Mike Jordan Com-Dat BBS Author of M & S Software Doors Fido: 1:105/314 and 1:105/317 Main Call-in Numbers: Node 1: (503)681-0543 Node 2: (503)640-0278 Node 3: (503)681-8324 e-mail: mjordan@europa.com ============================================================= Welcome back. Let me tell you, it seems the time between issues is getting shorter and shorter each month . Now what to write about... I had hoped that by this issue that I would have received some feedback on what I've written, but other than a reminder by RoAnn that my article was due, I've not heard anything from anyone. Maybe I need to write something a little more controversial, something that really gets the blood pumping and causes people to start shooting off letters to the Editor. Then again, maybe that wouldn't be such a good idea . OK, I guess I've put it off long enough. Time to get to work. This months article is going to be about "Distribution" and "Promoting" your door(s). Probably the second most asked question (right behind "How do I create a door?") that I see in the various door and shareware echoes is, "How do I distribute my door?" and "How do I let people know about my door?" Distribution and advertisement are right up there with programming, in importance. Unless your door is a psychic door that transmits out "register me, register me" messages, people won't know about it unless you tell them. There are probably many ways to promote and advertise your door and "get the word out", but here are a few that I have used: - Word of mouth by players and Sysops - Distribute it via the varies distribution networks - Word of mouth by players and Sysops - News releases - Talk about it in conferences and echoes - Word of mouth by players and Sysops - Give away copies to high profile boards and groups - Donate copies to some of the Sysop Trade shows - Word of mouth...ok, ok, you got the picture on this one :) - InterNet anonymous FTP sites - Get it included on new CD releases Of all of those, I'd say "word of mouth" is the most important . Never underestimate the power of a few people talking about your door. If the door is good, the players will talk about it everywhere they go and if it's bad...well, they talk about it everywhere they go. Of course, if the demand is there, Sysops will go to almost any lengths to find the latest version of a door... But why make it hard for them. Most Sysops get files from the varies file distribution networks, if not directly, then indirectly from a board that does. These file distribution networks move large numbers of files around the world in a matter of days, with some Sysops having no other way to get files cheaply. Probably the most organized is the FIDO Filebone. The FIDO Filebone is made up of many different areas and sub-areas, with each area being dedicated to a particular group of files or file subject. One of these areas is dedicated to door distribution. Some other File Networks include DoorNet, PhoenixNet, RGSNet, Planet Connect and probably many other, smaller groups and individuals that move files around. The following information was provided by Warren Schrey, co- author of the door LORE (Justin Kominar is the other half of the LORE team). He posted this information in the DOORWARE echo to help others find a way to distribute their doors as wide as possible. FIDO Door Distribution Network: file attach your stuff to Alan Davenport, 1:13/75, with a short, GOOD description of your program. DoorNet: Alex Rose @ 1:374/6 PhoenixNet: John Tabler @ 1:230/41 RGSNet Scott Freeman @ 1:219/801 If you are not a Fido sysop, you may be able to locate someone that is willing to send the files in for you. Since you are going to benefit from this, and more than likely the sysop will have to send it long distance, it's not uncommon to make a trade of a door registration for his help. Bribery goes a long way in this business . Some other places to make your doors available include some of the high profile bulletin board systems around. One site that has done a lot towards making a "One Stop Shopping" door site, is Walter Cade of Arti BBS in Longview, Texas. His Fido address is 1:398/2 and BBS number is 1-903-758-4942. Walter not only supports dozens of door authors, providing a central registration site, but also has hundreds of doors available for file request and download. He recently put out a CD disk that was dedicated to doors and other door related files, which was well received by Sysops all over. You can almost say that if Walter doesn't have it, it's probably not been programmed yet . Another idea that is worth pursuing, is find out which boards are being called the most for doors; either to play or download. Then talk to the sysop about giving them a registered copy of your door(s) in exchange for putting it up for play and maybe posting a bulletin about it. People do look to see what is popular and being played elsewhere as this gives them a chance to see the game in action before they spend the time downloading it. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of getting a registration once it's been downloaded than you do if it's not . The area that is still in it's infancy stage, but has the potential to overshadow all the others combined, is the InterNet. As more and more people climb into the InterNet Tour Bus for a trip down the Information Super Highway, you are going to see the demand for FTP (FTP stands for file transfer protocol) sites grow. I am already seeing it on the InterNet as I browse through the conferences that relate to Doors, BBSes, shareware and communications. Message after message of Sysops looking for FTP sites that have doors. Since I have an InterNet account and it allows me to create an anonymous FTP directory, I have started providing a place for door authors to make their doors and shareware software available on the InterNet. I do this for a small fee as it does costs me for the extra disk space, but the authors get a lot more than just a spot, as I also promote my FTP directory and the authors that are using it. I currently have about 30 megs of software available for anyone that can FTP across the InterNet. What's so attractive about having your software on the InterNet is that most people can get it without incurring a long distance phone charge. For the cost of my monthly fee, I can go anywhere in the world that has a FTP site, log on, and transfer any files I want back to my home directory... at speeds of 56k or faster. I then download them to my home computer via a 28.8 connect, with all of this being a local call for me. I'm not alone when I look for an FTP site on any software that gets my attention. Many people ask if advertised software is on the InterNet and will actually pass it by if it isn't. I haven't yet, but one door author, Joseph Masters, author of Lord, even has his doors on a Home Page. There are several sysop related magazines that can be used as well. Magazines like "Boardwatch", "BBS", "Connect", "Online Access" and "Sysop News". Of course you could do like many and pay to put an ad in one of them, but the return probably won't justify the cost. What I have found, is that most will accept submissions on new doors, updates, specials, etc., and print them as a news release, which doesn't cost you anything. First off, you want to find out what their requirements are; lead time, length, format, type of text file, etc., before submitting anything. You will also want to read a few articles that are about products like yours. It doesn't have to be about doors but if the magazine is accepting submissions on that product, then there is a good chance they will accept yours if it is modeled after it. It seems like almost all bulletin boards have at least one CD drive and some have several. With the explosion of CD titles, many CD producers are scrambling to find software that hasn't been on 14 CD's before it. Most CD titles are produced by people out of their garage or in their basement and marketed through the same avenues as other shareware products. Because most are what you would call "small business", most CD producers are easily approached about including your door(s) on their next release. If you only have one or two doors, then it will probably be included in with hundreds of others, so you will want to be sure of the description that is used. You want it to stand out from all the rest. If you have a dozen or more doors, you may be able to obtain your very own directory on the CD. Even with your own directory, you will want to insure that the file descriptions that those browsing will see, make your doors stand out. You can get contact information off most CD disks. There are a lot of avenues available to a door author, although all of them are going to require a little work on the authors part. But then if it was easy, just think of the competition we would have . Well, once again, looks like I'm out of time, so I'd better get this wrapped up and off to RoAnn . Until next time. þ