Comments on: Promoting your software (part 3)

By: LitePacific

LitePacific — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:57:36 +0000

I am usinga free version of my product, ImageIsland, to promote it and have seen some success. You are right, it is a balancing act. Ive also wondered if you gave all your software away for free, then sold modules, if that would generate more sales. I know that once Im sold on a product that I use and is helpful, that Im more likely to buy it than cold turkey buy something off the web without using it. I amy be wrong. Im wondering, if giving away the kitchen sink, building up thousands if not millions of loyal users, that eventually you will have a big enough market that you can begin selling not only add-ons and module, but whole new but related products?

By: Andy Brice

Andy Brice — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:07:55 +0000

>I suspect that the effectiveness of print advertising varies.

Yes. I understand is goes from lousy all the way down to disastrous. ;0)

250% is worthwhile though. How did you track it, coupons?

Definitely ask for a discount. Nobody actually pays what is on the rate card.

By: MrAnalogy

MrAnalogy — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:01:25 +0000

I suspect that the effectiveness of print advertising varies.

We have advertised in 4 different magazines and all give us a postive return on investment (ROI) within about 6 months, ranging from 150% to 250%. Compare that to Google Ads ROI of around 300% or so. I also never thought to ask for a discount, but in most magazines we’ve advertised in we get pretty low rates these days. I’d (almost) feel guilty asking for more of a discount.

We do track how our users find us and can do that about 70% of the time.