Shareware places!

Karbon · Post by **Karbon** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 4:42 pm

Hey guys.. I've never released any Windows software to the public before and I'm thinking of doing so with this billing system I wrote (originally for myself). With custom programming I never had to think much about marketing so that leads me here! I've read lots of things about how shareware is still alive and kicking and have decided to jump in. Although I have the ability to register my products through my own website (I have merchant accounts and such) I thought that maybe using ShareIt or one of those places would be worth the fees they charge as they do *some* marketing for you. Anyone have any opinions on ShareIt and friends?

Thanks!

Codemonger · Post by **Codemonger** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 5:59 pm

The reality is they do no marketing for you at all. Never concern yourself with fees, at first. Be more concerned with marketing and selling as many units as possible. So if you go it alone. Try the following steps:

#1) Submit your products 'website' to search engines, and make sure you properly place all meta tags describing your website etc.

#2) Spend some money on google ads, or make sure every item you sell you put some right back here. Google word ads really work, I've tried them.

#3) Download a automatic software submission program to submit your to all the shareware sites. This also really works. You can buy automatic or manual. I bought a manual one, but it is a pain in the ass.

#4) Make sure you have a good product, if it sucks the above three don't mean anything

Hope this helps a bit. If your interested in anymore info let me know. BTW I own a Software Submission website, it currently has gone under, I still use it for other websites I own. If you need a Free submission let me know. I own Submit Wolf Pro Enterprise software, and it submits for me automatically. (the site I own, but don't run anymore is http://www.TripleSubmit.com).

Anyway good luck !

Karbon · Post by **Karbon** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 6:34 pm

Thanks Code, all good advice!

I do lots of SEO work so that's not going to be a problem. I'm currently looking into several of these shareware places and, at a glance, don't see to be worth much unless you don't have merchant accounts or the know-how to setup an online store.. I guess I'll have to measure the time it'll take me to whip up a site with the money it will cost to use something ready-made!

Do you personally use any of these places for payment processing?

What do you think about Submit Wolf Pro? I've had great luck with Webposition but I'm always looking for some more effective tools..

Codemonger · Post by **Codemonger** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 10:08 pm

Submit Wolf Pro (Enterprise) is really good, only becuase I can do unlimited sites, but it takes a long time. And it cost me a fortune. One thing I don't like is they seperated every component so you have to individually purchase a bunch of little peices of software to do things that should be in the enterprise. I think I spent close to $500 US. But I haven't purchased the upgrade because I have no real use for it anymore.

As far as the payment processing places that handle specifically software, it is a misconception that they market your software. Most of them actually own a bunch of websites, and pretend they are affiliates. Silly internet marketing gimmiks. It definately doesn't hurt to use them as some do save time and keep you from having to do all the backend work. I have been with BMT Micro and Share-IT ... BMT Micro is alright, but again they do not market even if they say they will. Share-It has a lot of options to integrate unique registration numbers for security reasons with 3rd party dll's etc.. I think BMT Micro does the same. I found BMT Micro to be much cleaner and smoother, they are a little more personal and are not so automated.

Definately pick up some shareware submit software, as it makes a huge difference for exposure, even if you spend $50. It's worth it.

Also it takes time for products to catch on. Even submit them personally to software sites that do ratings. That helps too. Get in touch with editors of websites that do articles on software. You will find sometimes they are even looking for new stories. And last but not least submit your software to publishers, use a service for that also. They will email 1000's of magazines, websites etc. and do a press release of your software.

I could probably go on and on, especially because I'm at work and am bored. Anyway I'm always happy to help out a fellow PB User

Karbon · Post by **Karbon** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 3:09 am

What shareware submission software have you had good luck with?

I'm staring at hundreds of things claiming to be the best!

Codemonger · Post by **Codemonger** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 4:06 am

I don't have the one handy I bought, but it was from some Russian guy, and a license was personal by the month or yearly. The software was good, but a huge pain in the butt, because I had to manually submit to each and every site. It worked, but the reasearch that I did told me not to go with the automatic submitters. Now I'm not sure if I would go again with a manual submitter, as it is too time consuming, but more accurate.

Anyway I'll try to dig up the name of the software as it is on my PC, and I don't use my PC anymore and I have 3 OS's installed on it, I currently use my Laptop. So it'll take a bit.

Also PAD files are very important. You can download free programs for creating PAD files, and submitting a PAD files is really easy.

Karbon · Post by **Karbon** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 5:11 am

Ahh - I bet you're talking about http://www.accusolve.biz/ - I downloaded it and went insane just looking at the interface!

ricardo · Post by **ricardo** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 6:07 pm

I live from my shareware and i recommend you CNET (www.download.com).
It costs U$99 monthly but its the best way to promote your software.

There is no other shareware site that bring similar results as CNET.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 8:43 pm

You could try the free software from AnalogX called SoftSubmit.

http://www.analogx.com/contents/downloa ... submit.htm

It's kinda cool for submitting info to sites