Entering software development market pros and cons

Hi,

We are about to enter a software development market with one company dominating about 80% of the market and around 20 other software development companies currently sharing another 20% of the market.

Our only chance to get some share of the market by MARKETING PLAN we have developed ( and hopefully it will work )

The market is huge, big player has the superior product. Do you think it is possible to make some money with these conditions.

Your pros and cons for entering these market. May be safer invest time and money in something else.

What would be your indexes or factors that you would consider to enter the market or not.

thanks

 

It will more than likely be safer to invest time / money elsewhere UNLESS your software can bring something new to the table. Whether it be a better user interface or more advanced features, it MUST bring something new. No user will try new software if it is more or less a clone of established software. A big key for software is to create BUZZ. Just look at the recently launched Mac software called Disco. They got to the frontpage of Digg, listed in macheist, and a number of blogs. Good luck.

 

I think it is pretty important to have a niche in the software market. Once you have something new to bring to the table you are in. Or you can do what I prefer, and ride someone else's niche. Develop premium addons and plugins for an already established and popular software product.

 

Bingo. Offer premium addons / plugins for already established software. My idea for a premium firefox site offering custom plug and theme development. Trying to get some developers on board...

 

Very Very Good Niche. Low Customization. Less Support Need

Could be real key to sucess for small company

 

Marketing Plans are great but remember they are just plans

My advice is - start small, find a single client to whom you could deliver an outstanding value, then find client #2. Throughout the process be absolutely focused on getting paid and do everything in your power to minimize the risk associated with every potential failure.

 

if you don't have deep pockets to go head one against big player, focus on a small segment of the market first. then slowly grow from there.

 

I mostly agree. All depends what do you plan to do and how you will do marketing for it.