Comments on: “I’m In It For The Money”, Or My First Commercial Plugin http://w-shadow.com/blog/2009/08/07/my-first-commercial-plugin/ A blog about web development, software business, and WordPress Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jānis Elsts http://w-shadow.com/blog/2009/08/07/my-first-commercial-plugin/comment-page-1/#comment-199865 Jānis Elsts Wed, 02 May 2012 14:59:28 +0000 http://w-shadow.com/?p=1241#comment-199865 In my experience, it's not that bad. I have a couple of commercial plugins and the number of user inquiries is surprisingly low for most of them. In my experience, it’s not that bad. I have a couple of commercial plugins and the number of user inquiries is surprisingly low for most of them.

]]> By: Volomike http://w-shadow.com/blog/2009/08/07/my-first-commercial-plugin/comment-page-1/#comment-199859 Volomike Wed, 02 May 2012 03:03:47 +0000 http://w-shadow.com/?p=1241#comment-199859 I don't recommend ever making a commercial plugin with free unlimited support. That's business suicide. Ship it with 30 to 60 day support and then make your ticketing system detect the end of that and require that they go through a paypal form to get another 60 days of support for like $10 USD. It's easy to get someone to part with $10 USD. I don’t recommend ever making a commercial plugin with free unlimited support. That’s business suicide. Ship it with 30 to 60 day support and then make your ticketing system detect the end of that and require that they go through a paypal form to get another 60 days of support for like $10 USD. It’s easy to get someone to part with $10 USD.

]]> By: White Shadow http://w-shadow.com/blog/2009/08/07/my-first-commercial-plugin/comment-page-1/#comment-31364 White Shadow Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:02:07 +0000 http://w-shadow.com/?p=1241#comment-31364 Most of the features are done, what's left is automatic updates, key checking, testing, etc. Most of the features are done, what’s left is automatic updates, key checking, testing, etc.

]]> By: toby http://w-shadow.com/blog/2009/08/07/my-first-commercial-plugin/comment-page-1/#comment-31361 toby Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:09:35 +0000 http://w-shadow.com/?p=1241#comment-31361 When it's finished? I am so much on the plugin. When it’s finished? I am so much on the plugin.

]]> By: White Shadow http://w-shadow.com/blog/2009/08/07/my-first-commercial-plugin/comment-page-1/#comment-31287 White Shadow Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:19:28 +0000 http://w-shadow.com/?p=1241#comment-31287 My stance on protecting WP plugins is the same as for any other software - if it's good enough, it <em>will</em> get cracked/pirated no matter how well it's protected (and if it's not good then no-one would buy it anyway). I will implement some simple key verification, and a valid registration key will be required to get updates, but that's about it. I'm targeting people who sometimes buy software, not those who'd do anything to get it for free. My stance on protecting WP plugins is the same as for any other software – if it’s good enough, it will get cracked/pirated no matter how well it’s protected (and if it’s not good then no-one would buy it anyway).

I will implement some simple key verification, and a valid registration key will be required to get updates, but that’s about it. I’m targeting people who sometimes buy software, not those who’d do anything to get it for free.

]]> By: Kevin Eklund http://w-shadow.com/blog/2009/08/07/my-first-commercial-plugin/comment-page-1/#comment-31285 Kevin Eklund Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:39:40 +0000 http://w-shadow.com/?p=1241#comment-31285 Just how do you intend to protect your code from the GPL-only, Matt Mullenweg-loving zombie who thinks it's their duty to upload your premium plugin to RapidShare or every bittorrent site available to kill your profits? This really happens. There's plenty of crazy GPL/Matt followers out there that do this sort of underhanded stuff. I think it's typical for premium plugin developers to see their plugin's sales skyrocket initially and then taper off due to piracy. Have you considered protecting the code via something like Zend Guard? Just how do you intend to protect your code from the GPL-only, Matt Mullenweg-loving zombie who thinks it’s their duty to upload your premium plugin to RapidShare or every bittorrent site available to kill your profits?

This really happens. There’s plenty of crazy GPL/Matt followers out there that do this sort of underhanded stuff.

I think it’s typical for premium plugin developers to see their plugin’s sales skyrocket initially and then taper off due to piracy. Have you considered protecting the code via something like Zend Guard?

]]> By: Hackadelic http://w-shadow.com/blog/2009/08/07/my-first-commercial-plugin/comment-page-1/#comment-31091 Hackadelic Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:51:32 +0000 http://w-shadow.com/?p=1241#comment-31091 It's a common misunderstanding that you are locked into GPL for your plugins just becase the platform (WordPress) is GPL-ed. That's not true. You can make it even non-free. As this is a broader topic, I just posted an article on it. Thanks for inspiring me. :) It’s a common misunderstanding that you are locked into GPL for your plugins just becase the platform (WordPress) is GPL-ed. That’s not true. You can make it even non-free.

As this is a broader topic, I just posted an article on it. Thanks for inspiring me. :)

]]> By: Making Money With WordPress Plugins – Mixing the GNU License With Others | Hackadelic http://w-shadow.com/blog/2009/08/07/my-first-commercial-plugin/comment-page-1/#comment-31090 Making Money With WordPress Plugins – Mixing the GNU License With Others | Hackadelic Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:45:31 +0000 http://w-shadow.com/?p=1241#comment-31090 [...] time to time the topic “Mixing GPL software with non-GPL software” crosses my www ways, and I often find there is a lot of misunderstanding about what GPL open source is about (as [...] [...] time to time the topic “Mixing GPL software with non-GPL software” crosses my www ways, and I often find there is a lot of misunderstanding about what GPL open source is about (as [...]

]]> By: White Shadow http://w-shadow.com/blog/2009/08/07/my-first-commercial-plugin/comment-page-1/#comment-31088 White Shadow Sat, 08 Aug 2009 09:50:57 +0000 http://w-shadow.com/?p=1241#comment-31088 @Hackadelic : True. That's why there should be additional incentives for purchasing, like automatic updates (an API much like the existing one) and guaranteed support (a "premium" forum or somesuch) for paying users. @Hackadelic : True. That’s why there should be additional incentives for purchasing, like automatic updates (an API much like the existing one) and guaranteed support (a “premium” forum or somesuch) for paying users.

]]> By: Hackadelic http://w-shadow.com/blog/2009/08/07/my-first-commercial-plugin/comment-page-1/#comment-31087 Hackadelic Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:25:54 +0000 http://w-shadow.com/?p=1241#comment-31087 Is there not a problem with an open source trial version? Anybody (of sufficient skill) would be able to "unlock" the trial. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck with this undertaking :) Is there not a problem with an open source trial version? Anybody (of sufficient skill) would be able to “unlock” the trial.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck with this undertaking :)

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