I enjoy checking out new software. I’ve been using and purchasing shareware software since the early 90’s when I would peruse the old bulletin board systems with dial-up. I used to love to explore new BBS’. Much more so than surfing web pages today. I digress.
Internet marketing software has to be the biggest rip-off in software development. Honestly for what you get and the price you pay it is almost a joke. You can’t really trust a developer who is also a marketer to price something right. And when you consider that the software is preying on those who want to make money, you have a recipe for overpriced, over-hyped crap.
Show me a piece of IM software like keyword scrapers, web page builders, landing page generators, blog posters, feed generators, etc. that are more sophisticated than say any handful of computer games, graphics, finance, etc. (You can’t) Now explain to me why IM software is priced at $77/$97/$167 versus $49 for virtually any pc game? I can go to Download.com and get virtually any type of shareware program that is as or more sophisticated than any of the IM crap and pay no more than $50. AND I get to try it before I buy it.
And that is another thing. Why the hell can I not try out IM software before I buy it? Virtually every software on the planet has a 30-day trial or demo you can use.
How about this: Give a 30-day trial on IM software. If the developer claims you can make money with the software then 30 days should be enough time to determine if that is true or not. Hey, if I try it out and making some money by the end of 30 days then you can pretty much charge whatever the hell you want because I’ll be a buyer.
But no. That ain’t happening. They fully expect the sales copy to drag you in to buying the software. Yes there will be a 30/60/90-day guarantee but I would bet most consumers do not take advantage of it or just don’t want to hassle with it. It’s the same thing with mail-in rebates. Companies do not expect customers to actually go through the pain of mailing those things in. So they advertise the after mail-in rebate price to make you think you are getting a good deal, hoping you forget or don’t want to send in the piece of paper.
Next time you are buying some IM software for your latest project, take a real look at the price they are charging for the software. Compare it to other mainstream software and see if you don’t feel like you’re getting ripped off. Maybe you are. Maybe you aren’t. But from where I’m sitting it seems like prices are not reflective of the value that you are actually getting in some cases. Why don’t we see sales? Reduced pricing? Competitive upgrades?
I get that the audience for IM software is pretty small. The audience for productivity and game software is rather large. They can sell many more copies of the game at a lower price to recoup the cost versus IM selling less and charging more. I get that. It doesn’t make it right though. And as a consumer it doesn’t make me feel like I am getting a good deal on my purchase.
I mention this as I am contemplating purchasing some software for Project X type of income streams. The software prices are really ridiculous it seems. Of course if I make five figures a month like the ad copy says is possible then who am I to quibble over a benjamin and change?
23 responses so far ↓
Tom // Dec 19, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Absolutely dead on. Now why couldn’t you have wrote this a year ago before I blew $250 on that crappiest of crap Directory Generator?!
Oh well, learn the hard way I guess. Actually, I learned hard the hard way. It took more bad decisions than that one to teach me.
Deke // Dec 19, 2006 at 7:14 pm
Let’s not forget the crappy service. One highly touted keyword software by one of the gurus I purchased at $197 is based in Romania. Guess which time zone their “live” support is based on? Romania, even though most of their purchasers are probably in North America. I purchased it last Friday and am getting the run around from tech support. Still can’t get it running properly. I’ll see if they honor their money back guarantee if I get no help within a few more days.
Jean // Dec 19, 2006 at 7:21 pm
I know that I’ve bought some software in my first year in internet marketing that looked like it was built in the early 90s. And it cost an arm and a leg too. Yeah, it did the job as advertised, but I can only put up with clunky UIs for so long before I just give up.
Of course, I like to think that our software is different, but of course I would, wouldn’t I?
TranceMaker // Dec 19, 2006 at 7:24 pm
I agree, but some software has some merit. If you are thinking about Keyword Elite (for APX), just get it. It’s that good.
Splork // Dec 19, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Yea I’ve purchased some good software, but I never felt like I got a good deal. Except for XSP. Seems like when I bought it I got it for half of what it’s selling for now. Guess I’m a bit tired of being in a captive audience like we are and getting stuck with over-priced crap and over-hyped junk.
Splork // Dec 19, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Keyword Elite v Keyword Analyzer <— which do you prefer?
Thomas Salathe // Dec 20, 2006 at 12:36 am
Good post and right to the quick, we need our “Gurus” to have actually tried the software before flogging it to us on there lists. If not we move to a new list!! the Keith Weber finger to google was classic, who had actually tried the purchased leads system and can we find anyone whom purchased prepared to give us an honest answer!! That is if Splork has any bloggers left whom actually liked the product ;-))
I have keyword companion which is good and see the post at http://www.andrechaperon.com for using it but I am going to try keyword elite also, as the follow up keyword research course was very good even if you did not buy the product. It seems worth a try ;-). I will post back my findings. Could be very useful with Keyword Arbitrage a new way I think to use existing sites that works
This site seems to attract the more honest marketer perhaps Splork could start a product review category, heavily moderated for quality honest no bull reviews. I would especially love to hear post launch what happens, eg Stompernet, build an empire, finger to google etc Just to see what I missed and help me next time.
Or let us scratch an itch together, see what we all want and share costs to get something created
Soz about long post I will get banned!
Thomas
Thomas
Sam // Dec 20, 2006 at 1:17 am
I agree too. But let us take this opportunity to discuss or mention
which are “the must have” great or good products or services that are worth their price for the beginers to advanced level income seekers. With the relentless sales pitchfest around us, it is hard to tell what is good or mediocre. In the Warrior forum, many Gurus and markertrs berate the people who are asking for more information before buying or asking for a refund after buying as morons or idiots or spies etc. Some of them even ask for a proof of trying out their system for 90 days, so as to beat the Clickbank’s 90 days automatic unconditional refund policy.
Splork // Dec 20, 2006 at 1:44 am
Yea, I’d like to start a review section. I just need to get some cash to fund the thing. I’ll end up getting one of the Keyword Elite/Analyzer/Adword Equilizer pieces of software and let ya’ll know what I think.
Anybody else wants to post up a review I’ll drop it on the blog and give you credit via your hop link or whatever.
Chris // Dec 20, 2006 at 1:46 am
Great post Splork. I agree completely.
I have used both Keword Elite and Keyword Analyzer, and I prefer KA myself. That is likely because I primarily use it for content site keyword research, bum marketing etc., not PPC at the moment.
For PPC, KE may have the leg-up, but do not just buy KE for the spy feature. There was a WSO the other day for some software called spyglass or something that has a very sophisticated spy feature, even moreso than KE (from what I have heard).
I know that I spent way to much on The Blog Solution. Everything else I have bought I am pretty happy with (Instant Article Wizard, Keyword Analyzer, XSP, Submit Eaze).
Bryan // Dec 20, 2006 at 5:48 am
Keyword Elite is one of the products I am glad I own. While it’s not so easy to use, once you work with it for a bit, you will not want to do you Internet marketing without it.
What can you do with Keyword Elite?
1. Create a keyword List - enter a keyword or keyphrase and Keyword Elite will throw up as many related keywords as you want from half a dozen sources - in fact, this one project can throw up 10,000 keywords in one go. On my first try, I had Keyword Elite create a great list of 3,000 keywords for my Adword project.
2. Analyze Pay Per Click listings - enter one or more keywords, and KE will tell you how much your competitors are paying per click, how many ads are running, which ads are showing, how profitable the terms are, and various other factors… across five search engines (including Google and Yahoo of course). You can save a bundle with this feature of the program.
3. Select a keyword list - KE also comes pre-loaded with tens of thousands of keyword lists; just enter one of your keyword terms, and watch KE pull up a pre-made, plug-in-and-profit list
4. Analyze Keyword Competition - a bonus project which quickly shows you how hard it is going to be to rank for a specific term in the search engines. Not exhaustive, but - if you get traffic from the search engines - very helpful.
5. Spy on Adwords Competition - KE also allows you to spy on your Adwords competitors; if one guy is running an ad, day in, day out… then they are making money from it. Sneaky little feature that makes sure you don’t waste money on terms that have high turnover. This is a great way to “spy” on your competition. It works — my favorite feature in KE.
And, FREE upgrades for life!
It’s guaranteed — or you money back. Just get it; you’ll use it.
Oh, one of the bonuses is the KE Forum. Not *just* another forum, but very useful. You’ll find a plethora of videos there on using the program as well as many useful chaps to help you with your questions.
The tech support is supurb. I once had a reply within five minutes!
Please use this hoplink:
http://wizardmar.bryxen4.hop.clickbank.net?tid=LOSTBALL
Thanks,
Bryan
Hock // Dec 21, 2006 at 4:12 am
The reason IM software is more expensive than PC games is because it’s sold as an investment or tool to help you make “more” money. That’s the selling point. Most reputable developers actually offer some sort of refund guarantee so it’s like being able to try out the software. There’s a lot of shoddy stuff out there but I do like and personally use Keywords Analyzer and Keyword Elite.
Tom // Dec 21, 2006 at 4:02 pm
Hold them horses for a sec…
Although I agree that many of the IM software is buggy and has a crappy UI, what are you surprised about here? This is mostly software that is being developed by marketers without a formal education in computer programming languages who just threw some half-assed VB code together to help them automate a task. Then they thought that maybe other marketers would be having the same problems as they were and decided to market it. One sales letter, a 3D box shot and a clickbank account later they’re rolling - without knowing that:
a) Software never works the way it’s supposed to
b) That users are basically stubborn idiots that start whining the moment the app crashes for the first time
c) Said users expect you to be available 24/7 for *personal* support for a tool that cost them $47, $67 or whatever.
d) You have to think about the upgrade process. Users are going to bitch if they have to re-enter any data when upgrading.
e) Many, many more things…
Even if those marketers are not developing the stuff themselves, they’re hiring through elance or whatever and have to manage the development of the tool - which is equally difficult if you have no prior experience with software development. Just hacking together some requirements in plain english and mailing them off to your team in Bulgaria isn’t going to cut it.
Any which way you do it, your software is going to suck if nobody on the team has experience in software development. At the very least you’re going to get an ass full of support calls that will drain the life out of your sorry soul. There goes your reputation…kind of figures why so many marketers like to publish using pen names
It’s difficult enough for someone who knows what they’re doing to design a good UI (some well-known companies come to mind…), it’s nearly impossible by learning by doing.
Regarding the pricing of the software, I don’t see the problem here. If you see yourself as a “consumer” (implying that you’re clueless), you’ve got your business model wrong. You’re investing in your business, not consuming some software package. If the tool does a job that would otherwise take you hours to do, it will be well worth the bucks you paid. If it doesn’t, get a refund. If you have the “feeling” you’re not getting your money’s worth, what do you base that feeling on? What’s the value of your time?
cylai // Dec 21, 2006 at 4:41 pm
man, try the free tools first:spyfu and Googspy, i wrote a little about it on my blog:
http://cylai.net/?p=15
Splork // Dec 21, 2006 at 7:58 pm
Didn’t think for a minute that the IM software was an investment so I appreciate those who have corrected me on that. If that is the case then the majority IMO is a bad investment of my capital. I understand the selling point of the products. I understand they can make you money. Prove it first. Don’t make me jump through a hoop to try it out. Let me try out a workable demo and see if it’s as bad ass as the sales copy says. Does that happen? No. Because none (well, almost) of the products can live up to the hype. I still stand behind my contention that the majority of the software sold to help webmasters make a buck is over-priced, over-hyped product. The more money I spend on software=less money on MY bottom line. Questioning the price makes me a savvy business person, no? Not necessarily a malcontent. And I am sure I will continue to “invest” in it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Tom // Dec 21, 2006 at 9:32 pm
Forgot to comment on the missing of trial versions - you’re abolutely right about that. Some don’t even provide screenshots of their crap - not a surprise if you see the UI, they wouldn’t be selling a single unit.
IM software definitely lacks professionalism. The only software I have had a look at is KeywordAnalyzer (which is above standard) and Dr. Andy’s Keyword Results Analyzer (which does the job, but lacks UI polish and generally ignores design standards). From the comments I have XSitePro looks like it good take it up with commercial-grade software and Keyword/SEO Elite seems on par too.
If you’re used to great quality software - especially if you’re on a Mac - you’re definitely in for a surprise, surprise, surprise with some of the offerings out there
Splork // Dec 22, 2006 at 3:20 am
Yea, XSP is top flight software. KRA appears pretty good but I managed to cobble together the same thing with Microsoft Access (free for my use as long as I work for the man). Good to hear about KA. Been thinking about that one or KE. Haven’t made up my mind yet.
Sam // Dec 22, 2006 at 1:04 pm
Dear Tom,
Please explain what the UI is. Thank you
Mike // Dec 23, 2006 at 3:48 am
I agree! There is new internet marketing software coming out by the day. There is quite a bit of overlap going on. I think staying focused on your goals, and not getting caught up in the “buy more” stuff mentality, and putting things into action, will get you where you want to go!
Tom // Dec 23, 2006 at 8:43 am
We geeks tend to believe our acronyms are common knowledge
UI = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_interface
yourm8 // Dec 24, 2006 at 2:49 am
Hi Sam, UI = User Interface.
Love the blog splork, i’ve seen your posts on Affilorama and have been meaning to pop in but always got sidetracked.
I’ve been here reading for about 1 hour and realise what i’ve been missing.
Keep up the good work.
Mohamed Nizam // Dec 24, 2006 at 10:27 am
The only reason Internet Marketers jazz up all the hype into the stratosphere is to get SALES. Period. Without the thousands of wannabe-rich-in-a-week consumers, they’re nothing. Wake up people, this is their bread-n-butter.
Just don’t fall for the bogus JV-type sworn statements or comments on the sales page and you’ll be alright.
We don’t have to keep buying those IM stuffs you know. Buy one, apply it and if it don’t work to your expectations, get the bloody refund.
Buy Popup generators, anyone? How about a secure-your-paypal-buttons generators? Rotating ads generators? Squeeze-page generators? Get this, the new One-Time-Offer generators? Autoresponders generators?
The list goes on and on…
Gimme a break. I can create those myself using nothing more than HTML and PHP or ASP. And its FREE.
(Then you can put it up for sale at $97)
Sam // Dec 24, 2006 at 1:32 pm
Tom, yourm8 and Splork, Thank you for sharing the knowledge and
educating others.
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