46 lines
2.3 KiB
Plaintext
46 lines
2.3 KiB
Plaintext
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Experience of a Shareware Author
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The following is a message from Frank Bell, author of NEWKEY,
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a shareware keyboard macro program that was awarded "Editor's
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Choice" in a comparative review in PC Magazine against more
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expensive commercial programs.
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Over the years I have tried several different methods to
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encourage user registration and none of them have made any
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substantial difference, so I must admit to feeling that these
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methods probably do not increase sales too much.
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However, I have been using the 5-second delay screen [when
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the user first loads the program] for over a year and have
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received several orders with comments such as "ok, ok, I'll
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register. Send me the version without the delay screen." so I
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do feel that I am getting registrations that I would not have
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gotten otherwise. I have never received any negative feedback
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from someone who has not purchased, but I might have lost
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some sales as a result of the delay too.
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The purpose of the evaluation screen is to make integration
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into daily computer operations annoying, but not so annoying
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as to discourage evaluation. I also feel that it is a strong
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incentive for business and consultants to purchase. I have
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received many next day air orders from consultants and
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businesses who have integrated Newkey into a system they are
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delivering or demoing the next day and don't want the
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evaluation screen coming up. Would these have been purchased
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without the evaluation screen? Some perhaps, but not all.
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I disagree with the statement that "if they're going to steal
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your program, they're going to steal it, and if they're going
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to pay for it, they're going to pay for it." There are lots
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of people who want to do the right thing, but need a little
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encouragement. Since I furnish the full manual and my product
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requires little support, removing the evaluation screen is
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the best practical benefit I can offer. This way the user can
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feel virtuous and still get a practical benefit by
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registering.
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