Selling Software online

[Jean.B]

Hello developers,
I wanted to ask if anyone has some experience in online selling theyr softs (your company or individual)? Im not really in program selling etc, i do just programming. So i want to know the steps to make you/your company to sell your software online.
for example: i want to make some small company, to develope some commercial projects, i have few programmers, enought for small company, we have developed few softs, and we want to start selling them online. I really wouldnt know with what to start..
Here ppl could share with theyr experience/ideas about this . Any information will be apriciated. Thanks
Jean

[AIS4U]

Jean.B:

There are several different ways you can go about selling software you have developed. Two of the most common are selling it yourself through your own Web site or contacting companies that specialize in software sales and having them sell it for you.

You could also hire independent sales representatives to sell your software.

Before you go selling any of your software I would suggest that you take the necessary steps to protect your product as much as possible. For example, your software should be protected by copyright in any Country you are going to sell it in.

You should also make sure that your code is compiled before it is distributed. I wouldn't think you would want to distribute your source code.

Most software is created for a specific purpose and you could search for companies that would have a need for your particular software and market it directly to them.

There is also the possibility that you could submit it to some of the PC and/or Computer Magazines and have them do an evaluation of your software and write an article about it for their magazine.

Marketing is the key to selling any product. If no one knows about your software then you won't be able to sell very much of it.

Another possibility is to offer your software as "Shareware"

Do a Google search on "Selling Software" and you will find 100's of Web sites that will have information. Also search on "Shareware"

Good Luck with your venture.

[Jean.B]

Thanks AIS4U, very nice reply.

[eranga262154]

Jean.B:

There are several different ways you can go about selling software you have developed. Two of the most common are selling it yourself through your own Web site or contacting companies that specialize in software sales and having them sell it for you.

You could also hire independent sales representatives to sell your software.

Before you go selling any of your software I would suggest that you take the necessary steps to protect your product as much as possible. For example, your software should be protected by copyright in any Country you are going to sell it in.

You should also make sure that your code is compiled before it is distributed. I wouldn't think you would want to distribute your source code.

Most software is created for a specific purpose and you could search for companies that would have a need for your particular software and market it directly to them.

There is also the possibility that you could submit it to some of the PC and/or Computer Magazines and have them do an evaluation of your software and write an article about it for their magazine.

Marketing is the key to selling any product. If no one knows about your software then you won't be able to sell very much of it.

Another possibility is to offer your software as "Shareware"

Do a Google search on "Selling Software" and you will find 100's of Web sites that will have information. Also search on "Shareware"

Good Luck with your venture.

Nice work

And also you have to develop you software according to the nowadays requirments I think. That I mean you have to develop it in easy way for users. Most of the time they like do anything within few seconds. To achive that need a lot of new technologies as well.

[Jean.B]

Yeah, thats right, but there is one more thing, if i sell it online myselfe, then i need some online registration or veritification.. like when u buy the licence then you register it.. That would be more safe i think

[eranga262154]

Ya it's true. But I think the most valuble thing you can do is start a web site on you company or organization or anything you going to start. Then put all the details about you product on the site.

But in that case you have to learn how to sell/market your web site also. Need to be a good afiliate I think.

[RobDog888]

If you start to sell your software online then you should start a company and file for an LLC to help protect you in the even of your software causing some harm or data loss to a system its running on or other such effect. Also, you need leagal disclaimers, licensing, etc. You will need to get a business license in the city where you will be located and pay a special e-commerce sales tax.

Getting a public certificate so you can digitally sign your app or activex control(s) depending on what your selling. Users will feel safer if your control or AddIn is guarneteed safe and from you as a trusted publisher.

Visit http://www.copyright.gov/ if your in the USA and performa search to see if anyone else has already copyrighted your software product name.

Creating a solid registration scheme is vital to protecting and controlling the distribution of your product. Not too difficult or timely or they wont complete your install. Not tooo loose either or you could open the door tobypassing the registration process or serial number validation process. If your software is expensive then it will be more susceptable to hacking so you will need stronger registration validation and if its a .NET app then a good Obfuscator program will definately be required (cost $1000 or more as the free or cheap ones are a joke).

Having your website with product information, screenshots, support mechanisms or presales contacts etc are all things you will need to get your product out there and register your site with several search engines.

See this thread for online payment processing links.
http://vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=433947

Good luck on your venture.

[Hack]

Marketing is the key to selling any product. If no one knows about your software then you won't be able to sell very much of it.

This is the real key. I've been a commerical developer for quite a while and my company has an entire department dedicated to nothing but marketing.

One of the key questions that you need to ask yourself is: who is your target audience? In other words, who would potentially WANT to purchase your product? Once you have a reasonably good idea, then you can start advertising in the right places.

[eranga262154]

This is the real key. I've been a commerical developer for quite a while and my company has an entire department dedicated to nothing but marketing.

One of the key questions that you need to ask yourself is: who is your target audience? In other words, who would potentially WANT to purchase your product? Once you have a reasonably good idea, then you can start advertising in the right places.

I'm 100% agreed with you.

First of all you should have a good product, then think about marketing. Thanks for your advice.