This article was sponsored by StylemixThemes. Thank you for supporting the partners who make SitePoint possible.
WordPress is simple, elegant, and modular. That combination has made it the most popular web platform on the planet, resulting in a rich ecosystem of themes, plugins and support. It’s an amazing opportunity for devs and designers, but how do you stand out in such a crowded marketplace?
Sites like ThemeForest allow creators of WordPress themes to have a steady income, bringing in over half a billion dollars in revenue to their community of authors. But that revenue is not shared evenly. While some authors make millions, 76% of WordPress themes on ThemeForest earn under $1,000 per month (ThemeForest By the Numbers, 2016).
So how do you stand out from the crowd? Let me introduce you to a team that learned how—StylemixThemes.
StylemixThemes is a remote team of devs, designers and support gurus who started making WordPress themes in 2008, and decided to start selling them on ThemeForest two years later. It took time and grit, and they eventually found success. They became Power Elite authors by earning their first million in December 2016, and have earned another million in the last year.
What’s their secret? The team talked about their journey in a 2016 interview. Here are a few of the lessons they learned:
Never copy. Come up with something new and unique, and integrate that into your themes, plugins and products.
Eat crow. Getting feedback on your work is difficult, but helpful, and review is an essential part of the ThemeForest submission process. Their first theme was rejected a number of times by the review team, but they learned from the experience, and that ultimately led to a better theme.
ThemeForest reviewers didn’t like the design we submitted, they want to see high-level themes with a perfect UI, which can suit thousands of buyers. We realized that our mistake was that we tried to create a theme as a single website for a single customer.
Market your themes. A combination of Google Adwords, banners and paid reviews have been successful for the team, but they continue to look for new marketing strategies.
Stay hungry, stay foolish. Making a steady income from your current themes mustn’t stop you creating new features, themes and products. Keep creating, keep improving, and keep valuing and supporting your customers.
And one final key lesson. They were inspired by a successful ThemeForest author, Chris Molitor, to start creating micro-niche themes.
By focusing on niches, you can find markets that are not already overcrowded. Back in 2013 I interviewed Chris Molitor and other successful authors about their success in creating themes for niche markets. This is how Chris described his initial strategy for finding the right niche:
One niche project I did was actually the result of an email I got from a curator at a museum. They weren’t able to find anything for what they needed, so I asked questions and learned what the needs were from the actual end user. I had a lot of fun working on it, and it’s probably my favorite niche project to this day. (Chris Molitor)
How does Chris stand out from the crowd? By not being generic. He doesn’t create themes for anybody—he creates them for somebody. His trademark is unique, functional themes for specific niche groups.
Don’t say ‘anybody’ can use your services—be specific… Saying ‘everybody’ makes you think of ‘nobody’.
I can see where StylemixThemes got their inspiration from. They, too, create quality micro-niche themes specifically tailored to each industry, each with its own special features. Here are a few examples.
Consulting – a Theme for Business and Finance
StylemixThemes isn’t shy. They clearly spell out to their customers that the theme is “based on in-depth research into the field of business, finance and consulting.” That’s good marketing. Then they make sure it includes additional functionality needed for business, finance and consulting, such as including the use of pie charts, graphs and progress bars, and a WooCommerce store.
Health Coach – a Theme for Life Coaches and Personal Trainers
Again, they point out to their customers that a lot of thought went into the included features: “With growing popularity of Health Coaching and Healthy Lifestyle becoming more and more widespread, the niche really needs a theme which would provide everything a coach needs to present him/herself and his/her programme promoting better lifestyle.” So they include payment and booking integration.
Cinderella – a Theme for Beauty, Hair and Spa Salons
Here they include special features required for small businesses in the beauty industry (including networks of salons in multiple locations), like online booking, an advanced pricing module, and a WooCommerce store.
With so much success with their micro-niche themes, StylemixThemes wanted to take it to the next level. So they took everything they learned, and combined it into a mega product. Pearl WP is a comprehensive bundle of niche themes—business, logistics, medical, restaurant, construction, charity, beauty, health coach, musical, rental, portfolio, church, personal blog, WooCommerce shop, startup, and viral—with more niches being added over time.
So, while focussing on niche markets, they have also created a product that appeals to a wider audience. This is the first themes bundle to appear on ThemeForest, so they’re blazing their own trail here. Check out their promo video.
As with their standalone products, each theme in the bundle includes special features tailored to each industry. Here are some examples:
But this isn’t just a collection of separate themes. You can mix and match the features between each theme, and take advantage of 200 shortcodes and 250 page templates, to customize as needed. That’s a lot of functionality and versatility built into a single product, and will appeal to a wide audience.
Another way to stand out from the crowd is by providing excellent documentation. That’s a job that can feel tedious to the developer, but is crucial to the end user. You don’t want to skimp here.
StylemixThemes have taken their documentation to another level by producing a range of video tutorials. They don’t just instruct users how to install the bundle, but also cover a range of Pearl WP’s important features, including:
Like StylemixThemes, you’ll find success if you persevere. Take some time to learn from them. Their Pearl WP bundle normally costs $59, but for a limited time they are offering it for just $39. Here are a few reasons you should consider purchasing it:
How do you stand out in the crowded WordPress ecosystem? Start with hard work and your own unique style, add effective marketing and helpful documentation, respond to peer review, and never stop pursuing fresh ideas. And look for opportunities that are less crowded— I’ll say it again, in niche markets.
Have you had success creating niche WordPress themes? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments.
A niche in the WordPress ecosystem refers to a specific area or segment that you can focus on to provide specialized services or products. This could be anything from developing unique WordPress themes, plugins, offering WordPress hosting services, or providing specialized WordPress consulting and support. By focusing on a niche, you can cater to a specific audience, meet their unique needs, and stand out from the competition.
Identifying your niche in the WordPress ecosystem involves understanding your skills, interests, and the needs of the market. Start by assessing your strengths and areas of expertise. Next, research the market to identify gaps or underserved areas. You can use tools like Google Trends, Keyword Planner, and social media platforms to understand what users are looking for. Finally, validate your idea by getting feedback from potential customers or conducting a small pilot project.
Finding a niche in the WordPress ecosystem is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it helps you differentiate yourself from the competition. With so many developers, designers, and service providers in the WordPress space, having a niche allows you to stand out and attract a specific audience. Secondly, it allows you to focus your efforts and resources on a specific area, making you more efficient and effective. Lastly, by specializing in a niche, you can become an expert in that area, increasing your credibility and attracting more clients.
Yes, you can change your niche if you find that it’s not working for you or if your interests and skills evolve. However, it’s important to do thorough research before making a switch to understand the new niche’s demand, competition, and your ability to serve it effectively. Remember, consistency and expertise are key in any niche, so frequent changes might affect your credibility and success.
Some popular niches in the WordPress ecosystem include WordPress theme and plugin development, WordPress hosting services, WordPress security services, WordPress SEO services, and WordPress maintenance and support services. However, the best niche for you depends on your skills, interests, and the specific needs of the market.
There are several ways to monetize your niche in the WordPress ecosystem. If you’re a developer, you can sell your themes or plugins. If you offer services, you can charge for your consulting, support, or maintenance services. You can also make money through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or by offering training and courses in your area of expertise.
Marketing your niche in the WordPress ecosystem involves building a strong online presence, networking with other WordPress professionals, and providing valuable content to your target audience. You can use social media, blogging, email marketing, and SEO to reach your audience. Participating in WordPress forums, meetups, and conferences can also help you connect with potential clients and partners.
Staying competitive in your chosen niche involves continuously improving your skills, staying updated with the latest WordPress trends and technologies, and providing exceptional service to your clients. Regularly ask for feedback, monitor your competition, and adapt your strategies as needed. Remember, success in any niche comes from providing value and building strong relationships with your clients.
Yes, you can have more than one niche in the WordPress ecosystem. However, it’s important to ensure that you can effectively serve each niche without compromising on the quality of your products or services. Having multiple niches can also help you diversify your income and reach a wider audience.
Measuring the success of your niche in the WordPress ecosystem can be done through various metrics such as the number of clients, sales, website traffic, social media engagement, and customer satisfaction. Regularly reviewing these metrics can help you understand what’s working, what’s not, and how you can improve. Remember, success in any niche is a combination of financial profitability and customer satisfaction.
Adrian Try is an Aussie writer, musician, cyclist, and tech geek.
© 2000 – 2024 SitePoint Pty. Ltd.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

source