Joshua and Sally Strebel are husband and wife business partners who started their first company in 2003. After many years of hard work and failed startups, they achieved success with Page.ly in 2009. The document discusses how they have built a successful WordPress business through community collaboration, embracing problems, appreciating the community, choosing the right partners, and celebrating successes. It encourages the audience to get involved in WordCamps and open source projects.

1. BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL
WORDPRESS BUSINESS VIA
COMMUNITY
COLLABORATION
Joshua & Sally Strebel
Hashtag: #wcreno
Saturday, June 4, 2011

2. DISCLOSURE
Saturday, June 4, 2011

3. A LOVE STORY
• Joshua & Sally Strebel @strebel @bizgirl
• Husband and Wife, business partners.
• Met in college
• Married the day after Josh’s graduation
• Live in Phoenix, Arizona
Saturday, June 4, 2011

4. HARD WORK
• Started obü in 2003 as a design agency.
• BestPartyEver.com in 2006
• Flare9 (page.ly prototype) in 2006
• Page.ly in 2009
An overnight success
8 years in the making
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8. EMBRACE BIG PROBLEMS
• Everyday you are confronted with problems. Some small,
some large. Others likely have those problems as well.
• What area’s in your business are causing you problems and
what would be a perfect solution for you and others.
• Before working on your “thing” see who else may be already
doing it that you can work with. (momentum is priceless)
#wcreno
Saturday, June 4, 2011

9. Saturday, June 4, 2011

10. APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMUNITY
• WordPress is open-source. Someone else’s sweat is
contributing significantly to your livelihood.
• Say thank you and show your thanks often.
• Be a good ambassador & stay out of the politics.
• Give props to those that are kicking ass
#wcreno
Saturday, June 4, 2011

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12. KEEP YOUR COOL
• People are generally good.
• Suggested Reading: How to win
friends and influence people
• Your reputation is all you have.
• Don’t respond to the naysayers,
just do your own thing and be
the best at it.
#wcreno
Saturday, June 4, 2011

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14. CHOOSE THE RIGHT
PARTNERS
• Make sure there is a shared
ethos and an understanding of
what each brings to the table.
• Complimentary but Unique
• Win-win is good. Win-win-win is
be$t.
#wcreno
Saturday, June 4, 2011

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16. FALSE STARTS AND FAILURES
ARE A “TEACHING” MOMENT
• Despite your best intentions it
may not work.
• It’s okay, learn from it. FAIL pic
• Iterate and try again.
• Earning trust is not plugin.
#wcreno
Saturday, June 4, 2011

17. Saturday, June 4, 2011

18. CELEBRATE EVERY SUCCESS
• But not too much. Don’t get lazy. You are only as good as
your last home run.
• Share the wealth you greedy bastard, You did not get here
alone.
#wcreno
Saturday, June 4, 2011

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20. MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR
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22. LESS TALK DO MORE
• Improve an existing plugin
• Design a child theme for a framework
• Get involved in WordCamps
• Contribute to Core
• Involve your A-list freelancers
• ...Start something new, and look for ways to involve others.
#wcreno
Saturday, June 4, 2011

23. Saturday, June 4, 2011

24. THANK YOU
• http://page.ly
• @pagely @bizgirl @strebel
• Enjoy the rest of WordCamp.
#wcreno
Saturday, June 4, 2011