On 3/17/2012 9:36 AM, Stuart Stevenson wrote: >>> >> Stuart, >> >> Marketing is marketing, whether for profit or for non-profit. Even if >> free, you still want to be able to "give" it away. Like Kent mentioned, >> Case Studies and perhaps Testimonials are our "Free" advertising. >> That's the kind of stuff that needs to be in big, bold letters for folks >> looking at our stuff and wondering whether it's worth their time and >> effort to install the software, and become part of our user base. We >> need to show them what the software can do for them, how our support >> works, and how it all benefits them. >> >> > In my opinion : > Marketing LinuxCNC for the purpose of giving it away is a waste of time and > resources. > The time and resources would be better spent improving and expanding > LinuxCNC. > Donating time and resources to further the development of LinuxCNC is one > way of improving the project (notice is said project not product). > Helping someone learn is a very important part of improving and expanding > LinuxCNC. > Organizing an event, producing a video or brochure to help educate people > about LinuxCNC (in my case for my own education) is a good way of > contributing. > Stuart,
Note, "Giving it away" was not the crux of my argument for marketing LinuxCNC to new users, though it's all part and parcel of LinuxCNC. In the context of "Free" I was talking about our marketing, on the website and on the forums. All your ideas are great, and should be added to our marketing plan, but there's no need to limit ourselves to just those. While great in many respects, they are somewhat limiting to those events at hand, whereas offering a "marketing" page with the pictures, words and videos of the machines that have been built and are in use is a tool that can, and probably will see world-wide views. > > >> Otherwise, if they see no benefit, they'll say the hell with it and >> become a Mach user. >> >> > Mach has a valid place in the world. Many of the Mach users have no > interest in software/machine control development. Those users want a > 'solution' with committed support to get a process running. Mach is perfect > for that. LinuxCNC is not perfect for that. > I wasn't knocking Mach, only pointing out that if we want our usage to grow, and don't do anything about it to help bring in new users to the fold, they are going to go to software like Mach which is a lot more well known due to advertising. > Helping someone understand LinuxCNC is different than marketing it to them. > A valid consultation about the comparative benefits of Mach or LinuxCNC or > another system would sometimes result in telling a prospective user that > LinuxCNC is NOT the best choice to answer their need. A paid consultant > would be required to have knowledge of Mach, LinuxCNC and other systems to > be able to properly advise the correct 'solution'. > I don't have Mach on any machines. I cannot tell you if Mach is better for > any particular process or not. I do have (or have had/used/ran) Fanuc, > Siemens, Haas, Fadal, Hurco, Moog, Heidenhain, Allen-Bradley, Mazak and > probably I have missed one or two. Each of these is a valid solution and > maybe the best solution to a particular need. > Not true. Marketing a solution is all about getting someone to understand what the product can do for them. You're mixing apples and oranges. Marketing is not consultation. Marketing is presenting your "product" the best way, and hopefully better than the other guy to bring in new customers. > LinuxCNC is unique in that it is more capable than any of the afore > mentioned control systems and is a TRUE open source machine control > project. This means it is limited only by the grey matter between your > ears. For me, THIS is the primary attribute that is the tipping point and > for me, this is the LIMITING factor of LinuxCNC. :) > Absolutely! Now, how do we market the best software on the planet to new users, and even old users tied to another product? > I hope my diatribe is helpful. > You betcha! > thanks > Stuart > Mark ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This SF email is sponsosred by: Try Windows Azure free for 90 days Click Here http://p.sf.net/sfu/sfd2d-msazure _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
