Best ways to distribute my free software

dkeeney · 07-08-2009, 04:47 PM

Fellow Warriors,

I am a licensee with a company which, among other things, offers a reverse-auction website. If you know anything about reverse auctions, you will know that in order for it to work, there has to be a lot of bidding/viewing activity. To accomplish this, my company offers free software to their licensees to promote to potential customers. This software, while useful in its own right, is loaded with free credits to be used at the auction. Also, the software is designed to the viral, in that the consumers to whom I offer the free software to will receive additional credits if they get their friends to join. Licensees, such as myself, receive a percentage of all the activity that we generate, so it is potentially very lucrative for us.

My question to anyone with more IM experience than myself is what would be the best way to distribute this free software? I considered software distribution sites, but there are a couple problems. I have to physically charge each copy of the software which I give away with credits and also, I wanted to target individuals that have an interest in purchasing merchandise at auctions. Of course, I will hit the social networks and direct people to my website, but I was wanting input from the wealth of knowledge on this form for other ideas. I might add that the software is currently in beta, but is due to be released next month. I was just wanting to get a jumpstart on ideas.

Thanks.

Jeremy Morgan · 07-08-2009, 05:24 PM

I dont know the specifics of your software, but I know you can upload it all over the net. Have you built a .pad file yet?

use PadGen (it's free) to build a .pad file for your site.

Submit to all the big download sites you can think of, download.com, softpedia,tucows, etc.

You could consider a product like this: GSA Pad File Submitter it submits your file to thousands of download sites.

This is the best way to get your software out there, even if it's a small site that sends 10 downloads a year, it's worth the few minutes it takes to submit.

You can also build a site, get it spidered by google, and do some PPC ads to it. I know it sounds silly to pay people to download free software, but lead generation is what it's all about.

Then there are always social networks, forums and the like. I hope I've helped at least a little here.

dkeeney · 07-08-2009, 06:45 PM

Yes, I've considered the download sites, but as I mentioned, I have to manually load each copy of the software I distribute with credits and I can't do that with the download sites....at least I didn't think I could.

Re: PPC...I never really considered that, but I suppose if my CPC were low enough that would be doable.

xiaophil · 07-08-2009, 09:24 PM

Could you advertise it on eBay? I hear people there are interested in auctions.

Corwinnx · 07-08-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xiaophil

Could you advertise it on eBay? I hear people there are interested in auctions.

That's HILARIOUS.

Probably against ebay's TOS... but hilarious anyway!

Warmest Regards,
Marcus

xiaophil · 07-08-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corwinnx

That's HILARIOUS.

Probably against ebay's TOS... but hilarious anyway!

Warmest Regards,
Marcus

Marcus I was serious!

Assuming it's OK with his vendor, AFAIK he could advertise a digital product in the classifieds or put it in the auctions and ship on CD.

dkeeny, you mentioned you have to tweak each instance of the software anyway. I think you could soon rustle up some associated bonus products, sell it as a bundle and ship the whole lot physically. Or maybe the software could be the bonus? Either way it would be nice to make some money on the front end too.

Jeremy Morgan · 07-08-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkeeney

Yes, I've considered the download sites, but as I mentioned, I have to manually load each copy of the software I distribute with credits and I can't do that with the download sites....at least I didn't think I could.

Re: PPC...I never really considered that, but I suppose if my CPC were low enough that would be doable.

Actually, most of the time when you upload .pad files, it has a section that points to your .zip file. You don't upload your software to many of those places, but have it reside on your server instead.

And yeah, eBay is a bad idea. It used to be decent, but they changed the rules so much on digital downloads that it's really hard to even get your listing fees back anymore.

dkeeney · 07-08-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corwinnx

That's HILARIOUS.

Probably against ebay's TOS... but hilarious anyway!

Warmest Regards,
Marcus

LOL. I thought is was funny too, but he is exactly right. Ebay IS full of people who like auctions! I actually have looked into selling items on Ebay's classified ads in the past and they are much more lenient when it comes to digital products with classifed ads...I REALLY like the idea.

dkeeney · 07-09-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Morgan

Actually, most of the time when you upload .pad files, it has a section that points to your .zip file. You don't upload your software to many of those places, but have it reside on your server instead.

Interesting....I will look into this.

dkeeney · 07-09-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterumingan2

hello... could you tell us more about your software..?

Since the software revolves around and interfaces with DubLi Auctions, it is difficult to explain what the software does without knowing more about DubLi. The best comprehensive description of what DubLi is can be found by going to my website HERE. If you want to go direct to the auctions to get a feeling of what they are like, again, go to my website and scroll down to "View the US auction site". If you want to see a description of the software itself you can go here: DubLi Cinch Software, however, it probably won't make much sense to you without understanding what DubLi does.

Although DubLi is marketed via network marketing, I must stress that it is not your typical network marketing company. One can make just as much money, if not more, by promoting the auctions to the consumer. In fact, in Europe, where this company is based, most people involved with the company do not even know that there is a business associated with it.... It is a very unique concept. In fact, most of the people that I have introduced to the business were just consumers, who after becoming users of the auction I later contacted about the business opportunity... An easy sell once they see the concept.

Jeremy Morgan · 07-20-2009, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkeeney

LOL. I thought is was funny too, but he is exactly right. Ebay IS full of people who like auctions! I actually have looked into selling items on Ebay's classified ads in the past and they are much more lenient when it comes to digital products with classifed ads...I REALLY like the idea.

The problem with ebay digital downloads is, they actually have a lot of rules, and they bury you in a section that nobody visits. Be careful before spending a lot of money on an auction there.

07-08-2009, 04:47 PM	#1
dkeeney Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: , , USA. Posts: 21 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Best ways to distribute my free software Fellow Warriors, I am a licensee with a company which, among other things, offers a reverse-auction website. If you know anything about reverse auctions, you will know that in order for it to work, there has to be a lot of bidding/viewing activity. To accomplish this, my company offers free software to their licensees to promote to potential customers. This software, while useful in its own right, is loaded with free credits to be used at the auction. Also, the software is designed to the viral, in that the consumers to whom I offer the free software to will receive additional credits if they get their friends to join. Licensees, such as myself, receive a percentage of all the activity that we generate, so it is potentially very lucrative for us. My question to anyone with more IM experience than myself is what would be the best way to distribute this free software? I considered software distribution sites, but there are a couple problems. I have to physically charge each copy of the software which I give away with credits and also, I wanted to target individuals that have an interest in purchasing merchandise at auctions. Of course, I will hit the social networks and direct people to my website, but I was wanting input from the wealth of knowledge on this form for other ideas. I might add that the software is currently in beta, but is due to be released next month. I was just wanting to get a jumpstart on ideas. Thanks.

07-08-2009, 05:24 PM	#2
Jeremy Morgan Veteran Marketer War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 516 Blog Entries: 10 Thanks: 46 Thanked 80 Times in 51 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Best ways to distribute my free software I dont know the specifics of your software, but I know you can upload it all over the net. Have you built a .pad file yet? use PadGen (it's free) to build a .pad file for your site. Submit to all the big download sites you can think of, download.com, softpedia,tucows, etc. You could consider a product like this: GSA Pad File Submitter it submits your file to thousands of download sites. This is the best way to get your software out there, even if it's a small site that sends 10 downloads a year, it's worth the few minutes it takes to submit. You can also build a site, get it spidered by google, and do some PPC ads to it. I know it sounds silly to pay people to download free software, but lead generation is what it's all about. Then there are always social networks, forums and the like. I hope I've helped at least a little here.
	Jeremy Morgan, SEO / Internet Marketer My Portland Web Design Firm Check out my SEO Blog for news, tips and tutorials

07-08-2009, 06:45 PM	#3
dkeeney Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: , , USA. Posts: 21 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Best ways to distribute my free software Yes, I've considered the download sites, but as I mentioned, I have to manually load each copy of the software I distribute with credits and I can't do that with the download sites....at least I didn't think I could. Re: PPC...I never really considered that, but I suppose if my CPC were low enough that would be doable.

07-08-2009, 09:24 PM	#4
xiaophil Took The Red Pill War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Here and Now Posts: 374 Thanks: 124 Thanked 106 Times in 64 Posts Contact Info	Re: Best ways to distribute my free software Could you advertise it on eBay? I hear people there are interested in auctions.