Any Micro ISV's on here?

[c4s]

I'm wondering if anyone here is successfully producing and selling software for a living? Do we have Micro ISV's? (Doesn't have to be focused on stuff solely created with PureBasic)

It would be great if we could share some tips, tricks and discussions about this topic...


I'm starting with a question:
Did anyone of you try out those various Giveaway websites to promote your own software?
I'm asking because I'm not sure if it's worth it. Sure there will be more (short time!) attention. But does it outweigh the disadvantages such as having to deal with more support questions and free licenses floating around the web?

Which other (cost-efficient) promotion methods do you know or tried out?

[DarkDragon]

I tried shareit, but my product is too expensive and I don't advertise for it anywhere.

But I'm not only producing software for end users. I'm also working for companies. I don't even advertise on that (because I don't have time to do it full time - I'm a student as you might already know), I hear about a company needing a software developer for one project and I contact them if I need money.

[idle]

marketing is so dependent on the product.

I think the giveaway sites could be a good idea if the product is aimed at the general public, though it'd be of no use if the product was a niche product.

If it's a niche product find a blogger (evangelist) in that niche

Try to leverage your social and professional networks

If there's something news worthy about the product do a media releases and send them off to news sites

Buy the .com name of your product, so at least it will appear on the first page of a google search once it's gone out in the wild

If your able to create a demo version (limited functionality) flood the down load sites with them
but don't distribute your complete version through them (you also need to do regular updates to keep your product visible)

Don't bother with activation or software protection services, roll your own if you really think it's required

Seed torrents with a demo version

Youtube demo's

If it's business orientated beat your feet and do direct sales, find a company that could benefit from your software
offer it to them to conduct a limited trial for which you intend to use as a case study.

[c4s]

@DarkDragon
So did your product generate some sales the way handled it? Did you achieve your expectations?


@idle
Thank you. That are some great advices! Which of them did you try out yourself? Which were most effective/useful for you?

[DarkDragon]

@DarkDragon
So did your product generate some sales the way handled it?

No.

Did you achieve your expectations?

Yes.

[c4s]

@DarkDragon
Well, if your goal was to sell no software then you've successfully reached it. Congratulations!


I have another more general question:
Which (if any) accounting software do you use for managing your sales and/or freelancer jobs?