Create and sell WordPress themes can be an exciting way to earn income, whether as a side hustle or a full-time business. With millions of websites powered by WordPress, there’s a high demand for fresh, creative themes. However, turning your design into profit requires strategic planning, technical skills, and effective marketing.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore every step of the process. From designing a theme that stands out to understanding the marketplace and selling strategies, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to succeed in the competitive world of WordPress themes.
Why Sell WordPress Themes?
Selling WordPress themes is not only lucrative but also rewarding. The global market for website themes is growing, thanks to the rising number of small businesses and individuals creating their own websites. If you have design skills or an eye for detail, selling themes offers a chance to make passive income. Once your theme is out there, it can continue to sell with little effort on your part, allowing you to scale your business.
Huge Demand
Millions of WordPress websites need themes. Every business, blogger, and freelancer wants their site to stand out. That’s where premium themes come in. Users are willing to pay for a theme that enhances their website’s appearance and functionality.
High Profit Potential
When you sell a theme, it’s possible to make recurring revenue, especially if you offer customer support and regular updates. Many successful developers even turn their theme-selling ventures into full-blown businesses. A well-designed premium WordPress theme can fetch anywhere from $30 to $100 per sale.
How to sell wordpress themes
Step 1: Designing Your WordPress Theme
The foundation of your success in selling WordPress themes is the design. A beautiful, functional design will attract buyers and ensure that your theme stands out in crowded marketplaces like ThemeForest or Creative Market.
Responsive Design is Key
People browse websites on different devices, so your theme needs to look great on every screen size. A responsive design is non-negotiable. If your theme isn’t mobile-friendly, it will be passed over by many potential customers. Use tools like InstaWP to test your theme on various devices.
Customization Options
Customers love themes they can personalize. Offering various customization options, such as different color schemes, fonts, and layout choices, will make your theme more appealing. Plugins like WooCommerce and SEO-friendly features can add significant value to your theme.
Focus on Performance
Speed is critical. If your theme loads slowly, users won’t be happy. Optimize the code to ensure it runs efficiently, especially the CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. A fast theme not only improves user experience but also boosts the site’s SEO performance.
Step 2: Preparing Your Theme for Sale
Once you’ve completed the design, it’s time to get your theme ready for the market. This involves packaging your files, writing documentation, and making sure your theme meets the technical standards required by theme marketplaces.
Testing for Compatibility
Your theme should be compatible with the latest version of WordPress, as well as major plugins like WooCommerce. Use a WordPress.org testing environment to ensure compatibility across different versions of WordPress and plugins.
Writing Documentation
Clear and thorough documentation is essential. Your buyers need to know how to install, customize, and troubleshoot your theme. Include screenshots and step-by-step instructions. The better your documentation, the fewer support requests you’ll receive.
Creating a Demo Site
Showcase your theme with a live demo. This is where potential buyers can interact with the theme and see how it works. Include different layouts, features, and customization options to show its versatility.
Step 3: Choosing Where to Sell Your WordPress Theme
You’ve designed and packaged your theme, and now you need to decide where to sell it. There are various marketplaces available, each with its own audience and commission structure.
Marketplaces
One of the easiest ways to sell your theme is through a marketplace. Sites like ThemeForest, Creative Market, and Envato are popular platforms for selling WordPress themes. They offer a ready-made audience of buyers and handle payment processing and distribution for you.
Pros:
- Large audience
- Easy payment setup
- Marketing support
Cons:
- High commission fees (up to 30-50%)
- Competitive
Selling on Your Own Website
Another option is to sell your theme directly through your own WordPress website. By doing this, you avoid marketplace fees and have full control over pricing and customer interaction. However, you’ll need to handle your own marketing, payment processing, and customer support.
Pros:
- Higher profit margins
- Full control
Cons:
- More marketing work
- Requires setting up eCommerce functionality
Step 4: Pricing Your WordPress Theme
Pricing your theme is a crucial step. If the price is too high, you might scare off potential buyers. But if it’s too low, you might not make a profit.
Research the Market
Look at other themes similar to yours and note their prices. Most premium WordPress themes are priced between $30 and $70, but there’s flexibility depending on the uniqueness and features of your theme.
Offering Free and Premium Versions
Consider offering a free version of your theme with limited features. This can attract users who later upgrade to the premium version. A free version can serve as a marketing tool and build trust with your audience.
Step 5: Marketing Strategies for Selling WordPress Themes
Now that your theme is ready and priced, it’s time to promote it. Marketing is essential to drive sales and grow your brand.
Use SEO to Drive Traffic
Optimize your theme for SEO. Use relevant keywords in your theme’s description, title, and tags to improve visibility in search results. Keywords like WordPress themes, sell WordPress themes, and premium themes should be used naturally. Focus on creating content around these topics to bring organic traffic to your site.
Content Marketing
Create blog posts, tutorials, and videos showcasing how to use your theme. This not only provides valuable content to potential buyers but also helps improve your SEO. For example, writing an article titled “How to Customize Your WordPress Theme” can attract users searching for tips on theme customization, who may also become buyers.
Social Media and Email Marketing
Promote your theme on social media channels like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Consider running targeted ads to reach potential buyers. Building an email list is another effective strategy. Send regular updates, promotions, and news to keep your audience engaged.
Step 6: Offering Customer Support
Once you start selling your theme, you’ll likely need to offer customer support. Buyers will have questions or run into issues. Providing prompt, helpful support will improve your reputation and lead to positive reviews.
FAQs and Support Documentation
Include a well-organized FAQ section on your website. This will answer common questions and reduce the number of support requests. Keep your support documentation updated with any changes or updates to the theme.
Handling Updates
WordPress regularly updates its software, and so should your theme. Regular updates ensure compatibility with the latest version of WordPress and improve your theme’s security. An updated theme also signals to potential buyers that you’re actively maintaining and improving your product.
Step 7: Scaling Your Business
Once you’ve successfully sold a few themes, you can think about scaling your business. This can involve creating more themes or even diversifying into plugins or other digital products.
Building a Portfolio
Offer different themes that cater to various niches such as eCommerce, blogs, or portfolios. The more themes you have, the more revenue streams you create. Consider bundling themes together for a discounted price to increase sales volume.
Selling Plugins
If you enjoy theme development, creating and selling WordPress plugins is a natural next step. Plugins enhance the functionality of WordPress sites and can be a profitable addition to your business.
Expanding to New Markets
Look for other marketplaces where you can sell your themes, such as Creative Market or Mojo Marketplace. Each platform has a different audience, so expanding to new markets can increase your visibility and sales.
Conclusion: Start Selling WordPress Themes Today
Selling WordPress themes can be a highly profitable venture, especially if you focus on quality design, performance, and customer satisfaction. By following the steps in this guide, you’ll have the knowledge and tools to create and sell WordPress themes successfully.
Whether you choose to sell on ThemeForest, your own website, or both, the potential for growth is immense. All it takes is dedication, creativity, and a bit of marketing savvy. So why wait? Start creating your first theme and begin your journey to becoming a successful theme developer today!
