From: dennis.gleeson@woodybbs.com (Dennis Gleeson) Date: Fri, 10 Mar 95 10:29:00 -0500 Organization: WoodyWare Software, Inc. - 516-736-6662 PRODUCT REVIEW: "Online Profits " The Monthly Newsletter for Electronic Marketers Published by InfoLink Editor: S. C. Allen Review by: Dan D. Gutierrez, President of AMULET Consulting Worldwide NetMarketing(tm) Professionals, Online conference: AMULET:vc BBS, (310) 374-6999 Internet: amulet@ix.netcom.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- As a principal in a company that derives a significant amount of its revenue from services performed on the "Net", I was pleasantly surprised to learn of a new newsletter that focuses on the marketing aspect of doing business using electronic information networks. I found Online Profits, touted as "the monthly newsletter for electronic marketers", to be an excellent guide to pursuing business goals on the Net. The scope of Online Profits is broad enough to encompass both exclusive "Net businesses" such as mine as well as traditional businesses (e.g. manufacturers, publishers, distributors, importers, etc.) that wish to explore business opportunities on the Net. Just before stumbling upon this publication, I had begun the search for some authoritative source for new ideas and resources for companies such as mine. I quickly found a few special interest freebie and somewhat irregular news sheets floating around the various information networks, but none were of a professional style nor had consistent late-breaking content that I sought; that is until I found Online Profits. What I like about Online Profits is that the publisher understands the urgency that exists for savvy entrepreneurs to take advantage of the plethora of opportunities surrounding commerce on the Net. While reading its well balanced collection of articles, Online Profits gives me the belief that there is a distinct window of opportunity for businesses to enter the online game in order to gain an important early foothold on an explosion about to happen. From the direction the publisher has initially taken, I'm excited to wait for more insight in upcoming issues. In the premier issue (January 1995) the publisher provides a list of topics intended for coverage in upcoming issues: o New methods for putting $'s in your pockets o Fail proof ways to add value to your BBS o What you can sell online and how you can sell it, without getting flamed. o How to market inexpensively or for FREE. o Ways for you to make money even when a caller calls another BBS. o How to list your business for FREE on the Internet. o The cheapest ways to open your business on the Internet. o The hottest showings at recent trade shows. o In-depth coverage of major opportunities like Mecklerweb and Business Information Centers with advertising case histories. Each of these topic groups contain new ideas that one can easily implement immediately. For example, in the premiere issue I found a discussion of the "electronic marketplace," illustrating several areas where a business can take advantage of the Internet "gold rush," as it's described within. I had not previously considered several of these areas. In addition, numerous examples of "virtual stores" and "billboard services" were given, complete with e-mail addresses that one can contact for more information. I was also introduced to free listing services that provide advertising avenues that one might otherwise pass up. I was shown how I can get a listing in the Internet Business Pages directory and as my company also runs a BBS system, I was happy to find a full discussion of the CRIS network and their BBS DIRECT service. Probably the best part of Online Profits is its recommendations about marketing online. I found the discussion of "electrilla marketing" techniques for approaching an Internet marketing campaign to be insightful and stimulating. I've already tried out several recommendations with good success. The issue also provided some timely highlights describing an existing marketing organization, CommerceNet, which illustrated how one pioneering organization is already taking the "baby steps" necessary for taking advantage of new frontiers. The main thing that drew me to Online Profits was that it was thought provoking. It made me think about the resources and techniques being discussed and apply them to my own business. I felt challenged to try things I never thought of trying and I look forward to the following months' issues as a regular source of free flowing ideas with which I can experiment. The only thing missing from the premier issue is information about probably the most explosive component of the Internet these days, the World Wide Web. I do hear, however, that the publisher has made the WWW a major focus in the next issue. Although some will call the annual subscription rate of $147 a bit pricey, if the quality remains high, it will prove valuable enough to justify the cost. Like a seminar, if I get one good idea that I can translate into increased income, then it is well worth the money. Besides, it comes with a full years refund policy, not the usual pro-rated "for unshipped issues only" stuff. That offers me a certain sense of confidence. My bottomline recommendation in this product review is that Online Profits represents a valuable source of information, resources and ideas for any company that currently maintains a presence on the Net or wishes to establish such a presence at some point. The timing is excellent for this publication. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Ordering information: InfoLink 56089 Twentynine Palms Highway, Suite 254-FG21 Yucca Valley, CA 92284 1-800-776-3818 Ext. FG21 1-619-228-9653 Ext. FG21 FAX: 1-619-369-1185 Dept. FG21 Annual subscription: 12 issues $147 ($170 outside the US and Canada) _Dennis_Gleeson_KINGS_PARK,_NY_RIME->5190_or_->YOURSOFTWARE_ _Internet:_Dennis.Gleeson@woodybbs.com_ --- * CMPQwk #1.42-20 * UNREGISTERED EVALUATION COPY