I make small Windows programs, and the hardest part for any independent developer is simply getting people to find out the program exists. So I took the next step: my programs are now advertised through Microsoft Advertising — Microsoft's advertising system that shows ads in Bing search.
What Microsoft Advertising is
It is Microsoft's official advertising platform (ads.microsoft.com). When someone searches in Bing for, say, "screen recording software", they may see a link to my site among the results. Bing is built into Windows and the Edge browser, so it is used by many people around the world.
Why I did this
- So the programs can be found. People search for a solution to their task — and can land on my simple app right away.
- So people reach the site to download the demo. The ad leads to the program page, where you can try it for free.
- To reach an international audience. Many Bing users are from the US and Europe, and I have an English version of the site.
Why this matters for trust
Advertising on a major platform is not handed out blindly: Microsoft vets advertisers and the sites their ads point to. That is not a guarantee of the program's quality, but it is a sign that a real author stands behind the site — not some random throwaway page.
The programs are paid, but there is a free demo
The programs themselves are paid, but each one has a free 3-day demo — with no feature limits and no watermarks. The ads are not there to chase numbers; they are there so you can calmly download the demo and decide for yourself whether the program suits you.
In short
- My programs are now advertised through Microsoft Advertising in Bing search.
- The goal is for more people to find the programs and calmly download the demo.
- The programs are paid, but you can try them for free.