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SHAREWARE
True creativeness is finding new possibilities in old situations.
Unknown
There may be nothing new under the sun, but there are plenty of people who are still discovering interesting marketing ideasor developing new twists on old ones. Chrysler made the rebate a part of Americana. Horchow brought a new concept to mail order. Television shopping channels are hot. But one of the most radical concepts in marketing in recent years is Shareware, also known as Freeware or User-supported Software. Originally, the Shareware concept allowed people to freely copy evaluation versions of computer software and pass them along to friends. Clubs soon popped up all over the world offering vast libraries of the free software. The question is, how can such software be written, supported, or improved?
People who use Shareware programs are asked to send a registration fee to the author if they like and use the software. Such payment usually entitles users to receive a printed manual, phone support, and additional goodies. You might be tempted to think that the programmers who make the software are hobbyists. Some are; however, some of the programs bring in over a million dollars in fees each year. Many Shareware programs are as good as or better than their retail equivalents. Many well-known current or former Shareware programs, among them DOOM, Procomm, WINKS, and Automenu, are a testament to this creative marketing concept.
CONSIDER THIS: There are new ways to market your product or idea. Look around and learn from other industries. What is working there? Can a similar concept be used by your organization?
Submitted by Richard
True creativeness is finding new possibilities in old situations.
Unknown
There may be nothing new under the sun, but there are plenty of people who are still discovering interesting marketing ideasor developing new twists on old ones. Chrysler made the rebate a part of Americana. Horchow brought a new concept to mail order. Television shopping channels are hot. But one of the most radical concepts in marketing in recent years is Shareware, also known as Freeware or User-supported Software. Originally, the Shareware concept allowed people to freely copy evaluation versions of computer software and pass them along to friends. Clubs soon popped up all over the world offering vast libraries of the free software. The question is, how can such software be written, supported, or improved?
People who use Shareware programs are asked to send a registration fee to the author if they like and use the software. Such payment usually entitles users to receive a printed manual, phone support, and additional goodies. You might be tempted to think that the programmers who make the software are hobbyists. Some are; however, some of the programs bring in over a million dollars in fees each year. Many Shareware programs are as good as or better than their retail equivalents. Many well-known current or former Shareware programs, among them DOOM, Procomm, WINKS, and Automenu, are a testament to this creative marketing concept.
CONSIDER THIS: There are new ways to market your product or idea. Look around and learn from other industries. What is working there? Can a similar concept be used by your organization?
Submitted by Richard
