Screen Saver/PAD File

Creating a pad file allows you to mass submit to software sharing sites without entering a bunch of information over and over again. The software sites get all of the needed information from the pad file. Michelle Mcphereson's 30 backlinks gives fantastic instructions on creating and submitting several different kinds of software, including screen savers.

I use promosoft to create and submit my pad files. I think it cost about $97. There may be some free alternatives but the free versions of software will not allow you to submit to the 100's of sites that a paid version will.

As far as creating a pad file without the software... I can't really help you there, without the software I wouldn't have a clue.

You can download a free PAD generator from here:

PADGen - Portable Application Description (PAD) - Association of Shareware Professionals

Tim

Great tip, Tim. Creating a pad/software is a great way to generate backlinks to your site.

~Mike Cowles. <><

As far as why you would do it goes, there are several reasons.

By submitting the software you will create a one way backlink to your site in many cases (or wherever you point back to in the PAD file).

You can also use this technique to specify some nice anchor text for the link back. This isn't always used by the software directories but many do.

Another reason for submitting software is that you can provide a link within the software back to your site as well (or wherever you want to point to - HINT: point it to your own redirect so that you can change that whenever you want).

This then can benefit from a bit of viral marketing in that if your software gets passed around, so does your link.

I'm not sure of the specific numbers, but I had heard that some software sites no longer like the uploading of screensavers and other easily generated software as they have been hit with loads of them by marketers uploading them for the very purpose we're discussing here. Again, I'm not sure how many and even if it applies all the time, but as I create my own software it doesn't affect me anyway.

All the best.
Tim

Thanks everyone. Would anyone have any tips on how to make the screensaver itself and any conversion tips (where to place deep link etc etc?)

There's another warrior from Australia who has apparently mastered this technique: davidmeeonline

Hope this helps.

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