| 7 basic software marketing techniques |
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harjos
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| 7 basic software marketing techniques |
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Do you Know Everything about Software Promotion?
If you are a web developer that sells software online, here are the basic software marketing methods that will help you boost your sales. Learn about each one, and find the winning combination that will bring you more buyers.
1. Continuous Search Engine Optimization
Maintaining a high ranking in the most important search engines is a never ending struggle, as you need to follow certain rules AND continuously update and optimize your website.
Focus on:
* improving your link popularity
* adding fresh content
* monitoring website results
* testing various keywords
* spending time in improving the design and the usability of your website.
2. Submit your shareware to software download sites and directories
Promote your software by submitting it to as many download sites and directories as possible. Create a good PAD (Portable Application Description) file, as this will ease the entire submission process and webmasters will appreciate it, too.
Pay attention to the traffic you get from these sites and invest time in those who really bring you customers. One of the main advantages of submitting your software to download sites is obtaining more back-links and increased link popularity, which enhance your website's page ranking and position in the main search engines.
3. Affiliates marketing
There is a vast network of affiliates on the internet. Affiliates are people who will promote and sell your software products from their websites, in return of a small commission for every sale. Why should you try to market software using this method? Because you pay your affiliates on result. The compensation may be made based on a certain value for each visit (Pay per click), registrant (Pay per lead), or a commission for each customer or sale (Pay per Sale), or any combination.
4. Pay per Click campaigns
Important search engines place ads near search results in return of a small amount. It is called pay per click advertising. The idea behind this marketing technique is to bid for relevant "keywords" that bring pertinent results related to the product you're selling, and place your advertisement on the top of the page. The most important players on this market are Google AdWords and Yahoo!Search.
5. Write newsletters and press releases
A newsletter is an easy way to stay in touch with your clients, prospects and affiliates. The success of an e-mail newsletter distribution system depends on your database: you need to keep it up to date and accurate.
6. Get involved in online forums and blogs
It is basically free publicity. Invest time in subscribing to forums or discussions groups that deal with software related themes. Be careful though, some administrators might ban you for explicit publicity. So be creative.
Many people visit forums and blogs in search of information. A blog post that deals with the theme under discussion, contains relevant information and is presented in a professional way could be of real interest to the participants.
7. Write and submit articles
There are many e-zines and online publications on the internet where you can publish software related articles. This is an easy way to get free exposure and consolidate your image as a professional in your domain.
A good article has to look professional. Your article must be simple, meaningful and original. Keep a professional tone and avoid self-promotion. Sign your articles, add your contact information and a copyright note at the end of the editorial.
Josephine
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Fri Oct 01, 2010 5:45 am |
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chriscash01
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nice tipnice tips., I will apply this to my blogs.
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Fri Oct 15, 2010 5:58 am |
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sytryt45
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Good article, also very informative.
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Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:49 pm |
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NatThomas
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Great tips but would like to qualify "fresh content".
First the content needs to be original.
Second, the content has to be compelling; this will also attract natural backlinks from other sites (and return visitors).
Nat T
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Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:47 pm |
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coaster
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original and compelling ..... ya .... definitely a shortage of that type of content ....
~Tim~
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Thu Oct 21, 2010 6:39 pm |
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venglein
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Marketing is the process that conducts market research, product sales or services to customers and promote them through advertising in order to further improve sales.Very tips provided.AS you said you can submit your software and scripts to the scripts folder.
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Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:39 am |
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michaelscheiderfield
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| This was Great |
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Thanks for sharing your brilliant idea. Very helpful tips.
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Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:32 pm |
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wystanfi
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Hey I appreciate your tips these are simply awesome. Thanks buddy..
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Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:25 pm |
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MrPolarZero
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This one is certainly a good set of tips. Software marketing is probably one of the hardest areas related to a computer business, since it can take a lot of effort to convince folks.
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Thu Feb 10, 2011 4:17 am |
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MrPolarZero
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bear in mind that you don't only have to write a professional-looking article, but you must also make it unique and 100% original, with no duplicates.
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Thu Feb 10, 2011 5:05 am |
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Phil Tanny
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quote:
Originally posted by harjos
If any body knows any other strategies please share here. Thanks.
Nice post, well done.
Here's some ideas I'm working on, hope they will be helpful to someone.
- WIDGET: Create a useful widget and share it. Code something useful that others can install on their websites. Give it away for free, and be sure that those who see the widget can also get the widget. This create a viral process, as each installed widget becomes a distribution point.
- SALES INCENTIVE: Create something that others can use as an incentive gift bonus to boost their own sales. Like this. You give me some software. I promise my prospects that if they order my product today, they'll get your software as a thank you gift. Now all my customers get to learn about you.
- REPEAT TRAFFIC: Create something that other webmasters can use to engage repeat traffic to their own websites. Advertise your own site within this device.
Summary: Look for ways to partner with others, don't try to do it all yourself.
Good luck!
Phil
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Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:25 pm |
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oliviaruby
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1. Continuous Search Engine Optimization
Maintaining a high ranking in the most important search engines is a never ending struggle, as you need to follow certain rules AND continuously update and optimize your website.
Focus on: —improving your link popularity —adding fresh content —monitoring website results —testing various keywords —spending time in improving the design and the usability of your website.
Unless you turn to professional SEO help, you shouldn’t establish your software marketing strategy exclusively on this method. For higher results, combine it with other methods, such as those presented below.
2. Submit your shareware to software download sites and directories
Promote your software by submitting it to as many download sites and directories as possible. Create a good PAD (Portable Application Description) file, as this will ease the entire submission process and webmasters will appreciate it, too.
Pay attention to the traffic you get from these sites and invest time in those who really bring you customers. One of the main advantages of submitting your software to download sites is obtaining more back-links and increased link popularity, which enhance your website’s page ranking and position in the main search engines. It is one of the most important software marketing techniques, that also helps you increase your traffic and from that your internet software sales, so don’t neglect it. If you find it too time consuming, ask for professional help.
3. Affiliates marketing
There is a vast network of affiliates on the internet. Affiliates are people who will promote and sell your software products from their websites, in return of a small commission for every sale. Why should you try to market software using this method? Because you pay your affiliates on result. The compensation may be made based on a certain value for each visit (Pay per click), registrant (Pay per lead), or a commission for each customer or sale (Pay per Sale), or any combination.
There is a wide range of affiliates and methods of promoting your software products. Choose those who have websites that have been specially designed to sell software products.
4. Pay per Click campaigns
Important search engines place ads near search results in return of a small amount. It is called pay per click advertising. The idea behind this marketing technique is to bid for relevant “keywords” that bring pertinent results related to the product you’re selling, and place your advertisement on the top of the page. The most important players on this market are Google AdWords and Yahoo!Search. The method has its fans but also its fierce opponents, due to the possibility of click fraud.
5. Write newsletters and press releases
A newsletter is an easy way to stay in touch with your clients, prospects and affiliates. The success of an e-mail newsletter distribution system depends on your database: you need to keep it up to date and accurate.
You can target your e-mail campaign to clients and prospects or to affiliates. Concentrate on creating different campaigns for each segment that you target.
Always ask permission to stay in touch with your clients and your affiliates. Let them know what to expect from your newsletters regarding content and frequency and respect the standards that you have established. Keep focused on the substance of the email – make it original and appealing. Offer the chance to unsubscribe from the newsletter in a very visible place.
You can also take advantage of many websites that offer public relation services including free publishing of press releases. Of course you can always choose the classical way and publish your materials regarding product launches or news related to your company, in newspapers or software magazines. Don’t overdoit though, because people might get bored with too frequent information and loose interest in your software products.
6. Get involved in online forums and blogs
It is basically free publicity. Invest time in subscribing to forums or discussions groups that deal with software related themes. Be careful though, some administrators might ban you for explicit publicity. So be creative.
Many people visit forums and blogs in search of information. A blog post that deals with the theme under discussion, contains relevant information and is presented in a professional way could be of real interest to the participants.
Give your website’s address, the product’s name and possibly your PAD file location. Use a signature and not a nickname, and you can also add a slogan related to the software product you want to promote.
7. Write and submit articles
There are many e-zines and online publications on the internet where you can publish software related articles. This is an easy way to get free exposure and consolidate your image as a professional in your domain.
A good article has to look professional. The golden rule is to come up with a catchy headline and pay special attention to the content. Avoid duplicating information found on the internet. Your article must be simple, meaningful and original. Keep a professional tone and avoid self-promotion.
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Tue Mar 01, 2011 4:40 am |
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