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Software Marketing for Independent Developers
Issue: 1.4 (February/March 2003)
Author: Dave Wooldridge
Author Bio: Dave Wooldridge is the founder of Electric Butterfly
Article Description: No description available.
Article Length (in bytes): 37,714
Starting Page Number: 15
Article Number: 1410
Related Web Link(s):
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http://searchenginewatch.com
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http://vse-online.com
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http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu
http://guide.apple.com/
http://www.macorchard.com
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http://www.pure-mac.com
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http://www.blackcatsystems.com/regservices/
http://www.digibuy.com
http://www.esellerate.net
http://www.kagi.com
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Excerpt of article text...
Most shareware developers, and even a large percentage of commercial developers, find themselves battling the same common obstacle: limited budgets. The goal of this article is to shed some light on cost-effective marketing strategies and opportunities that won't break the bank. Since most independent developers find themselves single-handedly juggling the roles of CEO, Programmer, Graphic Designer, Accountant, Sales Rep, Marketing Manager, and Tech Support, these marketing tools are designed for the time-conscious developer.
Marketing is a necessary evil. We'd all rather be programming, but if you want your products to sell, then your targeted audience needs to know they exist and requires an easy method of accessing, evaluating, and purchasing them.
The Power of Brand Identity
A consumer's first impression of your website or product is the most important factor in the marketing process. We live in a very visual world and yes, as unfortunate as it is, people do judge a book by its cover. You may have built a truly amazing application, but if your product's interface and website are less than stellar, your application may be unfairly judged before it can be properly evaluated.
You may be thinking, "What does interface design have to do with marketing?" In the case of a shareware developer who depends on successful 30-day trials of his/her applications to generate sales, it has everything to do with marketing.
One way to give your software a professional polish is to create a consistent brand identity that is visible not only on the product, but also on all product-related marketing materials such as your website, advertisements, banner ads, etc. You never want your existing customers or potential new customers to forget about your product, so by adding a unique visual cue, you're helping to stimulate recognition, which in turn can help increase upgrade orders and new sales.
...End of Excerpt. Please purchase the magazine to read the full article.