Envato is a pretty well-known company among us webby types. Among their 8 million blogs and other sites, they also run a number of marketplaces where authors can sell their templates, graphics, videos, code snippets, etc etc to a huge pool of buyers for a certain amount of commission. After optimistically signing up to Theme Forest dreaming of becoming a top WordPress theme seller a few months ago, I finally got around to uploading my first item last week.

For a start, my first WP theme for the site is still in production. The marketplace upload rules are very strict and include such things as comprehensive help files with every upload. They also have high aesthetic standards that a lot of new authors struggle to meet. Since I’m obsessed with getting things just right, this has meant a lot of redoing certain parts of the code, adding new theme options, and generally struggling to finish everything off.

I’ll take the easier option, please

In the meantime, my attention turned to Graphic River, which is more focused on (obviously) graphics such as web design elements and stock illustrations. Now here was a market where the items didn’t take quite so long to create. I turned first to the category in which I felt most comfortable, web elements, and realised that although there are a lot of navigation menus available on the site not many of these are vertical.  Investigating the GR forums, I found many examples of graphics that had been declined for sale and was convinced I could do better than the majority, so away I went.

I work in Fireworks mostly, so after freaking out over whether my PSD version was “right” and writing up a far too in-depth user guide, I uploaded the menus and held my breath, leaving a pleading note for my reviewer to ask for feedback on my very first file (they usually just send a copy/paste reply depending on whether your file is accepted or declined). The following morning I awoke to a wonderful sight! I was officially a GR author, and my reviewer had sent me a very nice reply congratulating me on being one of the “very few” to get their first file accepted!

<insert mental image of me doing happy dance here>

A few days and no sales later, I was nevertheless hard at work on my second planned upload. This was an attempt at something a bit more different, and the 12 seasonal RSS icons are featured in my portfolio here because the end result was just so cute. If possible, I was even more nervous about this upload than the last. I only recently got to any sort of vaguely proficient level in Illustrator so it was a nice surprise when this was also accepted for sale with no questions asked.

Considering it isn’t rare for authors to be repeatedly declined, especially on their first uploads, 2 for 2 is a pretty good result so far.

Will they actually sell?

My first item went up less than a week ago. Unfortunately I fail at advertising (makes me feel guilty!) so I’ve yet to achieve any sales, but the warm glow from being accepted in the first place has yet to fade. The point is, even if these don’t start selling until this time next year they will always be there, 24/7, with no work involved from me. Passive (potential) income, FTW.

Some of the rejected uploads posted on the marketplace forums by disgruntled authors probably do deserve to be accepted. The majority that I’ve seen however seem to lack polish, or blatantly copy their concept from top selling files instead of providing something different. Rather than the marketplace standards being too high, I think a lot of wannabe author’s standards are too low. That said, there are a fair number of said authors who take rejection as a challenge to do better and improve their skills, which is the best way to look at it.

In case any of this sounds like bragging, I’ll point out again that I have zero sales so far. If I can reach 10 at some point, I hereby pledge to run around in the street yelling about it and post the proof on Youtube. Nothing like helping a girl make a fool of herself, is there?

Part 2 of this series will be published after some pushy marketing, and hopefully some sales. Please excuse the fact that I’ve used affiliate links in this post, you can’t blame a girl for trying.