A large debate exists over how often software updates should be released and whether or not they should be offered for free. Since software programs vary so greatly from one to the next, one single update rule can’t possibly exist for each. As such, the best way to determine how often you should release updates and whether or not they should be free is by assessing the purpose of your software program. The following are a few tips to follow when making this decision.
Determining Update Frequencies
If you recently released the first version of your software program, chances are good that you will be releasing several updates in the near future. These updates may not be major changes but when new products are released, errors are typically discovered and should be quickly corrected.
Another reason you may choose to release frequent updates is if your software program relies on Internet technology. If this is the case, you will certainly want to keep the program updated to work correctly with important changes in online technology.
Setting Update Prices
Even more important than determining update frequencies is deciding whether or not to charge for them. Again, if you recently released the program’s first version, several updates may soon need to be released. Since these updates will likely be minor changes to correct errors, it would be inappropriate to charge customers.
However, if your program has been in operation for many years and you are working on the next large version, it’s completely reasonable to charge customers for the update. In this case, the customers will also expect to pay for the new version since so many new features will be offered. While there is no universal rule for when to release updates and how much to charge, these factors should assist you in making this important decision.