If you were to look up some shareware called Spyware Doctor 3.2 on www.Tucows.com you'll see that about half a million users download a free copy every week. Want more fireworks? OK, go to www.download.com and you'll see that another shareware title called AVG AntiVirus Free Edition was downloaded about 1,126,408 times when I last checked. These huge download numbers hover close to this figure every week!
Consider this: what if you had some popular shareware title that users downloaded over a half million times every week? Can you see a way to make some money here?
Learn what millionaire shareware developers already know. Here are some tips: 1. You can acquire the rights to an existing shareware program. Some developers create great programs but fail to promote them. Sometimes you can purchase the source code very inexpensively.
Secondly, if you find a niche market and a title you wish to develop make sure it out-competes and out performs the nearest competition. You want a product that is so far better than the shareware that's on the market that word of mouth promotes it for you.
Shareware is an information product that can be delivered instantly and for little or no cost to you, the creator. Once in the hands of millions of users it can become one of the most efficient advertising platforms available!
With over ten million people having downloaded Spyware Doctor so far you can see that the traffic to a site like www.Download.com is enormous putting their Alexa traffic ranking around 89. Post your shareware to similar shareware sites to have a chance of having your title downloaded a lot.
Millions of sites are listed when you search under the terms free software, shareware or freeware. So, for you to get maximum exposure the key is to post your title to the most shareware sites possible.
Can You Get Rich With Shareware? Mr. Thomas Deedy, a developer and closet genius, revealed many ways that shareware developers make money giving away software.
There are several powerful income generators that you could employ. For example, if you create a complicated program that has many applications you may want to offer paid support services. Some developers know the answers to every possible complication in the installation, development or on-going operation of their software. So, they create a powerful trouble-shooting menu tree that any technical person can follow.
Then, they sell support packages at $50 to $150 an hour. The developer installs the trouble-shooting menu tree software on the computers of a support staff. He hires a programmer who may be constantly working to refine and improve the software to manage the support room. He provides the support when the trouble shooting menu doesn't have all the answers.
As users call in with support issues they are added to the trouble shooting menu that is shared by all support personnel. Once the support tree has reached this stage the overhead cost of providing support drops very low. For example, you could charge $10 per issue to users. But, since all issues may only take a minute or less to locate and deliver from the support tree this is nearly pure profit.
Some support services even use 900 numbers and charge per call. Or, they precharge for X number of hours of support. It is like a reserve account and users use it if needed.
A more advanced approach is to professionally prepare an installation and support video with actual screen shots from the shareware. You can include a troubleshooting menu and sell the training and support package for $250 including a couple hours of live support if needed.
Now, imagine that 250,000 people have downloaded your software that's designed for small businesses and would have cost them upwards of $2500 if something comparable was available. Let's imagine for a second that just 2% of those 250,000 people decide not to be frustrated trying to install and use the software with the basic instructions.
Do the math: 5000 orders @ $250 each is $1,250,000 in gross sales!
The video/support software concept makes it possible to automate your support business. This work can be outsourced to save you time and aggravation.
You may wish to visit www.elance.com or www.VWorker.com to see about posting a software project. There is no charge to post your project and you'll be able to look at lots of bids within 24 hours or less.
As the creator of the project you own the copyrights and you'll need to pay no royalties on your earnings. but, you can make more money if you sell a private label license to a software company.
This may be America's easiest way to become a multimillionaire and you don't even have to be a programmer to do it!
Simpler shareware programs don't require much if any support but they can be equally profitable.
Try it before you buy it shareware puts the software into the hands of the user risk-free. If they like it they can donate or pay an upgrade fee to get a full-functioning version of the shareware. Many such programs install a donate or upgrade button right in the software.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- " Please support my efforts to provide users with support and improve this software with a small donation. In return, you'll receive a link to an extensive tutorial, help files and you'll be advised when you can download the latest updated version of XYZ software. You'll receive lifetime updates all for your small contribution of $10 or more." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can leave the amount of the donation up to the user but I recommend putting in three contribution levels: A $5 donate button, a $10 donate button and a $25 button that offers bonus software valued at hundreds of dollars at that level.
Part of the value of using an upgrade or donate button is that you capture the emails of your users. You can build a wopping big subscriber list which may actually be worth more than the donation. A good opt-in list can generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue.
If you'd like to become a shareware millionaire try and find an application that will have wide-spread appeal. Look at what others have done and then do it better.
Other ways to make money with shareware:
1. You'll want to create a full version and a basic version from the start. Deliver the full version but make it function with an unlock code. Then, when users pay for the upgrade just send them the unlock code.
2. Build an email list by offering something to your customers like an e-zine with insider user tips. Or, simply bribe them by offering them another of your software programs free when they register their copy of XYZ software that they just downloaded. As I said, above, owning a massive opt-in email list can be worth a fortune.
3. I created a free lesson creator and reader for students. Then, I set it up so that teachers could purchase a much more powerful lesson creator which would enable them to create Advanced Lessons that they can sell on my site. I share the revenue from these Advanced Lessons. See www.Tutorbug.com
Don't hesitate to tackle your first shareware project. Use professional coders and be innovative and you'll soon see that there are many ways to make a small fortune with shareware.
About the Author:
Before you spend your money creating software consider becoming a shareware distributor to earn a fee on every paid upgrade. Click on SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTOR for complete details. This article, How To Make Money Publishing Shareware has free reprint rights.
