Re: Piping Calculations Spreadsheets

You do need marketing advice. There are places on the web that can help you set up a small site where you can make these files available through downloads. I would go downloads over floppies. There are some places that specialize in selling of small programs. Instead of shareware, I would consider making them affordable enough that no one would question paying the price. I have heard several stories similar to Lynn's when it comes to shareware.

The beauty of the net is that these types of helpful programs can be put up without having do a whole lot else--like the mailing of disks. The trick is understanding that the money will slowly come if your product is what people perceive it to be. Fortunes are not to be made in the niche markets but it is possible to supplement your income. Will people copy your products? Sure they will but it will not be wholesale copying. There are tricks for helping to stymie that as well.

Once you are set up then you will just have to find ways to reach the markets you have named. I usually have our ISP resubmit our site to the search engines every three to four months. I use keywords on my pages for the markets I am trying to reach. Links are helpful as well. It doesn't hurt to ask sites that cater to your market to exchange links with you. With your knowledge in the field, it also helps to provide free information. You want to draw people to your site and also have something for them to buy.

Paul is a good one to watch. He is doing a lot of things right here. It just takes time to establish community. It is a lot of work. Johnny Received on Mon Jul 03 23:15:00 2000