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Software Design And Marketing
Software design and software marketing can
determine the success or failure of an application.
The common phrase "Build it and they will come"
is no longer a truism. A software product needs
to be both well-designed and marketed properly
in order to be truly successful in the software
marketplace.
Looks Matter
When it comes to software, the sad fact is that
people often do "judge a book by its cover". First
impressions matter. Statistics clearly show that
first impressions can make or break an application.
Keep the application simple and intuitive to use.
If you are not a skilled graphic artist, hire
someone who is. Do not skimp on graphics, and
don't create an overly-complicated user interface.
Functionality is important, but so is the intuitiveness
and ease-of-use of a software application. Pay
attention to both the user interface and the website
design, as both will create first impressions
for potential customers. The bottom line is that
initial impressions count!
Differentiate
Distinguish your product or software application
from others in the marketplace. Determine what
your program's strengths are, and then focus on
them. Do not highlight or call attention to deficiencies
in the software. For example, if the application
is a basic version and lacks a lot of features,
avoid talking about that and instead stress the
"simplicity of use" aspect as a more positive
message. Turn what you may perceive as a weakness
into a strength for promotional purposes.
Consistency
As the user moves throughout the software, the
application's screen and menu designs should remain
consistent. Drastically changing the format of
screens or menus may confuse the customers, and
can make the software more difficult to use.
Work Out The Bugs
Releasing an application that is not fully tested
can be extremely damaging to a company's reputation.
Do not cut corners when it comes to beta testing,
and make sure that the application is fully tested
in a variety of environments before you issue
a release version.
Road Blocks
Avoid placing unnecessary road blocks and barriers
between you and the potential customers who are
attempting to try your software. For example,
requiring an email address before allowing access
to the trial version download is not a good idea.
Statistics clearly show that requiring information
from a customer before allowing them to download
will decrease the number of downloads an application
generates. Many potential customers will simply
move on to a different or competing product.
Software Marketing
In order for the application to become popular,
prospective customers need to be aware of its
existence. Use any and all communication channels
at your disposal to get the word out.
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Software Design & Marketing