When in doubt, ask for a sample update. The professionalism that goes into the updates says a lot about the professionalism of the stat service. If you keep your old sports magazines, you can see which companies have been around or you can ask experienced fantasy owners. While new fantasy sports services may turn out to be very good, in a highly competitive market, a proven track record and a high percentage of returning customers speaks for itself. 1998 will be the 4th year for Statman-Plus' Fantasy Baseball Championships.
Credibility is an important factor in managing a successful fantasy sports service.
Sponsorship or endorsement by a corporation, publication, former athlete, etc. goes a long way towards giving a business credibility with consumers. Appealing ads in numerous publications, radio ads, TV ads, web sites, etc. also give consumers a sense of confidence in a fantasy sports service. However, it is you, the customer, who ultimately pays for the ads and endorsements. In our professional opinion, the cost of excessive advertising or endorsements is typically passed on to you, the customer. A live person to talk to is generally helpful, as is an answering machine or voice mail system as long as someone calls you back within a reasonable time.