[theme-reviewers] Theme promotion in dashboard

Mon Feb 10 21:03:12 UTC 2014

We're going down a very bad road, if we have to define what is appropriate
for "Theme Info".

On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 3:42 PM, Zulfikar Nore <zulfikarnore at live.com>wrote:

> That is the problem - The "Theme Info" needs to be explicitly defined by
> guidelines as to what it is for and what it is not for!
> I a couple of themes I've reviewed that theme info page was far from being
> a theme's info page and more like another website inside my admin area.
>
> And I believe that is totally wrong!
>
> Yes to a Theme Info page with information about the active theme, some
> helping hints, tips and tutorials couple with a gentle nudge/reminder that
> there is a Pro version that does much more blah blah - I can live with that
> :)
>
> ------------------------------
> Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 01:54:07 +0530
>
> From: tskk79 at gmail.com
> To: theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
> Subject: Re: [theme-reviewers] Theme promotion in dashboard
>
> It really makes sense to me, end users get to know exactly whats available
> in pro version, even though they have to pay for it, they will be finding a
> theme they like and like enough to pay.
> That's a happy WP user who spreads the word around, win win all around.
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 1:50 AM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net>wrote:
>
> 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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