How to Profit from Shareware
Posted 7th May 2009 at 07:03 AM by Braveheart37
Updated 7th May 2009 at 07:10 AM by Braveheart37 (to alter spacings)
Updated 7th May 2009 at 07:10 AM by Braveheart37 (to alter spacings)
What is Public Domain & Shareware Software?
Public domain software is software that is not copyrighted by
their authors. Public domain software is written by authors that
place their software in the Public Domain and may be copied and
distributed freely by anyone with few or no restrictions.
Shareware software is software that is copyrighted by their
authors. Shareware is written by authors that allow the user,
you or your customers, to try the software before having to
register it with the author.If a user likes the software enough
to continue using it, the user is put on the honor system to
register the software with the author for a fee, usually from $5
to $100. This registration fee provides the user with benefits
like free update versions, printed manuals, technical support,
other available software, etc.
Shareware software may be copied and distributed freely by
anyone with few or no restrictions and without payment to the
author. Most authors list their distribution restrictions, if
any, usually in a "README" file on their software disks. Also
check these files for registration procedures and fees.
You Will Distribute Your Software . . . You Will NOT Sell It'
One of the most common restrictions set by authors of both
Public Domain & Shareware software is that you cannot sell their
software. But you can freely copy it onto a diskette and
distribute it to people that pay you a fee for the diskette and
your copying service of the public domain or shareware programs
onto the diskette. The maximum fee most authors allow you to
charge to distribute their software is $7.00.
How to Get Your Software . . . FREE of Charge
Public domain & shareware software is available from a number of
Bulletin Boards Services (BBS's)located in every small or large
city. With the use of a modem and telephone ,you can download any
public domain and/or shareware software program available . . .
FREE OF CHARGE!
If you plan on distributing only a few different public domain &
shareware programs, then downloading them from your local BSS is
a very good way to start. However, if you plan on distributing
50, 100 or more different public domain & shareware programs
(there are over 1500 different public domain & shareware software
programs available for you to distribute), then the cost of
telephone calls to the BBS's will prohibit you from downloading
any large quantities of programs. You must then purchase them
from a Public Domain & Shareware Library House.
How to Get Your Software for only $2 to $7 per disk
Most public domain & shareware libraries, including Infopreneur
Services library, supply the diskettes, the copying service of
the public domain & shareware programs onto the diskette and the
special knowledge to help and provide you with the very best
public domain & shareware software available.
Here's a list of some of the major public domain & shareware
libraries. Write to each one for a copy of their catalog and
their breakdown of prices.
INFOPRENEUR 3755 Avocado Blvd #110, La Mesa, CA 91941
PC-SIG, 1030D East Duane Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
PUBLIC BRAND SOFTWARE, PO Box 51315, Indianapolis, IN 46251
SIZZLE WARE, PO Box 6429, Lake Charles, LA 70606
How Much You Should Charge
Most public domain & shareware software libraries charge a
diskette and copying service fee ranging from $2.00 to $7.00. We
suggest you charge $3.99 to start. You will have less sales resistance
with the lower fee and therefore get many, many more orders!
If you get all of your public domain & shareware software for
only $3.99 per disk, you will break even when you get your first
copying fee of $3.99 for that program. But every time you
distribute that same program again and again, it will only cost
you 25 cents for the diskette (use the 25 cent bulk diskettes you
see advertised in most computer magazines -- they work great),
about 2 cents for an envelope and 29 cents for first class
postage
. . . that's only 56 cents subtracted from the $3.99 leaves you a
net profit of $3.43 for each disk you sell! And most people that
buy public domain & shareware software buy an average of 4 to 12
different diskettes each time they place an order!
How to Distribute Public Domain & Shareware Software
Depending on your advertising budget, you will probably want to
begin using one of the methods explained in this report, such as
classified ads and/or direct mail.
CLASSIFIED ADS . . . You will offer in your classified ad a FREE
CATALOG. This catalog must be simple . . . use just one, two or
three sheets of paper listing the public domain & shareware
software you offer and your copying fee. Include an order form. A
good idea here is to put two order forms on one 8 1/2" x 11 "
piece of paper. Use one color of paper for your catalog sheets
and a different color for your order forms. But do use colored
paper for both -- it will pull a better response with more orders
than by simply using plain white paper!
DISPLAY ADS . . . as your advertising budget increases, consider
a display ad in a national computer magazine. Go to your local
library or bookstore and find all the public domain & shareware
software ads in the major computer magazines. Use the ads you
find to get ideas for your own ad. Remember, these advertisers
are spending money each and every month on the same ads. They
are spending this money because these ads are bringing them a lot
of money every single month. Most of these advertisers have the
same ads running in a number of different magazines.
DIRECT MAIL . . . If you decide to use direct mail, then simply
mail your catalog sheets and order forms to a mailing list of
computer users. Mailing lists are available from any mailing list
broker in your city.
COMPUTER and SOFTWARE STORES . . .these stores buy software in
quantities . . .not just one order at a time. A great source for
volume orders.
BULLETIN BOARD POSTERS . . . bulletin board posters are known as
one of the best FREE ADVERTISING media methods available. Don't
pass this method by.
FLEA MARKETS and SWAP MEETS . . . flea markets and swap meets are
visited by thousands of people and computer users every Saturday
and Sunday all year long. This is a very profitable, easy and fun
way to distribute Public Domain oft Shareware Software.
How to Package Public Domain & Shareware Software
This is simple. You don't package it . . . you simply copy the
program onto a diskette, put a label on the diskette and mail it
to your customer in a plain envelope. It's that simple!
How to Distribute Software WITHOUT Owning a Computer
You do NOT need to own a computer AND you do NOT need any
computer experience to distribute Public Domain & Shareware
software. Listed below are the major disk duplication service
houses that will do all your disk copying for you, for only
pennies per disk. This eliminates your need to know anything at
all about computers or software. Call or write each company for
their quantity and price per disk copying fees.
Diversified Systems Group Inc, PO Box 1114, Issaquah, WA 98027,
800-255-3142
MegaSoft, PO Box 710, Freehold, NJ 07728, 800-222-0490
Princeton Diskette, 1101 Richmond Avenue, Pt Pleasant Beach, NJ
08742, 800-426-0247
Star-Byte Inc, 2880 Bergen Road, Hatfield, PA 19440, 800-243-1515
Duplication Services Corporation, Scottsdale, AZ, 800-322-8392
Where to Buy Computers at Discount Prices
The best place to buy any computer system and /or accessory at
the lowest possible prices is by mailorder.The single best magazine
(filled with hundreds of advertisements) to find any computer related
product is the COMPUTER SHOPPER Magazine. Go to your local
bookstore and buy a copy. Then, get a pen and a piece of paper.
Write down the items you want to purchase. Read every ad in
COMPUTERSHOPPER Magazine that sells the items you want to
purchase, making notes of each companies name,address, phone
number, prices, return policies, etc. When your list is done, you
can then decide which company offers the best prices and policies.
Sincerely,
Kevin J Blaikie
kevinblaikie@rocketmail.com
Public domain software is software that is not copyrighted by
their authors. Public domain software is written by authors that
place their software in the Public Domain and may be copied and
distributed freely by anyone with few or no restrictions.
Shareware software is software that is copyrighted by their
authors. Shareware is written by authors that allow the user,
you or your customers, to try the software before having to
register it with the author.If a user likes the software enough
to continue using it, the user is put on the honor system to
register the software with the author for a fee, usually from $5
to $100. This registration fee provides the user with benefits
like free update versions, printed manuals, technical support,
other available software, etc.
Shareware software may be copied and distributed freely by
anyone with few or no restrictions and without payment to the
author. Most authors list their distribution restrictions, if
any, usually in a "README" file on their software disks. Also
check these files for registration procedures and fees.
You Will Distribute Your Software . . . You Will NOT Sell It'
One of the most common restrictions set by authors of both
Public Domain & Shareware software is that you cannot sell their
software. But you can freely copy it onto a diskette and
distribute it to people that pay you a fee for the diskette and
your copying service of the public domain or shareware programs
onto the diskette. The maximum fee most authors allow you to
charge to distribute their software is $7.00.
How to Get Your Software . . . FREE of Charge
Public domain & shareware software is available from a number of
Bulletin Boards Services (BBS's)located in every small or large
city. With the use of a modem and telephone ,you can download any
public domain and/or shareware software program available . . .
FREE OF CHARGE!
If you plan on distributing only a few different public domain &
shareware programs, then downloading them from your local BSS is
a very good way to start. However, if you plan on distributing
50, 100 or more different public domain & shareware programs
(there are over 1500 different public domain & shareware software
programs available for you to distribute), then the cost of
telephone calls to the BBS's will prohibit you from downloading
any large quantities of programs. You must then purchase them
from a Public Domain & Shareware Library House.
How to Get Your Software for only $2 to $7 per disk
Most public domain & shareware libraries, including Infopreneur
Services library, supply the diskettes, the copying service of
the public domain & shareware programs onto the diskette and the
special knowledge to help and provide you with the very best
public domain & shareware software available.
Here's a list of some of the major public domain & shareware
libraries. Write to each one for a copy of their catalog and
their breakdown of prices.
INFOPRENEUR 3755 Avocado Blvd #110, La Mesa, CA 91941
PC-SIG, 1030D East Duane Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
PUBLIC BRAND SOFTWARE, PO Box 51315, Indianapolis, IN 46251
SIZZLE WARE, PO Box 6429, Lake Charles, LA 70606
How Much You Should Charge
Most public domain & shareware software libraries charge a
diskette and copying service fee ranging from $2.00 to $7.00. We
suggest you charge $3.99 to start. You will have less sales resistance
with the lower fee and therefore get many, many more orders!
If you get all of your public domain & shareware software for
only $3.99 per disk, you will break even when you get your first
copying fee of $3.99 for that program. But every time you
distribute that same program again and again, it will only cost
you 25 cents for the diskette (use the 25 cent bulk diskettes you
see advertised in most computer magazines -- they work great),
about 2 cents for an envelope and 29 cents for first class
postage
. . . that's only 56 cents subtracted from the $3.99 leaves you a
net profit of $3.43 for each disk you sell! And most people that
buy public domain & shareware software buy an average of 4 to 12
different diskettes each time they place an order!
How to Distribute Public Domain & Shareware Software
Depending on your advertising budget, you will probably want to
begin using one of the methods explained in this report, such as
classified ads and/or direct mail.
CLASSIFIED ADS . . . You will offer in your classified ad a FREE
CATALOG. This catalog must be simple . . . use just one, two or
three sheets of paper listing the public domain & shareware
software you offer and your copying fee. Include an order form. A
good idea here is to put two order forms on one 8 1/2" x 11 "
piece of paper. Use one color of paper for your catalog sheets
and a different color for your order forms. But do use colored
paper for both -- it will pull a better response with more orders
than by simply using plain white paper!
DISPLAY ADS . . . as your advertising budget increases, consider
a display ad in a national computer magazine. Go to your local
library or bookstore and find all the public domain & shareware
software ads in the major computer magazines. Use the ads you
find to get ideas for your own ad. Remember, these advertisers
are spending money each and every month on the same ads. They
are spending this money because these ads are bringing them a lot
of money every single month. Most of these advertisers have the
same ads running in a number of different magazines.
DIRECT MAIL . . . If you decide to use direct mail, then simply
mail your catalog sheets and order forms to a mailing list of
computer users. Mailing lists are available from any mailing list
broker in your city.
COMPUTER and SOFTWARE STORES . . .these stores buy software in
quantities . . .not just one order at a time. A great source for
volume orders.
BULLETIN BOARD POSTERS . . . bulletin board posters are known as
one of the best FREE ADVERTISING media methods available. Don't
pass this method by.
FLEA MARKETS and SWAP MEETS . . . flea markets and swap meets are
visited by thousands of people and computer users every Saturday
and Sunday all year long. This is a very profitable, easy and fun
way to distribute Public Domain oft Shareware Software.
How to Package Public Domain & Shareware Software
This is simple. You don't package it . . . you simply copy the
program onto a diskette, put a label on the diskette and mail it
to your customer in a plain envelope. It's that simple!
How to Distribute Software WITHOUT Owning a Computer
You do NOT need to own a computer AND you do NOT need any
computer experience to distribute Public Domain & Shareware
software. Listed below are the major disk duplication service
houses that will do all your disk copying for you, for only
pennies per disk. This eliminates your need to know anything at
all about computers or software. Call or write each company for
their quantity and price per disk copying fees.
Diversified Systems Group Inc, PO Box 1114, Issaquah, WA 98027,
800-255-3142
MegaSoft, PO Box 710, Freehold, NJ 07728, 800-222-0490
Princeton Diskette, 1101 Richmond Avenue, Pt Pleasant Beach, NJ
08742, 800-426-0247
Star-Byte Inc, 2880 Bergen Road, Hatfield, PA 19440, 800-243-1515
Duplication Services Corporation, Scottsdale, AZ, 800-322-8392
Where to Buy Computers at Discount Prices
The best place to buy any computer system and /or accessory at
the lowest possible prices is by mailorder.The single best magazine
(filled with hundreds of advertisements) to find any computer related
product is the COMPUTER SHOPPER Magazine. Go to your local
bookstore and buy a copy. Then, get a pen and a piece of paper.
Write down the items you want to purchase. Read every ad in
COMPUTERSHOPPER Magazine that sells the items you want to
purchase, making notes of each companies name,address, phone
number, prices, return policies, etc. When your list is done, you
can then decide which company offers the best prices and policies.
Sincerely,
Kevin J Blaikie
kevinblaikie@rocketmail.com
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