If you’re a software producer and do some, most, or even all of your sales over the Internet by allowing customers to download your products (for a fee, of course), it’s important to know that the download size of the file is a capital factor.

The importance of download files should not be taken lightly. Keep in mind that there is always a mental barrier for every product downloaded from the Internet. Find out where this barrier is for your target customers and try to stick to it.

A definition

If we were to define download size, we would most likely define it as the size, in Kb or Mb, of a product (software, in our case) that a user attempts to download from a specific web page. On a more humorous note and in the context of software sales, it could be defined as the approach a software developer takes to their product in order to get the most prospects to convert them into customers, taking into account factors such as complexity , ease of use, available features, and Internet connection types.

The importance of download size: large vs. Small

Download-based software sales are highly influenced by the size of the files to be downloaded. Although it may not seem like a big deal at first glance, many Internet users are discouraged when they come across a file that, due to its size, locks up their computer for hours on end, not allowing them to do anything more than wait for the download to complete, or even does not download completely due to some error on the server hosting the download file, or for any other reason.

Nowadays, when everyone seems to have so little time on their hands and everything needs to be available “yesterday”, download files fall into the category of things that need to be available, within minutes of clicking the button. “Discharge”.

It appears that size is generally not an issue for Web users with wired connections, while users who still rely on modem connections are less willing to wait long minutes to download 10-15 Mb of software. In such cases, it becomes obvious that apps that are larger than, say, 10 Mb, will be less likely to be purchased by someone whose primary interest is primarily in specific apps that “weigh” no more than 500 Kb.

The difference between a large file and a small one may simply be whether or not it is packaged. There are applications that can do the packaging for you, meaning that they will “squeeze” anything they deem redundant (mainly spaces) out of the executable part of your product. The result will, most of the time, be a considerably smaller file than the unpacked one.

professionals

• A large file can allow you to insert absolutely necessary information that you simply cannot skip, for example help files.
• A large file will contain more features, possibly a choice of languages, its graphics will be easier to use, and it may even contain more help text.
• Small download files can give access to your product to virtually anyone interested in it, regardless of the type of connection they use. Pair them with good marketing copy and you could be in the know.