As a software company, you’ll operate one of two business models. Either customers will pay a one-off price to download the software or they’ll have to pay a monthly subscription to continue using the software. That means your sales effort should be focused on two main areas: getting new customers to buy your software and getting existing customers to renew their subscription.

A lot of software companies see a spike in sales initially but when it comes time for people to renew those subscriptions, sales drop off quickly. If you’re not bringing any new customers on board, you’re in big trouble. But fear not, there are some simple things you can do to make sure that you’re getting new customers and, more importantly, get your existing customers to renew their subscriptions.

Here’s how to get your software company out of a sales rut.

Offer Good Support

It goes without saying that you need to create a great piece of software that fulfills users needs. Nobody is going to renew their subscription if your software doesn’t provide any value to them. If you’re not meeting that basic requirement, you need to go back to the drawing board.

However, let’s assume your software is top of the line, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not going to experience technical problems from time to time. That’s only a problem if you don’t’ fix it quickly. That’s why it’s so important that you offer the best customer support. One way to do this is to have a 24/7 online chat service so customers aren’t waiting for a solution. You should also have a team of experienced technicians on the phones and managing that chat service so they can give good actionable advice that will fix any issues. You’ve got to remember that people might be using your software for work and any technical issues could cause them some serious problems.

Use The Right Checkout Service

Another way that software companies increase their revenue and attract new customers is by offering add-ons. You can give people a free trial and then give them the option to upgrade to the full service. The important thing here is that you make that upgrade as easy as possible. There are two main checkout services that software companies use: Samcart or Clickfunnel. Check out this helpful guide on Samcart vs Clickfunnels for more information. Samcart makes it a lot easier for customers to upgrade to a paid version and for existing paid customers to opt-in for add-ons which increases your revenue.

Market Yourself Properly

Marketing yourself properly is essential to the growth of your business, however, many software companies fall down because they don’t use proper techniques that are best suited for their industry. Advertising free trials for customers is one of the most successful marketing initiatives a software company can offer. You may also make good use of customer testimonials and demonstration videos on your site so potential customers can see the software in action.

Follow these simple tips and you’ll be able to encourage your existing customers to stay with you. You’ll also be able to bring a load of new customers on board and kickstart sales again.