Subject: Re: The "user-developer gap" myth
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From: Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
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Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 00:22:18 -0500
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Dain Neater writes ...
>
 ....
 
> Why can't someone who puts hard work into a piece of software be
> compensated.  If you think $25 is a lot of money, I am sorry for you.
> I only know a handful of titles that aren't compilations, that are $25 or
> more.
>
 ....

     The idea is to deal with the market as it exists. For example, if you
can sell just 40 copies at $20, maybe you look at your advertising. Good
informative postings about your product to Csa2 and Csa2.marketplace plus
getting your product reviewed in every A2 'zine and mini-magazine that will
accept it for review are some ways to improve the market.

     If better ads get you just another 40 sales, a price cut-- e.g. a
'Summer Spectacular' sale-- could make a big difference. Perhaps at $9.95 you
could sell a few hundred (or more) copies. Unless you are offering a big
maunual, fancy Reference Card, etc., you've already socked in most of the
product cost during development. You might as well sell the darn thing at a
price that will get you some payback.

     Talking about "appreciation" and "supporting your developers" may get
you an up-blip in sales; but, afterwards, your customers feel like 'they gave
at the office' and resistance to future sales hardens. It's best to forget
about charity and focus upon good promotion and delivering a good value. 



Rubywand