1. I set up a dedicated subscription web page offering targeted visitors a bumper bundle of goodies to opt-in and sign up for a free newsletter I have yet to launch.

2. I emailed my existing lists directing members to bumper bundle page.

3. I installed script for an opt-in responder form on home page of portal.

4. I inserted a link in most of my other websites.

That was several weeks ago and already it’s showing signs of paying off.

I am averaging around 30 sign-ups per day and my new list currently stands at 1300+

The subscription site is an ugly duckling - but so what – technique is working.

If you would like a sneak peek at how I’m building an asset out of giving stuff away for free, you might like to visit site featured in resource box below.

Help, oh I need somebody… -----------------------------------

You may be tempted to skimp on your help system.. Trust me, that is not a good idea. For one thing, in minds of today’s consumers a reasonably good help system is considered a bare necessity. For another thing, a good help system will lower your return rate. It is a worthwhile investment.

A help system also lowers your ongoing technical support costs. What tech support costs you say? Well, here’s a statistic that will blow your mind: Most software companies allocate a minimum of 30-40% of a product’s purchase price to technical support. The reason is simple: It’s cheaper than refunds. Now you may not have created a Microsoft Office clone, but I guarantee you that some inexperienced users are going to need handholding. In my opinion, even in world of niche products you must at least offer same-day e-mail support.

Xena is cool. Xenophobia is not. ---------------------------------------

Now before you think I’m just an American developer dissing folks from other lands over on E-lance and RentACoder, think again. I use both services and love them. And I have developed some excellent working relationships with individuals at both sites. My purpose here is to fire a warning shot across bow of wannabe software publisher’s boats: Software development is a mind-bogglingly labor intensive task whether you do it yourself or pay someone else to do it for you. Web sites like E-lance and RentACoder have lowered cost of software development to point that a middle-class American can think about becoming a publisher without having to sell house.

But you can still get burned, and it is worth counting total cost of publishing before you get started.

-- Ross W. Lambert, The Midnight Marketer