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- Posted by Justin
- Posted in everyday
First, I just read an article, Sponsored themes over at Weblog Tools Collection’s Blog and I found it very entertaining. I’ve noticed an increasing number of theme sponsors amongst the sitepoint marketplace crowd over the previous year as well. Overall, I find the idea of sponsoring a theme pretty interesting. However, put into perspective, make sure your sponsorship offer is worthy of the theme itself.
What started this
Immediately following the announcement for the first public releast of my wordpress theme,salmon, the administrator or owner from a specific website devoted to study guides and testing materials emailed me inquiring about sponsoring my wordpress theme.
I am interested in sponsoring your theme. Let me know if you are interested.
My response following this initial communication was straight forward. I had never allowed anyone to sponsor any of my wordpress themes or designs and I was not really in any mood to allow someone to do so now. I agree with Weblog Tools Collection to a point, I think sponsoring a theme is awkward. However, if the offer was right, I would consider it. I immediately told myself, perhaps for $400.00 I might allow someone to throw a link in the footer.
However, I eventually found out that this user currently sponsors “over 400 wordpress themes” currently and that he will pay me fifty dollars ($50.00USD) for two text-links in the footer. I was hurt. I think thats insulting. I would make more than that off selling two links on sitepoint.
Where I’m headed
Personally, I do not feel as though individuals accepting sponsorship for their designs are giving themselves enough credit. I feel that if someone wants to sponsor a wordpress theme, especially one that has potential to be inreasingly popular over time, should pay a premium price for it. I believe that over time, the link a sponsor receives in the footer or sidebar of a theme will have more of a pay off than the sponsor is buying. Its ridiculous to accept $50.00USD for a link on my theme that will send shit loads of traffic to this sponsors website overtime. It isn’t like the link will disappear.
Note to the guy who emailed me: If you’re going to sponsor a theme, make sure you’re making it worthwhile and beneficial to the developer or designer. Your offer was nuts. I’m not cracking on you, just a crack at your offer.. think about it
The end
Apr 11
This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 at 7:23 pmand is filed under everyday. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.The version of my website you are viewing is currently out of date. The content is still here as an archive and you are free to continue browsing it, however, I do recommend you check out my current homepage for more up to date information.
Sponsors
6 Comments Sponsoring one of my wordpress themes
Adii
April 12th, 2007 at 1:51 am
1Can’t agree more Justin. A link on Salmon (especially future, even better versions) is worth much more than $50…
Moses Francis
April 13th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
2Yes, it’s a pity if all it took was $50 for two links on the footer, i have released some sponsored themes before but i do make it a point that there’s only 1 link for a sponsor, that the URL is not spammy and that at very least a sponsor spot costs $200.
Cory Miller
April 18th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
3Justin, I hear ya and second that! It’s all about quality. And your work screams of that. Rock on!
Andiz
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:57 pm
4You met the wrong sponsor ;)
Brian Aldrich
June 14th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
5I think $50 is a fair price. How much money are you trying to make off just one link?
Scott
September 30th, 2007 at 2:26 am
6Damn, only $50 for your themes? Man, if you allowed it, I could easily offer triple. You met the wrong sponsor bro.
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