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Richard's Blog....

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    Richard's Blog....

    Richard when I heard you were starting a blog, I thought that was a great idea, because it was a way for management to communicate with their customers on what was happening within the company and with the product.

    Instead, in my opinion, it's just an advertising/marketing tool.

    I don't know how others feel, but I'm pretty disapointed. Am I alone in this?

    #2
    Re: Richard's Blog....

    Tom,
    I had not heard about this blog. However, I live in northern Iowa and information does not flow through this part of the world very well:)

    Was the purpose of the blog stated to be a place for support? If not, what is wrong with more marketing for Alpha 5. I think it is a great product which could help a lot of people who may not know it exists.
    Tony

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Richard's Blog....

      [QUOTE=Tom Mills;431794]Richard when I heard you were starting a blog, I thought that was a great idea, because it was a way for management to communicate with their customers on what was happening within the company and with the product.

      Instead, in my opinion, it's just an advertising/marketing tool.
      QUOTE]

      Is that not what blogs are? This message board is what the management get to hear what their customers are saying.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Richard's Blog....

        I agree with you Tom. After just a couple visits to the blog I crossed that off my "things to look at" on the web. I applaud Alpha's efforts to get the product more well known since it is such a GREAT product - but from my perspective it is just just as you describe. I didn't feel the need to go back because I am already a big time lover of the software.

        It would have been a neat to see some of the inner workings of Richard's thoughts / beliefs about Alpha.

        Regards,

        Jeff

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Richard's Blog....

          Originally posted by jkletrovets View Post
          It would have been a neat to see some of the inner workings of Richard's thoughts / beliefs about Alpha.

          Regards,

          Jeff
          Did you ask Richard? If you want Richard to respond, give him something to respond to instead of criticism.

          kenn
          TYVM :) kenn

          Knowing what you can achieve will not become reality until you imagine and explore.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Richard's Blog....

            That's exactly, what he was doing.....

            Suggesting that Richard use the blog not as advertisement/marketing, but as a vehicle to talk about what's going on.

            That's what most blogs are from developers.. a way to get word straight from the top.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Richard's Blog....

              Kenn

              No I didn't ask Richard. I would not know what to ask him. It is his / their blog to do with what they want. It probably has taken on the shape they wish for it to have and that is great. The more successful Alpha is the better to my way of thinking. As I said, I think it is great software. I was just pointing out my "wishlist" in reading his blog. I didn't want Richard to respond. I was just voicing my agreement with Tom as to my perception of the blog. I was in no way criticizing Richard and apologize if what I wrote came across that way. In fact, I thought I went out of my way to compliment the software.

              Regards,

              Jeff

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Richard's Blog....

                Thanks for all the comments

                a few observations

                A) It is not "richard's" blog - but the Alpha blog which includes "you" -- the reader of this message. I have posted on this message board that we would be very interested in seeing submissions. Frankly the combined knowledge that exists here WAY exceeds anyting that we can come up with ourselves.

                B) Email me with suggestions for topics

                C) I agree completely that the blog serves many functions -- including marketing. I would also state that marketing and profile building of Alpha Five is a good thing for the entire Alpha Community. Why? It helps Alpha consultants and users convince, bosses, colleagues and clients to adopt Alpha. It helps build awareness of Alpha on the Interenet in general and increaes visibility on search engines in particular. In turn this leads to growth for Alpha and the means to invest more in product innovation. More users of Alpha also means more opportunity for Alpha developers and VARS.

                It is worth pondering this definition from the most recent AMA conference (Amercian Marketing Association)

                Marketing is an organizational function and a set of processes for creating, communicating and delivering value to customers and for managing customer relationships in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders.

                I would go on to state that the articles range from our recent benchmarks vs FileMaker http://alphasoftware.blogspot.com/20...emaker_20.html , to case studies (if you have been doing valuable things in Alpha - others may want to read about it) to trouble shooting SQL http://alphasoftware.blogspot.com/20...eking-sql.html

                to business advice from an independendent developer
                http://alphasoftware.blogspot.com/se...%20development


                So in summary

                we are open to contributions/ideas and suggestions

                thanks
                [email protected]
                Richard Rabins
                Co Chairman
                Alpha Software

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Richard's Blog....

                  Richard, I'm not anti-marketing. The better Alpha does, the better off we are.

                  But most of us are starved for info as to what's happening at Alpha, where the product is going, etc. And we can't contribute to that. Only the Alpha people can.

                  Heck, have 2 blogs.... a "Product Information" blog and a "Rabin's Ruminations" blog where once a week or so, you (or Selwyn) drop us a couple paragraphs.

                  PS - Rabin's Ruminations is not copyrighted.... feel free to steal it....

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Richard's Blog....

                    this is helpful Tom

                    I will share with Selwyn and the rest of the development team

                    Thanks!
                    Richard Rabins
                    Co Chairman
                    Alpha Software

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Richard's Blog....

                      Just adding to my previous reply.

                      In the preceedng months, we have added some folks on the dev team such as Matt Sheils who had been the PowerBuilder Development Manager

                      The challenge for us is that the pace of development is accelerating and there are a TON of stuff under development. For various technical reasons, some of these features make it into the next release (whatever that release may be) and some get pushed back into a subsequent release and some nerver make it into a release.
                      We are therefore naturally cautious about promising features until we know that they completed and also dont want to be thought of as promoting stuff that is not yet in the product.

                      Tom - I can say that full desktop Client Server (active Link tables) is VERY high on our agenda.

                      Regards
                      Richard
                      Richard Rabins
                      Co Chairman
                      Alpha Software

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Richard's Blog....

                        Just a thought - I have met every week for the last year (by telephone) with three other Alpha developers. Between the four of us, we seem to know what's happening everywhere!

                        If anyone wants to participate in a weekly conference call/web seminar, I will put it together. Wait, I already have - I have weekly web seminars which are 100% open format. I was hoping to have dozens of developers on that weekly conference each week, with a free flow of information, but it's only one or two here and there. Between the weekly conference call and web seminar I find I keep up with what's going on.

                        Part of the point I am making is that you have to be proactive if you want to keep informed. If Alpha did have some sort of weekly dump of their plans, we'd probably crush them with request for clarification and arguments for and against.
                        Steve Wood
                        See my profile on IADN

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Richard's Blog....

                          Originally posted by Steve Wood View Post
                          Part of the point I am making is that you have to be proactive if you want to keep informed. If Alpha did have some sort of weekly dump of their plans, we'd probably crush them with request for clarification and arguments for and against.
                          Hi Steve,

                          Very well said, precisely my point.

                          kenn
                          TYVM :) kenn

                          Knowing what you can achieve will not become reality until you imagine and explore.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Richard's Blog....

                            Steve, I have often wished to participate in your webinar, however 12:00 your time is 8:00pm here in the UK. Friday is 'POETS' day, and me and the lads have a Friday Frenzy down the pub after a long hard week, so would talk more rubbish than usual by 8:00pm. How about a power breakfast webinar?

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Richard's Blog....

                              Let's look at some options. According to my clock the only range that works from West Coast to UK puts it between 4-8PM in the UK. 8AM in California is too early, so the best time overall would end up with UK at 5 or 6PM. We can shift to Wednesday perhaps.

                              We can either do something inside that range, or add a second webinar with a more UK-friendly time, perhaps less frequent. (As many have remarked, I have no respect for the clock and am 'here' at all hours.)

                              FYI - this is a pet project of mine to see if open and frequent dialog can advance our understanding of Alpha products and opportunities. I don't push product - it's 100% open-session where anyone can ask any question and generally get an answer. Newbies and professionals welcome!
                              Steve Wood
                              See my profile on IADN

                              Comment

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