And if so..why?
I have a update to Comment Hut ready to go, this update isn’t due to any problem with the software it adds new functionality so should I charge for it?
This is the question being thrown around in my home right now, I know James Brausch always charges for updates (and I am not saying he is the be all reference point) his logic seems to be that by giving all the work away for free it makes it pointless doing any further work on a product once you have released it.
Please note I am not talking about fixes I am talking about increased functionalities.
I can see his point, it costs money to get the updates done and there is never any guarantee that the updates/improvements will bring in sales that you wouldn’t have got anyway.
Would the money and resources be better spent on new product development?
Would a new product bring you a better ROI than updating your already existing tool?
What about the Kudos you get from your present owners by giving them free updates?
If you are charging a monthly fee then of course updates should be included, but if someone pays $27, $47 or even $97 for a product and it does what it was advertised to do should they really expect free improvements to the functionality of the product?
What are your thoughts?
I think if the additional functionality is a vast improvement then a “upgrade fee” is appropriate. If it is just one change though, you could build more goodwill with giving it to your customer base.
I believe in paying for version changes, but they need to be significant.
It always makes me feel that the seller doesn’t care about their customers when they charge for updates and improvements. If I have purchased a product then if it is upgraded then doesn’t that make it the product it always should have been? Upgrades should be free to previous customers. Unless you are one of the 2nd hand car dealer type marketers who are clearly only here to take as much money as possible from their customers and are happy to rip off everybody.
The original buyers are the ones who enable the seller to be successful. Without them any program or script would have sunk without trace. They deserve support and appreciation. If they are happy with the program and get free updates then they will be the best free advertising you could possibly get. I suspect a lot of sellers forget that. Make them afffiliates automatically and watch how your sales increase.