The most common disappointment: you activate a purchased theme and your site looks like an empty page with a menu. That is normal — the demo showed content, not just a theme. Here is how to get the same setup.
What a demo import is
A package of sample pages, images, menus and settings that mirrors the demo. Nearly every major theme offers one (Astra Starter Templates, Kadence Starter, OceanWP Demos, purchased themes with One Click Demo Import).
Before importing — mandatory
- Do it on an EMPTY site if possible; the import adds a dozen pages you will have to clean up
- A backup if the site has content — the import can overwrite menus and widgets
- Install the plugins the demo requires (it usually just suggests them)
How it works
- Appearance → Starter Templates (or Import Demo Data, depending on the theme)
- Pick a builder if asked: Gutenberg (simpler, faster) or Elementor
- Choose a demo → Import → wait 1-3 minutes (do not close it!)
- Open the site — it now looks like the demo
Right after: cleanup
- Replace the demo texts — the most embarrassing mistake is a live site with lorem ipsum and Our Team: John Doe
- Replace the images — demo images are licensed for the demo, not always for you; and strangers on your About page get noticed
- Delete the pages you do not need — the import typically brings 15 and you need 6
- Check the menu and footer — no links to demo content
- Optimise images — demo packages can drag in tens of MB
Honestly
The demo is scaffolding, not a finished site. The real work is your content: real texts, real photos, real offers. A site that looks like the demo with a swapped logo — buyers recognise it instantly.