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DATABASE.TXT
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1991-06-04
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████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████
USING THE SHAREWARE MAILING LIST DATABASE
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Please read this ENTIRE file prior to using the database. It
will provide basic information and some clever tips you may find
useful.
The database file supplied with this package (DATABASE.EXE) is
updated FREQUENTLY by the author. Register to receive the LATEST
disk prior to beginning your mailing campaign. Shareware
distributors, computer clubs and BBS systems change addresses
and phone numbers rapidly! You can thus avoid a large number of
returned envelopes and out of date information! On average, I
find more than 130 entries added/changed every few weeks! Many
clubs and distributors call me or send postcards with updates as
they move or change telephone numbers. Several software authors
who initially decided to use an old copy of this package without
first registering and receiving an update disk have told me they
wasted more postage expense on old addresses than the low
initial registration cost of this package. Please support the
shareware concept!
The database mailing list is supplied in a self-extracting file.
The file contained on this disk, DATABASE.EXE, will unpack to
produce a dBase III format file. The file is large and is best
unpacked onto a hard drive. To unpack the file, once you have
safely copied it onto your hard drive into the same subdirectory
or area as your database, simply execute the command:
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C>DATABASE <then press return>
produces dBase format file: DATABASE.DBF
NOTE! DATABAS2.EXE is a self-extracting file of BAD AND NO
LONGER ACTIVE ADDRESSES. Useful for those maintaining their own
lists and wishing to delete known bad addresses. Unpack this list
with the command:
C>DATABAS2 <then press return>
produces the dBase format file: DATABAS2.DBF
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The file has "live data" already inserted and ready for you to
import into your database. The data consists of lists of
computer clubs which maintain shareware libraries, commercial
shareware distributors and BBS systems. The list of
organizations within the database is the "target audience" for
your software mailing or BBS upload campaign. The primary
database is retained in Borland's Reflex V2.0 (tm) which can
export to MANY popular formats as well as dBase III.
You should have a database product to use this data. This
package contains a dBase III file which can be loaded into
products such as dBase, PC-File, Wampum, Rbase, Reflex and other
popular database packages which accept or translate and import a
dBase III file. A hard drive is suggested, but the author can
supply the file in smaller portions suitable for floppy drive
systems. If you do not use or understand database software, I
can make available small, simple packages which allow you to use
the data with Wordperfect (tm), or popup the data for editing
and printing (see file GOODIES.TXT on this disk.) Alternatively
I can print labels for you or prepare a simple ASCII file (see
file REGISTER.TXT on this disk.) Write the author of this
package if you need an unusual format or prefer an ASCII text
file version which can also be imported into many database
products. For those not having a hard drive, a special "multi-
part" database file is available which can be used with floppy
systems.
The shareware database program PC-FILE (tm) offers a mailing
label generator and may be attractive if you have not as yet
selected a database package. The label generator within PC-FILE
is a separate file (PCLABEL.EXE), use the command C>PCLABEL
<then press return/enter key>. The label generator is discussed
in detail within the PC-FILE main program documentation.
Next, let's look at an example record within the database:
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DATABASE RECORD EXAMPLES
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TYPE: D RATING: A DATE REVISED: 9/11/90
------------------------------------------------------------
COMPANY: PC-SIG FIRSTNAME: RICHARD LASTNAME: PETERSEN
ADDRESS: 1030D EAST DUANE AVENUE
CITY: SUNNYVALE STATE: CA ZIP: 94086 POSITION: PRESIDENT
------------------------------------------------------------
DAY TEL: BBS TEL:
FAX TEL: TOLLFREE ORDER TEL: 800/245-6717
------------------------------------------------------------
REMARKS1: One of the largest, excellent author support.
REMARKS2: Top quality catalog, library on CD ROM.
------------------------------------------------------------
PRINT?: LABELTOP: AUTHOR SUBMISSIONS & UPDATES
AFFILIATION: ASP
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A few field names deserve special examination. The TYPE field is
a simple entry code: D=DISTRIBUTOR, F=FOREIGN DISTRIBUTOR OR
CLUB, C=COMPUTER CLUB, B=BBS SYSTEM, M=MAGAZINE OR NEWSPAPER
WRITER, A=ASP KEY CONTACT PERSON.
RATING field: A = PREFERRED status. B = COMMENDABLE status.
C = ACCEPTABLE status or PENDING FURTHER RESEARCH.
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The PRINT? field can be used by yourself to mark selected
entries prior to printing. The DATE REVISED field is the date
the record was last updated or created.
My favorite use of the data fields for mailing label production
is to use the LABELTOP as the first line, COMPANY as the second
line, ADDRESS as the third, and finally CITY, STATE and ZIP on
the final line(s). Add the FIRSTNAME and LASTNAME to the
LABELTOP field if you have a name in the name(s) field.
Next, a sample printout of a portion of the database file in
final mailing label format which might give you an idea of the
"live data" inside the database as well as consideration of the
final mailing label format:
AUTHOR SUBMISSIONS & UPDATES
COMPUTER HUT
1825-F1 TAMIAMI TR.
PORT CHARLOTTE FL
33948
SHAREWARE LIBRARY SUBMISSION
FOG
POB 3474
DALY CITY CA
94015
AUTHOR SUBMISSIONS & UPDATES
DISK COUNT DATA
PO Box 36
Lake Hamilton AR
71951
SHAREWARE LIBRARY SUBMISSION
CAPITOL PC USERS GROUP
4520 EAST-WEST HWY, STE 550
BETHESDA MD
20814
AUTHOR SUBMISSIONS & UPDATES
PC ARCADE
276 MOREHOUSE RD.
EASTON CT
06612
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MARKETING AND TARGETED USE OF THE DATABASE
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Just as there are many different types of shareware packages and
authors, there are many ways of using the database mailing list.
Prior to printing mailing labels you might wish to sort the
database by type or by rating to examine the data for
interesting trends.
Some authors may prefer to sort the database by RATING and mail
exclusively to the "A" rated vendors or BOTH the "A" and "B"
rated vendors. This can be EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE. You could mail
to only "A" rated distributors but not computer clubs to save
postage.
You might also wish to sort by the type code which will allow
you to separate out certain classes of vendors for
consideration. This is very useful to allow you to mail your
software to only computer clubs or distributors, if you wish.
Other shareware authors may wish to mail only to vendors within
their state or possibly only computer clubs.
If you are on a tight budget, I might suggest mailing to only
the ASP disk vendors (sort or search on the affiliation field in
the database.) This will narrow your mailing down to some the
the largest, if not most reputable vendors.
Other unusual mailings might involve sorting mailing labels by
zip code or by state. Yet another way to use the database is to
import the list and then ADD additional custom fields yourself
to track response time by the distributor, date you mailed your
shareware, name of key contact person or even a tracking field
to show you which distributor has higher registration response
for your package judging by registrations from that state, city
or county.
Some shareware authors may wish to add field(s) describing
particular distributor specialization (e.g., bible shareware,
graphics images or application packages.)
I have carefully added a field showing the date the database
entry was revised or listed in the database, so if you wish to
examine or append the latest updates to the list, sort on the
date field and you will locate the latest revisions which need
to be added to your list. Most database products will let you
append a similar file to an existing file. Thus you may add to
your list or simply start over with the newer, larger and
revised list from my quarterly update. If an entry has a new
phone number, rating or other update, the date field will be
changed in my master listing so you can always spot changes by
sorting on the date field!
As a final cost saving note, consider printing your mailing
labels on ordinary paper, two or three labels wide, cutting them
out with a paper cutter and attaching them to your disk mailers
with a glue stick. For small mailings, this isn't terribly
tedious and will save you money compared to purchasing gummed
labels.
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ABOUT THE DATABASE RATING SYSTEM
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The rating system for each entry in the database listing is very
simple to sort, use and understand in maintaining your direct
mail campaign. Each entry receives a rating of A, B or C. A
rating of A is PREFERRED status. A rating of B is COMMENDABLE
status. A rating of C is ACCEPTABLE status or PENDING FURTHER
RESEARCH. Affiliation with a professional group if noted means
membership in the ASP (Association of Shareware Professionals
(tm) or other trade group as noted.
Ratings of shareware distributors are based on a variety of
factors in approximately the following priority (highest to
lowest): evidence of registration volume, evidence of customer
volume, volume of direct mail and national magazine advertising,
quality and size of catalog, degree of feedback and support to
AUTHORS, years in business, professional trade affiliations,
telephone support, multiple offices/sales locations, BBS support,
promptness of shipments, refund policy, reporting of sales volumes
to authors and other criteria. I also consider requests by vendors
for extreme discounts on registered packages and overt requests
for advertising revenues or other solicitations of money or
exclusive distribution rights from authors by a vendor as negative
factors.
In general a high rating may indicate a high volume of customers
and thus a more attractive distributor to whom a shareware
author might wish to submit software. The rating does not in any
way provide an endorsement and as such is is offered only as a
SUGGESTION. The purpose of this software package is to serve
shareware authors as a primary concern. If a rating does not
seem appropriate, contact SMS.
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INVITATION TO DISTRIBUTORS AND COMPUTER CLUBS
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A listing in the main database should ensure you will receive
frequent mailings and updates of shareware - a good thing in our
relatively young industry. Please submit update information if
you move, change telephone numbers or cease business.
Unlisted distributors and clubs are encouraged to submit a
catalog or newsletter and detailed letter ON DISK (ASCII format)
explaining helpful evaluation factors if they wish to be added
to or revised in the database. The reason I would like the
detailed letter on disk is that I may more easily insert those
comments directly into the remarks field of the database if I
determine this is helpful to shareware authors.