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I have an Android app that costs $4.95. It is a business app that is worth the money.

What I am looking for is insight into some paid-marketing approaches where I can advertise this app.

I understand AdWords is an option, but at this point it is too expensive to advertise a $5 business product there because a click on the keywords is $2 :)

Has anyone found a good way to successfully promote inexpensive paid apps?

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Who is your target user? Is this a game, business app, personal productivity, etc.? – JeffO Nov 21 '12 at 17:01
@Jeff KO starting users are entrepreneurs starting a business. It is a business planning and coaching app. – Genadinik Nov 21 '12 at 17:24

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As a developer who has contracted, freelanced and been employed by many FTSE 100 companies, I know it is difficult to put a value on a software application. A software project that seemed to me to be very simple generated a multi-million pound turnover while a project I sweated blood over, nobody was interested in.

Here is the rub: the value of the app is going to be defined by the mob. However hard you've worked, it could unfortunately be unappreciated and downloaded by very few people.

If you think your app is really worth shouting about then offer a cut down version for free with a paid upgrade if users like it.

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Not sure how this answers the question. Are you saying that the way to promote his app is to offer a free version? – Zuly Gonzalez♦ Nov 25 '12 at 18:32
Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying. It would either be feature or content limited obviously. If it had a support contact page, this could be used to drive further development. There is often a vast chasm between what the developer thinks customers want and what they actually want. – Robbie Dee Nov 25 '12 at 23:23
I would suggest adding the additional comments you just made to your answer to beef it up a bit. I think if you can expand on how using a trimmed down free version of an app can be used to promote it, it could make for a good answer. – Zuly Gonzalez♦ Nov 25 '12 at 23:35
It is difficult to offer anything other than general advice on how to do the free/premium split without knowing what the app does... – Robbie Dee Nov 26 '12 at 10:36
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If your application is for business, you can contact different companies and offer them providing the app for their employees. Use SMM to promote your paid app. Search for forums and social media groups, create posts and leave comments. Try a few App promotion networks, some of the examples you may find here http://www.mobyaffiliates.com/blog/how-to-promote-your-ios-and-android-mobile-apps/

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