In a fast-changing market, what does it take to build a business that doesn’t just survive, but thrives? In a recent episode of Excerpt Talks, Convesio’s co-founder and CEO, Tom Fanelli, shared insights from his journey, revealing the unconventional strategies that have powered Convesio’s growth.
For agency owners, developers, and entrepreneurs in the WordPress ecosystem, these lessons offer a powerful roadmap for success beyond traditional business models.
1. Diversify Beyond a Single Offering
The average e-commerce site today is not a simple WooCommerce store—it’s a complex stack of plugins, tools, and services. Recognizing this, Convesio expanded beyond just hosting into a full suite of services with Convert (marketing automation) and ConvesioPay (payments).
By offering this “trifecta” of solutions, Convesio has created a broader, more valuable offering. Diversifying makes a business harder to replace and positions it as a go-to solution for a client’s entire commerce journey, from attracting visitors to converting sales and managing revenue.
2. Build Recurring Revenue, Not One-Offs
While one-time projects can be profitable, true financial stability comes from ongoing revenue streams. Convesio’s partner model is built on this principle, emphasizing a recurring revenue share.
This approach turns a one-time client referral into a continuous stream of income for partners. For agencies, this means the work you do today can keep paying long after the project is delivered, creating a sustainable business model that fuels long-term growth.
3. Go Where Competitors Won’t
While many providers focus on crowded, entry-level markets, Convesio deliberately embraced regulated and “messy” niches like nutraceuticals and cannabis. These industries have complex challenges, from ad restrictions and strict compliance to the need for airtight security and specialized payment solutions.
By stepping into these difficult markets, Convesio has unlocked higher margins and established itself as a leader in a space where others are afraid to go. This bold strategy shows that tackling a niche’s unique pain points can be more rewarding than competing for a broader audience.
4. Lower Barriers for Clients and Partners
A great product means nothing if it’s too difficult to adopt. To make it easy for agencies and merchants to say “yes,” Convesio focuses on lowering barriers to entry. This includes a tiered pricing model that scales with a business’s growth and a white-glove onboarding process that simplifies complex migrations.
The goal is to reduce friction and eliminate hesitation. By making it simple to get started, Convesio has built trust and accelerated its growth, proving that accessibility is a powerful sales tool.
5. Partner for Mutual Success
A key theme of Convesio’s success is its deep integration with its partners. Unlike transactional relationships, the company shares both risk and reward, acting as a true partner rather than just a vendor. This is evident in their partner program, where they offer a share of the payment processing fees and provide an entire team of experts as an extension of their partners’ teams.
This model of mutual success fosters a stronger, more collaborative ecosystem, proving that true partnerships lead to stronger growth than transactional ones.
Ready to Grow?
Convesio’s story is a testament to the power of thinking differently. Whether you’re an agency looking to build a recurring revenue model or a business owner in a complex niche, these strategies can help you find your unfair advantage in a crowded market.
Explore the Convesio Partner Program and learn how you can grow with us.
