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.