Best way to monetize an .exe file? (Screen saver, shareware, etc..)

Andrew Maule · 08-01-2009, 01:59 PM

Any suggestions? People have recommended Zango cash but I'm looking for other options, would love any suggestions, thanks a ton.

Andrew

Brad Gosse · 08-01-2009, 02:26 PM

I used to know tons of bundling companies in this space but most if not all have vanished.

The FTC cracked down on installers a while back which hurt many pay per install models.

KeywordMarketer · 08-03-2009, 12:46 AM

It's not direct monetization, but I'd think about submitting the file to shareware sites just for the backlinks those sites provide to your money site.

Smokey_Joe · 08-03-2009, 01:34 AM

I agree, submit your software to respective sites. Do you have any blog or something dedicated to these products or are they just on their own?

garyk1968 · 08-03-2009, 03:46 AM

Yes get it on tucows/freshmeat/sourceforge/download.com/cnet etc.

You can build licensing right into your app with the right components. I have one for my apps which allows me to provide trial versions for any number of days which can be unlocked and turned into a fully working app.

Or use the IM spin on it and give away a 'lite' version of the software for free.

Gary

Andrew Maule · 08-03-2009, 09:52 AM

Excellent suggestions. Yes I plan to have a main site where people can download all the .exe files and probably throw some Adsense and CPA/CB offers up as well. I like the idea of submitting it to diff. places too.. hm..

G Singh · 08-03-2009, 09:55 AM

Within your .exe file could you not include a word document with your CPA offers included in that....possibly within a README first document? So when someone opens it they will be exposed to your CPA offer?

P.S do make sure the CPA offer iss related to whatever the file contains

isspeltwrong · 08-03-2009, 10:17 AM

I'd say you could do a lot within the exe using a browser frame (maybe a banner) below the main app. Better yet...

You could also allow charge for personalization of your exe file, in order to make it profitable for other people to share your app. For example...

Stick a browser frame somewhere in your app, and charge a fee for personalization within the app. The browser frame will need to point to a domain using a UID like hxxp://domain.com/app.php?ebookid=839f8h329f82

Then, using the php script, you can sell the advertising space, and customize it based on that ID... You might need to custom code each version of the ebook with the UID or come up with a system to brand it, but it's really not a lot of work for a programmer.

Darrell Hagan · 08-03-2009, 10:18 AM

I've had various programs on the market for years, mostly in imaging, etc.

The thing which helped me most was the exposure created by listing with Download.com, Tucows, and a few more of the bigger/well known directories. Don't waste your time with the multitude of small directories which automatically give your software a "5 star" rating without ever looking at the program(s).

Although marketing via download sites can reach a very broad audience quickly, it is also important to reach a more targeted crowd. Offer an opt-in newsletter on your product site, and join a few relevent forums, offering your product to them. If doing forum marketing, be sure to contribute something useful to the forum(s) as well.

Anyway, good luck with your efforts.....

08-01-2009, 01:59 PM	#1
Andrew Maule Articles-Written.com War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NY, USA Posts: 2,707 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 112 Thanked 552 Times in 115 Posts	Best way to monetize an .exe file? (Screen saver, shareware, etc..) Any suggestions? People have recommended Zango cash but I'm looking for other options, would love any suggestions, thanks a ton. Andrew
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08-01-2009, 02:26 PM	#2
Brad Gosse Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Orangeville, Ontario Posts: 2,921 Thanks: 1,344 Thanked 1,128 Times in 595 Posts Social Networking	Re: Best way to monetize an .exe file? (Screen saver, shareware, etc..) I used to know tons of bundling companies in this space but most if not all have vanished. The FTC cracked down on installers a while back which hurt many pay per install models.
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08-03-2009, 12:46 AM	#3
KeywordMarketer www.AdwordsDVD.com Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 50 Thanks: 6 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Best way to monetize an .exe file? (Screen saver, shareware, etc..) It's not direct monetization, but I'd think about submitting the file to shareware sites just for the backlinks those sites provide to your money site.
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08-03-2009, 01:34 AM	#4
Smokey_Joe HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 259 Thanks: 6 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Best way to monetize an .exe file? (Screen saver, shareware, etc..) I agree, submit your software to respective sites. Do you have any blog or something dedicated to these products or are they just on their own?
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08-03-2009, 03:46 AM	#5
garyk1968 HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 314 Thanks: 36 Thanked 23 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Best way to monetize an .exe file? (Screen saver, shareware, etc..) Yes get it on tucows/freshmeat/sourceforge/download.com/cnet etc. You can build licensing right into your app with the right components. I have one for my apps which allows me to provide trial versions for any number of days which can be unlocked and turned into a fully working app. Or use the IM spin on it and give away a 'lite' version of the software for free. Gary
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08-03-2009, 09:52 AM	#6
Andrew Maule Articles-Written.com War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NY, USA Posts: 2,707 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 112 Thanked 552 Times in 115 Posts	Re: Best way to monetize an .exe file? (Screen saver, shareware, etc..) Excellent suggestions. Yes I plan to have a main site where people can download all the .exe files and probably throw some Adsense and CPA/CB offers up as well. I like the idea of submitting it to diff. places too.. hm..
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08-03-2009, 09:55 AM	#7
G Singh Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 923 Thanks: 173 Thanked 102 Times in 75 Posts	Re: Best way to monetize an .exe file? (Screen saver, shareware, etc..) Within your .exe file could you not include a word document with your CPA offers included in that....possibly within a README first document? So when someone opens it they will be exposed to your CPA offer? P.S do make sure the CPA offer iss related to whatever the file contains

08-03-2009, 10:17 AM	#8
isspeltwrong Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Best way to monetize an .exe file? (Screen saver, shareware, etc..) I'd say you could do a lot within the exe using a browser frame (maybe a banner) below the main app. Better yet... You could also allow charge for personalization of your exe file, in order to make it profitable for other people to share your app. For example... Stick a browser frame somewhere in your app, and charge a fee for personalization within the app. The browser frame will need to point to a domain using a UID like hxxp://domain.com/app.php?ebookid=839f8h329f82 Then, using the php script, you can sell the advertising space, and customize it based on that ID... You might need to custom code each version of the ebook with the UID or come up with a system to brand it, but it's really not a lot of work for a programmer.

08-03-2009, 10:18 AM	#9
Darrell Hagan HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: , , . Posts: 453 Thanks: 72 Thanked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Best way to monetize an .exe file? (Screen saver, shareware, etc..) I've had various programs on the market for years, mostly in imaging, etc. The thing which helped me most was the exposure created by listing with Download.com, Tucows, and a few more of the bigger/well known directories. Don't waste your time with the multitude of small directories which automatically give your software a "5 star" rating without ever looking at the program(s). Although marketing via download sites can reach a very broad audience quickly, it is also important to reach a more targeted crowd. Offer an opt-in newsletter on your product site, and join a few relevent forums, offering your product to them. If doing forum marketing, be sure to contribute something useful to the forum(s) as well. Anyway, good luck with your efforts.....