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I built a tool for myself and some relatives. It's a windows keyboard tool that allows someone to instantly type accent marks, other diacritics and often used special characters. No key combinations to remember, no keyboard switching in the regional settings.

I am a french expat in Canada and really created it for my own daily use. Starting from there I wanted to test if there would be some interest by others, so I purchased a web template and quickly setup.

My problem is that I don't know where to promote it. When I google some key keywords like "clavier qwerty accents" (this is in french because my beta first targets french people), the results I get usually are forums where people need help typing their accent marks. I can't simply go there, register and say "use keyxpat, it solves your problem". It's understood as spam.

Note that I will also need to target people from other countries (norwegians, germans, ...) and I can only do it in english since I don't speak these languages.

Something that could help thinking about it: a buddhist organization, which translates texts to from sanskrit (with a specific font under MS Word), would like me to add all accentuated sanskrit characters (because it's a nightmare for them), which is something keyxpat can do.

So, where would you go to talk about this tool?

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C'est génial!!! french.stackexchange.com/questions/4416/… – frenchie Nov 16 '12 at 8:25
I have my first fan! ;) Seriously, thanks frenchie. I also agree with the mods that it would be far more useful on SU. Can it be cloned there? – user4578 Nov 16 '12 at 13:45
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I think what matters most is that the page be found when users type in Google; people don't browse SU, they search with a search engine and get to a particular page from there. I also think you should seriously rework the SEO of your site: ask yourself what people looking for your solution would type in the google search bar. I had never heard of "diacritics" before! Also, for the distribution, I recommend you consider telemarketing all the French departments of US universities; you call them all, ask for an email address and voila, all their students buy your program. 4-6 months of work. – frenchie Nov 16 '12 at 14:17
Also, for another idea, I would recommend you put a very short Youtube video (1 min max) on your hompepage showing the product in action. People want to be entertained, they don't want to read and I think there's way too much text. But that's just my own humble opinion. I think you've got an awesome product! I would also look into filing a patent quickly. – frenchie Nov 16 '12 at 14:17
+1 for diacritic. I at least reworded the tagline on the french page. – user4578 Nov 16 '12 at 14:50
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4 Answers

up vote 1 down vote

I live in Montreal too and an expat!

I like your software, there are several ways to promote it actually. If you don't want your post to sound like spam (and you're right, it would be perceived as such), you might consider asking the moderators of the forums to allow you to post on their website. In the end, if you're providing them a solution, they shouldn't say no.

Alternatively, if you're willing to spend a little bit of money, you can always track Google AdWords and see if there is demand and if there is, you can advertise there.

My experience is in marketing, and if you need help, let me know, my phone is 514 995 5147.

*PS: I am not profiting out of this, I am just trying to help.

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I don't remember for what that was, but in the past I already contacted some forum admins and they don't answer this kind of "auth requests", unfortunately. – user4578 Nov 15 '12 at 20:26
I used AdWords to startup my website two years ago. While they will tempt you into spending more money, if you can control it, you have no problem. The beauty about it, is that, it provides you with target audience. My website now has over 15+k registered members. The first few hundred where because of AdWords... – James Nov 15 '12 at 20:38
Maybe it's time for me to get into adwords after all... Since this guy is a totally stranger to me, would you have a good resource, tuto, tips&tricks links, things I should not miss? – user4578 Nov 16 '12 at 13:47
Make some youtube videos. Demonstrate it at local events. Get others to talk about it for you. Give it away for free to some people. – TimJ♦ Feb 15 at 1:53
up vote 1 down vote

Though I don't know French language, you software seems nice for any French living in North America.

The audiences are general. And, most likely they won't search such keywords but they will find your software useful once you told them.

I suggest you to test AdWords for Content Network with some geo limitation. For example, targeting French sites/forums but only show ad for IPs from US and CA.

You can also try Facebook Ads with similar targeting, and more specific targeting after generating some user data. Some hypothetical examples, unmarried men might be more interested in your software than aged women, man knows little English rather than fluent English might be a better customer.

P.S. Revised "AdSense" to "AdWords for Content Network" according to Jame's correction.

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Nice example. However I'm so reluctant to go into adsense. I never did it and in my head there is a strange voice that always said "adsense/adwords = lose money"... I may be wrong... – user4578 Nov 15 '12 at 20:28
Thanks. I think nobody can tell you how deep the water is unless you step in it. If everybody lose money in Adwords, Google can't survive. Just start small to test water, and optimize later if the ads could be near breaking even. That's little money comparing with software cost. – Billy Chan Nov 16 '12 at 3:26
up vote 1 down vote

While you're waiting for an answer more decent than mine, you could start by going to the mall, or at your local cafe.

Spend for 25 coffee drinks (or what budget you can afford) and ask people to spend 3-4 minutes with you (or less, if you can compress your entire presentation) to present and ask what they think.

See what word-of-mouth can help you (if this method works where you reside)

Although it might be construed as stalking where you are (I am uncertain) but if you just ask people coming in -- or near or even just wear a shirt or signboard saying "Stand with me for 3 minutes and get a coffee" -- It might be less of a hassle for others.

Have a netbook or a really small laptop and just talk to people; ensure you won't ask anything personal -- and just ask them how they deal with character accents and other stuff, and ask them to try what you have - no strings attached. The coffee is like a complementary token for their precious 3-4 minutes.

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up vote 0 down vote

Just to clarify here folks, AdSense is advertisement service by Google in which you enter a code into a website which will then generate ads whereby people can click them and you earn a few cents (depending) per click.

AdWords is the service where you pay money to have your advert appear on Google platforms.

You're looking for Adwords, not Adsense.

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