Selling on ThemeForest – Pros and Cons

Selling on ThemeForest, one of the most popular marketplaces for digital assets like website themes, templates, and other web-related products, can be a lucrative opportunity. However, it also comes with its own set of advantages and challenges. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of selling on ThemeForest:

Pros:

1. Large Audience Exposure:
   • ThemeForest is part of the Envato Market, which attracts millions of visitors each month. This provides a huge built-in audience that can view and potentially purchase your product without the need for heavy marketing on your part.
2. Potential for High Earnings:
   • Top sellers can make substantial income. Some of the most popular themes generate thousands of dollars in sales monthly due to the platform’s large user base.
3. Credibility and Trust:
   • ThemeForest is a well-established platform with a solid reputation. Buyers feel secure purchasing from it, which can make selling easier than starting from a new platform or personal site.
4. Built-in Affiliate Program:
   • Envato’s affiliate program can help boost your earnings, as affiliates can promote your themes and drive sales.
5. Infrastructure and Technical Support:
   • ThemeForest provides a robust infrastructure that handles transactions, file delivery, and customer interactions, which means sellers can focus on product development rather than backend operations.
6. Feedback and Exposure:
   • Sellers receive feedback, ratings, and reviews from customers, which can help improve future product releases and guide enhancements. A good reputation can lead to even more sales.

Cons:

1. Revenue Split and Fees:
   • ThemeForest takes a significant portion of your earnings. The revenue split depends on whether you sell exclusively through ThemeForest or also sell elsewhere. Exclusive sellers can earn between 62.5% and 87.5% depending on sales volume, while non-exclusive sellers earn only 45%.
2. High Competition:
   • The marketplace is saturated with themes and templates. Standing out in such a competitive environment can be tough, especially for new authors.
3. Strict Review Process:
   • ThemeForest has rigorous standards and guidelines. It can be difficult to get your product approved, and the review process can take time. If your theme doesn’t meet their quality standards, it may be rejected or require multiple rounds of revisions.
4. Pricing Restrictions:
   • While ThemeForest allows some flexibility in pricing, the platform tends to influence price ranges within certain product categories. This can limit your ability to set the price you might think your product deserves.
5. Support Obligations:
   • Buyers often expect sellers to provide ongoing support for their products. This can lead to additional time and effort, particularly if you’re selling a theme that requires regular updates or bug fixes.
6. Limited Branding Opportunities:
   • Selling on ThemeForest means your brand may take a backseat to the ThemeForest brand. Customers often remember ThemeForest more than they do individual sellers, which can limit your ability to build a standalone business identity.

Conclusion:

Selling on ThemeForest offers great exposure and the potential for high earnings, but it comes at the cost of competition, fees, and ongoing support obligations. For developers with strong products and the ability to stand out, it can be an excellent marketplace to reach a broad audience. However, it’s crucial to weigh the costs and constraints carefully before diving in.