



                         Ŀ
                         The Computer Bulletin Board
                          Guide to Public Relations 
                         

                                    Ver 1.8




                                 BBS Analysis






















































                                Ŀ
                                BBS INVENTORY
                                

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  y/n                        Outdated files deleted?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   _______  _______  _______  _______  _______










                                Ŀ
                                Your Product
                                

              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










                                Ŀ
                                GOAL SETTING
                                


              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


