Ways to Boost Your Pay-Per-Install Strategy & Full Definition

by | Feb 22, 2015 | Pay Per Install

What is pay-per-install? Pay-per-install is a software monetization solution utilized by developers all around the world. And it’s popular because it works.

Here’s how:

Why Pay-Per-Install is Big Money for Developers

Pay-per-install programs work by presenting third-party offers and advertisements during the installation process. Users are given the option to install – or not to install – these programs. If a user chooses to install the third-party program, the developer earns money.

Each download represents an opportunity, and each conversion means money. It’s no wonder this monetization method has become so common: big downloads means big money. If you earn just $1 (and you can earn more) per conversion, then imagine how many downloads and conversions you need to bring in a decent stream of income each month.

How to Use Pay-Per-Install Software to Promote

Developers don’t just use the pay-per-install programs to monetize their software, they also use them to promote. The reason is simple: these pay-per-install networks offer up a qualified, targeted user base that gives developers a rich supply of conversions.

When you sign up as an advertiser, you give other developers the option to promote your software for you. This way, you pay the advertising costs, your software earns more exposure, and your business grows.

How to Grow with Pay-Per-Install Programs

When people convert on ads during the download and installation of your software, you earn money. But pay-per-install programs that are top-of-the-line – such as CodeFuel’s InstallFuel – give you full control over the installation process.

You have the ability to customize the installation funnel as you see fit. You can change everything from the advertisements to your logo to the text and the color scheme.

And a robust analytics platform gives you the ability to monitor your changes. What works stays, and what doesn’t goes. Optimizing your installation process as a conversion funnel allows you not only to boost your bottom line, but gives you insight into your customers’ minds.

The more you know about them and what they want, the better the user experience you can create for them, and the more money you can make.

Also, each time your program runs an upgrade, you have the option of requesting that users download the newest version. This, of course, means that they will go through the installation process again, which gives you more opportunity to monetize.

But why stop there?

One Income Stream among Many

Pay-per-install software is an excellent way to monetize a download and installation, but it doesn’t have to be your only monetization strategy. You probably want a way to capture and monetize users who don’t convert during the installation or upgrade process.

There are a few other monetization strategies that can be combined with pay-per-install programs.

To monetize users who are engaged with your software, consider in-app advertisements. These are ads that appear while people use your app. Banner ads, display ads, text ads, interstitial ads, and video ads are examples of in-app advertisements. The more relevant they are and the better they blend with your app’s environment, the better they’ll convert. You want users to stay engaged with your app, however, so strike a balance between an engaging app and engaging ads.

In-app purchases work…sometimes. Not all monetization methods work as well as others, and in-app purchases don’t have the greatest track record. Also called the freemium model, in-app purchases have a low conversion rate. But when they do work, they can work well, since you can dictate the prices of the in-app purchases.

Charging for your app. This method isn’t very popular, and it probably won’t go over very well if you charge people for your app and then present them with pay-per-install offers. Then again, rules are made to be broken, and there is a first time for everything.

Which brings us to the last point…

Test and Optimize

The analytics mentioned earlier are the best source of information you have on how you can improve your conversion funnel.

Here is what you should test and optimize in your conversion funnel:

Offers – The offers you present to your users are important. Switch out one offer at a time and see how the results fare.

Presentation – Though the offers are important, the presentation is equally as important. Change the wording of each offer, what images you use, and whether or not you use the opt-in or opt-out method.

Brand – Your brand also impacts conversion rates and the customers’ feelings about your company. A simple color change or logo switch can have a big impact on your results.

Keep track not only of your total revenue and your total completed downloads, but watch where people abandon your funnel so you can see what you did wrong.

Pay-per-install software presents a fantastic monetization opportunity for any developer. And since programs such as InstallFuel are so easy to use, you can get started making money in just a few hours. 

Use Marketing Psychology to Get More from Your Bundled Software

by | Feb 18, 2015 | Monetization

Bundled software – software packages that contain several individual programs – are a great way for developers to increase their exposure, improve their portfolio, and earn more money.

So how exactly does bundled software appeal to consumer psychology? And how can you use bundles to get more from your customers?

Use Bundles to Control Supply and Demand

Supply and demand, the age-old economics terms, refer to the volume of available product versus the consumer’s desire for that product. Generally, supply and demand work together with the marketplace’s competition to set a product’s price –  in this case, a software bundle.

But, for quite a while, marketers have been manipulating the perception of supply and demand to alter the price of a product. If you artificially limit supply, then you can increase the demand and the price. And if you are able to generate demand, you can increase the price.

Software bundles are mechanisms that automatically make use of certain marketing concepts to manipulate both supply and demand. But by setting artificial limitations and by taking advantage of the benefits that bundling offers, you can affect both factors.

At first glance, supply may not seem to have anything to do with software bundles, since digital goods can be reproduced on-demand, ad infinitum.

And though physical supply, manufacturing, and the supply chain have no effect on the price of a product, demand – along with the production costs – do have an effect on the price.

Using Scarcity to Increase the Perceived Value

To get around this, marketers and advertisers have long been using artificial scarcity to affect the pricing and order volume of products. By placing a limitation on your product, you increase its perceived value, with the goal of increasing the demand for the product.

Short-term bundling is a tactic frequently used by companies such as Envato, a marketplace for digital goods. By discounting prices and only offering bundled content for a limited time, they increase conversions and revenue.

Here are a couple examples of limitations you can use to enhance the value of your bundle in the customer’s eyes:

Use deadlines. A limited time offer works, because customers know that the price tag will go up after a certain period of time. If you drop the price of your bundle for a limited time, or only offer the bundle for a fixed time frame, you’re automatically creating scarcity and demand.

Only offer your product in a specific bundle. Even if a smaller piece of software, such as a plugin or extension, can’t stand on its own, it may look more valuable if it is only available as part of another software bundle.

Only offer a set quantity. If you advertise a limited edition bundle to a set number of customers, then they are guaranteed something unique. The artificial limitation of supply and the principle of scarcity drives up demand, and can also drive up the price.

Play Up the Social Proof

In addition to scarcity, social proof is another marketing concept that affects consumer demand. Social proof refers to the idea that the reputation of a product, service, or company can be improved by the quality of the companies associated with it.

In the same way that a man is judged by the company he keeps, a company is also judged by the company it keeps. When you bundle your software, your software, your work, and your company gain the social proof associated with your partner companies.

Even if your company is completely new, you will gain a measure of authority, not to mention market exposure, simply by including your software in a bundle.

For instance, a lone plugin on a basic website doesn’t have as much social proof as a plugin that is part of a complete suite of products being offered by ten different partner developers.

The perceived increase in value, then, will warrant a price increase.

Exclusivity

Closely tied to the idea of social proof and artificial scarcity is exclusivity. By placing quantity limitations or limited time frames on your bundle, you will also promote the idea that your bundle is “exclusive.”

With this concept, consider the VIP table at a fancy restaurant or club. The VIP table or the scarce software bundle appeals to the self-esteem of the user, who wants to be part of the in-crowd. Limited editions, baseball cards, and so forth are all examples of exclusivity in action.

By creating a unique software bundle, in one sense you are automatically creating an exclusive product, simply by packaging together a handful of other products that already exist.

 

Bundling is a staple marketing and monetization tactic that every developer should test. With a little artificial scarcity and a bit of marketing finesse, you can use software bundles to work “supply” to your benefit, generate demand, and earn more money. 

Windows Software Distribution: Downloads and Monetization in 5 Simple Steps

by | Sep 30, 2014 | Distribution

In terms of Windows software distribution, downloads and monetization aren’t as hard as you may think. For years, developers have run up against a wall when trying to distribute, deploy, and monetize their software. How do you acquire more users? How do you find better users? How do you make money from them?

Fortunately, developers such as the team at CodeFuel have developed pay-per-install smart installers as part of their line of distribution and monetization products. Total monetization platforms offer distribution and monetization solutions to meet the needs of developers around the world. If you’re looking for a simple 5-step solution to increasing your distribution, read on.

1. Find a Smart Installer

What do you do when everyone else is using a smart installer? Sounds like you’d better get one too. In terms of windows software distribution, downloads go up which means improved distribution.

If you’re using an old-school installer or home-baked script, you may want to reconsider. Here are some reasons that old-school installers just don’t cut it:

They’re slow – Old downloaders and Windows installers can’t keep up any more. They can be bulky and contain the complete file set needed by the installer. These days, users just don’t have the patience to sit around and wait for giant files to download, extract, and prepare themselves for use.

They’re boring – Yes, boring. Who wants to stare at a slow-moving progress bar? It didn’t take long for the gaming industry to realize that they could fill that time with screen shots, teasers, and tips. And it didn’t take long for the software industry to realize that that space could be filled with money-making advertisements.

They don’t increase distribution – Distribution and deployment are sometimes used interchangeably, but they shouldn’t be. Deployment refers to the technical aspect of installation, while distribution refers to the dissemination of your product. Smart installers work as advertising solutions to help you increase your reach and your customer base.

2. Promote in the Installer

Promoting your own work is key to increasing your reach. And increasing your reach is key to increasing your revenue. Using smart installers to advertise is just smart business, because you’re building an audience from users who are already interested in software.

Used in this way, smart installers help you solve one of the biggest hurdles facing developers: distribution.

Promoting partners’ work through the same installer doesn’t solve a distribution problem so much as it solves a revenue problem. But with the right smart installer, you can solve both. So why wouldn’t you?

3. Bundle with Partners

Partners are called partners for a reason. They work together towards a common goal. When you bundle your software with partners, you’re combining your audiences, which helps you increase your reach. Your brand will gain increased exposure as well. So in addition to increased downloads, your company will increase its market presence.

Bundling, of course, also gives you an opportunity to monetize through revenue-sharing. You can take smaller tools that wouldn’t otherwise earn income and integrate them into a bundle. Even if the revenue potential is small, it’s a great way to build your network and gain more industry share.

4. Brand Your Installer

Smart installers are made to be branded, and brands are key to building recognition in the eyes of potential customers. The right smart installer will allow you to customize it to your logo, content layout, and color scheme.

Old, flavorless installers that aren’t customizable just don’t give your brand the exposure it needs to grow. These installers don’t help you meet distribution goals and they don’t help you stand out from the crowd. The last thing users want is a flavorless installer from a forgettable brand.

5. Customize Customer Journeys

Last but not least, you’ll need to customize the installation pathway. It’s not only an advertising funnel to help you show the right offers and monetize more effectively, it’s a great way to improve your customer relationships.

And relationships are what distribution and marketing are all about. The more downloads you get, the more customers you’ll be able to market to over the long term, and the more you’ll be able to increase your market share.

Yes, conversions on offers is important to any developer, because that’s how you make money. But expansion and growth are vital.

Since smart installers handle all the technical aspects of deployment, it’s not hard to see why they’re taking over the marketplace. They’re becoming more and more common for developers and software publishers, especially since they are so easy to use and integrate.

Anyone not using a smart installer for Windows software distribution and downloads just won’t be able to keep up. Are you ready to get started?

Improve Your Software Distribution System – Meaning, Tips and Examples

by | Sep 28, 2014 | Distribution, Software

Developing software is one thing, but getting software into the hands of your users is something else entirely. When we talk about software distribution, are we talking about deployment, installation, marketing and dissemination, or the actual process and logistics of delivery?

What is Software Distribution?

There are a couple of definitions of “software distribution,” which can be a little confusing at first. One definition refers to a version or iteration of a software package, such as a Linux distribution – e.g., Ubuntu or Mint.

When used as a verb, however, software distribution just means getting your application into the hands of the user. This process involves several steps, including packaging, delivery, and installation.

Packaging

The efficiency of the deployment process depends greatly on the installer that is used. Good installers can accelerate downloads, decrease deployment time, and enhance the end user’s experience. In the same vein as Software-as-a-Service, third-party installation services often aid app developers who need a distribution solution. InstallFuel, for instance, allows developers to use their installer to distribute, deploy, and install a software package.

Benefits of Third Party Distribution Solutions

Software distribution may seem simple at first glance, but as the internet and the world of technology grows in complexity, so does the development and distribution process. App developers who use third-party distribution solutions can take advantage of a pre-existing digital distribution platform, which can target appropriate users with a customized, branded distribution package.

Packages such as InstallFuel simplify the software distribution process and often help you reach a larger network of users. This means that you can focus on your core business, while the third-party installer helps you reach high-quality, highly targeted end-users.

Another major benefit of such products is the monetization potential. People who ask the question, “What is software distribution?” are usually told that software distribution is getting an application into the hands of the end-user, and that’s true. But this definition ignores the possibility for monetization, and money is why we’re in this business. The distribution phase is a perfect opportunity for software publishers to monetize their software.

Beyond Deployment

There are plenty of resources online that describe deployment mechanics and the logistics of software distribution, version control, and planning the how-to side of things.

But any software publisher who wants to make money on their product should be thinking about more than just how to “get software into the hands of your user.” Software distribution certainly includes the logistics of packaging and installation, but it pays to think about ways to increase your audience. Enhancing your distribution to a larger audience has added benefits, such as increased brand exposure and increased revenue.

Another way to get your software into the hands of more users is through bundling your app as part of a suite of apps. By working with other parties, you can share audiences, which means more exposure, more sales, and more potential for revenue. And that brings us to one of the most important facets of distribution: promotion.

Increase Distribution with Marketing

Assuming you have the logistics handled, and assuming you have figured out a way to monetize your app, then the next step is to get more people to download and use your software. As mentioned, bundling your app into a package can help with both of those angles, but you’ll certainly want to maximize your exposure even more, if possible.

Good old-fashioned advertising is one of the best ways to increase your app’s visibility. This has some definite benefits, since you can get your app noticed quickly, and drive lots of traffic with properly placed ads. If your app has a good monetization system in place and you advertise appropriately, you can turn a profit pretty quickly. However, advertising’s not always an easy game to play, and costs for certain keywords can be expensive and competitive.

Content marketing, such as developing SEO-friendly web content or social media content geared towards your target audience, can be a cheaper way of establishing authority online and building relationships with your audience. Content is a good long-term asset that keeps on giving. The downside is that it’s a slower process and doesn’t always get you the same level of exposure as advertising.

If you charge for your software, joining an affiliate network can be a great way to get others to promote your product for you. Offer a high commission to entice affiliates to help you distribute your product, which will increase your exposure and user base. If you don’t charge for your product, put it up on all the major software directories, which also helps increase exposure.

There are plenty of other ways to monetize and enhance your distribution phase. It often requires thinking outside the box.

When you ask yourself, “What is software distribution?”  you should not only be asking yourself how to deploy efficiently, you should also ask how you can monetize, increase exposure, and add to your user base.

There are plenty of smart installers and third-party distribution networks that can help with both.

Software Monetization Solutions You Should be Using for Your Business

by | Aug 12, 2014 | Monetization, Monetization News

The software can be a powerful product to promote for your business. Whether software development is the primary focus for your business or an ancillary product that provides additional value for your customers, it can create a strong revenue stream to help you grow your business.

However, selling software isn’t the only option for making money on it. Just as you can monetize your website, you can also monetize your software to generate some strong passive income. Your success depends on the monetization options you choose and how well you employ them. Here are a few software monetization solutions you could be using for your business:

Smart Installer

The speed of your software’s download is essential to its success. If the software takes too long to download, customers will abandon it, and you will lose a sale. One way that you can ensure the process is a little faster and easier for your customers is by using a smart installer. This technology helps guide the installation and speeds it up.

A smart installer is also one of the top software monetization solutions. It displays offers to customers while they are downloading your software.

Advertisers may pay you just to show these ads, or they may pay you based on the clicks that the ads get. It doesn’t really matter which option you choose. What matters the most is selecting offers that are relevant and useful to your customers. The more useful they are, the more likely that your customers will click through on the ad. High conversion rates will inspire confidence in advertisers and will generate more income for your company.

Browser Extension

One of the offers that you may show customers during the installation process is for a browser extension. These tools are displayed just under the current web address that a person is looking at, and they provide additional functionality like quick bookmarking or monitoring data. They are useful tools that can enhance the browsing experience for your customers.

You can make money from browser extensions by showing ads with them. The extension can include display ads, text ads, or pop-up ads, depending on its design. Just like with the smart installer, showing relevant ads is key to their success. You can increase the exposure for your browser extension – and make more money – by promoting it in your smart installer for your software.

Bundle Deal

You can get more exposure for your software and monetize it by creating a partnership with another business and offering a bundle deal. With a bundle deal, you offer your software with another software package (or several), and you offer a lower price or some other incentive for downloading them together.

You make money by charging the other business for the opportunity or by earning a commission for each sale. You must select a partner software package that enhances your own and adds value for your customers.

The key to success with bundle deals is having enough clout to make other businesses want to partner with you. You should already have a large customer base and a strong marketing plan in place to be as attractive as possible to partner businesses.

Search Feeds

You’ve probably already seen search feeds on websites. These little tools make it easy to search without having to leave the site you’re on. In addition, they offer website owners monetization opportunities since these owners earn a commission each time someone conducts a search in the feed.

You can use the same strategy for your software. You offer your customers additional value by allowing them search capability without having to leave the software, and you’ll make money at the same time. It’s a win-win situation for your customers and your business. You can also customize most search feeds so they look like they are organic to your software.

Advertising

Advertising is perhaps the most common way to monetize any online or digital property. You can add advertising to your software in several ways.

You can include display ads, text ads, pop-up ads, start-up ads, and more. The key is to ensure that these ads seem organic to the experience and do not distract from the software. If they do, they can be intrusive and cause customers to form negative impressions of the software.

When you are ready to start making passive income with your software, you should consider a wide variety of software monetization solutions. The more solutions you employ, the more revenue potential you have. Employ solutions that enhance one another while also offering additional value to your customers.

With the right choices and the right marketing, you could even generate even more money from your advertising than you do from the software. Make the right choices, and you could have passive income coming in for years.