Today (9th April, 2025 IST) marks a special moment in the journey of Plus UI Blogger Template — we've officially reached 200 sales. This isn't just a number to us; it's a reminder that behind each sale is someone who believed in what we're building. Whether you've been with us since the beginning or just joined the Plus UI family, this milestone belongs to you. Your support, feedback, and trust have shaped Plus UI into what it is today, and for that, we are endlessly grateful. Here's to every blog powered by Plus UI, every kind message we've received, and every little win that brought us here. Thank you for being part of this story.
How It All Started
I've always been curious about computers, IoT and web development. As a student eager to learn, I joined Blogger in 2021 at the age of 13 to explore web design and grow my skills.
One of the themes that truly inspired me during that time was Median UI by Jago Desain. Its clean and functional layout sparked my interest in creating something of my own. That inspiration eventually led to the creation of Plus UI — not as a product, but as a personal project. I kept building and refining it, learning along the way.
Initially, I had no plans to sell Plus UI. It was something I made for myself. But as it gained attention, people started encouraging me to share it with others — some even suggested selling it. I was hesitant, but on November 3, 2021, I made my first sale. That moment changed everything. It made me realize that Plus UI could actually help other bloggers, just like Median UI had inspired me.
Plus UI has a bit of a strange versioning history. The first public release was v1.2, launched while I was still learning. There were a few early supporters, but the theme was still in its early phase and relatively unnoticed. Then came v2.5, which started gaining attention and received positive feedback. But it was v2.6 that really resonated with users and marked a turning point in the theme's journey. From there, I introduced v3, which now follows proper semantic versioning (SemVer) to ensure clarity and consistency going forward. Both v1.2 and v2.5 are now deprecated and no longer available.
Today, Plus UI has grown into a trusted theme for hundreds of bloggers — and it all began with curiosity, inspiration, and a little encouragement from the community.
What 200 Sales Means to Me
For some, 200 sales might just be a number — but for me, it's much more than that. As a student, this milestone represents the value of hard work, patience, and passion. Every sale has not only boosted my confidence but also supported my learning journey and helped me invest in better tools, resources, and time to continue improving Plus UI.
I never imagined that something I started out of curiosity would reach and help so many bloggers. Knowing that my work is making a difference — and being appreciated by people across different countries — is one of the most rewarding feelings.
These 200 sales aren't just transactions; they're 200 people who chose to support a young developer's dream. And for that, I'm deeply thankful.
Behind the Scenes
A lot has happened behind the curtain that most people don't see. Here are a few stories that shaped the journey of Plus UI.
Meeting Sagar Bishnoi
One of the most defining moments was when I met Sagar Bishnoi. He discovered Plus UI, genuinely appreciated the work, and reached out wanting to help — not for money, not for credit, but because he believed in the theme and in me.
That moment turned into a real friendship. Sagar was the person who helped make Plus UI popular. He managed sales, offered support, and guided users — all while I focused on school and continued development.
Without asking for anything in return, he stood by me and made sure things ran smoothly when I couldn't always be present. His help came exactly when I needed it most, and I'll always be thankful for that.
I'm really grateful to have someone like him by my side. It's proof that when you create something with passion, the right people will find you.
Learning by Doing – Realtime Views and Bookmarks
During the early stages of Plus UI, a few users suggested features like realtime post view counters and bookmarking. At the time, I wasn't very confident with Firebase or aware of many JavaScript capabilities. I reached out to a few developers who had built similar features, but didn't receive much help. I understand — they may have had their own reasons, and I completely respect that.
Instead, I took it as a challenge. I kept learning, experimenting, and slowly started figuring things out. With the help of my friend Armaan, I was able to add both realtime views and bookmarks in v2.6, a version that was widely appreciated.
I was proud to have completed that challenge — and interestingly, one of the people I had once asked for help even noticed and later added similar features to their own theme.
Unexpected Moments and Small Wins
Along the journey of building Plus UI, there were many small moments that made me smile — moments that reminded me why I started all of this in the first place.
I still remember the first time I saw someone review Plus UI on YouTube. It wasn't a big channel, but seeing someone take the time to install it, explore its features, and speak positively about it felt surreal. It hit me that my work was actually being noticed — not just by friends or familiar names, but by people I had never met.
Another amazing moment was when I randomly found someone using Plus UI on their live website, without knowing they even bought it. That feeling — seeing something I made helping someone else's blog come alive — it's hard to describe.
Over time, I started receiving messages from people in countries I never imagined reaching. Some just said "thank you" while others shared how Plus UI helped them build their own little projects. These were not just customers — they were real people, real bloggers, each with their own stories and ideas.
Those small wins, those tiny surprises along the way — they meant a lot. They made all the late nights, all the debugging, and all the self-doubt totally worth it.
Building a Community
At first, Plus UI was just a small project — I didn't expect it to grow, let alone form a community around it. But over time, I started noticing something special.
Some people didn't just buy the theme — they stayed. They shared suggestions, reported bugs, offered kind words, and helped others understand how things worked. They weren't just customers anymore. They became early supporters, and slowly, a small but beautiful community began to form.
What touched me most was the way people helped each other. Whether it was on Telegram, in comments, or through private messages, they answered questions, explained customizations, and even shared their own tweaks. It wasn't something I asked for — it just happened naturally.
That kind of support is rare. And for someone like me, still a student trying to balance school and a passion project, it meant everything.
It reminded me that Plus UI was never just about the design — it was about people helping people, learning together, and creating something better as a group.
Facing Criticism and Staying Focused
When Plus UI started gaining attention, it naturally brought in appreciation — but also criticism.
Some people said it looked too similar to other themes like Median UI, or questioned whether it truly deserved the popularity it was getting. There were times when the comparisons felt harsh, and even though I had clearly mentioned the UI was inspired by Median UI, it still didn't stop people from making assumptions.
But I never let that break my focus.
I knew where Plus UI came from — it wasn't just a product, it was a learning journey. Every line of code was written while exploring, failing, and figuring things out on my own. The intention was never to copy but to learn, improve, and create something that made Blogger feel fresh again.
Instead of letting the criticism pull me down, I used it as fuel. I worked even harder to improve the UI, optimize performance, and add features that made it stand out — things that weren't in any other themes. Over time, that difference became clear to the users who actually used it.
The way I see it — if people are talking, it means your work matters. And as long as I was being honest with myself and creating from a place of passion, I didn't need to prove anything to anyone.
The Turning Point – From Pressure to Support
As I started working on v3 of Plus UI, I knew it was going to involve breaking changes and take a lot of time. I was rebuilding core parts of the theme from scratch, and balancing that level of development with school was incredibly challenging.
Even though I regularly provided patch updates, many users were expecting faster releases, which added pressure. It became overwhelming — and at one point, I decided to step away from development to focus on my studies and well-being.
That's when Armaan reached out to me. He messaged me, not to ask questions or complain — but to say he wanted to help. He didn't ask for money, recognition, or anything in return. He just wanted to support the project.
Thanks to him, v3 was launched on October 4, 2024. The development was re-planned with a more sustainable approach, and a decision was made to avoid breaking changes in future versions by updating the theme's policy and structure. This ensured users wouldn't be disrupted with every update going forward if released.
From v3 onwards, Armaan has been the only active developer of Plus UI. I've stepped back — I no longer maintain or provide support for the theme. But seeing it continue to grow under someone else's care makes me proud. Armaan stepped in when it mattered the most, and I'll always be grateful for that.
Lessons from 200 Sales
Looking back on this journey, hitting 200 sales is more than just a number — it's a reflection of everything I've learned along the way.
As a student, I had no idea that something I built out of curiosity would reach people across countries and backgrounds. Through every challenge — from balancing studies, building features I didn't know how to create, to handling feedback and expectations — I learned things that no textbook could ever teach.
One of the biggest lessons was that you don't have to be perfect to start. I launched Plus UI while still learning. I made mistakes. I updated, improved, and rebuilt. But the key was: I kept going.
I also learned that if you create with passion, the right people will find you — people who support you, guide you, and grow with you. That's what Plus UI brought into my life — a path, a purpose, and people I'll always be grateful for.
A Note from the Heart
If by any chance Maki M. (Owner of Jago Desain and creator of Median UI) ever comes across this post — I just want to say thank you. I may not have the right words, but your work truly inspired me. Plus UI exists because something in your design sparked a deep interest in me. I'm genuinely grateful for that influence — even if we've never spoken, you've been a silent mentor in this journey.
And to everyone who has supported me, purchased Plus UI, shared feedback, told a friend about it, or even just used it on their blog — thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As a student chasing a passion, every little bit of encouragement helped me keep going. Plus UI wouldn't be where it is today without you all.
Looking Ahead
As I move forward, I don't know exactly where this journey will take me. But I do know one thing — I'll keep learning, building, and creating with the same passion that started it all.
While I may not be actively developing Plus UI anymore, I trust the foundation is strong and in good hands. Whether it's a new idea, a small experiment, or something unexpected — I'll always be around, quietly working on things I love.
Thank you once again for being part of this story.
This is just one milestone — and I'm excited to see what comes next.
A Little Gift to Celebrate
Reaching 200 sales feels like a shared achievement, so here's a small way to give back.
Use the code PLUS200 at checkout to get $3 (₹250 if paying through UPI) off on your purchase of Plus UI Blogger Template.
* This offer is valid until May 15th and can be used up to 20 times.
