Self developed software HOW to promote

JoseArmando

JoseArmando

work = life
Jul 24, 2008
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So I'm really close to final release of a piece of software.

This thing has been in the development for like 6 months and it's almost done.

Since I haven't seen much talk about this I thought I'd see your thoughts on how to promote mainstream software. This is a free download only monetized with ads.

Obviously I'll try to get it listed on cnet, download.com and so on, but beyond that I'll try getting online communities to recognize it as a solid player in this space.

I'd really like to hear any tips if any of you got a solid userbase around your software. But really any suggestions would help since I'm totally new to this.

I'm sure there are out of the box techniques like bundling with other software in packages or approaching software oriented magazines to get reviewed... I dunno, things that are tough to figure out if you are an outsider.
 


I accidentally got in this business by putting out a free software online. Posted it to a LOT of free software sites and got tons and tons of downloads and traffic. It even got featured on an episode of Tech TV :)

That alone will get you going if the software has mass appeal (mine was a DVD organizer).

What does your app do btw?
 
It's a music player but I can't go in specifics since it's really unique in it's features - definitely has mass appeal.

I'm glad to hear these websites actually pump those downloads.

I was also thinking about sending ppc traffic to download page and incorporate viral elements like "suggest to friends" and facebook "like" button or something to help it take off.... Dunno how effective would that be though.
 
send it to influential bloggers in your niche with a free gift (t shirt or whatever else), everyone likes freebies
 
submit your music player to cpa networks, offer $ on per install basis, if your looking for shitload of traffic

but gotta know your profit margin and the CPI per customer on long term basis, and other variables etc
 
adultstore said:
send it to influential bloggers in your niche with a free gift (t shirt or whatever else), everyone likes freebies
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Awesome awesome idea, I'll put the installer on USB key and send it with a t-shirt to them. Keep usb key, wear t shirt and please review my software.

RobinX said:
submit your music player to cpa networks, offer $ on per install basis, if your looking for shitload of traffic

but gotta know your profit margin and the CPI per customer on long term basis, and other variables etc
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Yup I definitely intend to do that once I figure out what's the revenue I can generate from one install. Though with the current model I don't think it'll be $1. I already have way more advanced monetization techniques in line that will be developed for ver 2.0 so I think by that time it'll be ready for things like that.
 
JoseArmando said:
I was also thinking about sending ppc traffic to download page and incorporate viral elements like "suggest to friends" and facebook "like" button or something to help it take off.... Dunno how effective would that be though.
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Ok this one is obvious. There should be no doubt in your mind that you should do this.
 
- PAD file (official PAD generator is free and works like a charm)
- Submit to software portals with Promosoft (kinda expensive but worked well up until 2 days ago, I would download the trial and see if it works for you now)
- Buying a good category at a place like hotscripts can go a long way
- Press release to software press release sites (i only know a couple)
 
HConvert said:
You can also hit up blogvertise and throw some budget at it.
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Thanks for the suggestion, I wasn't aware of this website.

Gonzo said:
Ok this one is obvious. There should be no doubt in your mind that you should do this.
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Yeh, thinking about it it's pretty cheap too. I can get installs at $0.2 or so atm, so it's easy to pump a couple of thousand per day and with these viral elements that can translate in a fair number of referral downloads.

bizousoft said:
- PAD file (official PAD generator is free and works like a charm)
- Submit to software portals with Promosoft (kinda expensive but worked well up until 2 days ago, I would download the trial and see if it works for you now)
- Buying a good category at a place like hotscripts can go a long way
- Press release to software press release sites (i only know a couple)
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This is what I was looking for! I'd never have figured out there's systems like PAD. Seems pretty simple too.
Press releases... yup will do a few too. Loving the suggestions.

defelice said:
i know how to push this. msg me for info
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PMed
 
How do you monetize?

If it's not paid, why not try realeasing through torrent trackers and warez forums?

Also hunt down some indie singers/groups and make them custom skins and/or other freebies. They will promote it for you.
 
If your thing is newsworthy a mainstream press release can do miracles . it might hit a big news site if its so unique.

Also trace which blogs your target groups read. Offer them incentives to get them to cover your app
 
Nothing is more powerful than just suggesting it to your friends who would actually use it every day. It takes a life of it's own once it's something that's actually "unique" and has a good use for the general public.

inb4 "wow, what a whitehat statement" - which is true, except for something like this that's not just a repackaged affiliate site with 500 words of indian content, it applies. If it's something that would make me listen to it over Pandora, or something like that - it's completely worth me suggesting to friends. Just like Top music on Console.fm when it first started (sup Alex!).

That's the best way to start IMO. Just get it in the hands of a demographic that will use it. Luckily for you, WickedFire sounds like a demo that would at least give it a shot as a shitton of us listen to music all day while working.
 
Make sure you have yourself established on some communities, the best way to get this baby going is by literally reaching out to people and letting them know about your product. Tell them how you developed it yourself and that you took the time to ensure it's of great quality. 1 person could tell 10 people and so on and so forth.
 
forum threads + look for sites/blogs with high authority to give reviews.

not to be modest almost all blackhat/linkbuilding software devs contact ie me ;)
 
JoseArmando said:
This is a free download only monetized with ads.
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Does that mean you're displaying ads within your software? What ad network are you using for that?

I know Google forbids Adsense in software. Other ad networks seem to be against it as well.
 
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