Theme variations and sponsorships
One of the things I have planned for a long time that will be launched at the same time as the new design (tomorrow, always this tomorrow…) will be theme variations. Pre-created customized versions of the themes, based on common requests from users and other designers. For example, a lot of people have asked me for Swedish versions of my themes, so translations are ready to be released. And others have asked for wider versions of the WP-Andreas00 and WP-Andreas01 themes for WordPress, and I will provide that as well.
Each theme will get its own page, where all these custom versions (and other modifications) will be listed with direct download links. Want a light version of Daleri Dark? Or a 3-column version of 1024px? If the demand is big, I will create it and add it to the list.
What kind of variations would you like to see to the themes in the future? Let me know, your opinion matters! This will apply to the website templates as well so feel free to write in comments for those as well. But please keep in mind that the templates will take much longer time for me to create all those variations since I will have more than 20 templates to work with when the new ones are released…
To see one really beautiful example of what a modified theme can look like, you can visit the newly launched website of the Ájtte Museum here in Jokkmokk. The site is based on a wider version of WP-Andreas00 with a number of small changes - and translated to Swedish. It is probably the prettiest site I have seen using that design, the enlarged header and the large amounts of beutiful photos add a lot of value to the design…
Tomorrow? Are you sure?
No, I am never sure. And I know that you know that by now. But I am happy to announce that I have now found the first andreasviklund.com site sponsor - so now I have only two sponsoring spots available:
The new "sponsored links #2" - A set of links in the sidebar of all pages except the frontpage. The frontpage links are managed by Text-link-ads.com, but I was not able to add a second set of links for other pages than the frontpage so I will do it manually. Currently 8 link slots free, sold for 3, 6 or 12 months at the time.
The "template sponsor" slots - Sponsorships for ALL my templates (and soon also WP-themes). Each template and theme page (which means the page on andreasviklund.com which includes screenshots, add-ons, additional images, template comments, tips and hints and the variations that I have described earlier in this post - NOT any page in the template itself!) will have space reserved for a sponsored link or a small image banner. Once paid for, the sponsorship lasts for as long as the template is available - probably for several years. Each new template release means a new sponsorship slot, and based on the big interest for this idea I think that it will be very popular. I don't know what this may be worth, but I welcome bids and offers to get a starting point. I guess that andreas01 will be the first one to go!
The whole idea with putting more ads on the site is to allow me to work with making templates and giving free support as a full-time job. If everything works out as I want to, I will soon be working in a team with my girlfriend Johanna - based on the lovely business model that makes it possible to make a living from giving away things for free. That will only work with the help of sponsors, generous donations from people who use the templates for commercial purposes and my percentage for sales from the commercial template store, but it looks perfectly possible now so we are going to give it a try!
But I am always careful about ads, and I can assure you that they will not become disturbing. They fit greatly into the new design (which I'm testing on my secret test site right now). There will be no flash, only small image banners (if any at all, currently there are no images) and no AdSense, minimalls, ebay auctions or anything like that. All links will be clearly marked as sponsored links, but they are still placed in visible places to make sure that the kind and helpful sponsors and advertisers get the attention that they deserve. If you like my work, I hope that you will accept this and support my sponsors. Their help will result in lots of new templates, many new themes, much better support (not only from me but also from Johanna!) and hopefully a real blog!
Yes, I'm planning to become a blogger as well. For real! One that actually writes interesting posts every now and then. It is a little fantasy of mine, it would be a fun thing to do. Especially since my site would be my full-time job. But we'll see… For now, the new design is priority #1. Let's hope for a good tomorrow!
Comments
Comment from Alberto
Time: May 28, 2007, 5:44 pm
You're making a very good job.
The Ájtte Museum is very nice, but it's a little pity it doesn't fit on a 800×600 monitor. The front picture is very beautiful.
If you'd like to release italian translations for your templates I'm available to make them. About a month ago I published an italian translation of andreas01 (with a few header- and sidebar- modifications) on a page of my blog (http://www.centrostudilaruna.it/huginnemuninn/2007/04/19/tema-wordpress-tradotto/ ).
Please let me know!
Comment from Sean
Time: May 29, 2007, 3:57 am
Hi Andreas.
It all sounds really good and I support you 100% with your ideas and future plans for your site.
I look forward to what's coming up next.
Comment from Tomek
Time: May 29, 2007, 12:54 pm
"If everything works out as I want to, I will soon be working in a team with my girlfriend Johanna - based on the lovely business model that makes it possible to make a living from giving away things for free." What can I say good luck I think it's a very good idea and Your "new" business model can really change Your life. "It is a little fantasy of mine, it would be a fun thing to do." Sometimes fantasy became real life and that is what I wish for You. Greetings
Comment from Dave
Time: May 29, 2007, 7:29 pm
Andreas, looks like you have a good business plan developed. Please contact me via my contact info regarding the sponsorship deals. I have several other sites that would benefit from traffic from your readers.
In the theme department I don't mean to be to commercially minded but I'm wondering if you would be tweaking (small changes) one wordpress design so that Google Adsense ads could be easily incorporated into the look/website. Call it your commercial design if you like. I'd love to have a Andreas theme where the adsense block stayed between the first and two post. With your designer skills I'm sure it would look good.
Comment from ShopMania
Time: May 29, 2007, 10:17 pm
Good thing if Johanna would also have an english site because I am sure her site is interesting but kind of difficult to understand the language :)
Comment from Robbie
Time: May 30, 2007, 10:35 pm
Always supporting you 100%. Good luck on blogging, can't wait to see some new posts!
Comment from Karan
Time: May 30, 2007, 10:38 pm
Hi Andreas, I think what you are doing is absolutely great. I am inspired by you, and starting to contribute to the community with some free templates at http://www.cmgtechnologies.com/free-css-templates/ !! Any ideas/suggestions you can give me based on your experiences so that I and others dont do the same mistakes ?
Comment from Web Design UK
Time: May 31, 2007, 4:38 pm
This sounds an interesting business model, though I'm wary of themes which have sponsored links at the bottom which might be completely irrelevant to the blog in question. i.e. a theme sponsored by a butchers on a blog about vegetarianism. An extreme example but you get the idea.
The model I use is to obfuscate the footer links to my site such that you'd have to be quite experienced to successfully remove them (in which case you could have probably made your own template anyway); people who request my help to remove the links are asked to make a small donation, only a couple of dollars/pounds/euros/etc.
Comment from Design
Time: June 1, 2007, 11:38 am
Andreas, you constantly work and work. When you have a rest? I already for a long time read yours блог and I see, that you have a rest very little, you are constant in work.
Comment from Maike
Time: June 1, 2007, 2:03 pm
Andreas, you have good ideas, your heart on the right place and a good hand for designs so i don´t see any problems that your dreams come to be true. just make what you want but make it right, the people will "feel" it, if you love what you do and that makes you successful. i wish you luck and all the best. your are on the right way!
Comment from damo
Time: June 1, 2007, 3:36 pm
as usual, great work.
start blogging. its lots of fun … but i thought you were already doing that anyway ;)
Comment from Kyirealty
Time: June 1, 2007, 3:51 pm
WP-Andreas00 - good themes.
Great work!
Comment from Architektur
Time: June 2, 2007, 10:40 am
fantastic design amazing work - i love it! thank you for that.
Comment from Mrs Mecomber
Time: June 5, 2007, 1:46 am
I LOVE your designs, but I don't see much for Blogger. I would love a version of ANDREAS09 for New Blogger. Your templates are the best that I have seen. Thanks.
Comment from Monika
Time: June 5, 2007, 4:07 pm
Hi Andreas
Yes, I'm planning to become a blogger as well.
I love the little smilie at the bottom of this page ;)
it says more about you as a very long article .
I understand, I can't say how I feel with you.
But every day I have to realize: I can't write helpfull tutorials to use wp as cms and become a blogger.
To become a blooger needs time, I can't find a hour per day to do this :(
I don't use ads, I try amazon books - I can't use sponsered links, because I know that google doesn't allow them - only with *nofollow* or an redirect path. I see you don't fear that google ban your site - or is this only a problem at europe?
kindly regards
Monika
Comment from andrew
Time: May 28, 2007, 8:29 am
you are doing a great job modifing templates according to people wishes.
And the links are ok on your pages.
They are not disturbing and obtrusive at all
I hope you wont change that
bye,