Where should we interact with users?

Jeremy Collake · May 08, 2012, 07:15:43 PM

Where should we interact with users? I find myself asking this question as I have Facebook, GoogePlus, Twitter, Blogger, and this Forum. It is a bit tedious to post the same content in all of them, so what happens is that bits and pieces get sprinkled everywhere. Maybe that's the best way. After all, I do write a lot of babble ;p. Your vote is appreciated. Right now, as expected, it seems most users interact with Bitsum on Facebook.

hanemach_gt · May 09, 2012, 01:27:19 AM

All except the mailing list, we don't want to be perceived as a spamming company, that's my opinion.

edkiefer · May 09, 2012, 08:29:25 AM

I agree, I think you got most important area's covered . I am not on facebook ,but get plenty off Google+, blog and forum .

Jeremy Collake · May 09, 2012, 02:47:02 PM

Thanks guys

. Sometimes I wonder about my policies as I see so many companies use mailing lists -- and they probably have some success with them, as people have become so accustomed to them (similar to darn bundles) that they 'don't mind' or 'expect it'. This makes me wonder if clinging to my integrity is helpful or hurtful - but I'll keep clinging to it.

The good thing about the Forum is that it can be used as a mailing list, essentially. Turn on notifications for a thread, or use your favorite news feed reader and you can see my latest ramblings when *you* want to. Then you can communicate back if you choose.

I am, however, considering sending out emails when update subscriptions expire - just to let users know of the pending update subscription expiration. Would this be something users would consider acceptable, or just more spam? The idea being to keep people from being caught 'off guard' one day.

hanemach_gt · May 09, 2012, 03:42:08 PM

No, license notifications would be acceptable; it would be a warning that the license will soon expire and further update(s) will invalidate the Pro version.

hanemach_gt · May 09, 2012, 03:57:51 PM

But then we'd have to clearly state it in EULA, and allow to disable it in the Support area.

Jeremy Collake · May 09, 2012, 04:00:47 PM

Quote from: hanemach_gt on May 09, 2012, 03:57:51 PM
But then we'd have to clearly state it in EULA, and allow to disable it in the Support area.

Good points.

I should also note to any concerned user that as of ... many minor updates ago ... no licensed update is allowed without *warning you FIRST* if your license is about to be expired. Thus, perhaps these emails are unnecessary since the product informs the user of expiration before update. It is just that the product informs them rather abruptly, and indeed right now there is an outstanding issue with automated updates - in that they will simply stop if the license expired (something I've already fixed in v6). I will have to think about it... It's still a bit more personal to send an email, if nothing else.

Hotrod · May 09, 2012, 06:45:29 PM

As a long time PC user (30 years or so), I have learned that for most users the first place they go when trouble arises is the manufacturers website support or forums. This is true for hardware as well as software. I think support interactions are best handled here. I personally don't use FB, Twitter, or any of the other social media except that my new android requires a google plus account for some of it's basic features. Advertisement would be great for these and maybe feature update notifications. The application itself is where update notifications should happen and/or possibly an e-mail a few weeks prior to loss of activation. Also we would probably not mind if an e-mail were to arrive informing us of changes to the website location or log in changes. These of course are my own opinions and do not reflect on your current set up.