Re: Announcing: ScanDBX - be an unpaid beta tester for a non-freeware program
From: *Vanguard* (no-email_at_reply-to-newsgroup.invalid)
Date: 05/20/04
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Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 18:23:32 -0500
Jamey said in news:unAlyBrPEHA.3016@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl:
>
> All beta testers will receive a free copy of the product when it is
> released.
Might be smart to mention that fact (on your scandbx.com web site) as it
would draw more interest and make the beta test look more legit (for a
commercial program). Be sure to mention, if applicable, that the free
thank-you version will be a full version, will only cover free updates
within that version, and does not qualify as free across all subsequent
versions (i.e., they don't get it free forever) but they will still
receive the upgrade discount to the next version. This then equates to
the "pay" for them to assist you in beta testing your product.
> The goal of the beta program is not to rip anybody off, but
> to provide existing Outlook Express users with an alternate means of
> fixing their corrupted data files at no cost to them. The beta
> program is totally voluntary and we appreciate any individuals or
> companies that wish to join.
If your marketing department has yet estimated the expected price for
the product, you might also want to indicate the price although qualify
it with a comment that pricing is subject to change. Along with a MUCH
better description of your product's features, operation, screenshots,
the users can decide if it represents a decent tool for the job, is
overpriced, or underpowered. While you might not be yet designing a web
site usable for sales, it would better inform your potential beta
testers so they can decide whether or not they even want to get involved
with the product. It's too much of a blind-folded invitation at
present.
> We have dedicated developers (not technicians) to work directly with
> beta testers to confirm the usability as well as functionality of the
> product. The advantage to those joining our beta program is that they
> have access to a developer intimately familiar with the internals of
> Outlook Express data files who is totally dedicated toward fixing the
> problems they encounter with Outlook Express. Any problems found that
> are outside the realm of our code are redirected to Microsoft
> Technical Support to which we have a close working relationship.
Hopefully you have a scheme in place to provide a problem reporting
regimen. The general public are very sloppy and inaccurate when writing
up trouble tickets, in defining the problem, in delineating their
testing environment, or in making requests for enhancement (which are
not always for future enhancement but can also relate to ease-of-use and
stability issues).
> The company developing the product has been developing software since
> 1978 and is a Dun and Bradstreet rated company. We have been a
> Microsoft Gold Certified ISV Partner for many years.
Then presumably the company has a legit home web site which should be
noted in a link on the site you mentioned in your post. Otherwise, it
is an anonymous web site from an unknown with unknown intentions.
Through a Google search, my guess is your company home page is
http://www.lanicu.com/. However, that should not be something that
potential users have to guess at or even hunt for. Provide credibility
on your scandbx.com website by showing who you are. You don't even
mention your home page under the About Us page. With malware and
copycat sites all over the Internet, you need to differentiate yourself
from them. Note that just having a link at scandbx.com back to
lanicu.com is not enough to verify scandbx.com is not a copycat web site
perhaps trying to distribute malware. Somewhere at lanicu.com would
need to be mention of the scandbx.com web site so users can verify
lanicu.com really knows about and operates the scandbx.com web site.
Users could do a domain registration lookup on the two web sites and
then see they have a common registrant (although the reference is
through Phil Liberman rather than through the company name) but, again,
this is at a level that many users might not consider or know about.
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