Comments on: My future in the WordPress community http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community Life, Blogging, and WordPress Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:26:17 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Justin Tadlock http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3494 Justin Tadlock Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:56:53 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3494 <strong>jez</strong> People sure do like to point out that particular line: "Many of you have asked when I’ll start charging for my services. The short answer — <strong> never</strong>." I think I'll continue releasing free themes until I simply get tired of putting them together at least. I do think there is potential monetary gain with the WordPress system though. We just need the right business model, one that gives back to the community, while allowing designers and developers to make a few extra dollars. Another idea I've been thinking about is releasing free themes but selling alternate stylesheets for cheap (maybe $2). There's always a themes club model too. So, "never" shouldn't be taken too literally. When I say this, I mean that I'll never charge for the services I currently offer, which includes the support and attempts at innovation with WordPress. jez
People sure do like to point out that particular line:

“Many of you have asked when I’ll start charging for my services. The short answer — never.”

I think I’ll continue releasing free themes until I simply get tired of putting them together at least.

I do think there is potential monetary gain with the WordPress system though. We just need the right business model, one that gives back to the community, while allowing designers and developers to make a few extra dollars.

Another idea I’ve been thinking about is releasing free themes but selling alternate stylesheets for cheap (maybe $2). There’s always a themes club model too.

So, “never” shouldn’t be taken too literally. When I say this, I mean that I’ll never charge for the services I currently offer, which includes the support and attempts at innovation with WordPress.

]]> By: jez http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3496 jez Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:56:47 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3496 being a theme designer myself in spare time I can agree to your point where you say "Many of you have asked when I’ll start charging for my services. The short answer — never." - Wordpress is just not meant for paid services I believe. Themes should be free and the only occurrence when one is to charge for work is when you do custom client work. mezzoblue has similar views - http://mezzoblue.com/archives/2008/03/04/producing/index.php being a theme designer myself in spare time I can agree to your point where you say “Many of you have asked when I’ll start charging for my services. The short answer — never.” -

Wordpress is just not meant for paid services I believe. Themes should be free and the only occurrence when one is to charge for work is when you do custom client work.

mezzoblue has similar views – http://mezzoblue.com/archives/2008/03/04/producing/index.php

]]> By: Justin Tadlock http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3501 Justin Tadlock Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:15:07 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3501 <strong>Des Walsh</strong> The forums are working fine right now. They were down a couple of days ago. You might need to clear your browser cache. Des Walsh
The forums are working fine right now. They were down a couple of days ago. You might need to clear your browser cache.

]]> By: Des Walsh http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3502 Des Walsh Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:42:22 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3502 Have tried links to forum, using firefox and ie, but with no luck. Forum down? Have tried links to forum, using firefox and ie, but with no luck. Forum down?

]]> By: Justin Tadlock http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3493 Justin Tadlock Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:07:30 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3493 <strong>Nick</strong> Please start hitting up all the casinos. :) <strong>ntas</strong> With Small Potato announcing he's leaving WPDesigner.com behind, I might consider starting a themes club. I like how Rocket Theme is set up. I haven't checked out many of the the others. I just know that continually making themes and supporting them all will eventually take its toll on me mentally and physically, unless I could make enough to quite my dayjob and do this full time. <strong>Stephen Lane</strong> Thanks for the email. <strong>RebeccaJ</strong> One business model I'm considering is just releasing the templates and selling the stylesheets. Maybe mixing that with the club idea might not be so bad. <strong>Daniel</strong> The video games theme was just an example but definitely a possibility. Your site looks good. Maybe just change the background color of your header image to match the page's background color. <strong>The House of Husar</strong> All of us theme developers at least think of ways to monetize at some point, which I'm doing too. I just want to continue giving back what I've been giving to the community for free. The thing I want to do is mix the same free system with a way to make a few dollars too. <strong>Cody Redmon</strong> Thanks. :) Nick
Please start hitting up all the casinos. :)

ntas
With Small Potato announcing he’s leaving WPDesigner.com behind, I might consider starting a themes club. I like how Rocket Theme is set up. I haven’t checked out many of the the others.

I just know that continually making themes and supporting them all will eventually take its toll on me mentally and physically, unless I could make enough to quite my dayjob and do this full time.

Stephen Lane
Thanks for the email.

RebeccaJ
One business model I’m considering is just releasing the templates and selling the stylesheets. Maybe mixing that with the club idea might not be so bad.

Daniel
The video games theme was just an example but definitely a possibility. Your site looks good. Maybe just change the background color of your header image to match the page’s background color.

The House of Husar
All of us theme developers at least think of ways to monetize at some point, which I’m doing too. I just want to continue giving back what I’ve been giving to the community for free. The thing I want to do is mix the same free system with a way to make a few dollars too.

Cody Redmon
Thanks. :)

]]> By: Cody Redmon http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3498 Cody Redmon Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:58:38 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3498 World class, that's all there is to it. World class, that’s all there is to it.

]]> By: The House of Husar http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3500 The House of Husar Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:34:43 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3500 "Many of you have asked when I’ll start charging for my services. The short answer — never." Hats to you! I have only paid for a theme one time. Everything else has been a hack of an existing theme. Every theme I have seen (for sale or free) doesn't come close to what you have offered in the Options theme. All other theme developers that are selling their themes should be embarrassed by your work. Keep up the great work and I will keep click on your ads on a daily basis to help you get something for your work! Everyone else should do the same. Cheers. “Many of you have asked when I’ll start charging for my services. The short answer — never.” Hats to you! I have only paid for a theme one time. Everything else has been a hack of an existing theme. Every theme I have seen (for sale or free) doesn’t come close to what you have offered in the Options theme.

All other theme developers that are selling their themes should be embarrassed by your work. Keep up the great work and I will keep click on your ads on a daily basis to help you get something for your work! Everyone else should do the same.

Cheers.

]]> By: Daniel http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3499 Daniel Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:54:09 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3499 Justin You mentioned that you may think about developing a video games theme, and I wanted to let you know that I have used your Options theme for a games site: <a href="http://www.freewebgames.co.in/" title="Free Web Games India" rel="nofollow">www.freewebgames.co.in</a> The site is still in beta, and any feedback is appreciated. Thanks for all the hard work, you’ve been a great help to the WP community! Justin

You mentioned that you may think about developing a video games theme, and I wanted to let you know that I have used your Options theme for a games site:

http://www.freewebgames.co.in

The site is still in beta, and any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks for all the hard work, you’ve been a great help to the WP community!

]]> By: RebeccaJ http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3505 RebeccaJ Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:48:35 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3505 I'd willing to pay for stylesheets to change things up occasionally. I don't mind trying things on my own but I'm still hesitant to really mess with the css. I’d willing to pay for stylesheets to change things up occasionally. I don’t mind trying things on my own but I’m still hesitant to really mess with the css.

]]> By: Stephen Lane http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3491 Stephen Lane Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:38:44 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/03/06/my-future-in-the-wordpress-community#comment-3491 ntas and Nick I agree 100%, I sent Justin an email earlier today about this very thing. Glad to see I'm not alone on this. ntas and Nick I agree 100%, I sent Justin an email earlier today about this very thing.

Glad to see I’m not alone on this.

]]>