For those who sell software, and those who want to.
Please use the poll,
And post hints, tips, questions and answers here.
Lets get more PB apps out into the world.
Sales of Software: Poll and Discussion
I don't know if this will be useful to anyone, but I did well a million years ago, back when msDos was an adolescent, windows a zygote and CPM had missed the boat.
The selling situation was a little different, and the competition was as much a mindset as other suppliers. People resisted change having always done it "this way" where "this way" was things like Kalamazoo cards, Roneo machines, and etc.
But some principles will still apply.
I developed an approach and a set of routines that were really user friendly (for those days) and build a development foundation (like Btrees, etc) and then used them as the core for everything.
I then targeted vertical markets. I learned as much as I could about a market in general, then approached people who were ambitious and/or influential in the that industry, with a concept for a system tailored to the industry.
In return for their advice on the fine details and the use of their influence in the industry, I cut them in on the action one way or another. That was negotiable, depended on circumstances, and ranged from commissions on sales to partnerships in JVs.
The software was bundled with equipment and sold as a package.
When my business was established enough, the JV approach was not as necessary, but it still paid to have people around who might know zero about computers but knew what the marketplace wanted, and the ins and outs and mindsets of the people in that market.
I did well in some markets (capturing up to 70% of one - paydays!) and reasonably well in others.
I also had a bread-and-butter line based around standard inventory, AR, AP, etc.
After a few years I made the best move of all and sold off that business.
I believe the approach still has some validity, and can be used now, albeit with different medium and in a different environment. I intend to find out, and the challenge is interesting and invigorating. (I also want to conquer again, in my own right and not through one of my companies or businesses - before I move into my twilight years.
)
Anyhow, the approach is to find something that is lacking or poorly addressed (the "vertical" market or the "specific" need) and provide something that works and is very easy to use.
The purists will hate this, but the user is much more interested in (and judgemental about) the bits they can see than the real stuff doing all the work behind the scenes. Only programmmers really care whether the code is 6 or 8 lines long, or takes 10 extra milliseconds after a month of running. So provided the package delivers the goods and does the job well enough and is simple to use ...
Anyhow I am banking on it. I believe I have identified a few areas where there is potential, and where a momentum can be built starting with one-on-one sales and installations.
What I have to and want to learn is internet marketing, mass packaging, etc, because I have no idea how to sell or market online.
The selling situation was a little different, and the competition was as much a mindset as other suppliers. People resisted change having always done it "this way" where "this way" was things like Kalamazoo cards, Roneo machines, and etc.
But some principles will still apply.
I developed an approach and a set of routines that were really user friendly (for those days) and build a development foundation (like Btrees, etc) and then used them as the core for everything.
I then targeted vertical markets. I learned as much as I could about a market in general, then approached people who were ambitious and/or influential in the that industry, with a concept for a system tailored to the industry.
In return for their advice on the fine details and the use of their influence in the industry, I cut them in on the action one way or another. That was negotiable, depended on circumstances, and ranged from commissions on sales to partnerships in JVs.
The software was bundled with equipment and sold as a package.
When my business was established enough, the JV approach was not as necessary, but it still paid to have people around who might know zero about computers but knew what the marketplace wanted, and the ins and outs and mindsets of the people in that market.
I did well in some markets (capturing up to 70% of one - paydays!) and reasonably well in others.
I also had a bread-and-butter line based around standard inventory, AR, AP, etc.
After a few years I made the best move of all and sold off that business.
I believe the approach still has some validity, and can be used now, albeit with different medium and in a different environment. I intend to find out, and the challenge is interesting and invigorating. (I also want to conquer again, in my own right and not through one of my companies or businesses - before I move into my twilight years.
)Anyhow, the approach is to find something that is lacking or poorly addressed (the "vertical" market or the "specific" need) and provide something that works and is very easy to use.
The purists will hate this, but the user is much more interested in (and judgemental about) the bits they can see than the real stuff doing all the work behind the scenes. Only programmmers really care whether the code is 6 or 8 lines long, or takes 10 extra milliseconds after a month of running. So provided the package delivers the goods and does the job well enough and is simple to use ...
Anyhow I am banking on it. I believe I have identified a few areas where there is potential, and where a momentum can be built starting with one-on-one sales and installations.
What I have to and want to learn is internet marketing, mass packaging, etc, because I have no idea how to sell or market online.
-Mitchell
Check out kBilling for all your billing software needs!
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Code Signing / Authenticode Certificates (Get rid of those Unknown Publisher warnings!)
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Check out kBilling for all your billing software needs!
http://www.k-billing.com
Code Signing / Authenticode Certificates (Get rid of those Unknown Publisher warnings!)
http://codesigning.ksoftware.net
@dagcrack:
This site looks nice, but could you tell a little more about it?
What are the costs? the catches?
I never like to rely purely on what a company says about it's self :roll: ...
not yet thinking of selling software, but i am interested in the idea.
well thanks in advance.
@All other software sellers:
don't hesitate to post a message here!
This site looks nice, but could you tell a little more about it?
What are the costs? the catches?
I never like to rely purely on what a company says about it's self :roll: ...
not yet thinking of selling software, but i am interested in the idea.
well thanks in advance.
@All other software sellers:
don't hesitate to post a message here!
100% of my sale comes (in one way or another) from Internet.
Tips:
-Promotion: Need to pay U$99 monthly but you get many downloads and a convertion of 1% or even more depending on the month. You need to update your application weekly to stay on the top of the list and get more downloads.
*You need to get AT LEAST 2,500 weekly downloads if you want to survive in this bussines, i think. In one hand you have to work hard on your product, nut in the other need to work hard to get quality downloads (not crackers, freedownloaders, etc).
-Bill system
In order (my personal preference and les %)
www.swreg.org
www.shareit.com
www.regnow.com
Yahoo PayDirect (very good but limited to USA citizens i think)
PayPal (its not good, but many USA people has an account)
*Regnow have one forum for shareware authors with good info, tips, etc.
-file hosting
www.swmirror.com
Other sites cut your head every month $$.
An let you easily block downloads from sites or even countries.
Tips:
-Promotion: Need to pay U$99 monthly but you get many downloads and a convertion of 1% or even more depending on the month. You need to update your application weekly to stay on the top of the list and get more downloads.
- b) make a site with at least 5,000 daily different visits
- c) other shareware sites
*You need to get AT LEAST 2,500 weekly downloads if you want to survive in this bussines, i think. In one hand you have to work hard on your product, nut in the other need to work hard to get quality downloads (not crackers, freedownloaders, etc).
-Bill system
In order (my personal preference and les %)
www.swreg.org
www.shareit.com
www.regnow.com
Yahoo PayDirect (very good but limited to USA citizens i think)
PayPal (its not good, but many USA people has an account)
*Regnow have one forum for shareware authors with good info, tips, etc.
-file hosting
www.swmirror.com
Other sites cut your head every month $$.
An let you easily block downloads from sites or even countries.
ARGENTINA WORLD CHAMPION
Hi ricardo, that was really useful, thank you.
Interesting that as at this point the poll shows half of people would like to sell software but are not yet doing so. ("would like to" and "in my dreams" combined).
So anyone who can help here with tips and etc will get lots of friends.
BTW, ricardo, your post suggests that you don't just drop something onto the net and viola!, success. You have to keep working on the marketing and promotion side of things.
So I assume that with internet selling there is the same requirement for patience and perseverance as there is with more traditional methods. Eg, it takes some time for a product to get some momentum?
Interesting that as at this point the poll shows half of people would like to sell software but are not yet doing so. ("would like to" and "in my dreams" combined).
So anyone who can help here with tips and etc will get lots of friends.
BTW, ricardo, your post suggests that you don't just drop something onto the net and viola!, success. You have to keep working on the marketing and promotion side of things.
So I assume that with internet selling there is the same requirement for patience and perseverance as there is with more traditional methods. Eg, it takes some time for a product to get some momentum?
Its not a suggestion... its cruel and real lifeDare2 wrote:BTW, ricardo, your post suggests that you don't just drop something onto the net and viola!, success. You have to keep working on the marketing and promotion side of things.
So I assume that with internet selling there is the same requirement for patience and perseverance as there is with more traditional methods. Eg, it takes some time for a product to get some momentum?
You have to sing, play drums, piano, guitar, be your enigineer, manager, publicist, wash you clothes, make telephone calls and have some time to code!! ha ha
Its more or less like that, ypu have to have an idea, code it, debug it, make your site, seo your site (get good results in search engines), marketing, promotion, customer support (many INCREDIBLE** daily questions), etc.
Bill Gates still do all of this i think
And even doing ALL the work (hard work), you will find once in a while that your site is down, or that CNET people forget to update your listing, etc. and your sales comes down one weekend
But its fun and you are your own boss, i love to do it.
**Every 3 or 4 months i get some email from a guy that DO buy my application, but ask me how to run it. After 487 emails i understand that the guy hasnt unzipped the file because he don't know what is a zip file.
Or some other that even have not download the application, just see it and buy it without even downloading, but they don't tell this easily, many emails is needed to really understand the problem of the user.
Most users just says "Your software don't work, i have PAID for it, give help ASAP".
Its hard to make them explain the real problem.
But, this is our work
ARGENTINA WORLD CHAMPION
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PolyVector
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@ricardo
That swmirror site seems rather expensive!
"Starting at just $19.99 per month, SWMirror offers 50GB of transfer on your very own your-name.swmirror.com"
You should try out my host, globat.com
It's $7.50 a month... 60GB transfer... ummm... Free SQL databases... and they're really nice people too. I've never had a single problem with them...
www.globat.com
Oh and... *cough cough* ... it helps support me if you sign up through that link :roll:
That swmirror site seems rather expensive!
"Starting at just $19.99 per month, SWMirror offers 50GB of transfer on your very own your-name.swmirror.com"
You should try out my host, globat.com
It's $7.50 a month... 60GB transfer... ummm... Free SQL databases... and they're really nice people too. I've never had a single problem with them...
www.globat.com
Oh and... *cough cough* ... it helps support me if you sign up through that link :roll: