Programming Photoshop Plugins

Your unique, never thought before, top selling plugin may have been done already by another company you don’t know. Or worse, it may be released by your competition when you are in the middle of your project. This list will give you a few, very few tips about generating your idea.

• » First and most important, create something that you know about. For example, a 3D scene creator plugin is quite different from a color correction plugin. The programming is different, the theory is quite different and the target market is VERY different.
• » Do market research. There are a lot of companies producing Photoshop plugins, but it is not an unattainable number. You can do a research yourself.
  There are some companies that you should check first. AutoFx Software has a big line of special effects, artistic effects and photography plugins. They have created plugins almost for anything you can imagine that is popular. AlienSkin, Andromeda Software, Human Software and XaosTools are other companies with high quality plugins that are worthy to take a look. There are also, some companies that have a small catalog but with unique plugins: AvBros (impressive puzzles pieces and 3D paper folding plugins), DigiElements (Amazing 3D nature effects plugins), Altia (a prototyping plugin. Wow!!) and FilterForge with their absolutely unique Filter Forge plugin which will be the plugin I would take with me in that usual desert island thing.
  Of course, this is a small list. Please, I encourage you to do a market research before committing yourself into a plugin development project. Take a look at the Photoshop Plugins category of The Google Directory as a starting point. Adobe Systems has also a plugin store with a good selection of commercial plugins
• » After doing all I mentioned above (and more), you may have found that your plugin idea has not been developed yet. Maybe it hasn’t. Maybe it has. Or perhaps it is being created now. But you are sure that you did you best to figure that out. Don’t worry. There are a lot of "duplicate plugins" available. The market is big enough (not huge, though) for that.
  It is not only the plugin idea what sells. You need to sell it better than your competition and if your software brings a better user experience than your competition’s full featured plugin, then chances are that you will sell more.

» ShareIt and RegNow

Formerly independent companies, now both belong to Digital River’s network. These are among the most popular payment processor and software distribution providers. They host your application and provide marketing solutions too.

» PayPal

Nothing new to add here. The most popular electronic payment processor. Since it is so popular, it increases the chances of an impulse purchase. Many people don’t consider their PayPal balance as money. They are more willing to spend money from their PayPal account than paying with a credit card.

» MoneyBookers

One of the most popular european payment processing provider.

» DigitalRiver

Retail and distribution services. A large network. Perhaps the most popular.

» The Photoshop Roadmap, The Photoshop Support and The Plugin Site

Eric from The Photoshop Support, and me (from The Photoshop Roadmap, of course) are always willing to promote new Photoshop plugins. Harry from The Plugin Site publishes an excellent newsletter and he is always promoting new plugins there. It is a good source of traffic.

» Shareware Download Directories

Submit your demo to the most popular download directories, such as CNET Download, VersionTracker or TuCows to mention a few.

» AutoFX software, AlienSkin and Adobe Plugins Store
For the last three years or so, AutoFx has been offering product bundles from different companies. If your product is good enough, you may want to contact them. AlienSkin, has a Partner Products section on their site. Contact them to ask for more information. Adobe, as mentioned before, has a third party plugins store. You may want to offer your plugin there.

» Adobe Exchange

Although it is mainly for freeware, you can submit your demo or trial for free to this downloads database hosted by Adobe Systems.

Sharing your revenue with other webmasters is a great way to promote your plugin for free. Well, not exactly for free, but you only pay for performance and receive great exposure. Always try to share a big percentage to entice webmaster to give more exposure to your plugin.

Here are some points you should consider when outlining you affiliate program.

• » Real time stats. Perhaps it is the most important feature to consider. Webmasters love to follow in real time how well are performing their new ad designs, ad positions and other changes/improvements .
• » Many payout options. Offer a broad range of payout options for your affiliates. PayPal, direct deposit, checks and wire transfer are the most popular commissions payment options.
• » Marketing information. Don’t hide information to your affiliates. Offer them the chance of promoting your best selling product. Give them promotional codes. Affiliates should have access to product graphics, text, articles, examples, screen shots and anything you can imagine to help them sell your product. As long as they don’t make an inappropriate use of that info, don’t restrict your affiliates in their promotional efforts.
• » Fast web site approval . Try to approve your affiliates instantly. If you don’t want that, then try to do it as fast as possible. Currently you have access to many web tools to make an automatic check of the quality of a web site, such as: Google Page Rank, Alexa Rank, Marketleap link pop, Text Links Ads Blog Juice, Del.icio.us bookmarks ranking, and so. It is not perfect, but with a clever usage of those and many other tools you will have an idea of the quality of a web site.

» IDevDirect

This affiliate management system is becoming popular lately. It is inexpensive and it seems to be easy to install.

» Digital River

Digital River offers a network of software and shareware distribution with affiliate management capabilities. ShareIt and RegNow are the most popular.

» Affiliate Software Reviews
and Affiliate and commission management software and services review
These two web sites are filled with information, reviews and comparison charts that will help you to choose the affiliate solution that fits your needs.