If You're a Shareware Author, This Document Is For You! ======================================================= The Board of Directors of the Association of Shareware Professionals would like to invite you to become a member of the ASP, the largest and most influential trade association representing shareware authors, vendors, BBSes and other online services. Your membership in the ASP is as essential part of your shareware business as your computer, and the ASP can help your business grow. ASP Author Membership Facts ---------------------------- * Dues: $100 per year * You apply for membership with a sample of your product, which must meet certain standards of professionalism. See AUTPUB.ZIP, included with this document. It includes information on ASP Author Standards and an application form. * On acceptance, you receive an ASP Author Membership kit, which includes the ASP logo in several graphics formats, software designed for submitting your products for inclusion on the ASP CD-ROM, and a copy of VendInfo, the industry standard cataloging system. ASP members can register VENDINFO at no charge. The registration fee is paid by the ASP. Act Today to Become Part of the ASP! --------- Joining the ASP could be the best business decision you ever make. The benefit of the ASP's distribution system alone is worth many times the small $100 dues you pay as a member. Add to that the other benefits listed above and the decision to become an ASP member is simple. Check out AUTPUB.ZIP now and start the process of joining this active and influential association. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! Here are just some of the benefits of ASP Author membership. For a low, $100 per year annual dues the ASP can offer you these exclusive benefits, available ONLY to ASP members: Worldwide Distribution of your Shareware Programs --------- * Your Programs can be included on the ASP-CD Rom (Updated Monthly) Distributed to all ASP Vendor and BBS members Mounted on the ASP World Wide FTP site (an easy link from your web page!) Sold to the Public by FormGen Searched by C|Net’s Shareware Central Search Engine Available on CompuServe (GO ASPCDROM) * Access To the Author Direct Distribution Service This low-cost distribution service is offered only to ASP members by an ASP member, and adds even more flexibility and impact to your distribution methods. * Free VendInfo Registration The ASP pays your registration fee for this industry standard system for cataloging, describing, and informing customers and distributors of your license terms. Many vendors and online services now require a VENDINFO.DIZ file as part of your shareware program. Recognition and Visibility for Your Company And Its Products ------------------------------- * Link Your Web Page to the ASP’s Popular World Wide Web Site * Set up a Link from the ASP Web Site to your Web Site * Use the ASP Logo on Your Products and Advertising Identifies you as an ASP member: a highly visible mark of professionalism The ASP Public Relations Program Identifies You as an ASP Professional -------------------------------- The ASP conducts a professional public relations effort across all branches of the media. That program stresses the professionalism and service you already provide and strongly identifies the ASP logo as a mark of that professionalism. Our public relations program provides information on finding publicity outlets for your business and offers sample press releases and other PR information you can use. A media address list is maintained online in the ASPFORUM on CompuServe for your use. Our PR program can help you get local publicity for your firm, with sample press releases and assistance in arranging demonstrations at user's groups in your area. Electronic distribution of your press releases on CompuServe in the ASPFORUM's Press Room Online and Internet Support for Your Firm --------------------------- * ASPFORUM Forum on CompuServe A central meeting place for shareware authors, publishers, vendors, and online providers Members-Only message areas for ASP discussions Press Room for posting your press releases Public Relations Forum for information on improving your own PR efforts Share information and get advice from the most successful shareware authors in the world Product Locator service directs consumers to programs on their request * ASPCD Forum on CompuServe All programs on the ASP CD-ROM are stored in this forum, searchable by CompuServe's file finders. * ASP Forum on Microsoft Network File areas available for posting your programs on this popular online service Establish your own support area on the ASP Forum at no charge * ASP World Wide Web Site http://www.asp-shareware.org Add your web page's link to the ASP Web Site FTP area contains all files on the ASP CD-ROM COMING SOON: Search and download engine so customers can obtain YOUR FILES Links to other Internet services More and more Web services are linking directly to the ASP Web site. Others, like C|NET can search the ASP's FTP site directly as part of their Shareware Central system, allowing direct downloads of YOUR FILES. The ASP actively promotes these activities and is involved in advising internet providers on such links and services. * COMING SOON: ASP Forum on America Online Gain the Confidence of Your Customers ------------------- * ASP Ombudsman Program This service, available only to ASP members and their customers can help resolve conflicts between your customers and your company through a third party. You tell your customers about the Ombudsman program in your documentation. The ASP's public relations effort stresses the Ombudsman program to help customers gain confidence in trying and buying ASP member's products. * Use the ASP Logo Identifying yourself as an ASP Author Member is a terrific way to tell your customers that you're a pro. Only ASP members can use this logo, and the ASP actively promotes the ASP logo as a mark of professionalism in the shareware industry. Your customers and potential customers know that the ASP logo is the hallmark of the shareware industry. Learn to Improve Your Business ---------------- * ASPects This monthly newsletter is packed with information to help you grow your business, with articles on distribution, public relations, and more. * Online Networking Some of the most successful shareware companies in the world frequent the ASPFORUM on CompuServe. They're always happy to help you with answers to your most pressing questions. The amount of valuable information available there is incredible. Join over 1000 current members who are helping each other toward success. Influence the Course of the Shareware Industry -------------------- * The ASP is your organization * All major policies are set by a vote of the membership * Discuss the future of shareware in the ASPFORUM * Volunteer to serve on one of the ASPs committees * Run for an elected office -- All officers are members of the ASP Obtain a Credit Card Merchant Account -------------------- Teleflora is a service agency which may allow your business to obtain merchant account status and increase profits by accepting Visa and MasterCard. In providing credit card processing services, Teleflora CreditLine is representing Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Merchant Card Division, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. For further information, and to apply, please call Dave or Diane at 1-800-480-6694. Teleflora offers a special discount rate to ASP members - only 2.65% (new accounts only). Get Special Members-only Discounts --------------------- The ASP has arranged members-only discounts on a wide array of products and services that can help you in your business. Programming Tools: * Mabry Software (800-99-MABRY (800-996-2279)/206-634-1443) offers a 20% discount to ASP members on the following collections of custom controls for Windows: Mega Pack 2 (reg. $179), Internet Pack (reg. $129) and/or MIDI Pack (reg. $99). * Ted Gruber Software (702-735-1980) offers a 10% discount to all ASP members off the purchase of their Fastgraph Programmer's Graphics Library. Ask for Diana. * Boxer Software (800-982-6937/603-924-6602) offers a 20% discount to ASP members off the purchase of any of their award-winning Boxer series of text editors. * VB/Rig is a unique code-generator that can automatically write a complete error-handling subsystem for your Visual Basic application. ASP members receive a free upgrade to VB/Rig Professional Edition when they register the Standard Edition (CompuServe SWREG, product ID 3115) for $29 + s/h. When registering, please mention (send a separate email to the author, Brad Kaenel CIS: 72357,3523, when registering on-line), identifying yourself as an ASP member. * HEXANET (INTERNET:hnet@dialup.francenet.fr; WWW http://ourworld.compuserve.com/hompages/hnet) offers their Zip Studio Shell 3.0/Source Code Edition for Win95 to ASP members at a 20% discount. This version includes the MSVC 4.0 source code for the Shell, the Explorer/Winfile extensions, the Zip API static version, and the OCX control. Regularly $249 USD, ASP members may obtain the package at a cost of only $199 USD. Web Authoring Tools * Lincoln Beach Software offers a complimentary copy of their Web- It! web authoring software to all ASP members. Contact ASP member Harold Holmes (CIS: 70700,630) for ordering information. Download a shareware copy at http://www.i1.net/~lnclnbch. * FLFSoft, Inc. offers a complimentary copy of their HTML Builder HTML editor to all ASP members. HTML Builder is a 32 bit application that runs across all Windows platforms (3.1x, WFW, 95 & NT). The program has full support for long file names under win95 & NT. Contact ASP member Frank Feingold (CIS 75010,237) to request a copy. Download a shareware copy at http://www.execpc.com/~flfsoft. Goods & Services: * JCS Marketing (612-469-5898) is one of the shareware industry's most respected CD-ROM producers. Their products include the "Author to Vendor" distribution CD-ROM and the "Best of the A2V" retail CD-ROM. ASP members can get 25 copies of the "Best of the A2V" CD-ROM (suggested retail $9.95) for $55 plus s&h. * The Public (software) Library (PsL; 1-800-2424-PSL) maintains one of the industry's largest and most comprehensive libraries of shareware and freeware programs. ASP members can get their first copy of PsL's monthy CD for $6 plus $4 s&h (subsequent CDs are available at the regular price). ASP members may also obtain any PsL CD that contains one of their programs for $6 plus $4 s&h. * ASP BBS member Tim Nishimura offers ASP author members a unique support opportunity in Japan: a link through Japanese BBSes, complete with translation. Support service available in Japanese through the following BBSes: TIM BBS Tokyo 03-3478-6263 Other Software * Bardon Data Systems offers ASP members a free copy of Smiler Shell, a powerful Windows command line utility. Contact ASP member Barry Smiler (CIS: 72340,375) for more information. * Tay-Jee Software is making available a free redistribution license for its batch file utilities Steenburgh's Stuff to all ASP members. Steenburgh's Stuff allows the creation of powerful DOS batch files for use in installation, read me files, tutorials, and the like. Contact ASP member Chuck Steenburgh (CIS: 72330,1776) for more information. Additional offers are being added on a regular basis - contact us for the most up-to-date list. All offers are made by the individual companies listed, are subject to any restrictions or limitations imposed by those companies, and are subject to withdrawal at any time without notice.