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The two most widespread methods of selling software are through a store or over the internet. Both methods have their own advantages, not just for the consumer but for the merchant as well. It is to the advantage of consumers to learn about the product, which entails advertisement.

One disadvantage to advertising software in a store is that the customer will be comparing it with other products on sale. However, one advantage is that a salesperson will be available to answer questions or provide more information. Some customers would rather buy software on CD or DVD, since those media are portable. Also, how a medium is laid out can attract the attention of a customer.

A product which is being sold online requires differrent distribution and advertisement techniques than the products sold in stores. advertising software on the web can be quite user-specific: an inexpensive way is the use of marketing software, which for example sends e-mails out to customers which did buy similar products in the past. This is just one example of the use of ecommerce software in a product promotion.

Using pop-up windows is another way of advertising software online. This is a quite less customized approach. However the mass of people which you can reach through the use of this method compensates for a minor customization. It's also quite less expensive than to use costly e-commerce software: the advertiser only pays for the actual number of views that the ad is getting.

The disadvantage of advertising online is, that there has been an over stimulation of those spending a decent amount of time online, regarding online ads. This is due to the extensive and sometimes intrusive use of advertisements on some websites. People tend to just blend out the ads.

Many people are also afraid to click on advertisements that they see online, particularly if they are advertising software. Internet users have become more afraid of losing their money by unknowingly downloading a virus that is bundled with the software they download from the Internet.

As for me, I like to research software on the Internet before I go into the store to purchase it. For that reason, I can be influenced by online advertisements in addition to the ads inside the store.