Today I ran into a bit of an internal debate. This is something that has driven me crazy for the longest time and this time I’m speaking about it.
Having an “upsell” theme in the WordPress theme repository. Quite frankly, I’m tired of it. Not only is it more code to look over but an inconvenience to the user. A commonality is the phrase:
This option available in PRO Version.
It does get linked to the site where they can purchase the theme. I don’t like it. Often times it is because that’s all the setting/control has. If I wanted to look at dummy controls I’d go to the toy store and just play with the toys and never purchase a thing. It is like window shopping for themes only with a banner over the window.
As you can see from the image, it is pointless to even have a pro version with nothing to control. I will never understand that. It is like having a car radio button that does nothing.
Yes, I made that comparison. It really is pointless.
I know there are some out there that may already be wanting to ask how to upsell the theme instead then. Simple. The theme’s about page.
Yes, themes can have them and should have them. What I don’t like is that there are several that link to just a demo site. What’s the point? Yes, I understand you want to demonstrate what the theme can do but what I’m more interested in is what the differences are between the free version and the premium/pro/ultra/supreme/deluxe version you are offering.
When I look to purchase a new camera I look for the information about the camera; I’ve already seen what it can do, I want to know more. What size sensor, what type of sensor, pixel density, lowest ISO, highest ISO, what accessories I can purchase for it, just to name a few.
So, if you are a theme shop in the WordPress theme repository, I urge you to drop all your upsell things that do nothing. You are hurting your users by subjecting them to unusable options.