Hi,
Welcome to the February issue of Software Marketing News, an independent voice for software developers. An HTML version can be viewed at http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/author-resource-newsletter63.html .

Software Vendor Awards - Voting is Open!
The Software Vendor Awards, will be decided by YOU, software industry professionals! By rewarding those vendors who excel at customer support innovation and value, you will help new developers, and micro-isvs cut through industry clutter and form relationships with quality vendors. Your vote will also send a message to software vendors who don't excel at these values that are so important to developers selling online.

Review the list of Nominees!
http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/nominees-2006.htm

What can be learned from the nominations?

Perhaps other will find opportunities in the following observations, I made from the nominations:"
- there were not a lot of nominations in any of the "innovation" categories.
- individuals were sometimes recognized in the customer service area rather than the company.
- there is not a lot of competition in some areas.
- customer service and overall value were closely related in many cases

Vote Now:
http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/awards-voting.htm

Voting closes on February 15th., winners will be announced on March 1st, 2006.

Cool Technology - Productivity Tools
One of my resolutions each year is to improve productivity and improve process. Al Harberg suggested TypePilot to me around the first of the year, so I gave it a try. TypePilot is saving approximately 7 hours a week. I've created a directory of common phrases, explanations, answers and signatures for our various products. I use the macros to respond to forum posts and emails. I expect that as I continue to build my response database, I will save even more time. If productivity matters to you, take a look at TypePilot
http://www.colorpilot.com/typepilot.html

Cool Technology - RSS
FutureRSS - The FutureRSS script only displays items thats dates have passed. Allowing web publishers to prepublish content weeks or even month's in advance, knowing that the content will automatically be displayed at the appropriate time.
http://www.feedforall.com/future-rss.htm


RSS Cache - The rss2html Cache module saves the feed locally for a specified period of time, making feed retrieval much quicker.
http://www.feedforall.com/rss-cache.htm

Both FutureRSS and RSS Cache are available free of charge to registered users of FeedForAll or FeedForAll Mac.

Dave Collins Writing March Issue
You are all in for a treat. Dave Collins of Shareware Promotions and the prolific writer behind the numerous articles on DavesTalks is going to write the March issue of Software Marketing News.
For a taste of Dave check out - http://www.davetalks.com

Software Organization Blog
SWRUS, a Russian Software Developers group has a new blog.
http://blog.swrus.com/



Call for Papers - Extension
The SIAF has extended the deadline for speaker abstracts until February 14, 2006. Conference organizers are looking for qualified speakers with expertise in a number of areas. Please let your colleagues know about this opportunity. Details http://www.sic.org/sic2006/sic-2006_call-for-papers.pdf

Shareware Industry Conference (SIC) 2006
SIC 2006 Denver, CO on July 13-15, 2006.
Start making your plans to attend this year's Shareware Industry Conference. SIC is the premier shareware/software industry conference attracting vendors, download sites, and software developers from around the world.
http://www.sic.org

EuroConference
The dates for the 2006 European Shareware Conference have been determined. The EuroConference will be held in Cambridge, Great Britain November 4-5, 2006. Cambridge is a University City with International appeal.
Additional Details - http://www.euroconference.org

The Software Business 2006
The Software Business 2006 Conference will be held October 17-18 in Denver, Colo. at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center (the same location that the 2006 Shareware Industry Conference will be held July 13-15, 2006). Four tracks will be offered -- Executive Strategy, Company Financing, Sales & Marketing, and Product & Services.
http://www.softwarebusinessonline.com/sb_conf2006_index.htm



Resources:

IT Reseller.com
An IT directory. Add your company free of charge.
http://www.itreseller.com/add_company/

Ziff Davis WebBuyers Guide
The Web Buyer's Guide connects qualified technology buyers to the products and services that they are actively looking to buy. List your products in the Buyer's Guide to influence qualified buyers today.
http://www.webbuyersguide.com/buyers_guide/vendor.asp

Office Online
If your product or service works with Microsoft Office request a Free listing on the Microsoft Office Marketplace.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX010409771033.aspx



Press Release Distribution
SB Wire
SBWire provides effective press release distribution services to small to mid-sized companies. Their base press release distribution services are offered free of charge. http://www.sbwire.com additionally there are numerous sites which accept press releases postings free of charge, be sure to post your release as many places as possible - http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/pressreleases.html (under post releases)



Microsoft Interviews
Channel 9 (aka Microsoft) has started a MicroISV podcast where Michael Lehman (many of you know Michael from SIC 2005) will interview developers for 5-10 minutes. If you are interested in being interviewed contact Michael or checkout the MicroISV show!
http://channel9.msdn.com/shows/The_MicroISV_Show

WUGNET
WUGNET manages the new RSS portal for Microsoft's Windows Marketplace RSS service. A promotional opportunity exists for developers that have products listed on the Windows Marketplace. Developers are entitled to have those products listed in the RSS feeds on the Marketplace which is automatically distributed to thousands of end users who rely on the Windows Marketplace to rate, review and make purchasing decisions.

This free marketing tool is offered to you by Microsoft to enhance the Windows Ecosystem. Once you register for the RSS feed on the Windows Marketplace any products listed by your company on the Windows Marketplace are eligible to go into the RSS news feed. You can abstract a press release with Title, a paragraph of copy and we use the bottom link to refer back your product listing on the Windows Marketplace. You can embed the link to the full release on your site and thereby drive traffic directly to your site. A further benefit of the RSS feeds is that we can list products you are just now releasing, plan to release, post press releases, list special sales, or other pertinent information you want to communicate to the Windows Community.

Sign up at: http://www.wugnet.com/windowsmarketplace/marketing

Article(s)
Top 10 Content Creation Techniques
A sticky site is a place people will visit again and again. By creating an atmosphere people like to revisit, will increase their exposure to your product or service.
http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/top-10-content-creation.htm

What is Google Base?
In order for Google Base to succeed, it will need the support of both publishers and users. Quite frankly, most are having difficulty seeing the value in Google Base. Google Base, is a new service in beta, from Google that requests that publishers add their information to the "Google Base".
http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/what-is-google-base.htm

Great Online Business Resources for Webmasters
As the web becomes increasingly more crowded, it is important for webmasters to take the extra step to make their web sites user friendly. There are a number of free resources available to webmasters:
http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/great-online-resources.htm

Conference Sponsorship
Shareware Industry Conference - It is the sponsors that, in large part, make this event possible. SIC offers three basic levels of sponsorship, with each level providing successively more exposure for the sponsor.
http://www.sic.org/sponsors.asp

Sponsorship Opportunities:
Bronze Level Sponsor: $1,000
Up to 2 Free conference registrations
1/4 page ad in book (4 x 5.5 inch)
Opportunity to include promotional literature and premium items for attendees in the attendee bags to be handed out upon registration.
Listed in SIA booklet
Listed on sponsor signs displayed at conference
Listed on SIAF Web page
Mentioned during SIA banquet Rotating banner on SIAF Web page

Silver Level Sponsor: $2,500
Up to 4 Free conference registrations
1/2 page ad in book (8.5 x 5.5 inch)
Listed in SIA booklet
Opportunity to include promotional literature and premium items for attendees in the attendee bags to be handed out upon registration.
Listed on sponsor signs displayed at conference
Listed on SIAF Web page
Mentioned during SIA banquet
Rotating banner on SIAF Web page

Gold Level Sponsor: $5,000
Up to 8 free conference registrations
Full page ad in book (8.5 x 11 inch)
Listed in SIA booklet
Opportunity to include promotional literature and premium items for attendees in the attendee bags to be handed out upon registration.
Listed on sponsor signs displayed at conference
Listed on SIAF Web page
Mentioned during SIA banquet
Rotating banner on main SIAF Web page
Company logo under "Premiere Sponsor" section on the SIAF Web page
Listed on a banner at the hotel during the conference
Free Exhibitor booth.


Exhibit Booth and Event Sponsorship are also available for discussion. Additional Details: http://www.sic.org/sponsors.asp

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Software marketing resource is an independent voice for developers. We welcome any suggestions and feedback on our blog, articles, newsletter and website.

Thank you for your continued interest in SMR.
Sharon Housley
Software Marketing Resource - http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com
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