Software Marketing Tips

How to Start With RSS Feeds

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0400

Getting started with RSS feeds can be a little bit confusing. But few people doubt or dispute the fact that RSS feeds are a necessity for websites. Webmasters who have not stayed up with the newest technologies may struggle at first with the RSS protocol. Follow these steps to deploy an effective RSS feed...

How to Start With RSS Feeds

Building a Software Community

Thu, 5 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0400

Small software companies that build a community around their products can benefit from viral marketing. Community participants will often evangelize software, assist with support queries, and lend credibility to your application. Additionally, the community participants will often detail real-world situations that resulted in the use of the software in an effective way. These types of endorsements are priceless.

Building a Software Community

Selling Software To Schools And Non-Profits

Wed, 28 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400

Schools and non-profit organizations are great vertical markets, with a lot of recurring purchase capital. If your software appeals to these markets, follow these steps to increase your educational and non-profit sales...

Selling Software To Schools And Non-Profits

Upsell Tips

Wed, 21 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400

Find synergistic software applications, products, or services that relate to the initial purchase item. Offer the add-ons during the purchase process. The easiest time to close an upsell is when their credit card is out and ready to use. Upsells can be additional software titles, or something completely different.

Upsell Tips

Why Should Software Developers Use RSS Feeds?

Mon, 5 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400

Software developers can benefit by offering RSS feeds as another way of communicating with customers and potential customers. RSS is a very flexible communication medium, and the benefits to developers who use RSS feeds can be significant...

Why Should Software Developers Use RSS Feeds

What is A-B Split Testing?

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:00:00 -0500

A/B Split Testing is when customers receive a message, email, or webpage view, and a different version is randomly served to different visitors or customers. Typically A/B split testing consists of two nearly-identical versions of the given source material, but with each version having one element that is different.

What is AB Split Testing?

How to Capture the Long Tail of Search

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:00:00 -0500

The Long Tail of Search provides small businesses with great opportunities to compete against big business, and webmasters that are able to generate content using the collective voice of their customers and prospective customers will benefit even more from it. By targeting the obscure terms that customers use when speaking naturally, the small businesses can compete much better. Software businesses who take the time to build a community will extend the Long Tail of Search for their businesses.

How to Capture the Long Tail of Search

How to Build Trust

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Many consumers are still reluctant to make purchases online because they have security concerns. You can help reassure potential customers and encourage them to purchase by building trust. Some of the things that software developers have found effective in building trust are...

How to Build Trust

Sweetening the Pot By Offering Incentives

Tue, 8 Apr 2008 09:00:00 -0500

How can vendors persuade their customers to part with their cold hard cash? One answer: Offer Incentives!

Incentives are simply tangible or intangible rewards that are designed to motivate or coax a person or group to behave in a certain way. In an attempt to entice purchasers to take the plunge and purchase a software application, marketers will often sweeten the pot by offering various sales incentives. As a result of being offered a more attractive deal, the purchasers will often feel that they are getting a much better value for their money. Incentives are also used to encourage potential customers to purchase one application over another. Sales incentives are probably the most common incentive used to encourage customers to purchase.

Sweetening the Pot

Blog Post Ideas

Thu, 3 Apr 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Inspiration rarely strikes on a daily or even a weekly basis. Hence, coming up with thought-provoking or interesting blog posts can be a challenge for those that do not have a personal muse to inspire them. Use these blog post ideas to fill the gaps between divine intervention and inspiration...

Blog Post Ideas

RSS Feed Search Engine Optimization

Tue, 1 Apr 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Just like HTML web pages, RSS feeds can be optimized to perform better in search engine listings. Quality web content is irrelevant if the website cannot be found. Optimizing RSS feeds using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques will assure that interested parties can find your RSS feed.

RSS Feed SEO

Software Deal of the Day

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:00:00 -0500

A one-day sale can generate a large jump in sales over a very short time period. Rarely does a one-day sale cause a drop in the normal sales cycle. One-day sales are a great opportunity for software developers to increase their exposure and grab additional marketshare.

Software Deal of the Day

How to Begin Advertising Your Software?

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:00:00 -0500

What if you could increase the number of people that visit your site, or the number of customers who purchase your product or service by 1 percent? What would a 1 percent increase in sales conversion mean to your bottom line?

Increasing conversions is all about increasing profit. Before you spend money on advertising, be sure to maximize the conversion rate for the web traffic you already have. If you are unsure of where to begin, or nervous about spending money on advertising, consider running a test.

How to Begin Advertising Your Software

Long Tail vs 80-20 Rule

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Two popular marketing principles are at odds -- which principle applies to your product or service? Marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, or services in order to create exchanges that result in attention for specific products or services.

Long Tail vs 80-20 Rule

Keyword Research Tools

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Keyword research is much more than just guessing about what search terms potentially-interested customers might use to search for specific products or services. Successful webmasters must select terms that directly relate to the product or service they are offering. Additionally, the keywords and phrases must be searched on by prospective customers. The very best keywords and keyword phrases are those that are included in searches and that directly relate to your product or service, but do not have a lot of other websites competing for them.

Keyword Research Tools

Bits Du Jour

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 09:00:00 -0500

One-day sales are a great opportunity for software developers to increase their exposure and grab marketshare

Bits Du Jour

Give Away of the Day

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:00:00 -0500

One-day sales are a great opportunity for software developers to increase their exposure and grab marketshare.

Give Away of the Day - GAOTD

Email Newsletters -- Unwritten Rules to Successful Email Marketing

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Make it easy and obvious! Webmasters should make every effort to make it easy to subscribe to the website's newsletter. The subscription process should be clearly displayed on the website, a link to a privacy policy should be included, and the number of "clicks" required to complete the subscription process should be minimized as much as possible.

Email Newsletters -- Unwritten Rules to Successful Email Marketing

When to Begin Advertising

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Why pay for advertising that does not generate sales? Before you part with your cold hard cash, consider various ways to increase and maximize your conversions. The term conversion simply represents the number of website visitors that take the action that the web publisher desires. In most cases, conversion refers to an individual browsing a website and then purchasing the products or services being sold. Webmasters measure conversions in order to judge the effectiveness of Pay-Per-Click advertising and other advertising campaigns.

When to Begin Advertising

Keyword Advertising

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Any time you spend money advertising, you are taking a risk that it might not increase sales. Ultimately, the goal of advertising is all about the ROI (Return On Investment). Publishers aim to make more money than they spend. For every dollar you spend in advertising, you usually want to make a profit of $2.00 or better. In many cases, that means that you will need to monitor any changes in sales and web traffic, and determine what specific actions are resulting in the increased sales.

Keyword Advertising

Email Marketing Myths

Thu, 7 Feb 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Email Marketing Myths - A series of email marketing myths, and the truth behind the theories.

Email Myth #1

A little is good; so a lot is better! Lets say that you have just conducted a wonderfully successful email marketing campaign, so you instantly jump to the conclusion that if it is repeated, you will have better results. That may not be the case. Over-mailing the same list is not good or productive. Listen to what your subscribers are saying in order to determine the frequency. 1-2 times per month, no more! Unless clearly marked that it will be sent more frequently.

More: Email Marketing Myths

Website Navigation

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:00:00 -0400

Many webmasters approach navigation as a map, but it should really be laid out to lead visitors to the actions that the webmaster wants.

Website Navigation

Email Subscription Process

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:00:00 -0400

Opt-in email newsletters are common place and many email management systems have been in place for years. Almost all online businesses have a need for an email management solution. If you are building an email subscription base what process should you follow? When was the last time you went through your companies email subscription process? Have you updated the subscription process to reflect today's standards?

Email Subscription Process

Mastering the Art of Web Design

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:00:00 -0400

The Internet revolution has spawned a variety of industries. A web presence is no longer a nice addition to a business, it is quite simply a necessity. Web design can be a tricky proposition for individuals who lack either design experience or a technical background. Use these tips to help your business succeed online.

Mastering the Art of Web Design

Planning a Product Launch, Here is a How to Guide

Tue, 8 Jan 2008 09:00:00 -0400

Planning a product launch can be time consuming, but attention to detail at this stage of the game is critical to a successful software launch. Follow these steps to launch a new application.

Ideas for Holiday Selling on the Internet

Wed, 2 Jan 2008 09:00:00 -0400

Take advantage of the holiday season, and capitalize by positioning your product properly.

Ideas for Holiday Selling on the Internet

What is a Sales Funnel?

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Qualifying potential customers in advance allows staff and resources to be devoted only to those customers who have a genuine interest and/or need for your product or service. The sales funnel removes those who are not really interested, so you don't end up spending much of your valuable time and resources on them.

What is a Sales Funnel?

Custom Order Pages Increase Sales

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Statistics show that order forms integrated with websites will result in a lower rate of shopping cart abandonment and a higher percentage of closed sales. MicroISVs should brand their order pages with their company name and logo. A properly branded order page fosters the customer perception that the company they're getting ready to buy from is reputable, professional, and most of all that they can be trusted by the customer.

Custom Order Pages Increase Sales

The Pricing Game

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:00:00 -0400

The goal of most businesses is to make money. And lets be clear: unless you are a "public" company, revenue is not terribly relevant... it is all about maximizing profits.

Pricing could be classified as an art, or perhaps as a science. Ultimately, the classification does not matter - the end goal is to minimize expenses and maximize the profit. Before you setup a complex pricing scheme, consider how you can manipulate price in order to maximize profit.

The Software Pricing Game

Globalize Your Website

Thu, 6 Dec 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Most software companies have a global audience. For example, a Solitaire card game works just as well in the UK as it does in the US. Yet few developers make any effort to court global customers. The population of China has just eclipsed the 110 million mark, meaning there are more than 110 million people in China on the Internet. Wouldn't it be nice to tap this audience? Consider expanding your audience by globalizing your website.

Globalize Your Website

Customer Lifetime Value

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Business owners have begun taking a long term approach to marketing. They have been assessing the lifetime value of the customer. Businesses who are able to capture customer loyalty can often capitalize on this.

Customer Lifetime Value

Pay Per Click vs. Search Engine Optimization

Tue, 6 Nov 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Long debated in search circles, webmasters are often torn between focusing their efforts on Pay Per Click (PPC) marketing or Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Few dare ask which is better? Will Pay Per Click or Search Engine Optimization result in better results for the effort? Lets take a close look at the pros and cons of Pay Per Click marketing compared to Search Engine Optimization.

PPC vs SEO

Write a Marketing Plan

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:00:00 -0400

A marketing plan should be constructed for any planned products. The marketing plan can be used as a guide, road map, or compass to assist developers in promoting and marketing their software.

Write a Marketing Plan

How to Write Web Copy

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Tips for writing effective web copy and selling software online.

How to Write Web Copy

Shareware Myths and Misconceptions

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Consumers are end-users that purchase software, their behavior is not always predictable. Taking a hard look at shareware consumer purchase myths and actual statistical data is very telling.

The facts displayed are based on statistical information from aggregate data of consumer purchases.

Shareware Myths and Misconceptions

Email Campaign Tips

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Understanding and navigating the hazards of email marketing can be an adventure for the cautious marketer.

Email the modern answer to snail mail has not surprisingly been addled with similar problems, junk mail is not a new concept the difference online is that is almost free to send junk mail. This means that email has become polluted with SPAM.

Email Campaign Tips

How to Run a One Day Sale

Mon, 8 Oct 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Time limited sales can be very effective and will often result in sales spikes. The trick to having a successful sale is proper promotion. There are three different ways to run a time limited sale, developers can run sales to their existing base and prospective customers, they can use a 3rd party who has a large audience, or they can offer a sale through their affiliates and resellers.

How to Run a One Day Sale

Effective Upsells, Cross Sells and Bouncebacks

Mon, 1 Oct 2007 09:00:00 -0400

An upsell is a marketing term for the practice of suggesting an additional product typically, a higher priced replacement product or services to a customer who is considering a purchase. Up-selling usually involves marketing more profitable services or products, but up-selling can also be simply exposing the customer to other options he or she may not have considered previously.

Effective Upsells

How to Write a Press Release

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:00:00 -0400

The best way to get ink is to write a good press release and remember the item in the release must be newsworthy. News that is not newsworthy will get little play time, only send press releases for announcements that are truly newsworthy.

How to Write a Press Release

How to Prepare for a Press Interview

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Preparation is very important and can mean the difference between a good interview and a bad interview. Occasionally the interview requests will follow the sending of a press release. Sometimes the reporter will be researching a subject and believe you to be a qualified expert. The interviewer may request an interview and request quotes for a piece they are writing. The reporter may just be interested in better understanding a specific subject.

How to Prepare for a Press Interview

During a Press Interview

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Whether it is a recorded interview, streaming audio interview or simply a print reporter doing research, you want to put your best foot forward during a press interview. While interviews can be a nerve racking experience the press that results really cannot be beat. With that in mind, prepare and prosper.

During a Press Interview

How to Send Press Releases

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Regardless of whether you collect and manage your own press distribution list or you use a service to do it for you, it is important that your release is sent to garner the maximum amount of attention.

How to Send Press Releases

How to Post a Press Release

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:00:00 -0400

In addition to sending a press release to magazine or newspaper editors, developers should also consider distributing their press release to online press databases.

Many of the press websites offer free press release submissions, while others charge nominal fees for distributing and posting the release. Many bloggers and online journalists monitor these press databases for releases on specific topics. Posting the releases also generally result to links back and additional exposure.

How to Post a Press Release

How to Setup a Press Archive

Mon, 3 Sep 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Press releases often contain great information that highlights an applications benefits, highlights and history. It is important that these news announcements be preserved. Not only do press releases detail a products history, progression and product stability but it is also great content for the search engines. Software companies should create a press archive on their website.

How to Setup a Press Archive

What Should a Media Kit Contain

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Any business will tell you that capturing the attention of the press can result in sales surges and product credibility. While the obvious way to attract the attention of the press is to write a press release. Many small businesses follow this by sending the press a media kit. It is important to be prepared. If the media has an interest you want to have materials available to provide them. Most publications work under deadlines and once you have their attention it is important that you not lose it because you are ill prepared.

What Should a Media Kit Contain

How to Select a Company or Product Name

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 09:00:00 -0400

When building a business there is little more important than selecting an appropriate company or product name. Names can be distinctive, unique or descriptive.

The problem with descriptive names is that they are very difficult to legally protect for example you could call your software word processing software or text editor but neither are distinguishing or unique.

How to Select a Company or Product Name

How to Launch a New Application

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:00:00 -0400

When announcing a new version of an application it is important that you convey some key items to potential users. The following is a suggested format for new product announcements.

How to Launch a New Application

Software Product Launch Check List

Mon, 6 Aug 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Preparing software a launch is both time consuming and monotonous. Use the following checklist to make sure you do not miss any important opportunities.

Software Product Launch Check List

Where to Submit Software for Awards

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Where to submit software for recognized software awards. Submit Software for Awards

How to Prepare for a Software Review

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:00:00 -0400

Prepare for your software in advance for a review. Different reviewers from different magazines and review sites use different criteria for reviewing software, so it is important to realize and understood that applications might garner very different reactions from different reviewers. Additionally reviews and reviewers are subjective. Keep in mind that reviews are opinions and nuances of different reviewers might be evident in the reviews of the same application.

How to Prepare for a Software Review

How to Promote Software on a CD Cover

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:00:00 -0400

After sending a software press release developers are often contacted by magazines, asking to include their software on a magazine CD cover. CD ROMs included with computer magazines are very popular especially in Europe. This is a great opportunity for software developers to gain additional exposure at very little expense.

How to Promote Software on a CD Cover

How to Submit Software

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 09:00:00 -0400

There are a large number of software archives (aka download sites) on the web.

Developers can increase their exposure by listing evaluation versions of their software on these software archives. There are literally thousands of download sites and it can be a cumbersome task to list your software on all of them, as a result an industry has been spawned.

How to Submit Software

Use a Trial Version to Sell

Wed, 4 Jul 2007 11:03:40 -0400

Commonly known as shareware, developers both large and small are offering evaluation versions of their software as a means to market their software. Evaluation versions allow users the benefit of trying the software prior to making a purchase decision.

Use a Trial Version to Sell