A fix for buyer's guides
Most trade pubs run annual buyer's guides, relics of pre-internet days. But you've got to imagine that a focused list of suppliers would be of value to their readership still. And so I diligently respond to update requests from magazines, especially when their buyer's guide includes an online listing with a link (yay PageRank).
I've just had two to take care of, one of which was a 5M Word file I had to download and then email back. Its almost painful to think of the office assistant who gets stuck digging thru each of these responses, all 21 pages. (I'm sure I've complained about this kind of thing before.)
So I was excited to find out at the InfoCommerce Conference that there is software out there that can help publishers manage such projects, priced under $10K. And for you entrepreneurs considering creating a directory website (or book), this has to be a great way to launch.
bg2go is the only self-service print and online buyer's guide and directory solution: "bg2go is completely self-service. Companies can sign up to be listed in your directory, update their listings, change categories, and even purchase enhancements in both the print and online editions of your directory using bg2go's integrated credit card processing software. You maintain control over what gets listed in your directory, all the while making it easier for companies to do business with you."
For the sake of marketing managers everywhere, I hope bg2go sells a bunch of software! Good luck, Don McAlpine.
3 Comments:
At November 10, 2005 9:25 AM,
Anonymous said…
Beware of BG2GO!!! I head up New Media efforts for a top 5 U.S. B2B publisher, and we tried them out. It was a disaster. I also heard from one of the other top 5 publishers that they had the same results. My colleague used the words "train wreck". Tons of promises, even more bugs. A demo was rigged to make it look like features worked when they weren't yet complete. Fulton killed his credibility permanently with my company and others when he had us pay him to work out the many bugs in his product.
At November 10, 2005 10:59 AM,
Sean Fulton said…
Beware of anonymous bloggers!
It's easy to say something when you don't have the conviction to put your name to it.
Seriously, BG2GO is shrink-wrapped software that is currently in use by dozens of media companies of all sizes. People like it because it reduces work-load and improves functionality at a very economical price.
Customers can and often do have access to with a fully-functional demo version of the software that they can load and work with prior to purchase, so that there are no surprises.
For a list of satisfied--and actual--customers, or to find out how BG2GO can help your organization, contact me directly or Don McAlpine at donm@gcnpublishing.com.
As for anonymous, if you are an actual BG2GO customer, please contact me off-line with your concerns and we'll see what we can do to make you happy.
At April 07, 2007 1:18 AM,
Anonymous said…
My firm was thinking of using BG2GO, but were turned off by their rudeness, lack of response, and inflexibility. I have since learned of other publishers who did purchase this product but found it to be a disaster and customer service still worse. It's a great idea, their promo materials are attractive, but GCN and BG2GO are not. And Sean Fulton is plain damn rude. Run, don't walk from this one.
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