If I had a million dollars (to grow Logos Bible Software)...

What's your idea?

Start developing a version for the Apple Tablet. That thing is going to be somewhat popular. You obviously can't start programming, but you can start thinking about the UI.

Well...there is a reason I'm not a large business owner...I'm not market savvy...

But my observation is this:

Logos appeals to a certain type of person:

The bible geekoid, and the bible geekoid who is in seminary.

Of all of the people who attend either my church or any church I'm familiar with locally, which would be about 500 people or so...

I'm one of 4 who use Logos.

Why?

I think that Logos is marketed to geeks...it's very powerful and so the average person asks:

"What would I do with that?  I have my strongs and my Adam Clarke commentary...why do I need that complicated bit of software?"

There is a mainstream nitche that's not tapped into...the average church goer.

I"m not sure if it's that they just don't care enough because they think that just listening to the pastor and then reading a devotional is enough each week, or they just aren't aware OF WHY they'd want this tool!

How about a campaign? Sell the idea to churches to have a "logos seminar' to show what can be done for the average church goer...and then show how affordable it is....

I wish I knew WHY it's only geeks....

Hi Bob,

Thanks for asking us.  As the leading Bible software vendor in the world, I would like to see Logos use your resources to tackle really big challenges and problems (BHAG's).  So here are my biggest frustrations as a Bible software user:

1) The need to keep using multiple Bible programs.  Can Logos use your position of influence and leadership to come up with a business and technical solution for the various major Bible software to work more seamlessly, and lessen the need for users to invest in overlapping resources from different Bible software vendors?

2) There are still many significant Bible resources not available in e-format.  Can Logos work with more publishers who are not currently not publishing electronically or doing so for very few of their available resources?  I'm really at a point that I don't want to buy physical books anymore (except for the occasional casual reader).  My ideal is whenever a new Bible-related work is published (Bibles, study Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries, scholarly resources), it will be published simultaneously in paper and electronic formats.  Amazon is starting to do that with many new books available simultaneously in Kindle format.  Would like to see that happen with Bible-related works.

3) [This might be controversial.]  I see the current desktop software model becoming obsolete within this decade or sooner.  Regardless of whether "cloud software" will become ubiquitous soon, I think the current L4 model of frequent downloads and client-side indexing should be (optionally) replaced by simply logging on to a website and running my Logos software from within a browser.  Then I don't need to worry about huge downloads and long indexing, and I still get Google-like (or better) response times, and any software improvements are automatically released on your server side.  For those who are in parts of the world where there is not reliable or constant internet access, the offline model should still be an option.

On the marketing side, I see the chain of influence going this way: Seminary professors => Seminary students => become Pastors => Ministry leaders => Congregation.  So I would invest in marketing to the seminary crowd as the movers and shakers of the Christian ecosystem.  Shipping free CD's to pastors and others might simply be thrown away (remember the AOL free disks?).  To market to the pastoral and ministry leaders, I would invest in a team of people who would go to different churches and set up Bible software demo tables and Q&A/troubleshooting clinics (e.g. during churches' Sunday School promotion day or Christian Ed Sunday etc).  For the masses, with the (almost complete) demise of Christian bookstores (at least in my part of the USA), you may want to consider making an entry level package available through Walmart, Target, Sam's Club, Costco, BJ's, Best Buy, etc.

On the global side, I agree with previous comments that Logos as the market leader should consider doing more to serve the worldwide church by a) making Bible tools available to missionaries, and b) making a big push for international Bible versions and resources. 

Peter

If you have a million/10 million to spend, you should

1. Scour forums for the most requested features

(Hint - NOTES has popped up again and again and again and again and again for about the last 5 years for both Libronix 3 and Logos 4) and give the users what they want (Hint: NOTES are deemed by your users (if not you) to be so important that users have even created a Wiki page suggesting alternatives - if you created a word-processor, OneNote alternative built in - just think of the forum traffic you would stop! - even this forum provides better options than notes in Logos!!)

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** If you have happy users they are your best PR people                                                                                        **

** - word of mouth / reviews probably bring as much income as direct advertising without the direct cost.  **

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2. Provide  free packages for seminaries , libraries etc so that everyone is so accustomed to using Logos 4 that Logos becomes synonymous with Computer Bible Study - and that , to them, there is no other option (Think about why Internet Explorer dominates the browser market)

3. Similarly provide cheap base packages to all Christian book shops in US, UK, Europe, Australia etc

4. Make it your goal for every Bible-believer (your target market?) to have heard of Logos, know what it is AND key features ("Oh that's the one with loads of books, it's instant search, super quick loading, very cheap, great note-taking ability, staff responsive to suggestions etc") and not to have ANY negative reviews!

PS I don't think encouraging people to watch an introductory video is as effective as giving people a free base package to install (and thus have on their systems) and use!

3) [This might be controversial.]  I see the current desktop software model becoming obsolete within this decade or sooner.  Regardless of whether "cloud software" will become ubiquitous soon, I think the current L4 model of frequent downloads and client-side indexing should be (optionally) replaced by simply logging on to a website and running my Logos software from within a browser.  Then I don't need to worry about huge downloads and long indexing, and I still get Google-like (or better) response times, and any software improvements are automatically released on your server side.  For those who are in parts of the world where there is not reliable or constant internet access, the offline model should still be an option.

I second this, and for a different reason that Peter suggests: It opens up a secondary line of income for Logos - The 'subscription' model. Instead of paying thousands of dollars to get the Portfolio Package, why not have a subscription whereby you can pay $X per month? For a lot of income-starved students and pastors, this may be an excellent way to get access to a large library. Being able to select between a one-off (purchasing) or an ongoing (subscription) charge would be useful to many, and the subscription can help others trial Logos, decide if they want to make the purchase. It should open up the customer base of Logos greatly. I'd also happily pay an amount every month to sponsor a poor pastor or student's access to the service.

Library.logos.com is an excellent start, making it into a 'cloud' version of v4 would make it spectacular.

I've been thinking about this since I noticed the post and it had only one or two responses. I wanted to jump in but honestly couldn't come up with anything. I thought about it.

What I would like to see someone do ... and you have the resources to do it ... is create a digital Bible study institute. Sort of like a Bible college but focusing on how to study in the modern age. Don't know if a million would be enough. But this would be an online college or institute that would train people to do Bible study with their computers using something like Logos. You would have courses in language study, hermeneutics, preaching, theology, history, just like a traditional school, but all of it would be focused on using your software to get at the info isntead of traditional methods. And it would be all done via online interactive software like go to meeting or something else.

The point is that most brick and mortar schools don't really get this world like you do. You could partner with some of the best minds in the various areas, but pull them into digital format.

If that is too ambitious, how about a video series online that teaches someone how to preach a sermon using digital resources. Kind of like the one you are already doing for language study, only in the preaching realm.

what would be the best use of a $1 million investment at Logos, and have the greatest return?

Since you're assuming Mac Parity and all are up to date I'll move past that:  I have three options.  You pick one you like.

• China I do not know your market saturation, but given the global market trends I would suggest developing Chinese resources, bibles etc.  Of course we're talking about a closed nation generally, but none-the-less at least looking towards China makes sense.
• Marketing.  That means sales reps, as well (as was suggested earlier) more corporate liaisons to woo publishers to seek after Logos for their digital editions.
• Starter Pack.  You mention building 300 PD books to give away.   Don't.  As Dominic Stated, "give us enhanced PBB tools to do it ourselves".  If we get the PBB tools, and you put a reading key in that starter pack I suspect you won't have to worry about developing any PD books again. 
  
  You also mention giving things away, I don't think you need to give anything away.  If you want to give away a pack like the 9.95 pack you sold a few years ago, you'd still have a minimum ROI.  But the lowest level Logos package is still high - it comes with a lot of significant buy in. So Let us develop some PD books which have broad appeal but you develop a starter pack around the $50-$75 level with a PBB key.  You know the numbers for book costs there, but that would be IMHO the key to partner with marketing with.  There's a mental break-over that suggests a $49.95 package beats out a $50 package and a $75 package kind of stands on it's own.  I'd head for the $49.95 myself, in fact I'd buy and gift that one more than once if I could.  It would be very hard for me to afford many gifts at the higher price point, and I just can't do it at the current price points.  (But I want to).

And what if was $10 million?

I think in addition to the passage and exegetical gude, you should add a third eisegetical guide.

Just think of the sermon possibilities.

Just kidding.  I couldn't resist. [:)]

4. Website improvements to ensure pre-pubs and all orders can be downloaded with L4 and no more requirements to ship. Also integrating POS options for locked books into the L4 UI.

5. Hire part time web developer/moderator just for the Forum ( and wiki) which is a large part of the Logos support strategy and needs some attention.

I think it would be worth spending the entire $1 million (or more) to completely redevelop your websites. The way I see it, your website is your shopfront and at present it is functional but ugly - 'busy-ness', colour coordination, font selection and consistency, lack of graphics.

When purchasing bible software I'm sure people take into account all sorts of factors - and hopefully fully explore the capabilities of the program - but first impressions are very important! To be sure it could be a whole lot worse (gramcord.org) but it could also be a lot better! The marketing material like the videos is very slick and well done, I think the website needs the same treatment. As a sort of thought experiment; put your feet in the shoes of Jo Lay-Christian -a very large market- go to logos.com and the website for the very recently released program aimed at this market.. what do you think? On the one hand some of the web based stuff Logos is doing (library.logos.com, cloud syncing) is cutting edge and revolutionary.... ... but some money needs to go into the design side of things too [:)]

As well as the aesthetic improvements, I think it would be worth investigating web-based mechanisms like formal bug reporting, support systems that allow for submitting support tickets online (depending on how you currently manage your customer support it could have some follow through cost savings), a better forum platform.

That's my 2 cents...

I must say that I haven't used my Logos in a doctoral program for about 3 years and only came back to it because the competition dont have the journal base (i.e. Galaxie products).  From my perspective more marketing, free programs, more cutting edge bells and whistles, more pressure to upgrade to packages with thousands of items I dont need, and public domain items that everyone has won't get me to open up my pocket book anymore.  The only reason to use this product for me is a) ease of use to find info. for my D. Min, b) library with enough relevant resources to assist in the writing process, c) stable program, and d) a sense that the company wants more from me than another sale.  I appreciate the resources that I can get from Logos but I don't nee/want an advanced vision on a cutting edge interface.....just one that works.

One more addition my "raffle" idea.  For marketing, you could offer a draw for free Logos 4 BDAG/HALOT bundles and/or AYBD bundles to those who not only have purchased, upgraded and/or cross graded, but to those who have simply tried Logos 4.  These resources are valuable (although I still do not own them myself due to some dental bills in the near future). 

My thinking is this - even if the person who wins is a person who tried the product and returned it (thus "no purchase is necessary to win these items") they would be more likely to invest in a base pacckage having won one of those valuable resources.

Giving away iPods and Bible is a nice service, but I think draws to products like the BDAG/HALOT or AYBD might connect people better with the Logos system.  And for those who win and have those products already, you can offer, not cash, but a similarily valued product from you vaste library.

Just an idea.

1. I would use the 1mm dollars to stabilize the Logos 4 software package.

2. Hire technical/customer service staff 24/7 to accomplish goal #1.

3. Expand the mobility capability of the Logos 4 software package via kindle, nook, palm-pre, Apple's new products.

4.  Fix my little problem on case 50988. Perpetual downloads/updates.

5. Offer customer-selected bundles equal to the current packages you are offering now. Let the customer choose what they want. You will need to modify your website to accomplish this.

6. Improve the bible chapter and look-up feature. User selected book and chapter menu. See Sword Searcher 5.5 to view the ease of use. It makes going to chapters and verses easy without typing. This does could be a virtual pull down menu.

What's your idea?

I will now put in my $1.00 (inflation you know).

I can not recommend highly enough to get the average church goer involved in this software.  A few things would be needed.  First, a lower end package...$49.95 sounds really good to me.  Second, Webinars or "use" video's.  The idea of a "college" for bible study in the 21st century is great.  As was stated, that might be too much now.  Concerning the webinars or videos, make some very basic (free).  Introductory (low cost) and one or two levels above.  The next need is for current and new customers combined.  Look at the price point of the resources outside the base packages.  It seems the overall cost of these resources could be lower. 

This is not me ( I wish it was).  Hire a consulting actuary for risk models of business.  I assume you have data that this actuary could design some tests and obtain further information.  Current academic users are buying product as follows.  What if we lowered cost?  If we see a bigger base of buyers (mr. or mrs. church goer) what happens to sales of additional resources?  Selling more at a lower price generally would make more money.                                                                                                  

Finally, put a real slow down on "new" resources.  Task all possible to work on getting everything up to date.  There are lots of missing features of L4.  There is lots of in development stuff for excessive lengths of time.  (Hebrew pronunciation)

As a seminary student, I would like to see more of my required resources available in LOGOS format.  For $1M, you can market a process that tenured professors teaching large classes can submit the required reading list for Logos format. Have a project team get this done quickly.  Sell it as a bundle at  a discount to students every year/semester for years to come.  Repeat the process for new classes.

It sounds like you have some great ideas, like expanding your product's appeal to a greater audience ("Keyboarding the entire Patrologia Graeca") and more advertising.

While I would love your business to grow, I also really like hearing that you're interested in hiring more software developers. I just hope that whoever you hire has a passion for developing extremely user-friendly software. One of the most important pieces of wisdom that should be stressed to any software developer that's developing a GUI is to "Use concrete
metaphors and make them plain, so that users have a set of expectations
to apply to computer environments." (Apple Human Interface Guidelines) I'm sure you've heard it before, but I don't think easy operability can be stressed enough.

And thank you for your passion that lets us take advantage of such a great product!

P.S. In case you felt like the quote wasn't very helpful, an example of a metaphor for software such as Logos would be to create a sort of Library viewing option (it is library management software, after all) that would display collections of books in virtual bookshelves (like BestCommentaries.com does).