Applications are an effective vehicle for keeping users connected to your content and re-enforcing your brand message.  Through your branded application, you increase repeat users that are more profitable than new users because there is minimal cost of acquisition.  Here are several things to consider for improving your apps effectiveness:

1. What is your objective?
   • Increase frequency of brand/content with existing users
   • Expand your reach to new users
   • Generate revenue
     • W3i’s Application Network helps Windows application providers generate revenue from the distribution of their applications.
2. How will you distribute?
   • Through your web-site, newsletter, or blog
   • As a recommendation with other software you distribute
   • Through paid advertisements
     • W3i’s Application Network provides Windows application advertisers with access to millions of installations every month. Target to users based on their technical profile, application interests, geography, and more.
3. Why should I create one now?
   • Stay top of mind with your fans
     • Do you feel that there is no need to be in the browser? Consider the impact of not acting. Your users are more accessible to content from competitors than from you.
4. How can I create a killer app?
   • Create convenience
     • What content do you have that your users would value accessing on a routine basis?
     • Don’t limit yourself to your own content. Consider what other content you might be able to syndicate to improve your relevancy. If you outsource the creation of your browser plug-in, ask the third party what content they have available.
     • Let your users customize your app to suit their needs
     • Consider whether creating different configurations for different segments is appropriate so that users can download what is most relevant from the start 
   • Fully leverage technical capabilities.
     • Would your app benefit from other desktop applications or the operating system?
       • Convenient access to relevant files
         • Encouraging users to share their local files with others on the web
         • Easier uploading of files to your service
         • Understanding the technical profile to filter content which is most appropriate
     • Would your content benefit from web browser features?
       • Detecting when the user visits a particular web-site to deliver an important message
         • Need to clearly disclose the functionality of your app and provide an easily understood value proposition
       • Enhancing the browser chrome
         • Display important information in real-time through the chrome
         • Toolbars are common, but there are other shortcuts and integration possibilities dependent on the browser your app is developed for 
   • Build Or Outsource
     • Is this core to your business?
     • What are your essential (urgent) features versus important (desirable) features?
     • Will you have resources to build and maintain your app internally?
       • Have you considered how you will manage upgrading the application?
       • Have you factored in maintenance for browser or operating system updates?
     • For most companies, when these factors are considered outsourcing is more cost-effective. Some technology providers, like W3i, will even pay you for creating and distributing your app using their platform.

 Contact W3i if you would like to learn more about engaging your user with a killer app, expanding your distribution, or generating revenue with a browser plug-in.

Ryan Weber, Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Co-Founder, W3i, LLC
Entrepreneur and pioneer of Internet marketing focusing on increasing revenue and distribution for digital downloads.

Are you an Affiliate?  In working with affiliates for several years, I’ve put together a list of the top three ways to improve your payout with Affiliate Networks.

1. Communication. It’s obvious, it’s a daily function of our business, but it is not always used by affiliates to properly convey their key measurements of value. For example, if the users on your site skew female, and the marketing materials you receive from publishers are targeted at males, let your publisher manager know so he can get more targeted materials for you that will increase your epc, and help drive up your rates.
2. As our industry continues to find more ways to optimize campaigns through AFS-type systems, the open flow of information pertaining to the way an affiliate drives traffic is a crucial ingredient. When shared properly with publishers, it creates opportunities to identify poor traffic sources and helps steer an affiliate toward better-performing traffic sources. Working with your publisher manager to accomplish this will create value for you and the publisher that can get you to the next rate level.
3. What is the user experience when they go through your download process? Have you actually run through it? If not, objectively go through the download to actually experience what you are asking your users to go through. By doing this, you can find numerous tweaks that will enhance the user experience, increase your epc, and help you reach your targeted ROI.

There are numerous publisher managers who will work with you on these improvements, as well as many others. For further details on ways to improve your current payouts, or if you are interested in more information on W3i’s Affiliate Program, please feel free to contact Chris Brama at chris.brama@w3i.com.

Chris Brama, Account Executive, W3i Holdings, LLC
Chris uses a consultative approach to growing W3i’s affiliate partners’ business.

As the social stream (Twitter, Facebook, et al.) grows and becomes more dynamic, the state of software applications has never been healthier or more exciting.  And the cool thing is that the growth of social media and applications is a mutual one.  The social stream has become the driving force behind the creation of new, innovative applications — apps continue to enhance, expand, and increase accessibility of the social stream.  Let’s take a quick look at how social media has bred new applications, and been integrated into others, now and in the future.

There’s no way around it: social media entities breed applications.  Just look at Twitter.  Out of nowhere, an app vertical specifically geared towards making the Twitter experience more dynamic was born.  For those Wakoopians out there, just search for Twitter and you’ll be presented with 230+ application results. Mind you, these are only desktop and web apps; this doesn’t include mobile. A lens on Squidoo lists 275 unique desktop and web apps for Twitter alone.   iLounge has a great article on all of the iPhone’s 30+ Twitter apps you’ll find in the iTunes App Store.  And that’s just Twitter.  There were tens of thousands of Facebook web apps created since their Facebook platform was launched in May 2007.  When the next social media giant is born, expect a deluge of apps to enhance its experience.

The integration of social media into current apps and the merging of communication vehicles to include social media are also important effects to acknowledge.  Digsby provides an elegant solution that merges IM functionality with Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and LinkedIn integration.  Oh yeah, their app supports email notifications, as well — pretty cool.  The newest version of the Flock browser includes new social features like Twitter search, drag-and-drop tweets, Facebook chat, etc.  Until recently, I couldn’t send tweets into Evernote for safe-keeping.  Now I can.  These are just a few select examples; there are many more.  I expect to see social integration in applications to progress, providing users with more seamless experiences.

Other apps could improve their leverage of the social stream in new ways.  Feed readers should beef up support of the social stream.  They should stop seeing themselves as RSS aggregators by taking a hint from FriendFeed and start seeing themselves as streamed information aggregators (FeedDemon is starting to with the new pre-release 3.0 version). The lines between how and what is streamed should progressively blur.  Productivity apps could leverage the social stream in their help section; instead of searching forums for answers, what if I could open up “social help” and leverage the stream for problem solving without ever having to leave the application? I want the social stream to flood over my illustrations in Photoshop so I can receive real-time critiques.  I don’t see how any application publisher can ignore the power and influence of the social stream and the impact it has on in-application user engagement.

In my eyes, the effects of the social stream on application use are just beginning. Assuredly, we will see more dynamic ways to connect people, share content, and democratize information — all in real-time.  Twitter and Facebook are current examples of how social media breeds application verticals through easy-to-use, open platforms and how applications enhance the experience of these core social services.  This relationship will continue to mature as the walls around social networks crumble, providing users with new applications that do more to exponentially enhance and expand the social stream.

Eric Montag, Product Manager, W3i Holdings, LLC
Eric uses his experience in graphic design, mobile, and internet marketing to lead the charge in product research, planning, and execution, from both a consumer and business standpoint.

Online media player provides monetization and marketing opportunities for artists and record labels

St. Cloud, MN, June 5, 2009 – W3i, a provider of marketing solutions that increase revenue, distribution and engagement for Windows applications and plug-ins, and RightsFlow, a provider of music licensing and royalty services, announced today the creation of an integrated music marketing platform designed to help artists and labels monetize free music downloads through media support.

“W3i has developed solutions to enable the distribution of free content for over nine years,” comments Robert Weber, Vice President of Business Development at W3i. “Our proprietary technology, Install IQ, and W3i’s Application Network can help downloadable content providers increase their revenue as well as ensure speed-to-market while utilizing minimal artist resources.”

As traditional music business models continue to change, artists and labels are looking for innovative sources of revenue in the digital space. “We are very excited to offer record labels and artists access to the W3i Media Player,” stated Alex Holz, Director of Client Relations for RightsFlow. “This system helps artists and labels reach music lovers searching for free music, while still generating revenue from their recordings.”

The media-supported initiative involves reaching fans searching for free music and offering DRM-free downloads of unreleased and difficult-to-find digital tracks. The initial rollout features 100 tracks across Rock, Pop, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Latin, Alternative, and Country music genres, including artists such as Say When, Carey Ott, Michael Olatuja, and Drunken Barn Dance.

“We are pleased to work with W3i and RightsFlow on this exciting program,” said Gary Taylor, manager of Carey Ott and co-manager of The New Congress. “Finding creative ways to market and monetize music is especially important for D.I.Y. artists, and earning revenue while rewarding fans with free music is an unmatched deal.”

Install IQ was the first installation system certified in the TRUSTe Trusted Download program, and users have demonstrated high satisfaction in online surveys.

About W3i:
W3i increases revenue, distribution and engagement for Windows applications and plug-ins. W3i uses a network approach combining the demand for free and trial downloads monetized by the distribution of useful downloads when the consumer is in the download mindset. W3i’s Application Network uses Install IQ, W3i’s proprietary Windows installer, the first installer to be certified in the TRUSTe Trusted Download Program. Tested and optimized on over 250 million installs–currently 7.1 million installs monthly and growing, W3i will prove to be a valued distribution partner in growing your application business. To learn more, visit W3i’s Application Network.

About RightsFlow:
RightsFlow offers Mechanical Licensing & Royalty Solutions for labels, distributors, and online music services. We specialize in obtaining bulk mechanical, DPD, and ringtone licenses including streaming, tethered, and limited downloads rights. Our proprietary “FLOW” system allows us to license, account, and pay royalties directly to the Harry Fox Agency (HFA) and the thousands of publishers not represented by HFA. Today, RightsFlow services over 1,500 labels for mechanical and DPD licensing. Some of the many clients we service include marquee companies such as imeem, E1 Entertainment, Muzak, EMI Music, Active International, Tapulous, CD Baby, IODA, Audible Magic, YouLicense, Constellation Wines (Blackstone), X5 Music Group, Zebralution and Disc Makers, among others. For more information on RightsFlow’s services and management team, visit www.rightsflow.com.

Media Contact for W3i:
Deborah Manthei +1.320.257.7571 / deborah.manthei@W3i.com

Media Contact for RightsFlow:
Gideon Kalischer, +1-212-937-6955 / gideon.kalischer@rightsflow.com

W3i’s Download Network featuring Install IQ is a Finalist in Most Innovative Service/Business Model category.

St. Cloud, Minnesota – June 2, 2009 – W3i, LLC, provider of marketing solutions that increase revenue, distribution, and engagement for Windows applications and plug-ins, was named a Finalist today in the Most Innovative Service/Business Model category for the 2009 Comp TIA SoftwareCEO Software Innovation Awards.

The finalist designation was presented for W3i’s Download Network, a leading consumer software platform. Using a network approach, W3i’s Download Network pays partners to generate traffic, installs interactive consumer applications, and delivers active users to W3i’s clients.

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the leading trade association for the world’s information technology (IT) industry. The SoftwareCEO Software Innovation Awards recognize innovative software products and new business models in eight different categories. Award winners will be announced at the CompTIA special online award ceremony on June 18, 2009.

SoftwareCEO Software Innovation Awards finalists by category are judged for:

Scope – What business problem or opportunity does the software innovation address? What is the size of the problem/opportunity?

Impact – What practical results, such as sales, users or profits, has the innovation had on a software product or on the software industry? The innovation must be new and have both a current and future impact.

Novel – How does the innovation break with traditional ideas or processes?

“W3i is honored to become a Finalist especially in the area of innovation. We know W3i’s Download Network can be a key distribution and monetization strategy for publishers and advertisers of Windows and browser applications. To date, we have installed over 250 million applications, and we are just getting started,” comments Andy Johnson, CEO of W3i. “Congratulations to the W3i team for becoming a finalist in the 2009 SoftwareCEO Software Innovation Awards.”

Entries are judged by a select panel of industry experts, including analysts, consultants, writers and trade press, and subject-matter experts. A list of the esteemed panel can be found here: http://www.softwareceo.com/leadership/awards_judging.aspx.

Details about the 2009 SoftwareCEO Software Innovation Awards and the list of Finalists in all categories are available at http://www.softwareceo.com/leadership/2009/awards_finalists.aspx.

“Software innovation is more than just ideas; it’s the ability to develop those ideas and make them work in the market,” said Mark Fogle, publisher of SoftwareCEO. “The annual SoftwareCEO Innovation Awards recognize products, ideas and business models that break with conventional software ideas and processes to introduce product offerings and business models that are key to our industry’s future growth and vitality.

About W3i:
W3i increases revenue, distribution and engagement for Windows applications and plug-ins. W3i uses a network approach combining the demand for free and trial downloads monetized by the distribution of useful downloads when the consumer is in the download mindset. W3i’s Download Network uses Install IQ, W3i’s proprietary Windows installer, the first installer to be certified in the TRUSTe Trusted Download Program. Tested and optimized on over 250 million installs–currently 7.1 million installs monthly and growing, W3i will prove to be a valued distribution partner in growing your application business. To learn more, visit W3i’s Download Network.

W3i Contact:
Deborah Manthei
Director of Marketing Communications
W3i
320-257-7571
deborah.manthei@W3i.com
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About SoftwareCEO.com
SoftwareCEO is a resource-packed electronic newsletter and web portal built by software executives for software executives. It is Page One for software industry information and education on topics such as software marketing, sales, business, financing, and services. For more information, visit http://www.softwareceo.com/.

About CompTIA
CompTIA is the voice of the world’s information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. For more information, please visit www.comptia.org.

CompTIA Contact:
Steven Ostrowski
Director, Corporate Communications
CompTIA
Phone: 630-678-8468
Email: sostrowski@comptia.org