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

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

Andrew
#exe #file #monetize #saver #screen #shareware
  • Profile picture of the author Brad Gosse
    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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  • Profile picture of the author Smokey_Joe
    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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  • Profile picture of the author garyk1968
    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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  • Profile picture of the author Gee S
    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
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    • Profile picture of the author isspeltwrong
      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.
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    • Profile picture of the author Darrell Hagan
      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.....
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