旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 쿟he Computer Bulletin Board� � Guide to Public Relations � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Ver 1.8 BBS Analysis 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴� 쿍BS INVENTORY� 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴� BBS Name__________________________ Sysop_________________________ # of Lines__________ Highest Speed__________ Slowest ___________ Software____________ CPU speed________ HD size_______ speed_____ Graphics: Ansi Rip NAPLPS JPEG Other (specify) ___________ General Interest? y/n or Special Focus (specify)? ____________ # of Users ________ # of Active Users _______ Average User Age ____ Predominantly Male/Female Aliases permitted y/n Subscription (price)________ Variable access for variable price y/n Donations y/n Free y/n FILES # of File Areas_________ # of CD-ROMS________ FREQ permitted? y/n Virus Check? y/n Outdated files deleted? y/n Primary Archive Type PKZip ARJ ARC PAK Other______ File Distribution Network? y/n Adult Files? y/n Youth Files? y/n MESSAGES # of Message Bases____________ # Local__________ # Echos__________ Echo Networks _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Adult Message areas? y/n Youth Message areas? y/n Offline Mail Reader .QWK?______ Proprietary?______ Both?_______ Is mail compression type user configurable? y/n DOORS # of Single Player Games__________ # of Multi-Player Games_________ # of Magazines/Newspapers_________ # of Databases_________ MISC Bulletins: How Many?_______ Updated frequently?_______ Node Chat? y/n Association memberships _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ 旼컴컴컴컴컴커 쿧our Product� 읕컴컴컴컴컴켸 You have to think of your BBS as a product. Whether you have a 32 line commercial BBS, a single line hobby board or somewhere in between, you are selling a service. Just as with any other product, you have to decide where and how your public relations efforts should best be spent. Now may be a good time to look at your BBS and take an inventory. The Inventory included at the beginning of this file will help you take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of your BBS. Some of these things you may already have thought of. Others possibly not. Whatever the case may be, this is a very subjective matter and there are no right or wrong answers. We'll take this step by step and briefly examine some of the immediate public relations problems your BBS may present and some ways to solve those problems. I want you to bear in mind that it is NOT my intention to tell you how to run your BBS. In addition, I don't think there are any "bad" features for a BBS, except of course those that are patently illegal. If anything like that is implied, it wasn't intended. BBS NAME: The name of your BBS should be chosen very carefully and it should be in keeping with the overall tone of the BBS. Chances are you wouldn't want to call your BBS "Thunder of Cloven Hooves" if the emphasis is on scholarly Biblical discussions. Sysop: If you are known to users mainly as the Sysop, that could be creating an aloof image. That could be the image you want. On some larger boards with staffs that may be the best way to handle administrative duties. But if you want to have a more folksy and personable board you need to make yourself known. Create an account with your name, if you haven't already done so. Encourage users to refer to you with your name, instead of The Sysop. YOUR PRODUCT pg 1 General Interest/Special Focus You may want to have a BBS with a little bit of everything for everybody. Even with cable becoming more prevalent, the three major broadcast networks still have the largest viewership. A General Interest BBS with a very large plate to offer will draw users but could overwhelm some users, especially new users. A BBS with a specific interest runs the risk of being too narrowly defined. There is probably a market for a BBS about horse racing jockeys six feet and taller with green eyes, but it's also so specialized it would attract few callers (if any). Users Most BBS have very large user lists. Many of those lists are bogus in that they reflect all the people that have visited since the BBS was established. Some Sysops routinely clean the chaff out of the user lists. This is a good idea in that it makes it easier for Sysops to keep track of who is active and who is not. In addition it helps users who log in only occasionally. If a user hasn't logged on recently he has usually lost track of what happened the last time he was on. It reminds occasional users that it might be a good idea to stop in more often. Money: As I'm sure you are aware, a Bulletin Board can cost a lot to operate. The trend is to charge some kind of subscription. There are a number of different ways in which to do this. A very large portion of the BBS community believes that charging for access violates the spirit of freedom of information that has been intertwined with personal computers since their introduction. You will face that sort of resistance, especially if your BBS has had a history of access at no charge. FILES: File areas are arguably the heart of a BBS. And just as with a human heart, they can create a huge amount of trouble if not properly taken care of. File Requests can be a valuable promotional tool. Many software companies allow potential buyers to request a demo YOUR PRODUCT pg 2 from their support board to try the software before purchasing it. Some BBSs allow downloads of certain informational files without having the caller registered or verified. This is potentially a very powerful feature and probably should be implemented on your BBS if it isn't already. A file explaining your policies, the message bases available, some hints on how to use your BBS (especially if it uses a less well known software package), and maybe even a registration or subscription form. This gives the user an idea of what your BBS is like and can leave him with a good feeling in that he received something without having full access. BBSs are commonly cited as a major source of computer viruses. If you take great pains to check all files for viruses before making them publicly available then you can put many users' minds at ease. Make sure you promote that often on your BBS and in any advertising you do. Sometimes a virus will sneak through even the best virus checkers. Track down the offending file, delete it and apologize to those who downloaded it. But gently remind users that you are not responsible for damage caused by the virus. They downloaded and used it at their own risk. Message Bases: If File Areas are the heart of a BBS, then the Message Bases are the soul of your BBS. That is where your users have the biggest opportunity to contribute to the board. This is also where you have the biggest opportunity to set the image of the BBS. Your message bases can be wide and varied or narrow and focused on just a few topics. Keep in mind not everyone is going to be tactful and considerate. Some are rude and downright mean. Nationally echoed message bases can be a valuable asset to your board. But there will be times when there are matters of interest in Waxahachie, Texas that folks in Erie, Pennsylvania won't be interested in. Chances are you have at least one message base that is specific for local matters. You may want to consider opening up a few others depending on the demand from your users. DOORS: Your choice of Door programs create a twofold public relations challenge right out of the box. First, there may be times in which you add a door that doesn't quite fit the YOUR PRODUCT pg 3 image you are trying to create on your BBS. In that case it's a fairly simple matter to remove the door program. Second, a very popular door could tie up your BBS for hours a day with just a few users, causing frustration to others. This is particularly true of games. MISC: Most BBSs run a screen full of Bulletins when the user logs on. These bulletins should be updated as often as possible. Callers need to know what's going on with your BBS, even if it's just the latest scores for "Red Dragon." Most users don't read the bulletins on a regular basis. But, they leave the impression that you have a "happening" BBS. A business owner I once worked for said to me "The impression that we have business generates business." He always made sure there were cars in front of his business, even if they belonged to employees. Your bulletins can be the cars in front of your business. Curiously, though, a lot of bulletins can also turn away a user. If you have a potload of bulletins, you might want to think about moving some to areas in which they are more appropriate. Bulletins of game scores might be moved to a gaming conference, as an example. Rules, policies and news should be the primary considerations when developing log on bulletins. There are several BBS and Sysop groups and associations that you can become a member of. There might even be one or more in your area. They are sources of support, solutions, and other information. If you are having trouble with another sysop, the association can be a place to arbitrate your difficulties. If worse comes to worse and you run afoul of the law as a result of your BBS, the group may be able to put you in touch with some legal help. A meeting can also provide you with the opportunity to unwind after a hard day of slaving over a hot keyboard. I strongly recommend joining a group. YOUR PRODUCT pg 4 旼컴컴컴컴컴커 쿒OAL SETTING� 읕컴컴컴컴컴켸 Even if you don't run a commercial BBS, you should think of it as a business. There is hardly any business that does not take an inventory on a regular basis. Any business that does not analyze itself occasionally is doomed to failure. Every six months or so, sit back and look at where your BBS has been, where it's at and where it's going. Do you have specific goals in mind? What are you doing to meet those goals? How is your Public Relations campaign reflecting the climb toward those goals? Whatever you are up to, PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE. Tell your users what's going on. Tell your co-workers. Tell the dog. Get the word out on the street somehow. This is only a cursory look at some the things you should be aware of from a public relations standpoint as you examine your BBS. You might want to do things differently. Public relations is an art, and you may prefer to do yours in oil while I prefer chalk. I encourage you to write me and let me know what your are doing in the area of Public Relations. Robert Parson 2501 Phoenix Fort Smith, AR 72901 501 646 9332 (voice) Jackalope Junction BBS 501 785 5381 (Steve Prado, Sysop) internet r.parson@genie.geis.com GEnie R.Parson Fido 1:3822/1 or 1:3822/8 YOUR PRODUCT pg 5