Title: How To Market Your Timex/
Sinclair Software
Author: R.A. Favro
Pages: 52 Softcover
From: Softmark Associates
191 Munro Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M4M 2B8
416/465-7791
Price: $14.95
Title: 1984 Programmer's Market
Editor: Brad M. McGehee
Pages: 268 Softcover
From: Writer's Digest Books
9933 Alliance Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45242
513/984-0717
Price: $16.95
Title: 1983 Software Writer's
Market
Editor: Christine Leu
Pages: 98 Softcover
From: Kern Publications
190 Duck Hill Rd.
Duxbury, MA 02332
617/934-0445
Price: $28.50
If you’ve considered turning your programming efforts into a little cash, three books purport to tell you how. Of the three, one seems better for self-marketers, one better for selling to software publishers, and one really doesn’t hit the mark on either count.
How to Market Your Timex/Sinclair Software delivers more professional advice than its poorly reproduced typewritten appearance would indicate. It addresses itself primarily to programmers who prefer to market their own work. Starting with an overview of the size and composition of the TS market, HMYTSS covers developing your product, developing your market plan and choosing a software publisher. The last four chapters deal with running a mail-order business, direct mail marketing, advertising and other marketing opportunities.
Although HMYTSS can help you promote your product to software publishers (it lists 11), its strength definitely lies in its do-it-yourself approach. It also gives many references to other sources.
Put out by the same people who give us Writer’s and Photographer’s Market, 1984 Programmer’s Market contains much the same kind of information as the other Market books. It starts with a chapter on the submission process, copyrights, royalties, and other business. Then it discusses writing manuals and documentation, designing easy-to-use software and writing the successful game. The remainder of the book (248 pages) lists software, book and periodical publishers in the microcomputer field, including 28 software publishers specifically mentioning TS computers. Unlike HMYTSS, this book gives information for all machines. Listings include name and address, contact, what kind of programs they need and payment arrangements.
Based on much the same idea, 1983 Software Writer’s Market gives you lists of micro manufacturers plus software, book and periodical publishers. It also lists computer shows, distributors and directories. This book contains no helpful-hint information (in fairness note that Kern Publications offers a book entitled Freelance Software Marketing, not reviewed here) and deals with a wide range of micros. I presume Kern will update it yearly. I found two software publishers mentioning TS software specifically and six book publishers. Many listed no specific machine.
If you plan to market your own software, How to Market Your Timex/Sinclair Software will benefit you most of the three books. If you prefer to deal with a software publisher, check out the second two. I found Programmer’s Market more substantial and recommend it of the two listings-type books.