upgrades
    Storage upgrades
    Video upgrades
    Their new backup service

    Plus they have something like $30M in VC funding (their series B) after starting off with maybe a few 100K angel & $1.1M series A funding. They have been profitable for ages.
    In the series B funding round apparently some of the founders were able to "take money off the table" so they are not in a rush to sell.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2308894].message }}

Trending Topics