Thread: how to describe market?

Hello!

I need to describe a market of Shareware software products.
How a market could be described in general?

Now I'm thinking about risks, barriers to entry, description of current situation with products, buyers and sellers...

Any ideas on what else to include in my description?

It is difficult to understand your question. With Shareware, I would suggest you describe the population of users, their demand for the software, and other desire components.

Also, there are some risks with better products elsewhere. If another group makes your program, but does it better, then you lose. You also can only get revenue in other ways (like ads), so it's difficult to sustain. Further, people can take your source and improve it, essentially stealing your idea.

Again though... I am not very clear on your question (also, please note I really have zero experience with shareware or software at all).

Well, I need to make a presentation to a group of Computer Science students. (We are studying Economics, and that's my homework.) My theme is a market of shareware.

With Shareware, I would suggest you describe the population of users, their demand for the software, and other desire components.

This was very helpful, thanks! Supply and demand are obvious things, that's why it's that easy to forget about 'em! I'm adding supply and demand to my list!

Also, there are some risks with better products elsewhere. If another group makes your program, but does it better, then you lose.

That's called fair concurrence.

You also can only get revenue in other ways (like ads), so it's difficult to sustain.

Thanks! Revenue from ads vs unhappy users is an interesting tradeoff to tell about.

Further, people can take your source and improve it, essentially stealing your idea.

It's generally very hard to steal source code of a proprietary product. You can sue in this case. But there is another closely related problem, namely software patents. Patenting own products and defense form patent trolls are to be included in my presentation.

Excellent. In all honesty, it sounds like you're well on the right path, then. Best of luck with the presentation. Cheers.