[theme-reviewers] Theme promotion in dashboard

Mon Feb 10 20:20:47 UTC 2014

I'm not sure I would agree with that argument, just based on anecdotal
feedback.

Now, if one were to argue that a "Theme Info" page under the Appearance
menu - a page that is basically an HTML-formatted Readme - is useful to end
users? Yeah, I'd totally buy that. And if that page mentioned that a
commercial version of the Theme is available?I think that would be
appropriate.

I'm not saying that's the only method; rather, I'm just saying that,
presented properly, there's a place for commercial/upsell info/links -
where "presented properly" is in the overall context of providing benefit
to the end user.

(And that gives me another idea: a readme.txt parser for the WP admin. Must
go search Trac; I'm sure someone must have suggested it before.)

On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 2:57 PM, Srikanth Koneru <tskk79 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I am arguing that upsell info in theme options page actually serve's end
> user's purpose as in it saves valuable time and effort for end users since
> they don't have to visit theme author's site, search and go through sales
> literature and figure out if the pro version is a good fit for them.
>
> Having ugrade options in lite versions make a good user experience.
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 1:19 AM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net>wrote:
>
>> Without commenting on much of the rest, I do want to say:
>>
>> Themes submitted to the WordPress Theme Directory are *contributions*, in
>> the spirit of an open-source, free software project. So, yes: generally
>> speaking, Themes *should* be submitted "out of the goodness of your heart".
>> If Themes are submitted *primarily* for any other motive than to contribute
>> to the WordPress community, then that motive seriously needs to be
>> reconsidered. There are commercial marketplaces for those for whom their
>> *primary* motive is commercial in nature.
>>
>> (Please note the emphasis on *primary*. There is absolutely nothing wrong
>> with commercial motives, and we welcome Themes from commercial developers.
>> But in ALL matters, when the commercial developer's purposes are at odds
>> with the end users' purposes, decisions made regarding the WordPress.org
>> Theme Directory will fall on the side of the end user.)
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 2:40 PM, Srikanth Koneru <tskk79 at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Lets not invade their website with a credit link either. Do themes out
>>> of goodness of your heart and also make it mandatory to provide 24 hr turn
>>> around for support tickets in WPORG theme page.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 1:07 AM, rabin shrestha <sun_ravi90 at yahoo.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>> I think promotion of premium themes shouldn't be allowed outside the
>>>> theme option page. This whole discussion is being created because we are
>>>> allowing to advertise outside the theme options page. And I know this
>>>> discussion will always arise whenever any theme author tries to go one step
>>>> ahead in theme promotion. Let's stop this, before this gets out of hand and
>>>> whole WordPress theme dashboard becomes a place to advertise. Let's add a
>>>> guideline allowing theme authors to advertise only in their theme options
>>>> page and if they don't have one then they can create a menu under
>>>> appearance and promote it. But let's stop having multiple menu under
>>>> Appearance.
>>>>
>>>> Also, I think author should only be allowed to promote upsell version
>>>> of current theme. Since authors are allowed to keep upsell links users will
>>>> automatically be going to your theme shop site and searching other themes
>>>> if they feel your theme is good. We don't need a dozen of themes being
>>>> promoted in secondary menu and your theme options menu.
>>>>
>>>> I have seen this things growing and getting out of hand. Just a year
>>>> back we were afraid to even have a twitter link and a single promotion link
>>>> in theme options page and now with every discussion authors are being given
>>>> power to cross one step ahead of the line and new line is being drawn every
>>>> time. This should be stopped and strict steps must be enforced by adding
>>>> this things clearly in guidelines.
>>>>
>>>> These are simply my views and I am hoping to see some positive changes
>>>> on this matter.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Rabin
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>   On Monday, February 10, 2014 11:02 PM, Chip Bennett <
>>>> chip at chipbennett.net> wrote:
>>>>  We currently allow developers to add a second page to promote other
>>>> Themes from the developer, so I would say that fits under that allowance.
>>>>
>>>> But I really question if that second page isn't a step too far.
>>>>
>>>> Maybe Cais is onto something: we add a guideline that Themes are
>>>> *recommended* not to display any upsell/commercial advertising in the
>>>> Admin, and then have the discussion, and let the community pose an argument
>>>> for why the practice should be allowed - or, from my perspective, why the
>>>> developer's need to do such advertising in the user's Admin outweighs the
>>>> user's need not to have advertising in their Admin.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 12:12 PM, Ola Łączek <ola at bodera.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I totally agree with the rule about ads only on theme options page, but
>>>> what if theme doesn't have one? In that case adding Page under Appearance
>>>> menu is still unacceptable?
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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>>
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