How To Launch A Digital Product Business MRR Ebook With Video

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Chapter 3: How to Create Software

The next option is to create software. Software of course includes any type of program that will run on a computer or mobile device and the main type we're going to be dealing with here is practical software that performs a useful function - that's generally easier to sell than a computer game. Software is a great choice because it gives you a real and very clear selling point. People are willing to pay more for software because more skill is involved in the actual creation.

Types of Software You Can Create

In terms of practical software, there are several main types that I recommend you consider as0 a beginner selling digital products for the first time. These include desktop software, apps, SaaS and plugins.

Desktop Software: Desktop software will normally be a content creation tool or a B2B product. Examples might include things like appointment management software, a programming tool, video editing, word processing or something else along these lines. This type of software is very complex to create but tends to sell for the highest price. The objective will ultimately be to save the buyer time and money and you'll have more luck if you can do this by offering something new that your competition doesn't have. Note that when you create desktop software you'll have to decide whether to target PC or Mac users or whether to create a new Metro App for Windows 8/8.1/10.

Apps: Apps are basically smaller and more compact versions of desktop programs. An app can be something commercial like a diary or a tool to find where you parked your car, or it can again be something for business/content creation. Apps in the stores tend to sell for a few dollars at most but if you sell elsewhere you can actually charge a lot more - some B2B apps sell for $30-$200.

SaaS: This is an acronym for 'Software-as-a-Serice' and can also be described as a 'web app'. Web apps and software based services include the likes of Evernote and Feedly. These are tools that users sign up to and then log into. Often they charge a monthly subscription.

On the downside, this type of software can be complex and difficult to code and it also has higher running costs due to things like server strain and maintenance/support/updates. On the other hand though, services provide you with monthly income as opposed to one off fees which provides a more steady income and which can potentially result in huge sales.

Plugins: Plugins are small web apps that can be used on websites and specifically WordPress websites. For instance, you might build a spam filter and then sell that to WordPress users who want to protect their comments sections. Plugins are a good choice because you'll be selling to other online businesses (which is often the best market - hence the popularity of digital marketing ebooks) and because they're well understood and widely applicable.

Outsourcing Your Software

When it comes to making your software you again have the option of either creating it yourself, or outsourcing the process to a coder. If you already know how to program, then there's nothing I can do to shed further light on that subject matter and if you don't then teaching you is beyond the scope of this book.

Thus we'll focus instead on outsourcing, which again will mean finding a freelancer from sites like Elance.com, oDesk.com or PeoplePerHour. Make sure to check the credentials of your coders thoroughly, to look at examples of their previous work and to arrange a price and payment scheme that works for you.

One decision you'll have to make is whether you're going to pay hourly or a fixed rate. Of course the smartest decision here is always going to depend on the size of your project and the speed of the coder. As a general rule though, fixed rates tend to be preferable as that way you can budget more precisely and you know that you're not going to exceed what you can afford. This also gives your coder more incentive to work quickly.

Communication and Handling of the Project

One piece of advice when working with any coder is to be incredibly specific when describing the features and specifications of your software. If you leave anything open to interpretation then they will likely go ahead and make executive decisions that you might not necessarily approve of, or they might make shortcuts.

Think about the small details, like the way you want your menu to open -should it be animated? Will that animation include an 'ease in' in order to make it appear more natural, polished and organic? Note that it's not always easy to make changes or undo decisions - the way software works means that one element will often be closely linked to countless other elements across the code. Sometimes what seems like a very simple change can actually end up upsetting the entire program and set you back weeks, so it's always better to get it right first time!

Choosing a nearby coder is often a good idea because it means you'll be able to discuss in person and actually discuss various elements while the program is there running right in front of you. It's worth paying a little more for someone who is in your city and willing to meet. Another option of course is to work with a friend or colleague. If you do this though, then you need to ensure you agree on the split of profits up-front as this can lead to misunderstandings and arguments otherwise. Also important is to ensure you choose to work with someone who is as serious about the project as you are and who has a similar attitude to business. If you choose to work with someone and they lose interest a few months down the line, this will end up stalling the project and it can again place a strain on your relationship.

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