Setting Up a Website

This is actually a follow on from our PAD Program to Submit Software item but it may be generally useful to people.

If you're selling software (or giving it away) on the net, your software needs to be on the net. It looks better (and people are more likely to try your software) if your site looks "real". In the very least you can get by with using free web space that came with your internet account BUT there are problems with that. What if your program is really popular? What if the downloads exceed your free bandwidth each month? What if you change internet providers?

The cost of a domain name is not much. We use GoDaddy.com but others registrars exist and some may be even cheaper.

The cost of hosting is not much either. We use xhostsolutions.com because they are a good price and we like them. There are lots of others out there too - probably with similar prices, and service that is just as good. I have a friend that works for velocity internet in Canberra. They do web hosting.

In many ways unix(linux) based hosting is better than Windows hosting but we have used both and either one works.

PAD Program to Submit Software

So, you've written a fantastic shareware or freeware program that does great things. It is probably really useful and will bring some benefit to the world - even if it is only in a small niche. Thank you.

However, it is only useful if people know about it. If your software is shareware or freeware you probably meant others to use it. To use it they have to know about it. And if its shareware you probably want someone to buy it so you can feed the kids.

Okay. Where to from here? how do you make it all happen?

Cover the basics first.

* You ought to set up a website for your program or your business or you.
* You need to set up at least a few web pages on your site.
You must have at least one page describing your software program. "Contact Us" and "FAQ" (Frequently Asked Questions) pages are also good ones to add.
* Upload your software to your website.
* Create a 32x32 GIF icon file for your program.
You may have an icon already as part of your program. If so, odds are you'll need to convert this to a GIF file. (There are freeware programs that do this e.g. IcoFX). Upload the GIF to your website.
* Do a screen print of your program and upload this as a JPG file.
It ought to be a standard size like 640x480 or 800x600. You can use Paint to center a smaller screen print on a standard size canvas.

Now Get Your Software Known

Step 1. Get a copy of PADGen from the Association of Shareware Professionals.
Step 2. Install it and fill in your company's details (or your details).
Step 3. Fill in your program's details.
Step 4. Build a PAD file for your program.
Step 5. Copy it to your website.
Step 6. Get a PAD program to submit software to lots of software download sites and use it.
Step 7. Promote your software.

More Info

Check out Introduction to PAD file Submission Tools