Hey everyone,
A topic just came up with a friend via PM about a subject I've been meaning to bring up sooner or later. Since I'm getting reproduction parts completed at an accelerated rate lately, it's about time I bring this up.
In the past, each time I finished up a reproduction item, I'd send free evaluation samples out to a random sampling of people with the idea that in turn for the FREE PARTS, they would:
1. Comment directly to ME in detail about the parts so I could take random excerpts as needed and/or use the feedback to improve upon my products.
2. Write reviews about those products on the forums, newsgroups, websites. This was a KEY detail that was almost ALWAYS overlooked and never delivered on.
3. Drop my name (RAM Controls) whenever appropriate on the forums, etc.
Getting the word out there in a tasteful way has always been a key issue I've had. Sure, I make GREAT products (eventually) and everyone loves them, but from the time I release something until it hits saturation point, it could be several months using my current method which is DO IT MYSELF. I can admit wholeheartedly that I stink at advertising my own products. Heck, I can make the reproduction parts unlike ANYONE else on the planet, I just can't seem to spread the word about it with any skill.
In the past, I noticed that whenever people on Retroblast reviewed my items (the MH Roller Controller, the Cones, etc) I got an insane amount of orders shortly thereafter which was cool in itself. Then I'd go back and read the reviews. Man, I have to admit, seeing the kind words really fueled my passion for making these reproduction parts! So, now I'm looking for reviews with the same flair that was present in the old reviews they USED to do. I'm not aware of the details, but I think Retroblast went down and someone else took over the site - everything changed overnight one day and all of the old reviews (particularly reviews on MY stuff) disappeared. I always wondered what happened with those. Can anyone set me straight on that topic?
Aside from that, around the same time I had at least 15 people that I sent freebies out to just so they could help spread the word about my reproduction items. I was very clear in what I was looking for. I kept sending parts out, but I received little or no feedback other than "hey, got the XYZ part -- thanks!!", no reviews of any kind, no pimping, no nothing. Well, that was for the most part. A few people did occasionally mention that I had something for sale when the topic came up, but that wasn't what I was after. Then somewhere down the road, they would sell the parts on ebay. I really don't care WHAT they did with the free parts if they actually held up their end of the deal which was to provide me with some value for the freebie.
Needless to say, I currently have nobody on my so-called list. I decided to make something public about this, hoping I'd get some genuinely interested people who are willing and capable of writing honest, detailed reviews of the products I produce. Those people would get a steady stream of free evaluation items headed their way in return as long as they kept doing their part.
So, I ask the BYOAC community, is anyone interested? I will fill up to 20 slots, but I expect much more of a response than, "I'm interested, send me something." I want to see sincere responses which explain why I should send them evaluation parts and what they intend to do and how they intend to go about it.
Maybe there are people who review things like this already and I just need to be made aware of them? Beats me....
20 slots open - FREE evaluation parts from RAM Controls.
David Adams
RAM Controls
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Topic: RAM Controls - Review Pool (Read 4455 times)
