Making Shareware Pay Shareware is an interesting concept. Basically it boils down to an interesting paradox. If men were angels, payment is unquestioned, unfortunately, angels don't use software. The question then becomes, "who actually registeres shareware and why?". I have been asking myself that question for a long long time. As a code writer, I have heard every postulation. I have even witnessed organizations spring into existance with packaged "methods" gauranteed to bring results. I have seen frustrated authors cripple their code only to stimulate bored hackers into action who then engineer "fixes". I have witnessed ego, jealousy and outright fighting amoung authors whose very problems should dictate close relationships. Some less pragmatic souls are crying "Shareware is Dead", yet, "the movement" to convince the software using public that Electronic Bulletin Boards (the main means of Shareware distribution) are "Virus Ladden Evil's", is {the movement} stronger today than ever before. Why such a strong barrage of attack if the marketing medium {BBSes} is really ineffective? Well, I wont recommend looking under your bed every night for an "evil corporate giant" but I will suggest that the instinct of self preservation is alive and well in every institution just as it is in the individual. In conclusion, I am wary of any organizations that promise results from membership; and that includes the Association of Shareware Professionals. Selling hasent changed since Adam bought the apple. Why should you spend money for techniques that are as old as man. The rules are basic but often neglected. First, find something that fill's a NEED. Second, show that it is AVAILABLE. And, third, ASK for the business. It dosent matter how you re-label it, "The Pitch", "The Hook" and "The Close" or whatever. The basic elements are always there and, it takes ALL three, to be suscessful. If it is not useful, even "almost free" wont sell it. If it cant be found, no one will ever know about it. And finally, if it dosent have a price tag affixed, odds are it will never reach the checkout counter. Now, lets elaborate. A big mistake in finding a market nitch is to bypass something thats been done before. Original product overkill vrs a little creative simplicity can produce a winner. Four years ago I wanted to write a terminal program. Everyone advised against it. Who could possibly outdo ProCom or Qmodem. The answer was KISS and Slick Terminal was born. [(K)eep (I)t (S)hort & (S)imple]. No, I don't sell thousands of copies every year; but, my sales versus time invested has been five times better than average U.S. wages. Get it out into the marketplace. UpLoad, UpLoad, UpLoad. Don't depend on other so called "distribution networks" to do your work for you. Join TeleNet, get a good timed execution communications package with automated script capability and let your computer do all the work for you (at night while you sleep). Remember, advertising penetration leads to market penetration. Don't just hit the biggest BBS in every city. Frequently, smaller is better. Finally, INCLUDE an order form file with a request to purchase! Its that simple and it works! AVOID using hooks. But, if you must, make them reasonable. Like, offering "printed" documentation with registration or voice support. No, the odds are you wont get rich. But, you can certainly support yourself and meet a lot of new and interesting people plus, enjoy life in the process! Gary Raymond, Author & SysOp SlickBBS (504) 283-9785 New Orleans, La. EOF()