The document describes the journey of a distributed WordPress firm that serves nonprofits, emphasizing essential practices for success such as choosing the right partners, making realistic projections, and maintaining a strong company culture. It highlights the importance of using effective tools, fostering good customer relationships, and continuously assessing projects and employees. The firm has developed a set of 'secret sauce' ingredients that contribute to their growth and operational efficiency over four years.

1. Changing the World
one WordPress site at a Time
How we built a successful, distributed
WordPress firm serving nonprofits

2. Our customers are changing the world
• American or global nonprofits
(usually .org TLD, sometimes
.gov or .edu)
• Funding comes from
individual donors, foundations,
government agencies
• 15-25% goes to overhead;
extreme pressure to keep
these costs down

3. We build websites

4. We design online petitions

5. We design online donation forms

6. In 4 years, we’ve gone from this…
Ben
Designer,
developer
Ira
Technical
Project Manager
Lesley
Webmaster,
communications
Didn’t know
each other at all…..

7. To this:
+ 6:

8. 8 Secret Sauce Ingredients
1. Partners
2. Careful projections
3. Biting the bullet
4. Good tools
5. Employees & company culture
6. Treasuring (and firing) customers
7. Communicating
8. Constant assessment Graphic credit: Drew Melton
www.phraseologyproject.com

9. Photo credit: Bill
Dickinson
www.flickr.com/
photos/skynoir/
Partners
Don’t go it alone – get partners!

10. Picking the Right Partners
Partners
Make sure you make a good team.

11. Careful Projections
• What will you do?
• What won’t you do?
• Aim high, but make realistic
predictions
• Remember:
Planning is guessing.
Projections
Create cautious expectations.

12. Biting the Bullet
Bite the bullet Just do it!

13. The Tools
• Project Management: TeamLab,
Smartsheet
• Timekeeping: BeeBole
• Calling: Skype, UberConference
• Contracts: CudaSign
• Videoconferencing:
Skype, Zoom
• Wireframing:
HotGloo, uxpin,
balsamiq, Axure
• User testing:
OptimalWorkshop
• Chatting: HipChat
Good Tools Start free, pay when necessary &
don’t be afraid to change!

15. P.S.

16. The Employees
Employees & Culture
Hire people you want
to hang out with.

18. Our Customers
This is
Hannah.
Customers Cultivate great relationships!

19. The Customers
You’ll work hard to
get them, but some
customers aren’t
worth keeping.
Customers Cultivate great relationships,
but KILL THE BAD ONES!

20. F*&%ing up
Communicating
My guarantee:
you will
mess up
something
…it’s all in the
recovery!
Have hard conversations
quickly and bravely

21. Assessing Projects:
budgeted versus actual hours
Employees:
1 month, 3 months, 6 months,
12 months, every year
Tools:
constant assessment
Budget: monthly
Constantly Assess Check and check again.

22. Awesome Sauce Ingredients
1. Don’t go it alone…but do choose carefully
2. Create cautious projections
3. JUST DO IT
4. Use great tools
5. Hire remote, and prioritize company culture
6. Treasure (and fire) customers
7. Communicate carefully and respectfully
8. Constantly assess

23. cornershopcreative.com
@cornershop
Lesley@cornershopcreative.com
@eckandgrumble
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