1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Software Distribution

Discussion in 'Computers & Technology Forum' started by NateT, Apr 13, 2006.

Top Posters
  1. NateT

    NateT Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2000
    Messages:
    886
    Likes Received:
    0
    Have any of you written software and are currently distributing it for a charge online? If so, what service are you using?

    I have a service right now, but it doesn't allow me to offer discounts, and based on the # of people who have downloaded vs the # who have registered their trial version, I'm wondering if their interface scares people away.

    Thanks
    Nate
     
    #1 NateT, Apr 13, 2006
  2. natters

    natters New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2004
    Messages:
    2,496
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hi Nate,

    I write and sell software online. I'm currently using www.swreg.org, but I haven't shopped around for quite a while, and I know their plans now are different than what I signed up under. It does allow you to offer discounts though, in a way (you can set up different price points for the same product). I also simply take Paypal.

    As for the ratio between downloads vs. purchasers, don't expect a very high number. There are numerous factors that affect the ratio (quality of the product, similar products on the market, price, ease of purchase, benefits of purchase, etc.), but less than 1% is normal. 2% to 5% is fantastic.
     
    #2 natters, Apr 16, 2006
  3. NateT

    NateT Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2000
    Messages:
    886
    Likes Received:
    0
    natters,

    Thanks for the reply. I'm not worried about downloads to purchase. I haven't gotten a purchase yet. I was worried about the fact that 46 people downloaded and only 18 have successfully completed installation. With download.com's method, you have to register during installation to start the trial. If I can't even get them to install it (perhaps because of the wrapper's interface) then I can't get them to buy it [​IMG]

    Thanks for the percent sales info.

    I have a pretty select targeted market, so I'm not really worried about the numbers. Plus, I plan it going up at the start of next semester.

    Thanks again
     
    #3 NateT, Apr 16, 2006
  4. natters

    natters New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2004
    Messages:
    2,496
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hey,

    Download.com requires one to register during installation, even for a trial? That's odd, and I think they should rethink their system then. IMHO, trials should be able to be totally anonymous - people don't want to supply their names and emails for a trial, but only if they want to actually purchase. If I came across trial software that wanted my email address just to install it, I'd first try to pass it garbage, and if that didn't work, I'd set up a temp hotmail address ONLY if I REALLY wanted to try the trial - otherwise, I'd just delete the installer and move on. There's already too much spam to risk getting more just to try some trial software.

    I would push download.com to rethink their system, and if they won't, submit your app to as many other software sites as you can find (which you should do anyway).

    The key to the trial software business is NUMBERS. You need to get as many people trying out the trial as possible, and you HAVE to eliminate ANYTHING (like what you describe) that causes people to give up on even trying to install. Installation is the first thing they see, and any negative experience with it is going to affect how they see the rest of the product.
     
    #4 natters, Apr 17, 2006
  5. natters

    natters New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2004
    Messages:
    2,496
    Likes Received:
    0
    BTW, what does your software do? Send me a private message if you don't want to discuss in public. [​IMG]
     
    #5 natters, Apr 17, 2006
  6. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2000
    Messages:
    11,048
    Likes Received:
    321
    Faith:
    Baptist
    That's odd; I've never had to "register" to install a program I pulled from download.com....
     
    #6 Don, Apr 17, 2006
  7. NateT

    NateT Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2000
    Messages:
    886
    Likes Received:
    0
    Download.com only has you register if you are using THEIR merchant services (which has other problems). If you have your own software to handle the purchase and trial periods, you don't have to register.

    I have found one called esellerate that looks like it will do what I want.

    I will soon be abandoning download.com's method (and just having my software hosted there, but not have the trials managed by them.)

    My software is called "It's Greek To Me" It does vocabular, paradigms and parsings in a flashcard style. It allows for reviewing (seeing both english and greek) as well as testing (seeing only one or the other).

    It is based on "A New Testament Greek Primer" by Dr. SM Baugh. It's vocab is ordered according to his chapters.

    More info can be seen at NT Greek Primer
     
    #7 NateT, Apr 18, 2006
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Loading...