Sell my theme on ThemeForest or as an individual theme provider?

[hannahwr]

I wonder people will go to a big market as ThemeForest, MojoThemes to buy a theme or go for an individual theme providers as StudioPress, Elegantthemes?

I'm building a WP theme shop focus on WooCommerce theme and really wonder that matter. Please give me your opinions!

[martinibuster]

I go to all of them. I don't stick to just one because that's limiting my possibilities.

[lorax]

I prefer to support individual authors when possible. Themeforest is great for variety but some of the authors don't last long - eg. little or no support and they just disappear. So be careful and do your research on the author(s) and their support and history before you buy.

[Planet13]

Themeforest is great for variety but some of the authors don't last long - eg. little or no support and they just disappear.

This is very important.

I have had themes in the past from smaller developers and unfortunately, when word press updated, the theme became incompatible.

but it sounds to me like you are putting a theme shop together, so your concerns might be different from the end user.

[hannahwr]

No I'm a theme designer and I want to open my own theme shop. Is there any advice for a new guy like me? I know that I need to work hard to build high quality product and give support for my customer but how to let them know that I "exist"?

[lorax]

@hannahwr ah. I did not understand. My suggestion would be to start with the WordPress repository. The review and approval process there is a great learning environment. You may even get pointers on how to make your theme better. But there' no better place to start. Then you can build a commercial version of your theme and put it up at Themeforest but the original will need to remain free if it's in the WordPress theme repository.

[Planet13]

...but how to let them know that I "exist"?

Advertising, SEO, facebook, guerrilla marketing, affiliate marketing...

For example: Onee well known publisher of themes that I use offers 35% LIFETIME commission to their affiliates. Now, 35% seems pretty high, but on the other hand, they have lots of affiliates.

[wslade]

@hannahwr you may want to consider off loading your marketing to a bigger marketer like ThemeForest (TF). I have bought two copies of the Avada template from TF. Avada says they have sold over 100,000 copies of the template and only sell through TF.

Themefusion the maker of Avada has a very nice website and I would think they could easily sell their product themselves. I guess this is an example where a company chooses to focus on what they do well and pass the marketing (and point of sale) off to someone who does that well.

It may be a solution you would want to look at seriously.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[hannahwr]

Thanks, I already submit a free theme to wordpress.org but it takes a very long time to be approved (2 months already). Meanwhile I tried to sell a theme on ThemeForest but the sale number is not as I expected so I decided to drop it out of ThemeForest and start selling on my own site.

What I don't like in ThemeForest is that author cannot decide their product pricing and have to cut 50% to Envato. Also the market is way to big then people tend to look at popular theme to purchase, not the new guy.

[wslade]

@hannahwr I'm definitely guilty of looking only at the popular themes and passing over the new offers. The price of a template is minimal when compared to the additional expenses and man hours it takes to publish a new website. I try to make the very best choice that I can when I buy a theme.

I know that big doesn't always mean better. I have been forced to ask for a refund for a popular template. I kept having problems and support for the template would only suggest to do a fresh install and start over.

I had no idea that ThemeForest's fee is 50%! That seems excessive when compared to doing the different tasks yourself. I have bought a lot of stuff from the various Envato sites. I'm amazed that so much quality work is available with only half of the price going to the developer or artist.

You said you dropped out of ThemeForest. Is it not possible to sell at ThemeForest AND on your own website? Getting half for your work may be better than nothing. And I think the typical ThemeForest buyer is not so likely to shop individual sites.

Planet13 gave you the answer to you question. You have to generate traffic to your site. Providing the best themes and support isn't enough. You have to do what every successful online store owner does - generate enough visitors to sell enough of your product. Accomplishing this is a full time job and more.

Thanks for reminding me that I should consider new offerings in the market when I make my next purchase. I wish I could tell you that there is a magic formula to creating a successful template site. It takes time and continued effort. Lots of people give up.

I wish you the best of luck with your new venture.

[herbie9]

I often check around for new themes on ThemeForest once a month. There are many new developer each month with only 1 or 2 themes in their TF portfolio. Sometimes new themes make a very impressive sale comparing to popular themes. E.g. hundreds of sales after the first week.

But they don't even have a good website of their own. All information and support are within their profile in ThemeForest. That's a thing I don't like about them, even their theme is good.

I think it would be the best if you sell (only) some of your themes on both ThemeForest and your own website. Invest time and effort for a very good work, put it on ThemeForest to drive as many traffic as possible for your own website. Then visitors will see the rest of your theme collection and your serious business from there.

[Planet13]

I don't know how theme forest works exactly, and whdther this is within their terms of service or not, but...

Is it possible that you could offer a lower priced theme through theme forrest, and then offer "upgrades" to that theme soley through your website (so that you aren't splitting the commision for the upgrades with themeforrest)?

[MickeyRoush]

Personally, I wouldn't purchase a theme from anyone or any shop that doesn't have at least one free version at WordPress.org. Because if they have some versions at WordPress.org and they constantly improve/update them, they are going by the latest WordPress.org standards. It's not full proof, but it definitely helps.