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Bad Marketing Strategy

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    #1

    Bad Marketing Strategy

    Mission critical applications (using the built in database or any SQL database) can be built easily and in a small fraction of the time of alternatives like PHP, JAVA, .NET, VB, Filemaker, MS Access, or Ruby.
    I just saw the new Alpha software web page and although i do like better this new deassign i think that you are missing to mention what i think is the strongest point of alpha "Build sophisticated software without having to be a programmer". there are a lot of languages out there and this is what separates alpha from the pack. If I had seen the new slogan 3 years ago when I downloaded my first version of alpha I would probably get "sacered" by the technical stuff in it and probably wouldn't badder to download it at all (although right now it doesn't sounds very technical for me, I believe that 3 years ago it would) .

    Of course this is just my opinion
    Cheers
    Mauricio

    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: Bad Marketing Strategy

    I also think it is time for Alpha to use their own program for their web site. Unless I am wrong, ASP pages are microw$oft's. I know this was talked about before about what was more important, changing over web site or geting V8 working.

    I think it would show everyone another example what can be done with Alpha.

    I have not done any web design with any product but kind of makes you wonder if they are not using it why would someone else use it.

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Bad Marketing Strategy

      I agree with the web page not saying how easy it is to get started. Programming for non-programmers is basically what brought me to Alpha many years ago.

      As far as using their own product, I had rather have the programmers working on bug fixes and ne versions. A page face can be overwritten in a very short time, but re-writing the whole thing is much harder and takes a much more savy programmer.
      Dave Mason
      [email protected]
      Skype is dave.mason46

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Bad Marketing Strategy

        Alpha Five is off the radar of beginning users, where the unit volume potential is the greatest. Alpha is dramatically shorting its revenue opportunities by positioning this product on just its high end capabilities.

        Never, never should they loose sight of the beginning user market. I have worked extensively with FoxPro, somewhat VB, extensively Access, and dabbled with FileMaker, and Alpha Five is the strongest of the lot.

        Having said that I was attracted to Alpha by how much I could accomplish without programming.

        In my mind the tag line for A5 should be: easy to get started, hard to outgrow.

        Symptomatic of the marketing challenges is the lack of good introductory books. I have purchased most of the A5 books from Liberty and their production leaves much to be desired.

        Here's my compilation of popular database publications this morning on Amazon.com. Does this list provide any insight why Alpha relies on word of mouth and its rabidly enthusiastic user base for converts from lesser products?


        Code:
        Microsoft Access 97	640 title
Microsoft Access 2000	187 titles
Microsoft Access 2003	200 titles
Microsoft Access 2005	83 titles
Total titles		1,122 titles

FileMaker 5		29 titles
FileMaker Pro 5		24 titles
FileMaker 6		21 titles
FileMaker Pro 6		21 titles
FileMaker 7		23 titles
FileMaker Pro 7		15 titles
FileMaker 8		27 titles
FileMaker Pro 8		16 titles
Total titles		191 titles

FoxPro	 		281 titles

Alpha Five		Nothing published since 1994
        Bob
        Pittsburgh

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Bad Marketing Strategy

          Bob,

          Your stats are a reflection of the relative user base sizes. I guess it's a little bit of a chicken and egg situation. More users = more books. More books = more users. Which comes first?
          Peter
          AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

           [email protected]
          https://www.alphabasesolutions.com

          Comment

            #6
            Re: Bad Marketing Strategy

            I bought the 1994(or there abouts) book off the shelf at a book store.
            Dave Mason
            [email protected]
            Skype is dave.mason46

            Comment

              #7
              Re: Bad Marketing Strategy

              I wonder what it would take to get CDW to carry the product. Every month I get a flyer from them wanting me to buy Filemaker.


              rmcgaffic - I like your tag line. I will be suprised if it does not start showing up.

              Comment

                #8
                Re: Bad Marketing Strategy

                Peter,

                You are right it is a chicken and egg situation. The issue isn't necessarily the number of titles, just a couple might be sufficient. The problem there is nothing I might find in my local Borders.

                Alpha has its light under a bushel. It really needs just ONE book like:

                Alpha Five Database Application for Dummies
                Alpha Five The Missing Manual
                Alpha Five Explained
                Teach yourself VISUALLY Alpha Five
                Alpha Five Quicksteps
                How to do Everything with Alpha Five

                And how about throwing in a 30 day trial CD of A5V9 with the book.

                The existing Alpha print materials (Liberty Manuals) would gather dust on the shelf of Barnes and Nobles!

                Bob McGaffic
                Pittsburgh

                Comment

                  #9
                  Re: Bad Marketing Strategy

                  I think that the "Alpha made easy books" are pretty good books for beginners but they need to hire a good designer so they look more professional (and maybe omit the family pictures at the begging of the book hehe).
                  Cheers
                  Mauricio

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Re: Bad Marketing Strategy

                    here's a suggestion:
                    http://www.briobooks.com/brio_bookdesign.aspx

                    There are lots of such services out there

                    Bob McGaffic

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Re: Bad Marketing Strategy

                      Yes, thats what im talking about
                      Cheers
                      Mauricio

                      Comment

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