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Hello all,
I think I have finally reached a point where I might offer up a program to the public. Still not sure when, but I am pretty close.
Anyway, it would be pretty cool if I could make some money off of it. From that point of thinking, is there any suggestions from those who have been through the process of developing, marketing, selling, and protecting your application?
What kind of documentation do I need to add besides a user agreement?
Do I need to make an access code that one has to input in order to use the program longer than a 15 day evaluation period?
What about protecting your source code? or your idea?
What sites are good for someone small like me to get this info and act on it?
I really want to do good with this, and would appreciate your advice.
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Well to be honest it's VERY hard to make money writing your own programs these days, but if you really want to give it the 'OL college try then here are my recomendations.
First of all you need to copyright your program. This is very inexpensive, and this will protect all of your work from the leaches out there. As far as protecting your code. There is no real way to decompile vb32 apps so your code is pretty safe, unless someone is just dead set on cracking your prog(Unlikely).
Now let's get into the interesting stuff.
<The usual 15 day evalutaion period> You will want to have a button somewhere on your program that allows the user to enter a password or ID Number to stop the 15 day timer or to allow more functionality. I suggest only allowing the user to have a few options untill the password is varified otherswise when the 15 day evaluation period is up they will just download it again. I assume you know how to implement a 15 day timer.
If i had an idea of what you are making i could give you some marketing ideas. Good luck with your prog. =)
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I am not out to make millions, or even thousands for my program, I just am hoping that the people that use the program find it worth 5 to 10 bucks each. If not, oh well, the main reason the program was developed was for me.
I was telling some people around the office about it, and they were asking me how much. It sparked something in my head. I figured if my 'cheap' buddies are willing to pay me a small fee for it (which is real hard, they are always trying to get things for free), that maybe more people in the world would do the same.
Has anyone out there made any money by distributing their programs? I am not talking about just one sale, I am talking about 100 or more people paying you for your program.
