Download.com vs Shareware Tracker vs Affiliates

[Promaginy]

What is the best way in terms of value (dollars/time converting into sales) to get downloads and sales of our game via an external distribution system? I am not interested in directing traffic to our website because that is a different strategy and topic.

Is it worth the $80 to go with Download.com? Are there alternatives to Download?

Is registering Shareware Tracker or some other service/software worth it? Does it really matter that our demo is available on 100+ download sites? Does Shareware Tracker include FilePlanet, FileFront and other larger demo sites?

Is it better to try and build up an affiliate network for your game instead?

Are there Demo CD Publishers who either sell or include their CD with gaming magazines that can be contacted?

Of course, none of these are exclusive of each other and ideally I should do all of them... but given that time and money are not endless I would rather have some sense of priority.

[ChilledOut]

I have definitely found download.com to be worthwhile. If you don't want to drop $80, at least get a month for $9. The first month you get substantially more downloads since you're listed as "new". The conversion rate from there has been lower than other sources, but still well worth the investment.

[ErikH2000]

A lot has been written about download.com here. A search here would be worthwhile. The consensus seems to be it used to really good, and now it is just kinda okay.

Get the demo of SharewareTracker and you can look at the entire list of sites available for submission. I like the software although the interface really takes some time to get used to. For me, it cuts submission time per site from 15 minutes to maybe 2 or 3 minutes.

I got listed on filefront and gamespot yesterday as a result of a press release sent by vgsmart. I don't see any place on filefront/gamespot to submit files, so this makes me think that some of the larger sites prefer to use press releases to make selections.

-Erik

[Nexic]

I think both shareware tracker and download.com paid for themselves with Xeno 2, and probably made a fairly good profit. And Xeno 2 wasn't the highest converting game in history ...

[Promaginy]

Get the demo of SharewareTracker and you can look at the entire list of sites available for submission. I like the software although the interface really takes some time to get used to. For me, it cuts submission time per site from 15 minutes to maybe 2 or 3 minutes.

I got listed on filefront and gamespot yesterday as a result of a press release sent by vgsmart. I don't see any place on filefront/gamespot to submit files, so this makes me think that some of the larger sites prefer to use press releases to make selections.-Erik

I think both shareware tracker and download.com paid for themselves with Xeno 2, and probably made a fairly good profit. And Xeno 2 wasn't the highest converting game in history ...

By having your demo listed on multple shareware sites, can this increase one's ranking for search engines? That would be an additional benefit.

File Font has a page (http://add.node100.filefront.com/2) that allows you to submit demos.

DLX Gamespot (http://dlx.gamespot.com/) - talk to us button allows for people to submit their games.

Did vgsmart submit your demo to these sites for you?

[ErikH2000]

File Font has a page (http://add.node100.filefront.com/2) that allows you to submit demos.

DLX Gamespot (http://dlx.gamespot.com/) - talk to us button allows for people to submit their games.
Ah, then I was mistaken about needing to send a press release to get carried by those two then.
Did vgsmart submit your demo to these sites for you?
No, he sent a press release to them with info including the download link.

-Erik

[Itsme]

Is registering Shareware Tracker or some other service/software worth it? Does it really matter that our demo is available on 100+ download sites?

Not quite sure about games, but when it comes to software, the best shareware submission service is by Robosoft. They have submission software too
(http://robosoft.rudenko.com/) , but their service is excellent
http://submit.rudenko.com/eng/terms.html

[Promaginy]

Related to Shareware/Robosoft distribution software/services:

Does anybody know whether having a your game listed on multiple shareware and freeware website can lead to a higher search ranking for the engines?

So if your Chess game is listed on 50+ websites, does that mean that when people punch in computer chess game into a seach engine, they have a higher chance of finding your title?

[Itsme]

Related to Shareware/Robosoft distribution software/services:

Does anybody know whether having a your game listed on multiple shareware and freeware website can lead to a higher search ranking for the engines?

So if your Chess game is listed on 50+ websites, does that mean that when people punch in computer chess game into a seach engine, they have a higher chance of finding your title?

Yes, IF your game is listed on a site with good SERP. But don't bet that your site will get any SE benefits out of it. I've seen this with forums. Posting on "quality forums" can get you pretty decent traffic because some forums get really search engine placement results.

[Promaginy]

Yes, IF your game is listed on a site with good SERP. But don't bet that your site will get any SE benefits out of it. I've seen this with forums. Posting on "quality forums" can get you pretty decent traffic because some forums get really search engine placement results.

Thanks for the response. Some more questions to you (and anyone else).

What about web directories like Yahoo and Dmoz? Does having a link on these help with Search Engines? Is it worth the cash to submit a link to places like Yahoo? Any good services that do directory and search engine submissions?

[stan]

Search engine submissions are useless. Their spiders will find your site themselves.

I'm told being in Dmoz is good for Google ranking, although I can't confirm since my site apparently hasn't been accepted, or maybe it's still in their queue since several months... :-]

[Promaginy]

I'm told being in Dmoz is good for Google ranking, although I can't confirm since my site apparently hasn't been accepted, or maybe it's still in their queue since several months... :-]

I just read an article about how to drive traffic to your site and it basically said the same thing as you. Forget search engines and focus on building content plus submitting to DMOZ and Yahoo!

Thanks for confirming this.

[Jack Norton]

I submitted my site www.winterwolves.com to DMOZ about 2 years ago and never showed up on DMOZ. Wonder why...

[soniCron]

I submitted my site www.winterwolves.com to DMOZ about 2 years ago and never showed up on DMOZ. Wonder why...
From the submission page (http://www.dmoz.org/add.html):

"We aren't a search engine and pride ourselves on being highly selective. We don't accept all sites, so please don't take it personally should your site not be accepted."