February 9, 2026

15–23 minutes

Ep.028 WordPress Theme Directory Submission – Theme Check, Testing & Approval Process

Complete guide to WordPress theme directory submission. Learn to use Theme Check plugin, import test data, fix validation errors, and successfully submit your block theme for approval.

Introduction

After making Versana production-ready in Episode 27, it’s time for the final step: WordPress theme directory submission. This episode covers the complete submission process, from installing the Theme Check plugin to handling reviewer feedback.

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know exactly how to prepare, test, and successfully complete your WordPress theme directory submission.

What We’ll Cover

Installing and using the Theme Check plugin
Understanding Theme Check requirements
Fixing common validation errors
Importing official WordPress test data
Testing with real content
Creating a demo site
Preparing submission documentation
Submitting to WordPress.org
Handling theme review feedback
Post-approval best practices

Prerequisites

Completed Episode 27 (Versana v1.0.0 production ready)
WordPress 6.0+ with Versana theme installed
Admin access to WordPress dashboard
WordPress.org account (free)

Part 1: Installing Theme Check Plugin

What is Theme Check?

Theme Check is the official WordPress.org plugin that validates themes against submission requirements. It’s essential for any WordPress theme directory submission.

Installation Steps

Method 1: Via WordPress Admin

Log into WordPress admin
Navigate to Plugins → Add New
Search for “Theme Check”
Click Install Now on “Theme Check” by WordPress.org
Click Activate

Method 2: Via WP-CLI

wp plugin install theme-check --activate

Accessing Theme Check

After activation:

Go to Appearance → Theme Check
You’ll see a dropdown with all installed themes
Select your theme (“Versana”)
Click Check it!

Part 2: Understanding Theme Check Results

Result Types

Theme Check categorizes issues into three levels:

REQUIRED (Red) ❌

Must fix before submission
Submission will be rejected with these
Examples: Missing required files, deprecated functions

WARNING (Orange) ⚠️

Should fix for best practices
May cause review delays
Examples: Missing recommended features, unused CSS

RECOMMENDED (Blue) ℹ️

Nice to have improvements
Won’t block submission
Examples: Additional features, optimizations

INFO (Green) ✓

Informational messages
No action needed
Examples: File found confirmations

First Run – Expected Results

For Versana v1.0.0, you should see:

REQUIRED: 0 issues ✓
WARNING: 0-2 issues
RECOMMENDED: 2-4 items
INFO: Multiple confirmations

If you see any REQUIRED issues, we’ll fix them next.

Part 3: Common Theme Check Issues & Fixes

Issue #1: Missing Required Files

Error:

REQUIRED: The theme doesn't have screenshot.png file.

Fix: Create screenshot.png (1200x900px) in theme root showing your theme.

How to Create:

# 1. Set up demo site with sample content
# 2. Navigate to homepage
# 3. Take screenshot (full browser window)
# 4. Crop/resize to 1200x900px
# 5. Save as screenshot.png in theme root

Issue #2: Text Domain Mismatch

Error:

REQUIRED: Text domain mismatch. Found: versana-theme, Expected: versana

Fix: Search and replace in all files:

// WRONG
__( 'Some text', 'versana-theme' )

// CORRECT
__( 'Some text', 'versana' )

Use Search & Replace:

# In theme directory
find . -type f -name "*.php" -exec sed -i 's/versana-theme/versana/g' {} +

Issue #3: Deprecated Functions

Error:

REQUIRED: Found wp_title() in header.php. Use wp_get_document_title() instead.

Fix: Block themes don’t use wp_title(). Remove if found:

// REMOVE this if found:
<title><?php wp_title(); ?></title>

// Block themes use document_title automatically
// No need to add anything

Issue #4: Hardcoded Links

Error:

WARNING: Possible hard-coded links found: https://yoursite.com

Fix: Replace with dynamic URLs:

// WRONG
<a href="https://example.com">Home</a>

// CORRECT
<a href="<?php echo esc_url( home_url( '/' ) ); ?>">Home</a>

Issue #5: Missing License Information

Error:

WARNING: Could not find License URI.

Fix: Verify style.css header includes:

/*
Theme Name: Versana
License: GNU General Public License v2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
*/

Issue #6: Escaping Issues

Error:

REQUIRED: Found unescaped output: echo $variable

Fix: Properly escape all output:

// WRONG
echo $option_value;

// CORRECT
echo esc_html( $option_value );
echo esc_attr( $attribute_value );
echo esc_url( $url_value );

Issue #7: Missing Theme Support

Error:

WARNING: add_theme_support( 'title-tag' ) not found.

Fix: Add to functions.php:

function versana_theme_setup() {
    add_theme_support( 'title-tag' );
    add_theme_support( 'post-thumbnails' );
    add_theme_support( 'automatic-feed-links' );
    add_theme_support( 'wp-block-styles' );
    add_theme_support( 'align-wide' );
    add_theme_support( 'editor-styles' );
    add_theme_support( 'html5', array(
        'search-form',
        'comment-form',
        'comment-list',
        'gallery',
        'caption',
        'style',
        'script'
    ) );
}
add_action( 'after_setup_theme', 'versana_theme_setup' );

Issue #8: Missing Translation Functions

Error:

WARNING: Text strings need to be translatable.

Fix: Wrap all text in translation functions:

// WRONG
echo 'Search results for:';

// CORRECT
echo esc_html__( 'Search results for:', 'versana' );

Part 4: Importing WordPress Test Data

Why Use Official Test Data?

Official WordPress test data includes:

Various post types and formats
Long and short titles
Posts with/without featured images
Multiple categories and tags
Nested comments
Special characters in content
RTL content samples
Gutenberg blocks of all types

Downloading Test Data

Official WordPress Theme Unit Test Data:

# Download from WordPress.org
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/WPTT/theme-unit-test/master/themeunittestdata.wordpress.xml

Or manually:

Visit: https://github.com/WPTT/theme-unit-test
Download themeunittestdata.wordpress.xml
Save to your computer

Importing Test Data

Step 1: Install WordPress Importer

Go to Tools → Import
Click WordPress importer
Click Install Now
Click Run Importer

Step 2: Import Test File

Click Choose File
Select themeunittestdata.wordpress.xml
Click Upload file and import

Step 3: Import Settings

✓ Download and import file attachments (Important!)
✓ Assign authors to existing users or create new

Click Submit

Import Process:

Importing posts...
Importing media...
Importing comments...
Importing terms...

All done! Have fun :)

What Gets Imported

Posts: 40+ sample posts with various content types
Pages: Multiple sample pages
Categories: 10+ categories with hierarchy
Tags: 20+ tags
Comments: Nested and threaded comments
Media: Sample images in various sizes
Custom Fields: Various meta data

Part 5: Testing with Real Content

Visual Testing Checklist

After importing test data, verify these scenarios:

Homepage/Blog Index

[ ] All blog layouts work (list, 2col, 3col)
[ ] Posts display correctly
[ ] Featured images show properly
[ ] Excerpts are correct length
[ ] Pagination works
[ ] No broken layouts with long titles

Single Post View

[ ] Post title displays correctly
[ ] Featured image shows
[ ] Content formatting preserved
[ ] All Gutenberg blocks render
[ ] Author info displays
[ ] Post meta (date, categories) shows
[ ] Comments display and work
[ ] Previous/Next navigation works
[ ] Sidebar displays (if enabled)

Archive Pages

[ ] Category archives work
[ ] Tag archives work
[ ] Date archives work
[ ] Author archives work
[ ] Search results display

Edge Cases

[ ] Very long post titles (100+ characters)
[ ] Posts with no featured image
[ ] Posts with special characters
[ ] RTL content (if supported)
[ ] Empty archives
[ ] No search results

Testing Each Blog Layout

List Layout:

1. Go to Appearance → Theme Options → Blog
2. Select "Standard List"
3. Save Settings
4. Visit blog page
5. Verify posts display in single column
6. Check spacing and alignment

2-Column Grid:

1. Select "Two Columns Grid"
2. Save Settings
3. Visit blog page
4. Verify posts in 2-column grid
5. Check responsive behavior on mobile
6. Verify card styling

3-Column Grid:

1. Select "Three Columns Grid"
2. Save Settings
3. Visit blog page
4. Verify posts in 3-column grid
5. Check tablet shows 2 columns
6. Check mobile shows 1 column

Testing Sidebar Positions

Right Sidebar:

1. Select "Right Sidebar"
2. Visit blog/single post
3. Verify sidebar on right
4. Check mobile stacks correctly

Left Sidebar:

1. Select "Left Sidebar"
2. Visit blog/single post
3. Verify sidebar on left
4. Check mobile stacks correctly

No Sidebar:

1. Select "No Sidebar (Full Width)"
2. Visit blog/single post
3. Verify full-width content
4. Check max-width applies

Testing Special Features

Sticky Header:

1. Enable "Sticky Header"
2. Scroll down page
3. Verify header sticks to top
4. Check animation smooth
5. Test mobile behavior

Back to Top Button:

1. Enable "Back to Top Button"
2. Scroll down page
3. Verify button appears after 300px
4. Click button
5. Verify smooth scroll to top

Performance Testing

Google PageSpeed Insights:

1. Visit https://pagespeed.web.dev/
2. Enter your demo site URL
3. Run test
4. Target: 90+ mobile, 95+ desktop
5. Fix any issues found

GTmetrix:

1. Visit https://gtmetrix.com/
2. Enter your demo site URL
3. Run test
4. Target: Grade A, <2s load time
5. Optimize if needed

Part 6: Accessibility Testing

Keyboard Navigation Test

Test Script:

1. Open homepage
2. Press Tab key repeatedly
3. Verify focus indicators visible
4. Navigate through menu using arrow keys
5. Activate links with Enter
6. Tab through all interactive elements
7. Verify skip-to-content link works

Expected Behavior:

All interactive elements receive focus
Focus indicators clearly visible
Logical tab order (top to bottom, left to right)
No keyboard traps
Skip link appears on focus

Screen Reader Testing

Using NVDA (Windows – Free):

1. Download NVDA from nvaccess.org
2. Install and launch
3. Navigate to your theme demo
4. Use arrow keys to navigate
5. Listen to content announcements
6. Verify all images have alt text
7. Check form labels are announced

Using VoiceOver (Mac – Built-in):

1. Press Cmd + F5 to enable VoiceOver
2. Navigate with VO + Arrow keys
3. Listen to content
4. Verify semantic structure
5. Check landmark navigation (VO + U)

What to Test:

[ ] Page title announced
[ ] Headings properly hierarchical
[ ] Images have descriptive alt text
[ ] Links have meaningful text
[ ] Form fields have labels
[ ] Buttons have clear purposes
[ ] Landmarks properly used (header, nav, main, footer)

Color Contrast Testing

Using WebAIM Contrast Checker:

1. Visit https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/
2. Test these combinations:
   - Body text on background
   - Link text on background
   - Button text on button background
   - Header text on header background
3. Verify all meet WCAG AA (4.5:1 for normal text)

Versana Default Colors:

/* Test these combinations */
Primary (#1A73E8) on White (#FFFFFF) = 4.69:1 ✓
Neutral 900 (#111111) on White = 18.31:1 ✓
Neutral 700 (#424242) on White = 9.28:1 ✓
White on Primary (#1A73E8) = 4.69:1 ✓

WAVE Accessibility Tool

1. Install WAVE browser extension
2. Visit your theme demo
3. Click WAVE icon
4. Review errors (0 required)
5. Review alerts (minimize)
6. Check structure outline

Part 7: Creating Your Demo Site

Why a Demo Site?

A live demo helps:

Theme reviewers test your theme
Users preview before downloading
You catch issues before submission
Speed up review process

Setting Up Demo Site

Option 1: WordPress.com Sandbox

1. Visit wordpress.com
2. Create free account
3. Create new site
4. Upload and activate your theme
5. Import test data
6. Configure theme options

Option 2: InstaWP (Recommended)

1. Visit instawp.com
2. Create free account
3. Launch instant WordPress site
4. Upload your theme
5. Import test data
6. Share demo link

Option 3: Your Own Hosting

1. Create subdomain: demo.yoursite.com
2. Install fresh WordPress
3. Upload and activate theme
4. Import test data
5. Configure settings
6. Set up basic content

Demo Site Best Practices

Content Setup:

✓ Import WordPress test data
✓ Add logo and site icon
✓ Configure navigation menu
✓ Set up widget areas (if any)
✓ Configure theme options
✓ Test all layouts
✓ Add sample pages

Settings:

✓ Disable search engine indexing (Settings → Reading)
✓ Set permalink structure to "Post name"
✓ Enable comments for testing
✓ Configure discussion settings

User Access:

✓ Create demo login credentials
✓ Use admin/demo username (easy to remember)
✓ Use simple password (it's a demo)
✓ Share credentials with reviewers

Part 8: Preparing Submission Documentation

Required Documentation

1. Theme Description

Create a compelling description for readme.txt:

== Description ==

Versana is a lightweight, performance-focused WordPress block theme designed specifically for bloggers and content creators. Built with full site editing (FSE) support, Versana offers multiple blog layouts, flexible sidebar positioning, and performance optimizations out of the box.

Perfect for personal blogs, professional content creators, magazine-style websites, and documentation sites. Versana follows a "theme.json first" approach, ensuring fast page loads, better WordPress compatibility, and easier customization through the Site Editor.

Key Features:
* Full Site Editing (FSE) support
* 3 blog layouts: List, 2-column grid, 3-column grid
* Flexible sidebar positions: Left, Right, or None
* Sticky header option for better navigation
* Performance optimizations: lazy loading, script optimization
* Multiple footer template variations
* Analytics integration (Google Analytics, Tag Manager, Facebook Pixel)
* Translation ready and accessibility optimized
* Mobile-responsive design
* Professional typography and spacing system

2. Installation Instructions

== Installation ==

= Automatic Installation =

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
2. Navigate to Appearance → Themes
3. Click "Add New"
4. Search for "Versana"
5. Click "Install" then "Activate"

= Manual Installation =

1. Download the theme ZIP file from WordPress.org
2. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
3. Navigate to Appearance → Themes
4. Click "Add New" → "Upload Theme"
5. Choose the ZIP file and click "Install Now"
6. Click "Activate"

= After Activation =

1. Go to Appearance → Editor to customize design (colors, typography, spacing)
2. Go to Appearance → Theme Options to configure features (blog layouts, performance)
3. Use Appearance → Editor → Patterns to explore block patterns
4. Start creating content and see your blog come to life!

3. Changelog

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 - 2024-02-XX =
* Initial release
* Full Site Editing (FSE) support with 8 templates
* 3 blog layout options (List, 2-Column Grid, 3-Column Grid)
* Flexible sidebar positioning (Left, Right, None)
* Sticky header with smooth scroll behavior
* 3 footer template variations
* Performance optimization features:
  - Lazy loading for images
  - Optional emoji script removal
  - Optional embed script removal
* Analytics integration:
  - Google Analytics (GA4 and Universal Analytics)
  - Google Tag Manager
  - Facebook Pixel
* Theme Options panel for easy configuration
* Custom copyright text with [year] and [site_name] shortcodes
* Back to top button with smooth scroll
* Complete core block styling (paragraphs, lists, quotes, code, etc.)
* Form element styling
* Accessibility features (keyboard navigation, screen reader support)
* Translation ready
* Mobile-responsive design
* Print stylesheet
* 8 block templates (index, home, front-page, single, page, archive, search, 404)
* 5 template parts (header, header-centered, footer, footer-simple, footer-4col)
* Hero banner block pattern

4. Credits & Resources

== Credits ==

* Developed by CODOPLEX - https://codoplex.com/
* Font families: System fonts for optimal performance
* Icons: WordPress Dashicons (GPL v2+)
* Based on WordPress block theme best practices

== Resources ==

This theme bundles the following third-party resources:

* System Fonts
  Licensed under their respective licenses
  Used for optimal performance and compatibility across all devices

* WordPress Dashicons
  Licensed under GPL v2 or later
  https://developer.wordpress.org/resource/dashicons/

5. Frequently Asked Questions

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Is this theme free? =

Yes! Versana is 100% free and licensed under GPL v2 or later.

= Does this theme support WooCommerce? =

WooCommerce support is not included in v1.0.0 but is planned for a future release (v2.0).

= Can I customize the colors and fonts? =

Absolutely! Use the Site Editor (Appearance → Editor) to customize all colors, typography, and spacing using the theme's preset values. All design settings are controlled through theme.json for consistency.

= How do I change the blog layout? =

Go to Appearance → Theme Options → Blog tab and select your preferred layout (List, 2-Column Grid, or 3-Column Grid). Save settings and visit your blog to see the changes.

= Is the theme translation ready? =

Yes! Versana is fully translation ready with proper text domain usage ('versana'). You can translate it using WordPress translation plugins like Loco Translate or tools like Poedit.

= Does the theme support RTL languages? =

Yes, Versana includes RTL language support for right-to-left languages like Arabic and Hebrew.

= How do I add my logo? =

1. Go to Appearance → Editor
2. Click on Template Parts → Header
3. Click the Site Logo block
4. Upload your logo image
5. Save changes

= Can I change the footer content? =

Yes! Go to Appearance → Editor → Template Parts and select Footer to customize your footer content and layout. You can also choose from 3 pre-designed footer templates (default, simple, 4-column).

= Where can I get support? =

For support questions, please visit the support forum on WordPress.org or contact us through our website at https://codoplex.com/support/

= How do I report a bug? =

Please report bugs on the WordPress.org support forum or through our GitHub repository. Include details about the issue and steps to reproduce it.

Part 9: WordPress Theme Directory Submission

Step-by-Step Submission Process

Step 1: Create WordPress.org Account

1. Visit https://login.wordpress.org/register
2. Fill in username, email, password
3. Confirm email address
4. Log in to WordPress.org

Step 2: Prepare Theme ZIP

What to Include:

versana/
├── assets/
├── inc/
├── parts/
├── patterns/
├── templates/
├── functions.php
├── style.css
├── theme.json
├── readme.txt
├── screenshot.png
└── LICENSE

What to Exclude:

❌ .git/
❌ .gitignore
❌ node_modules/
❌ .DS_Store
❌ Thumbs.db
❌ Any .log files
❌ Development files
❌ .sass or .scss files (unless used)

Create ZIP:

# From parent directory
zip -r versana.zip versana/ -x "*.git*" "*.DS_Store" "*node_modules*" "*.log"

Verify ZIP:

# Check ZIP contents
unzip -l versana.zip

# Verify size (should be under 10MB)
ls -lh versana.zip

Step 3: Upload Theme

1. Visit https://wordpress.org/themes/upload/
2. Log in with WordPress.org account
3. Read Theme Submission Guidelines
4. Click "Select Theme ZIP File"
5. Choose your versana.zip file
6. Click "Upload"

Step 4: Initial Automated Check

WordPress.org runs automated checks:

✓ ZIP file structure valid
✓ Required files present (style.css, screenshot.png)
✓ No malicious code detected
✓ File size under limit
✓ License compatible (GPL)

If Checks Pass:

Success! Your theme has been uploaded.
A theme review ticket has been created.
You'll receive email notifications about your review.

If Checks Fail:

Error messages will show specific issues.
Fix issues and re-upload.
Common: Missing files, incorrect structure, license issues

Step 5: Theme Review Ticket

After successful upload:

1. You'll receive Trac ticket number (e.g., #123456)
2. Check ticket at: https://themes.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/123456
3. Ticket shows:
   - Upload timestamp
   - Theme details
   - Automated check results
   - Reviewer assignment status

What Reviewers Check

Required Items:

[ ] All files properly structured
[ ] No security issues
[ ] No malicious code
[ ] Proper escaping of output
[ ] Proper sanitization of input
[ ] No deprecated functions
[ ] Proper theme support declarations
[ ] Translation ready
[ ] Accessibility compliance
[ ] Screenshot represents theme
[ ] readme.txt complete and accurate
[ ] Proper licensing

Best Practices:

[ ] Code formatting
[ ] Documentation
[ ] Performance optimization
[ ] User experience
[ ] Mobile responsiveness

Part 10: Handling Review Feedback

Timeline Expectations

Typical Review Process:

Day 1: Upload theme
Day 2-14: Automated checks, queue assignment
Day 7-21: Initial human review
Day 21-28: Address feedback, resubmit
Day 28-35: Final review
Day 35-42: Approval (if all requirements met)

Average Timeline: 3-6 weeks for first-time submission

Common Review Feedback

Feedback Type 1: Security Issues

Example Feedback:

Line 45 in inc/template-functions.php:
Found unescaped output: echo $option_value;

Please escape all output using appropriate functions.

How to Fix:

// Change this:
echo $option_value;

// To this:
echo esc_html( $option_value );

Feedback Type 2: Missing Features

Example Feedback:

Theme does not support title-tag.
Please add add_theme_support( 'title-tag' ) in functions.php

How to Fix:

function versana_theme_setup() {
    add_theme_support( 'title-tag' );
}
add_action( 'after_setup_theme', 'versana_theme_setup' );

Feedback Type 3: Licensing Issues

Example Feedback:

Screenshot appears to use copyrighted images.
Please provide license information or use GPL-compatible images.

How to Fix:

1. Replace with your own photos
2. Use CC0/Public Domain images
3. Document licenses in readme.txt

Feedback Type 4: Functionality Issues

Example Feedback:

Theme options are not saved correctly when switching tabs.
Please fix the save functionality.

How to Fix:

// We already fixed this in Episode 27!
// Ensure you're using the corrected options-sanitize.php

Responding to Feedback

Good Response Template:

Thank you for the review!

I've addressed all the issues:

1. Security - Fixed unescaped output in template-functions.php (line 45)
   Changed: echo $option_value
   To: echo esc_html( $option_value )

2. Theme Support - Added title-tag support in functions.php (line 28)

3. Screenshot - Replaced with GPL-compatible images
   Source: Unsplash (CC0)
   Documented in readme.txt

I've uploaded the updated version (v1.0.1).
Please let me know if anything else needs attention.

Thank you!

Upload Updated Version:

1. Fix all reported issues
2. Update version number in style.css (1.0.0 → 1.0.1)
3. Update changelog in readme.txt
4. Create new ZIP file
5. Upload to same ticket URL
6. Add comment explaining changes

Part 11: After Approval

Immediate Actions

Within 24 Hours:

Verify Theme Listing

Visit: https://wordpress.org/themes/versana/
Check:
- Screenshot displays correctly
- Description accurate
- Tags appropriate
- Download link works

Test Installation

- Install from WordPress.org
- Verify it matches your upload
- Test on fresh WordPress install
- Check all features work

Set Up Support

- Monitor support forum
- Respond to questions within 48 hours
- Create FAQ based on common questions

Marketing Your Theme

WordPress.org Optimization:

## Optimize Theme Page

1. Add detailed description
2. Use relevant tags (max 5)
3. Upload quality screenshots (multiple)
4. Keep readme.txt updated
5. Respond to all reviews
6. Answer support questions promptly

External Promotion:

## Promotion Checklist

- [ ] Announce on your blog
- [ ] Share on social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
- [ ] Submit to theme showcases
- [ ] Create video demo on YouTube
- [ ] Write tutorials/documentation
- [ ] Engage with users who try your theme
- [ ] Create demo site with compelling content

Monitoring & Maintenance

Weekly Tasks:

✓ Check support forum
✓ Respond to questions
✓ Monitor reviews
✓ Check download stats
✓ Note feature requests

Monthly Tasks:

✓ Review analytics
✓ Plan updates based on feedback
✓ Test with latest WordPress version
✓ Update documentation if needed
✓ Consider new features for next version

Quarterly Updates:

✓ Release minor version (bug fixes, small improvements)
✓ Update compatibility tags
✓ Refresh screenshots if needed
✓ Improve documentation

Part 12: Planning Future Updates

Version Numbering

Semantic Versioning:

MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH (e.g., 2.1.3)

MAJOR: Breaking changes, major new features
MINOR: New features, backward compatible
PATCH: Bug fixes only

Versana Roadmap:

v1.0.0 - Initial release (current)
v1.0.x - Bug fixes as needed
v1.1.0 - Minor improvements (2-3 months)
v1.2.0 - Additional patterns (4-6 months)
v2.0.0 - Pro features (6-12 months)

v1.1.0 Feature Ideas

Based on typical user feedback:

✓ Additional block patterns
✓ More color scheme presets
✓ Additional footer variations
✓ Enhanced typography options
✓ Minor bug fixes
✓ Performance improvements

v2.0.0 Major Features

Plan for future major release:

✓ Dark mode toggle
✓ Breadcrumbs system
✓ Reading time calculator
✓ Social share buttons
✓ Author bio box
✓ Related posts
✓ Table of contents
✓ WooCommerce support
✓ Advanced customization options

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve completed the entire WordPress theme directory submission process. From installing Theme Check to handling reviewer feedback, you now have all the knowledge needed for successful theme submission.

What We Accomplished

✅ Installed and ran Theme Check plugin
✅ Fixed all validation errors
✅ Imported WordPress test data
✅ Tested theme with real content
✅ Created professional demo site
✅ Prepared comprehensive documentation
✅ Submitted theme to WordPress.org
✅ Learned to handle review feedback
✅ Planned post-approval actions

Key Takeaways

For Successful Submission:

Test Thoroughly – Use Theme Check and real content
Document Everything – Clear readme.txt with all details
Follow Guidelines – Read and follow WordPress requirements
Be Responsive – Reply to reviewer feedback quickly
Stay Professional – Maintain quality in all communications
Plan Ahead – Think about maintenance and updates

Versana’s Journey

Episode 1-26: Building the theme
Episode 27: Production ready
Episode 28: Submission & approval (YOU ARE HERE)
Future: Updates, improvements, community growth

Success Metrics

First Month Goals:

- 100+ active installations
- 5+ five-star reviews
- 0 unanswered support questions
- 1 minor update released

First Year Goals:

- 1,000+ active installations
- 25+ five-star reviews
- Active community engagement
- 4+ updates released
- Planning v2.0 features

Resources

Official Documentation:

WordPress Theme Handbook: https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/
Theme Review Guidelines: https://make.wordpress.org/themes/handbook/review/
Theme Check Plugin: https://wordpress.org/plugins/theme-check/
Theme Unit Test Data: https://github.com/WPTT/theme-unit-test

Community:

Theme Review Slack: https://wordpress.slack.com #themereview
Make WordPress Themes: https://make.wordpress.org/themes/
Support Forums: https://wordpress.org/support/

Tools:

Theme Check Plugin: Automated validation
WAVE: Accessibility testing
PageSpeed Insights: Performance testing
InstaWP: Quick demo sites

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does theme review take? A: Typically 3-6 weeks for first-time submissions. Subsequent updates are faster (1-2 weeks).

Q: Can I submit a premium version later? A: Yes, but the WordPress.org version must remain fully functional and GPL-licensed.

Q: What if my theme gets rejected? A: Fix the issues mentioned, update your ZIP, and resubmit to the same ticket. Most themes are approved after addressing feedback.

Q: Can I update my theme after approval? A: Yes! Upload updates anytime. Minor updates (bug fixes) are auto-approved. Major updates may require re-review.

Q: How do I handle support requests? A: Respond within 48 hours on WordPress.org forums. Be helpful, professional, and patient.

Q: Can I use the same theme for client projects? A: Yes! GPL license allows use on unlimited sites, including client sites.

Q: What about theme customization requests? A: Direct users to hire developers for custom work. Don’t provide custom development in support forums.

Q: How do I get more downloads? A: Quality, support, marketing, regular updates, good reviews, and helpful documentation all help.

Next Steps

Immediate (Today):

Run final Theme Check
Create perfect screenshot
Finalize readme.txt
Create theme ZIP
Upload to WordPress.org

This Week:

Monitor submission ticket
Respond to any feedback
Create demo site
Prepare launch announcement

This Month:

Handle approval
Launch marketing campaign
Monitor support forum
Gather user feedback
Plan v1.1.0 improvements

Congratulations on completing the Versana WordPress Block Theme Development series!

You’ve built a professional, production-ready block theme from scratch and learned the complete WordPress theme directory submission process. Your theme is ready to help thousands of bloggers worldwide create beautiful websites.

Series Navigation:

Previous: Episode 27 – Making Versana Production Ready
Next: Bonus Episode – Marketing Your WordPress Theme

Series: WordPress Block Theme Development – Building Versana from Scratch