Paid Theme Directory is Fine By Me
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Matt (Creator of WordPress) has just announced his plans to set up a directory of paid themes on WordPress.com. The initial reaction has been both good and bad.
Before I give my thoughts on the ups and downs of this, here’s a quick run-through of the facts.
- Matt removed all sponsored themes from the free WordPress.org directory a few months ago.
- The new theme directory is only for WordPress.com (The free blog host).
- Automattic (Matt’s company) will take a 50% cut from all sales.
- All themes must be “original, link-free, not published before, and GPL-licensed.”
The Up Side
- Marketplace based on merit. Premium WordPress themes are still a relatively new development for WordPress, and as such, there is no central premium theme community.Brian Gardner’s Revolution theme is an excellent theme, but the main reason that it’s doing so well isn’t just the quality, but the publicity. It was the first, and it’s the one everybody knows and links to. New theme developers just don’t stand a chance at that success. At least, not without a central marketplace.
- Matt is allowed to make money. It’s easy to think of WordPress as the epitome of open source, which must never be corrupted by the evils of money. But we’re forgetting that thousands of people already make money off WordPress indirectly (Bloggers with ads, designers, coders etc.), and that WordPress.com is a commercial venture.
- New functionality for millions of WordPress users. The choice of styles on WordPress.com has always been rather limited. The marketplace would open up all new doors.
The Down Side
- 50%? Seriously? I would want to hear a lot more about why they picked that number. It seems very high. It literally means that Automattic will make as much money as every single theme developer put together.
- Why do I have to use the GPL license? Matt has said that “all themes in the marketplace will be available FREE to wordpress.org users.” If I’m going to the trouble of making a premium theme, why would I want to give it away for free?It also means that I’m charging the people who needed a free blog, but not charging the people who are able to buy hosting and a domain. Is that not flawed logic?
- Conflict in the license. Matt says that all themes must be “link-free.” If he means sponsored links, that’s fine, but if he means the author’s link, there’s a problem. The GPL allows me to retain my credit link.
All in all, I actually don’t mind the idea of the directory.
However, I don’t like the way it is being approached. 50% is an outrageous amount, and dictating what happens with the theme outside of WordPress.com is a little pushy.
And yet, Matt could go ahead with the idea exactly as it is, and still be a success. The community is there, and no-one else has access to it. Designers will jump through any hoops to get access to that, which gives Automattic complete control. That’s a little worrying (What’s next?).
What I would like to see now is a discussion. This is all still a new idea, and it’s too early to write things off. I’d like to see Matt and the Automattic crew listening to the community, and giving their side of the story.
What’s your take on it all?
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About the Author
Michael Martin
Michael Martin is the founder of Pro Blog Design. He works as a freelance web designer, loves WordPress, and has an unhealthy addiction to smilies.
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I haven’t thought about it yet, but I think there are some relevent concerns.
I think the author’s link should be included – especially if the themes are being offered for free for WordPress.org users.
If you could include an authorship link, then it would almost justify making it available for free to WP.org users. You’ll still be making pretty good money from WP.com.
I think they’re making an alright descision. Ok, so 50% may not be the best percentage for them… but it works out for us!
Just allow that Authorship link, and I think it’ll work out well!
But like you said, they’re they’re the only ones in the WP.com theme market – so they get to call the shots. No one’s going to be able to say otherwise.
Brian – I think that allowing the links is important as well. I can see why they aren’t forcing users to keep the link on WP.com (They’ve paid for it. Fair enough.), but on WP.org, the link is essential. The author deserves some credit. :(
It’s a tough one. I’m a bit like you Michael. There are areas I think are great, and others which are quite shocking. (50%? No link credit to give premium out for free?)
However, I think I’ll wait a while, and see what develops.
Here’s my take on it:
Without WordPress being free, I don’t think I’d have begun using it. Most of my recent income has been as a result of the popularity that my blog has attained, and the clients that my traffic brings in.
Granted, I could have gained a similar amount of income using a different blog network, but WordPress was my choice, and again, it was free.
Not many people seem to complain that Text Link Ads (the company) take a 50% cut of all ad sales, and they wouldn’t do it if it didn’t make them money, which means that people are prepared to give them 50%.
50% does seem high, but my guess is that it won’t stop people submitting sites, as an attempt to get their hands on the other 50%.
Good luck to Matt, I say. It’s his business on the line, and if it works, great, if it doesn’t, no skin off my nose.
Thanks for the info, Michael. I’m pretty new to the whole debate, so I learnt a thing or two here.
50% is a lot. Automattic might host the theme for the developer and provide the means to pay for it, but it is essentially ripping of developers. This is almost as bad as most stock image sites that give the photographer only about 20%.
About the authors link. It should definitely be included. However, I believe that buyers should have the option to purchase a higher-priced option where the link may be removed.
A little add-on (sorry about that): I just read the complete article on photomatt, but where does it mention that automattic will get 50%? I might not have read it correctly, but I could only find a theoretical theme that would cost $50….
I talked about it in my blog. It seems that they are being a bit greedy.
Imagine you are a designer and you have a friend who’s the developer and you actually sell a theme for $100, WordPress would take $50 and you would have to split $50 for both of you.
Would you develop a professional theme for $25 or even $50? I know I won’t
Dominik – Matt hasn’t typed the text 50%, but he did type the words if we split the price evenly which equals 50%. It’s in the third paragraph right after where he mentions the $50 price tag.
Other than that I’m not really that bothered about this as I don’t develop themes and don’t have a .com blog. So best of luck to Matt and anyone who takes part in this.
Sounds interesting except of one thing:
around $ 50 Dollar for .com users,
but free for .org users?
Would that not kill the .com place?
Selfhosting and implementing would cost less than 50 bucks…
And what about support? I doubt I’ll answer a ton of support q’s for paid themes from .com users…
I think the idea is ok, we still haven’t heard more details and it’s still too early. The designers will have more exposure and the bloggers will have a chance to pick out at least something that’s a little unique.
I don’t think we have any right to bitch about anything since WordPress itself is FREE!
Bobl – Thanks, I must have missed that bit. (And I see again how important it is to really “read” what you are talking about.;-)
I don’t use other people’s themes, being a designer. I doubt I’d ever add anything to this “directory” (sounds more like a shop than a directory). If I wanted to sell a premium theme, I’d sell it myself and keep 100% of the profit. Do you really think the designer behind the revolution theme would need this directory? I doubt it. He/she would just continue selling independently, and so would I. 50% is just insane. Anything over 25% is crazy as well.
I think the best options will still be to
a. Give away “non-premium” themes free. Then you can build traffic and reputation.
2. Sell your premium themes independently.
Speaking of WordPress.com. They really need to catch-up to blogger and allow template-editing. I’m sick of seeing all these wordpress.com blogs that look the same.
I read his post and while he did use an example of the profits the designer made being 50%, he didn’t specifically say that they would split the profits 50/50.
It’s a little to early to judge on anything, he was extremely vague in his description. It actually sounds a lot like template monster.
I can understand why he wants it GPL – that gives wordpress the right to distribute/copy/edit your theme to work with wordpress.com and so you can’t go back in 5 months and demand royalty fees on the 600k blogs using your theme.
I think it’s too early to make any judgment calls. After all, if the demands of WordPress Marketplace are too stringent on designers then they simply won’t list their theme.
The over all goal for Matt is to make a site that is beneficial to the designers and then to the users and finally to the marketplace. Any other attempts will make the program fail – he needs the support of designers or else he idea won’t work.
Micheal – seems like you on I have the same ideas about discussing these things… I actually blogged about this before you did yesterday! :) But it’s good to see more people participating in the conversation!
Lets face it – the terms are such that wp.com, and the users of wp.org will benefit.
The themes will not be as famous(thereby denying the author any limelight), and I wonder how many would be of proper quality.
After all, most quality designers dont care about this.
Just noticed something, Michael.
I usually browse with images disabled, and when that is done, PBdesign looks a bit out of place. Without the stripes, the tagline etc. are not well off.
Wow, interesting discussion. I hadn’t heard or thought about this, probably because I live under a rock!
“They really need to catch-up to blogger and allow template-editing. I’m sick of seeing all these wordpress.com blogs that look the same.”
I signed up for a .com site to see how it compared to running my own site. They do allow CSS editing, which in the right hands is almost as powerful as complete theme design. I can think of lots of good reasons for restricting access to themes on a system like that.
At least the sameness of WP.com is clean. I’m sick of seeing all these ugly Blogger sites with patterned backgrounds behind text, adverts all over the place, where nothing lines up…
Back to the topic, I tend to agree that “if we split the price evenly” WP.com is making a bit of a killing. However, this doesn’t seem like an awful thing for a designer (if they get their authorship link).
Mario Andrade asked if we would develop a theme for $25 or $50. That is not what is being proposed. That is the cost of the theme for every single person who buys it and it can be bought by as many people that want it! I wouldn’t be very impressed if someone was independently selling a theme for more than that if they were planning to sell it again and again. If I was buying a theme for significant dollars I’d want it to be unique.
What about supporting a system and group of people that have been supporting us? They’re not proposing that you give them every theme you make, you can have an independent business of theme design and “donate” one theme to this venture that is trying to broaden the path for .com users and offer .org users more good choices. If 20 .com users buy your theme you make $500 (theoretically) from your donation!
It seems a little backwards to me to offer these free to .org users, but maybe they’d like to promote some people to move to .org?
Wow – I definitely shouldn’t have waited so long to reply here! xD
Armen – That makes sense. This is all still very early days.
David – I think you’re right. People will still use that, despite the high cost. The reason is the same as in your TLA example, Matt can connect designers with customers (In the same way that TLA connects publishers with advertisers). It’s a bit of a shame though. :(
Dominik – I agree. Or at least, the link could be in by default, but with the option of removing it (At least that way, a good number of people will let the link stay).
Mario – Good point. It’s definitely not aimed at teams of people (Unless you’re hiring your partner for a one-off fee).
Milo – Well, they still have the option of using a free theme. As for support, I don’t think you’d be under any obligation to (You could use it as an incentive for a user to retain your credit link though?)
Deaf Musician – It is, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t making money from it. :)
Redwall – I like the free option tbh. :D
Robert – It’s definitely too early to pass a judgement, but not too early to start talking. The more we discuss now, the more chance there is of some changes taking place (If they’re necessary at all? :) ).
Adii – lol – Good thing the posts are very different I guess. ;)
Sumesh – I wonder the same thing. I actually think that most of the themes will come from the WP.org developers. Once they’ve made their theme and posted it there, there is no reason at all not to post it at WP.com as well. :)
As for PBD without images; the content is still legible. The header is definitely poor, but there isn’t much I can do about that. The document itself is fine when you disable all CSS, though it’s not as nice to read from…
Kristarella – I can see what you’re saying, and I think you’re right, to a point. It is good to give something back, and to give the WP.com users the new functionality. However, it’s not the incentive of 50% that would make me do that.
If I were to give back to the WP community, it would be a purposefully built free template for the .org community (Like hundreds of other designers and plugin authors already have done). After I’ve given my theme to them, I may as well put it on .com as well (No reason not to).
I don’t know if I would do things the other way around though (Purposefully build a theme for profit from .com)
50% Is rather high, the impression it somewhat gives me is that they’d need to battle some financial issues one way or the other. A figure around 10~20% could be considered as more fair in my opinion.
It’s a good thing to start seeing more choice for those wordpress.com users though, finally blogs will be able to end up looking a bit differently I suppose.
Slevi – They do all tend to look quite similar at the moment, don’t they?
“I don’t know if I would do things the other way around though (Purposefully build a theme for profit from .com)”
Would you purposely build a theme for profit from Wpdesigner.com?
I’m still brainstorming and any input from you will be much appreciated. Thanks Michael.
Great blog by the way.
Hey Small Potato – I’m not sure. I’ve never sold a premium theme before, but yes, I’m more likely to use a fairer marketplace. :)
You’ve written before that you’re not interested in premium themes though. What changed? :S
Premium Theme notion is wrong from my point of view but I say YES to the idea of making a marketplace.
Martin I love the way you do the analysis.
Thanks for sharing your opinion Elena, and I’m glad you liked the post. :)
Michael – The store or marketplace I’m adding to Wpdesigner is for theme authors other than myself. I’ll be busy with that and the hosting project for Wpdesigner so you’ll probably won’t see any paid theme from me even if I wanted to join in for fun :)
Seems a nice way to make use of the wpdesigner crowd then. :)
Definitely Michael, not only is the selection of available themes currently very limited but on top of that it allows as good as no customization. Whereas blogger sort of sucks as a blogging platform, blogspot allows for more customization than wordpress.com in example.
I think for many starters actually it might be a reason to perhaps even divert away from wordpress, at least in my case I started out blogging in a time long, long ago on blogspot since at least there I could play around with the look of my theme as much as I wanted.
That’s true Slevi. I think that the other major plus for Blogspot is that you can run ads on the blog. WordPress doesn’t allow that.
The commenting system at Blogger bugs the heck out of me though. It’s gotten to a point where I just don’t comment on Blogger blogs. It’s not worth the hassle… :(
Blogger commenting is annoying. Although I noticed recently that they allow email notifications when you comment with your google account. Maybe they’ll do that for “Other” as well soon. Hope so anyway.
seems like there is a competition upcoming in market. check the site http://wpremix.com/home/
There’s definitely starting to be a lot of competition, but will it last? The market is new, which makes it exciting to enter, but I do wonder if it will survive or not.
We’ve released a few free themes for WP, Blogger, sNews, PixelPost, etc., and the driving force behind that is publicity because the “Designed by” link remains there.
I don’t believe in “sponsored” themes, and I am all for this Theme Marketplace, as long as my design credit remains intact. It’s one really good way for the person using my theme to find me if he/she has a support question (or if he/she wants to hire me for design work). If Powered by WP remains, then so should the designer’s credit.
We’ll probably “donate” one theme to this “marketplace” and look at it as that, a donated theme. Any publicity or money we get from it will be just serendipity then. (And I’m not talking about the blogging app!)
For us anyway, word of mouth referrals still remain the best way to get paying jobs so I’m not looking to make any kind of killing by creating this one theme. I do think there are still some issues that need to be worked out and if WP.com is going to involve the designers, they should listen to what those designers have to say, because for purposes of this proposed premium theme marketplace, without the designers, they’re operating in a vacuum.
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