Re: [ubuntu-marketing] The Free Software, Open Source promise: what FOSS means for non-coders
> are you sure this example of yours makes sense? I mean, are you saying > that DRM happens because proprietary software exists? I am not sure I > follow you here. > Marco Not to mention a blanket-statement like this is FUD that the Internet slams corporations for. DRM as a concept is not inherently bad. Its simply poor implementations we've seen up to this point and how its been co-opted by media conglomerates that force us as a community to paint it in a negative light. Someday, someone may actually get it right. In fact, the angle in this situation would be to promote FOSS as a possible savior of DRM by letting the community build something that works correctly and protects the rights of the users throughout the world (not just the US and the Fair Use clause). There is no need to vilify the opposition when they do a fine job smearing egg on their face without your help. Instead, I personally would opt to proclaim the limitless possibilities that exist in software that is free and open to the world, since that is a more positive approach in a world plagued with far too much cynicism. John -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Ubuntu Community Marketing Team Restructure Proposal
I'll probably not be able to answer every single point every person makes on this thread, but I'll start to try to help refine my overall intent here: > First I have to note that I see a general problem with the term > marketing. Out of Product, Price, Place, Promotion, it seems to me that > only last is something that can happen outside Canonical. Corporate > management is not open to the community. > > Then, marketing has to some degree a stigma of being about deception and > creating requirements that are aimed at maximizing profit while tending > to infer with proper engineering and design. All shine and no substance. > > I think it should be called promotion or advocacy, with a matching > scope. Marketing can have negative connotations, but its very definition is to generate exposure and saturation to influence people's decision to purchase a product. Make no mistake that every new installation of a free piece of software that is used what we need to quantify as a "sale." >> 1. Setting the "message" that needs to be the focus of each release >> 2. Helping projects that have a relationship work together >> 3. Unifying the communication between Development and Marketing >> 4. Delivering detailed project plans, tasks, and ideas >> 5. Getting resources to projects that should have our support >> 6. Providing access and information upstream and downstream >> 7. Continue to refine the overall infrastructure of the Marketing team > > 1. is part of what I call design. > > 2 to 6 are inflating the importance of a single team, scope creep, > trying to be everywhere, taking on jobs already handled by others. re 1: Design is what happens once you know what you are trying to say. re 2: Example: You're working on a video. Joe is working on a new sample animation hoping to get it into the boot screen. There might be rationale to have one tie in with the other. Master project coordinators handle this sort of thing all the time, and with the free form of a community group like ours, such things are often overlooked. re 6: Downstream distributions have asked for help before and gotten none. Having people facilitate that communication and aid may be crucial in helping to unify the brand. > I'm active in ubuntu-artwork. I'm thrilled by your idea of having > "marketing" swallow all that. But seriously, it's a shame that there is > no connection between the artwork-team and SpreadUbuntu. > > I would guess that few artists and designers would look to marketing for > artwork and design ... This all depends on what you consider "swallowed". I'm sure there are many artists who would be willing to help good projects that have a vision, but a lack of implementation. Concurrently, having the art team understanding the goals of the "message" per release save for which animal is in vogue this cycle wouldn't be the end of the world. Again, it is about unifying the communication. >> Blogs, public events, release parties, meet-ups, posting on community >> forums (Ubuntu's or another), your posts on social media...all of >> these contribute to the cultivation of our unified voice. The work >> the LoCos do is a HUGE part of this cultivation, and we should be >> offering all of the support we can. > > This seems to me like what you should focus on. You can't speak to a thing if you don't know what to say. >> Support > > The next thing that should be handled somewhat independently and surely > outside of the scope of this team. Without the ability to stay on message and ensure that key resources are getting the right exposure, simply yelling "TRY UBUNTU" and then expecting someone else to pick it up from there is simply irresponsible. If we are truly "selling" a product than we have to make sure that from conception to retirement we have to make sure that the marketing of such a thing is clear and consistent. Part of that lifeline comes from making sure that people who need help are able to find it, the information provided contradicts our goals as little as possible, and that we continue to use the feedback to not only refine the marketing course, but also to provide feedback to development to help further the cause we are all fighting for: a simple to use, open source alternative operating system. -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
[ubuntu-marketing] Ubuntu Community Marketing Team Restructure Proposal
tructure is support. After everything is said and done, there is a need for resources dedicated to making sure Ubuntu lives up to its potential and its existing reputation. In many ways, this step reinforces the roots in a way that none of the other aspects truly can. We need to make sure the new users we bring in have a clearly delineated user support system that helps them get started and addresses the questions they may have when they come up. We need to make sure we are all staying on message. We need to make sure new projects get the exposure they need to get the resources they may be require. Finally, we need to make sure that distributions both upstream and downstream from Ubuntu benefit from from our work, and hopefully we can provide them with templates and tools useful for them to carve out their own niche. Restructuring the Community Marketing team in this way would allow for new volunteers' talents to be used more quickly and much more succinctly than we have ever before. Once you have structure in place, I recommend realigning the Marketing materials on the wiki to provide those people interested in helping with the exposure of Ubuntu a clear path to getting into projects right away. This could consist of easier navigation paths, more simplistic explanations of tasks available, and project and task templates to showcase exactly what needs to be done more quickly. In order to achieve this goal, I do think that the community would best be server by a committee of volunteers that help to undergo the transition. There are some brilliant minds and strong willed leaders here who could help either with a plan like this or any other, and I think without their direction or any change in the status quo, the Ubuntu Marketing Community will continue to underachieve. Its my belief that the best way to handle this would be to have members submit the names of candidates and then have the group as a whole vote 3-5 of them into a committee. That way, representative democracy could be achieved, and everyone would feel that they had a voice in the proceedings. I look forward to furthering the word of Ubuntu behind your leadership and direction so we can begin to truly change the way the world thinks about their choices in the world of computers. I hope you realize that every one of you is capable of leading this charge and you have the power to make change happen right here, right now, and for the better. Good luck, and I wish you all the very best! John Vilsack 24-Feb-10 -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Creating Viral Videos - Who's interested?
I'm going to resend the following, because I don't see it in the archives, and Google Mail seems to have had some issues yesterday on sending. Since this seems to be a thread about commercial brainstorming, I might as well just throw this out there. Ubuntu. For you. And you. And you. And you. And you. And you. And you. And you. Ubuntu For You. In my head, I see a giant mirror that you are required to hold with two hands. Make it circular, and the Ubuntu logo is the frame with the middle being reflective. Each scene of the commercial has the person holding the mirror out saying "For you" while you see the reflection of somebody else in the mirror. Then the holder "gives" the Ubuntu Mirror to that person or persons, who repeats the process. The end could be a reflection of the world and its handed offscreen to fade to white. Of course, something like this actually would require a budget, planning, and subsequent planning how each "case" was really Ubuntu for the masses. But it would help to define a more authentic branding that doesn't have to associate with other products in the same niche for recognition. John Vilsack -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Creating Viral Videos - Who's interested? (jared)
Since this seems to be a thread about commercial brainstorming, I might as well just throw this out there. Ubuntu. For you. And you. And you. And you. And you. And you. And you. And you. Ubuntu For You. In my head, I see a giant mirror that you are required to hold with two hands. Make it circular, and the Ubuntu logo is the frame with the middle being reflective. Each scene of the commercial has the person holding the mirror out saying "For you" while you see the reflection of somebody else in the mirror. Then the holder "gives" the Ubuntu Mirror to that person or persons, who repeats the process. The end could be a reflection of the world and its handed offscreen to fade to white. Of course, something like this actually would require a budget, planning, and subsequent planning how each "case" was really Ubuntu for the masses. But it would help to define a more authentic branding that doesn't have to associate with other products in the same niche for recognition. John Vilsack -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Creating Viral Videos - Who's interested?
Doesn't that seem sort of hypocritical since you just said that a list that had "2) The under-served. They haven't quite figured out how to make their computers work for them and just want something simple." was 'Awesome?' On Sun, Feb 7, 2010 at 11:08 PM, jared wrote: > > You just described a huge chunk of the population where I live :) > > There is a lady where I work who should be legally banned from using a > computer because she has the brain power of a rock. She will never, > ever be able to learn how to use any OS. I've tried to help her, as did > others. If she can hardly use Windows, she sure won't be able to figure > out Ubuntu. It's like watching Homer Simpson look for the "Any" key > when the computer says "Press any key to continue". Personally, I think > this type of person is an example of who NOT to target. > > > Jared > > > > > -- > ubuntu-marketing mailing list > ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Creating Viral Videos - Who's interested? (jared)
The advertisements you are referring to are being shown worldwide, with regional influences dictating which ads are shown predominantly in those regions. The idea behind the campaign is for Microsoft to place emphasis on their response to customer feedback and how they claim it has been directly integrated into the changes in their latest operating system. The basic premise behind many of these commercials is the same: A "Joe" or "Jane" every person begins explaining how they had a moment where they had a revelation of doing something in Windows a little bit easier. The scene changes to a re-enactment of the moment featuring a significantly more attractive model playing the character of "Joe" or "Jane". They then go on to say how they contacted Microsoft and boom, they are responsible for why Windows 7 is great. The campaign was designed to be a counter-attack to the largely successful "I'm a Mac" ads Apple has been running for the past several years. Half of the ads target families shown at home or about the house which emphasizes Microsoft's personal push to identify more with families than with hipsters. The other half target younger professionals that are attractive and ambitious without having to resort to an Apple tax to prove it. The past 12 months of Microsoft's advertising have been largely successful but its also because they are able to put these ads in front of eyes that it can make a difference on ( http://theappleblog.com/2009/05/22/microsoft-ads-winning-over-more-consumers-than-apples/). Keep in mind that Microsoft and Windows are household names with almost 30 years of market dominance, they spent hundreds of millions of dollars in failed campaigns up to this point, and it still took them years to find a message they could use on a global scale to counter the damage Apple did with their ads. John Vilsack On Sun, Feb 7, 2010 at 4:20 PM, Paul Schulz wrote: > Greetings, > > In Australia we are seeing the "I'm a PC and Windows 7 was my idea" > advertisement campaign, where people (actors?) are put in fron of the camera > to explain that they had a feature that that they wanted their computer to > do, which Windows Vista didn't do, and which is now included in Windows 7. > The ad. ends with "I'm a PC and Windows 7 was my Idea". > > After a quick browse on YouTube I suspect that we are only seeing a > selected portion on the Ads, or they were pulled, as we certainly haven't > seen all of them. > > but.. this got me thinking. How could this idea be applied to the Ubuntu > community? We could actually create a video if the developers themselves and > say "I'm Ubuntu and was my Idea", or get Mark saying "I'm > Ubuntu and Ubuntu was my Idea". > > How else can we play to our strengths. > > On another note..I feel that these ads. are somehow missing the point, as I > don't really understand what they are trying to achieve. Are they trying to > position Windows 7 as a competitor to Ubuntu? "Ubuntu might give you > but remember we gave you what you wanted last time when you asked for it?.. > so why not stick with Windows". > > Just my $0.02 worth.. > Regards, > Paul > > > On Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 2:51 AM, markusmu...@yahoo.co.uk < > markusmu...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > >> Couldn't agree more Jared, this assumption is one I get really sick of: >> "yes, but how CAN it be better if no one wants to fleece me for it?" The >> profile of this type is a man; 30something; who "knows computers" (windoze) >> because he can use one at work; drives a frequently modded car with hundreds >> of expensive extras he doesn't need and who wears last season's designer >> everything. He has entrenched small "c" conservative views and would have >> defended Vista all the way up to the release of 7. He is emphatically NOT >> about early uptake of new tech unless produced by established companies with >> a lot of existing market-presence. >> I s'pose he's basically the bad parts of both characters in the "i'm a >> PC/Mac" ads. >> >> Is he really the guy we want to reach? He's not going to be an Ubuntu >> user until it is SOLD to him in the traditional sense of the word, money and >> all. Unless the landscape changes around him and he sees other people >> getting more from their machines for less. I was thinking we need to work >> out, say five specific types of users we want to aim at and make specific >> ads that are tailored for them. Any ideas? >> --- On *Sun, 7/2/10, ubuntu-marketing-requ...@lists.ubuntu.com < >> ubuntu-marketing-requ...@lists.ubuntu.com>*
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Creating Viral Videos - Who's interested?
I make no assertions based on any opinion since I am only asking questions asking for empirical data to support what could be a good idea if approached properly. If the answer is "There is no data to support either side of the argument" then work should be done to see if there is any corollary that can be drawn to similar circumstances and the outcome of any such experiment. As for that little 'hero' dig, you could have gone the politically correct route and talked to me off-thread like a professional, but since you're keen on trying to embarrass me, I've had real world things like my career and family to worry about. I put in what I can when I can, and I took this entire week off to help catch up on my extracurricular volunteer projects. I wouldn't expect you to understand so please, just continue to point the finger at how *I* fail to meet *YOUR* expectations. On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 10:50 AM, Martin Owens wrote: > On Tue, 2010-02-02 at 10:26 -0600, John Vilsack wrote: > > Great idea, but the question nobody seems to be asking is "Why?" > > Because it's not been done before, and it needs trying. > > Your assertions are based on opinion as much as anyone elses until it's > been tried. > > Martin, > > P.S. nice job hero > > > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Creating Viral Videos - Who's interested?
Great idea, but the question nobody seems to be asking is "Why?" When allocating time and resources to a project, you have to have a goal of what you wish to accomplish with it. What is the end result you wish to see? How are you going to get the video "viral"? How are you going to get the video into the hands of people who are unfamiliar with Ubuntu and use the video as a means of convincing them that Ubuntu is the clear choice for their OS needs? How would hosting it on Blip.tv, a website with far less of a userbase (and substantially more technical oriented, I would imagine since its niche caters to those that care about ogg) that would benefit from exposure to alternatives to paid operating systems give the hard work you all want to put into this a substantial advantage in getting your word out? If there are any answers here that can be backed up with data and facts, then by all means go at it full force and godspeed. If its just because "you want to" then again, I wish you the best of luck. Other than that, wouldn't simply creating several videos for the casual computer user about how to download, install, and get started in Ubuntu be easier and more beneficial than a commercial? Danny Piccirillo created a fantastic "Top Things to do After Installing Ubuntu" post on his site that is one of the first things I link to new users. Its concise, its well presented, and it serves a purpose by delivering a clear benefit. This message is not meant to dissuade any ideas, but I'd hate to see all of your hard work end up being a link passed between people who already know and love Ubuntu while it never delivers on the initial promise. -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
[ubuntu-marketing] My Apologies Re: Feedback
All, I wanted to apologize for my lack of updates on the workflow changes we proposed during the meeting a few weeks ago. My work hours over the past few weeks have left me with little time to work on volunteer projects, but hopefully now that the retail season has begun and deployments and changes should be at a minimum, I should have more time to work on the getting something back to the group. Talk with you all soon! John Vilsack -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Marketing Other *buntu Flavors
I agree, but I see it more as a difference between Home User, IT Tech, and Business Decision Maker. I have something drafted up on this, but I want to hold off and get some other things implemented first. John Vilsack email: jo...@the-house.com voice: 651-314-9858 (recently updated) Active Sports, Inc. 200 S Owasso Blvd E St Paul, MN 55117 651-482-9995 http://www.the-house.com On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 10:00 PM, Darkwing Duck wrote: > Another thought talking about branches of marketing is this. There needs to > be more then one style of message. There is the message to current *nix > users, message to MS users and a message to Mac users. You cannot market to > all three the same way. Is a different message and even a different > philosophy for all of them. Very hard to pitch to them with the same message. > > DW > -Original Message- > From: Benoit des Ligneris > Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:20:02 > To: John Vilsack > Cc: ubuntu-marketing > Subject: Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Marketing Other *buntu Flavors > > -- > ubuntu-marketing mailing list > ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing > > > > -- > ubuntu-marketing mailing list > ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
[ubuntu-marketing] Marketing Other *buntu Flavors
During this evening's meeting, ScottK asked about if the marketing team supported other distributions of *buntu such as a flavor he's working on, Kubuntu Netbook. I told him I would pass the message along to the group. Is this where other *buntu flavors should come for assistance if they want to get the word out? Are any of you helping on any of these other flavor projects? Thanks, John -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
[ubuntu-marketing] Reorganization Meeting Tidbits
Thanks to all who showed up for this evening's meeting! At the end, I mentioned what points I felt were made: 1. SpreadUbuntu is a great tool and needs all the love and support it can get. 2. The goal of the reorganization is to get volunteers closer to the projects and tasks that are out there. 3. https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam should be a place people can start down a path to get to where they want to go. I propose that we make the Marketing page a portal to the most important places someone new would want to go: A. Ubuntu Marketing Materials i. Get Ubuntu Marketing Materials (link to SpreadUbuntu) ii. Share Your Ubuntu Marketing Materials (link to SpreadUbuntu) B. Ubuntu Local Communities i. Join Your Local Ubuntu Community (Link to LoCos) ii. Start an Ubuntu Community in your area (link to LoCos) C. Ubuntu Marketing Projects i. View Current Ubuntu Marketing Projects (Wiki Marketing Projects...that link to Launchpad task lists?) ii. Start Your Own Ubuntu Marketing Project (Wiki Page on How to Create a New Project) D. Join The Ubuntu Marketing Community i. Mailing List Info ii. Meeting Info iii. Community Forums 4. We need to help collect all current marketing projects and help create easy lists people can view for each project to see what all needs to be done. If we can accomplish this, we should hopefully make it easier for people to contribute to Ubuntu's marketing, and maybe we will see an increase in the amount of projects and activity this group needs to really get going! Thanks again everyone, and I hope that we can all agree that more people helping will result in more doing getting done! - John -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
[ubuntu-marketing] Upcoming IRC Meeting Agenda
== For more information on this meeting, please go to: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Reorganization Hope to see you there! == Greetings! In a few short hours, we will be holding a meeting on the #ubuntu-meeting channel to brainstorm and discuss some of the changes we would like to see in the Community Marketing Team's focus moving forward. As mentioned before, this meeting is not mandatory and everything discussed will bleed out to these mailing lists, but it may be a good way to interface with our fellow Ubuntuers in real time. The agenda will be fairly free flowing, given that we expect to see several more active members in the community not in attendance due to the developer conference. Here's how I expect things to go: - 0005 Arrivals 0005 Call to Order / Introductions 0010 - 0015 Update on Volunteer Registry 0015 - 0030 Open Floor Topic: Discuss how to continue to improve accessibility to Marketing team 0030 - 0045 Open Floor Topic: Integrating workflow/knowledgeflow from wiki to SpreadUbuntu and other warehouses 0045 - 0055 Open Floor Topic: Making projects more transparent and open to volunteers 0055 - 0100 Closing: Topics for next meeting, review any action items 0100 Conclusion It probably looks more rigid than it really will be, but I expect if there is any activity, it will happen mostly as a collaboration during Open Floor. If you have any questions or want to make sure something is covered (even if you aren't going to be here!) please feel free to add it to the mailing list! Thanks and I look forward to seeing you later tonight (tonight for me, anyway)! - John -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] [Spreadubuntu] Simplifying Why We Join
I agree Laura! We should aim to present a "path" so to speak of the key things people need to know and learn about Ubuntu to become motivated grassroots activists. The simpler we make it (by burying the complex stuff deeper) the more successful I think this will be! - John John Vilsack email: jo...@the-house.com voice: 651-314-9858 (recently updated) Active Sports, Inc. 200 S Owasso Blvd E St Paul, MN 55117 651-482-9995 http://www.the-house.com 2009/11/5 Laura McBee : > To add just a little more detail to this thread, the “simplicity of > resources” needs to cover both users that come to Ubuntu, and LoCo groups > that are helping to introduce Ubuntu to new users. Every new and existing > community member should be armed with enough knowledge to adopt-and-go with > Ubuntu. > > The campaign will be successful if all would-be Ubuntu representatives have > just enough knowledge (1) to explain open-source and the belief system > behind it; (2) to demonstrate the distribution; and (3) show long-term > benefits (cost savings on hardware/software). So there must always be a > reference (like the spreadubuntu site) for these communities to visit for > support. > > So excited to get started! > Laura McBee > > > 2009/11/4 John Vilsack >> >> Ruben you are thinking exactly the same thing as I am. >> >> It would be great to provide simple distribution kits for people to >> get started. I also thought it would be great to have a "meeting >> points" for Meetups to have monthly, so people have something to talk >> about. Sort of a flyer that each host gets that says: >> >> Information and a printable flyer about one or two features that >> month in Ubuntu the meetings focus on. >> Focus on an article from the Ubuntu Magazine and discuss it >> Talk about the next version and emphasize the focus of that >> release so people can talk about it. >> >> We did this sort of thing in the Howard Dean campaign (2004 for US >> President) by organizing meetings throughout the country at coffee >> shops, restaurants, and other public places to just get out there and >> start talking. You would have been shocked how many people just come >> closer to hear what others were talking about. >> >> I really like the idea of building easy to get to packets that people >> could simply click and have access to. Kind of like First Aid kits >> for your computer :) >> >> >> >> >> John Vilsack >> >> >> http://www.the-house.com >> >> >> >> 2009/11/4 Rubén Romero y Cordero : >> > Hei to you all! >> > >> > On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 4:44 PM, John Vilsack wrote: >> >> >> >> [...] >> >> Are there any other areas anyone can think of that should have that >> >> "top-level" sort of focus that newcomers should see when they first >> >> come to join our team? >> >> >> > >> > Simplicity is what we need. Empowering excited users of ubuntu as fast >> > as we >> > possibly can is the goal. A quick win is what engages people and keeps >> > them >> > contributing! >> > >> > I have written some ideas on how some of the things you are propossing >> > can >> > be achieved here: >> > >> > * >> > >> > <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Projects/SpreadUbuntu/IdeaPool#Making%20SpreadUbuntu%20more%20accesible%20in%20the%20FrontPage> >> > >> > Me and others have written *a lot more* (see the links below). But first >> > you >> > need to understand this: Spread Ubuntu is about two things: >> > >> > * The LoCo/user site that can give you a Marketing kit in your face >> > right >> > NOW! and that's supposed to be the ultimate resource for LoCo teams, >> > ubuntu >> > marketeers and newcomers alike (Yet to be implemented as such, but the >> > underlying technology is there, part of it is up laready and lots of >> > materials are available as of today) >> > * The Do-It-Yourself part of the site that makes it easy for people to >> > share/get/translate material for local use (which is nearly done and >> > what >> > has been our focus this far) >> > >> > And yes, we need more thinking put into this. But, as mentioned above, >> > we >> > have already put a lot of thought into this. Those interested can read >> > the >> > following links: >> > >> > Project status since the summer of 2008 until now and meeting logs: >>
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Community Marketing at UDS (Was Reviving the Marketing Team...)
I guess I'm not sure what I said no to, exactly? I said "I think we should still do the meeting on the 11th/12th" and then "I agree we should do all the UDS stuff because its important too". So let me be clear: +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 to doing stuff at UDS +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 to meeting after UDS +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 to meeting on the 11th/12th because nobody is going to miss anything Better? I can't say how little I want to be or to see anyone else as a "leader" in this group. If you want to meet or do something, that's entirely your choice. The community will decide whether or not to follow any initiative. But in regards to your idea, I think its a great one and would gladly help to promote it! 2009/11/4 Rubén Romero y Cordero : > I think that John propossed that we can arrange a meeting the 12th, be > part of the UDS meeting AND have a meeting after the UDS meeting. > > If not I think it is a good idea to do all those 3 meetings and get > this team rolling. > > I vote for all the proposal combined :-) > > R. > https://launchpad.net/~huayra > > 2009/11/4, Paolo Sammicheli : >> Alle 17:46 del 4/11/2009, John Vilsack ha scritto: >>> I definitely think another meeting after the UDS is needed for sure. >>> Like Fred mentioned, keeping it simple is the most important thing to >>> do, and we need to move in small steps in order to accomplish the >>> bigger goal. >>> >>> When you all get back from UDS, we should definitely have a "hardcore" >>> meeting about what you all discovered, and how we can convert some of >>> that into projects? It might be a perfect time to develop some ideas >>> that allow us to build call to actions for the volunteers to help out >>> with. >> >> I get this answer like a -1 to my proposal to organize a track during UDS >> for >> community Marketing. Ehm, wait. If this should be a -1 you would implicity >> say >> "I don't agree but I'm available to listen other's opinion". This is not a >> -1, >> this is a polite "No". And you still haven't explained why you don't agree >> my >> proposal. In each your answer explainations are proficiently avoid. >> >> Since you're not our leader you cannot just say *No* to the proposal of a >> Member. >> >> I call a vote on this topic: Can I organize a track during UDS about >> Community >> Marketing? Who would remotely partecipate and who will not? >> >> Please vote my proposal answering to this thread. >> >> Ciao >> -- >> Paolo Sammicheli >> EMail: xdatap1(at)ubuntu.com >> https://launchpad.net/~xdatap1 >> - Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci >> >> -- >> ubuntu-marketing mailing list >> ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com >> Modify settings or unsubscribe at: >> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing >> > > -- > ubuntu-marketing mailing list > ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Simplifying Why We Join
I received three personal emails about chooseubuntu.com. Its not a real website, but I just thought maybe something like that would be a good tool for IT folks to show businesses about the benefits of Ubuntu. Just to be clear :) -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Simplifying Why We Join
Ruben you are thinking exactly the same thing as I am. It would be great to provide simple distribution kits for people to get started. I also thought it would be great to have a "meeting points" for Meetups to have monthly, so people have something to talk about. Sort of a flyer that each host gets that says: Information and a printable flyer about one or two features that month in Ubuntu the meetings focus on. Focus on an article from the Ubuntu Magazine and discuss it Talk about the next version and emphasize the focus of that release so people can talk about it. We did this sort of thing in the Howard Dean campaign (2004 for US President) by organizing meetings throughout the country at coffee shops, restaurants, and other public places to just get out there and start talking. You would have been shocked how many people just come closer to hear what others were talking about. I really like the idea of building easy to get to packets that people could simply click and have access to. Kind of like First Aid kits for your computer :) John Vilsack http://www.the-house.com 2009/11/4 Rubén Romero y Cordero : > Hei to you all! > > On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 4:44 PM, John Vilsack wrote: >> >> [...] >> Are there any other areas anyone can think of that should have that >> "top-level" sort of focus that newcomers should see when they first >> come to join our team? >> > > Simplicity is what we need. Empowering excited users of ubuntu as fast as we > possibly can is the goal. A quick win is what engages people and keeps them > contributing! > > I have written some ideas on how some of the things you are propossing can > be achieved here: > > * > <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Projects/SpreadUbuntu/IdeaPool#Making%20SpreadUbuntu%20more%20accesible%20in%20the%20FrontPage> > > Me and others have written *a lot more* (see the links below). But first you > need to understand this: Spread Ubuntu is about two things: > > * The LoCo/user site that can give you a Marketing kit in your face right > NOW! and that's supposed to be the ultimate resource for LoCo teams, ubuntu > marketeers and newcomers alike (Yet to be implemented as such, but the > underlying technology is there, part of it is up laready and lots of > materials are available as of today) > * The Do-It-Yourself part of the site that makes it easy for people to > share/get/translate material for local use (which is nearly done and what > has been our focus this far) > > And yes, we need more thinking put into this. But, as mentioned above, we > have already put a lot of thought into this. Those interested can read the > following links: > > Project status since the summer of 2008 until now and meeting logs: > * <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Projects/SpreadUbuntu/Meetings> > > Definition of the Site part: > * <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Projects/SpreadUbuntu/Site> > > Definition of the DIY part: > * <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Projects/SpreadUbuntu/diy> > > Lots more in our Idea pool (sort of where we start our blueprints): > * <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Projects/SpreadUbuntu/IdeaPool> > > > I am copying this to the Spread Ubuntu list and Evan Boldt (echowarp), who > is actually the man behind this awesomeness, the technical lead of the > project (I am really just the guy marketing SU and acting as Project > Manager/Driver/Beta tester/bug triager once in a while). > > This is getting really exciting :-) > > R. > https://launchpad.net/~huayra > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
I definitely think another meeting after the UDS is needed for sure. Like Fred mentioned, keeping it simple is the most important thing to do, and we need to move in small steps in order to accomplish the bigger goal. When you all get back from UDS, we should definitely have a "hardcore" meeting about what you all discovered, and how we can convert some of that into projects? It might be a perfect time to develop some ideas that allow us to build call to actions for the volunteers to help out with. John Vilsack email: jo...@the-house.com voice: 651-314-9858 (recently updated) Active Sports, Inc. 200 S Owasso Blvd E St Paul, MN 55117 651-482-9995 http://www.the-house.com 2009/11/4 Rubén Romero y Cordero : > > > On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 5:21 PM, Paolo Sammicheli wrote: >> >> Alle 16:52 del 4/11/2009, John Vilsack ha scritto: >> [...] >> Or else. What about making both meeeting: one session in IRC and the week >> following UDS track with remote partecipation? In both session we will not >> vote or decide leaders, just focus on what to do. :) >> [...] > > +1 > > Two meetings can really help us out. > > >> >> Paolo Sammicheli >> EMail: xdatap1(at)ubuntu.com >> https://launchpad.net/~xdatap1 >> - Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci >> > > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
Forgive me if I wasn't clear in the meeting message: The meeting itself is really not a big deal. If you look at the agenda, the agenda is really vague for a reason: We can never pick one time for everyone to make it, so its almost pointless to have one. I wanted to set the date because its a time and a date people can look forward to. Something to give them hope that things are getting done. The meeting will be just like the emails: A place people can come and voice their opinions or volunteer to do things. Some people just work better in a real-time environment. I would never ask that people MUST be in one place at one time on the Internet. Its simply impossible and impolite. What I'd like to see is exactly what is already happening: People talking about making things easier. People getting involved in SpreadUbuntu publicly and talking about how we can make things easier and more simple. I'll be there to moderate, but I can promise you that because I don't think that there should be a "vote" about leadership or appointing leaders, any discussions about our next steps will come back to the mailing list. We do ourselves a disservice if we count out any person in the process. Its all about including as many people as we can. If people can't make the meeting, it will be absolutely fine. I just want to make sure we are doing the right things to get better organized, and a deadline like the meeting date is a good way to keep us focused. Please let me know if anything I say is confusing. I know I am speaking with people who do not use English as their first language, and in order to make myself clear sometimes I type too much :) -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
[ubuntu-marketing] Simplifying Why We Join
The first step to making Ubuntu Marketing more accessible is to determine WHY people are interested in Ubuntu Marketing in the first place. From that point, we can begin creating a more simple structure to getting people who want to help into the appropriate place faster. If people come to Ubuntu Marketing, they generally want to do one of a few things: 1. Help develop marketing materials and promotions. 2. Join or create local Ubuntu communities and groups in their area 3. Get the word out about Ubuntu to their friends, family, and anyone that will listen. Am I missing any points here? While each point is a discussion unto itself, the more simple we make these "top level" points, the easier it is for new people to get to what they want. Point one, developing materials, is the project side of what we do. The biggest hurdle there is getting people introduced to projects and getting them to feel like they can seek out a task they can begin contributing to. Many people have just a few minutes to a few hours a week to contribute, and we don't want them to have to waste their time finding something to do. The second point, about Ubuntu Communities, is definitely something the Marketing Team should point people to the LoCos for. Personally, I think we can do more as a team to help support this active part of the community, and the SpreadUbuntu site is doing a fantastic job at that! The final point is more about promotion. Some people get so fired up about Ubuntu that they want to tell everyone, but they are unsure how. THey come to the Marketing Team because they want to market it on a grassroots level. They may not need to pour over all the other materials we have all created, so instead maybe a simple bullet point list of how to introduce someone that is new to Ubuntu is appropriate. Instead of the walls of text we have all over the wiki, maybe boiling it down to these points at the very top would help point people in the right direction. I just want to help simplify things. Are there any other areas anyone can think of that should have that "top-level" sort of focus that newcomers should see when they first come to join our team? -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
> What I didn't understood is who you are? While other poster in this thread are > well know Ubuntu members with some kind of contribution this is not you. > Please forgive me and present yourself. Your Launchpad profile lack of > informations. Since when does anyone need to prove themselves to you or anyone else to try and help out? I'm not interviewing to be your buddy, your friend, your coworker, your boss, or anything of the sort. Volunteering is about people who are willing to step up and make a difference, and its this EXACT attitude that has caused me to try and step in to help out. The cult of elitism that exists in small pockets like this hurts everyone. New people feel like they have to climb a mountain just to be able to sit at the cool kids table. I'm here. I'm offering to help. That's all that matters. I don't need the flak, I don't need to feel like I have to justify myself to you or anyone else. I'm not asking to change the world, I just want to see this place become more accessible to newcomers. Don't worry, if you keep poking me hard enough, I'll leave like everyone else has. Unbelievable... -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Ubuntu Community Marketing Team Meeting - "The Resurrection!"
As promised, here are the new enrollment forms that will help us gauge your level of interest in helping the Ubuntu Community Marketing Team! If interested, please head over to the following Google Spreadsheet Form and fill out the few questions asked. Please remember that this form is 100% public, so only fill out what you feel comfortable sharing with the world. You should also obscure your email address just to be on the safe side. To visit this form, please go to: http://bit.ly/2kq1Eb or http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dGhXTkRjQmJiSjVKeVZGWVo1NFpEeWc6MA To see who has filled out this form, check out: http://bit.ly/3Y6wUa or http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AtL0i3WC8jUzdGhXTkRjQmJiSjVKeVZGWVo1NFpEeWc&hl=en Please feel free to email me if you have any questions! - John Vilsack PS: I wasn't too keen on using Google, so if anyone has any solutions better than Google Spreadsheets, please email me offline and let me know! -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
Matthew, My ideas on the matter are very similar. There is no need to "appoint" people into roles of leadership. If people want to sign up to be leaders, then they should be welcomed with open arms. Many people just want to give back in some way, and not have the added responsibility. They just want to know the how's and the where's of what is needed to contribute. The leaders I am hoping for are the Ubuntu fanatics that want to take it a step further: They want to organize, coordinate, and manage the projects that all the other grassroots volunteers need to contribute to. In my years of grassroots political, social, and open source organization and activism, I've learned that you cannot ask volunteers to do much. You have to have good people willing to break down massive projects into minuscule tasks that require only a minor amount of someone's bandwidth. The talent lies within those that are able and willing to juggle these tasks. When I say we need leaders, this is what I am referring to. Its tougher in Marketing for a project like this because: A) You are dealing with intangibles. B) Everyone has an opinion because everyone "feels" a certain way. People don't need a title. They don't need to vote. They need to be given a chance to show what they can do and it feels like the group as a whole needs some structure to help accommodate this. Once we have some systems in place that allow for this, we will either see an influx of activity or the list will die off again until the next time this issue comes up. Marketing is something that takes a minute to grasp and a lifetime to master. We're all creative-types with egos and personalities that are part of Ubuntu because we thrive on the freedom of choice and our own individuality. The last thing I think any of us want is a hierarchy in place that squashes any of our greatest strengths. I feel very strongly that we can do this right and help make this team better as a whole! -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
I appreciate the support, Ruben. You've done a fantastic job with SpreadUbuntu, and I don't think an initiative can work without the support of great contributors like you! - John 2009/11/3 Rubén Romero y Cordero : > Go John! > > I for one have been here so long that playing a new game in the sandbox > might be fun for us all, and not only that but might be exactly what we > need! > > As I have worked in projects I totally agree with new structure in this > team. We really need that and I am sick and tired of us not making this team > suck less. > > I have decided to support your initiative. The worse that can happens is > that we succeed! :-) > > So, please go forward whether people is there or not. > > I will try my best to be at the meeting and If I don't I promise to read the > log! > > I send this only to you, because I want you to know this. I am tired to > being too vocal, I like action and you seem to be a guy of action yourself. > > Let's do this! > > R. > > On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 1:11 AM, John Vilsack wrote: >> >> While I appreciate all this newfound enthusiasm about planning, >> planning to plan, voting to meet, meeting to vote, and planning to >> plan a plan about voting to vote to meet if we need to vote on a >> meeting, I'm going to proceed with the meeting on November 11/12. >> >> The idea about organizing the Ubuntu Community Marketing Team is not >> new, and people have had more than enough opportunity to take this >> proverbial bull by the horns and help get things started here. To see >> that it only begins to happen when someone else tries to first, >> saddens me. >> >> I'm not attempting to usurp anyone's position or claim one for myself. >> I'm offering the benefits of similar experience to help create a >> foundation others here can use. If and when that is accomplished, >> I'll move on to other areas of helping Ubuntu because I strongly >> believe no one person should be looked to as the "leader" of this >> group. >> >> I commend those that have worked on projects for Ubuntu's marketing >> with little to no help from this group, Canonical, or others to >> achieve their goals. But the mechanism for getting new people >> involved here is broken, and I will do what I can to fix it. >> >> On that note, I'll be continuing my efforts. If they fall upon the >> deaf ears of a silent majority that does not wish to see what I'm >> trying to offer, then the sandbox will once again be yours. >> >> In the meantime, I politely bow out of this thread of the discussion, >> and will focus on the future and not your past. >> >> Thanks, >> John >> >> -- >> ubuntu-marketing mailing list >> ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com >> Modify settings or unsubscribe at: >> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing > > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
While I appreciate all this newfound enthusiasm about planning, planning to plan, voting to meet, meeting to vote, and planning to plan a plan about voting to vote to meet if we need to vote on a meeting, I'm going to proceed with the meeting on November 11/12. The idea about organizing the Ubuntu Community Marketing Team is not new, and people have had more than enough opportunity to take this proverbial bull by the horns and help get things started here. To see that it only begins to happen when someone else tries to first, saddens me. I'm not attempting to usurp anyone's position or claim one for myself. I'm offering the benefits of similar experience to help create a foundation others here can use. If and when that is accomplished, I'll move on to other areas of helping Ubuntu because I strongly believe no one person should be looked to as the "leader" of this group. I commend those that have worked on projects for Ubuntu's marketing with little to no help from this group, Canonical, or others to achieve their goals. But the mechanism for getting new people involved here is broken, and I will do what I can to fix it. On that note, I'll be continuing my efforts. If they fall upon the deaf ears of a silent majority that does not wish to see what I'm trying to offer, then the sandbox will once again be yours. In the meantime, I politely bow out of this thread of the discussion, and will focus on the future and not your past. Thanks, John -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-marketing/2009-October/003714.html https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-marketing/2009-October/003720.html This matter has been covered. For the good of the team, let's stop the trolling and move on together with our common goal in mind. 2009/11/2 Rubén Romero y Cordero : > > > 2009/11/3 John Vilsack >> >> Ok, I wrote up a meeting invite to both Marketing and LoCo. Could >> someone please adjust the wiki page to reflect this new information? >> >> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Reorganization >> > I have changed the time for the meeting. > > The rest is too much information for me to put it there, and to be honest I > would like a different agenda and a meeting in different terms. > > Last time this happened a Core time, that you seem to be the leader of, was > created. That teams has delivered nothing but a Launchpad page. > > At the same time I started the SpreadUbuntu project which has 110 members, a > site up and running with marketing material and awareness within the > community with more than 20.000 unique visitors (maketeers), more than 1 GB > in marketing material made by the community and support for several > languages. > > And we are in talks with Canonical to get the SpreadUbuntu domains. > > You can see: > Our wiki: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/SpreadUbuntu > Our site: http://spreadubuntu.neomenlo.org/ > >> I have a good feeling about this. If this plays out without a lot of >> friction, this could really take flight and be a good thing for the >> community in general. >> > > So do I, but it seems to me that you are being a bit to hasty and that's > good! But you should play the community game here. We are not a marketing > office (and trust me, I know the difference). > > If we do not play the community game there will be friction. That's just the > way do-ocracies work. > > We need more involvement for LoCo teams and understand that we are working > for them, not centralized, but as a service repository for THEIR activities, > not centring their activities around our plans. > >> >> I'm going to take some aspirin now :) >> > I am going to bed. > >> >> Thanks, >> John > > > Agian, thanks John. > > Regards, > > Rubén Romero > https://launchpad.net/~huayra > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
Ok, I wrote up a meeting invite to both Marketing and LoCo. Could someone please adjust the wiki page to reflect this new information? https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Reorganization I have a good feeling about this. If this plays out without a lot of friction, this could really take flight and be a good thing for the community in general. I'm going to take some aspirin now :) Thanks, John -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
[ubuntu-marketing] Ubuntu Community Marketing Team Meeting - "The Resurrection!"
Ubuntu Community Marketing Team - "The Resurrection" Meeting When: November 12 GMT (See below to find your time) November 11 1900 EST (7:00PM) Who: Anyone who is willing to dedicate themselves to furthering the awareness of Ubuntu Linux. *** What is the Community Marketing Team? *** The Community Marketing Team is a part of the community that focuses on developing materials and projects that are used throughout the Ubuntu Community. *** How is this different than the LoCos? *** The LoCos largely focus on their individual geographical locations and the community of Ubuntu Linux users at-large. The Ubuntu Community Marketing Team's primary focus is making people aware of Ubuntu Linux and getting them to understand how and why we are different, and why those differences are worth checking out. *** Why a "resurrection"? *** The Ubuntu Community Marketing Team has been quiet for the past few years. Some people have championed their own projects, but new people join every day and are unsure what they need to do to help contribute. The "resurrection" is meant to help restructure and refocus our community and hopefully add even more to Ubuntu as a whole! *** What's the agenda? *** In the time between this message being sent and the meeting, we're going to create two enrollment forms that will allow people to volunteer to "do something" for the Ubuntu Community Marketing Team. The second list is going to be open to anyone who is willing to step up and help lead the charge. This means you will develop ideas, recruit teams, and report back to the group as a whole about progress while keeping your project on track. We want everyone who wants to help! You choose your level of involvement! *** AWESOME! I want to help! *** 1. Check out this page for up-to-the-minute information about the meeting. https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Reorganization This page will be the first place to show the new signup form. 2. On November 11/12 (see below for the time), come to the meeting by clicking here: http://webchat.freenode.net/?nick=openweek.&channels=ubuntu-meeting 3. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to give back to the community! *** ACK! I can't make the meeting! *** It's ok! We'll still have plenty to do, and you can still join the activists or the Core team by signing up! We'll be sure to keep everything open and transparent so everyone can stay informed! We hope to see you all there, and we hope you'll join us in making Ubuntu even better! John Vilsack Meeting Organizer See your meeting time here: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?month=11&day=12&year=2009&hour=0&min=0&sec=0&p1=0 -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
Thanks Ruben, I'm going to ask that we do something other than the Wiki. We can certainly transcribe it to the wiki, but I would prefer to have it even easier than a wiki to edit. I want this to be completely accessible to as many people as possible. Wikis are easy but I know people can become worried about "messing up" pages in a wiki. As for the time of night. seems nice and neutral. Any meeting time is going to inconvenience someone, somewhere :) John Vilsack 2009/11/2 Rubén Romero y Cordero : > > > On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 1:57 AM, John Vilsack wrote: >> >> Politely, I'm going to run with the idea of a new meeting and hope >> that we can work together: >> >> 1. Let's schedule the meeting right now for 12-November-09 at >> hours (This is November 11th, 7:00PM for Eastern Time Zone). Alan or >> Danny, could you please add this to the calendar? >> > 22:00 UTC would be a better time for European/African participants. > >> >> The agenda will consist of the below points, to see how we are moving >> along. Primarily, the goal is to see if people are volunteering to >> lead or help and in what capacity. We'll make the determination if >> this is going to work. >> >> I will moderate the meeting. Please set it to be in #ubuntu-meeting. >> >> 2. Mailing Lists are nice, but the first order of business is to >> create two signup lists: We need a grassroots registry of people that >> can be contacted and activated in times of need. The first list is >> people who aren't lurking; people that want to step up and do >> something for the Marketing Team if the Marketing Team could get their >> crap together. The second list will be of people wanting to LEAD this >> group. The die hard nutjobs that want to put in the blood, sweat, >> tears, and heartbreak that comes with leading a volunteer community. >> >> I NEED HELP CREATING THESE REGISTRATIONS. >> > > Done: > > Write up your name in our wiki: > https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Reorganization > > The time and place for the meeting is there too. > [...] > > Thanks John! :) > > R. > > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
Politely, I'm going to run with the idea of a new meeting and hope that we can work together: 1. Let's schedule the meeting right now for 12-November-09 at hours (This is November 11th, 7:00PM for Eastern Time Zone). Alan or Danny, could you please add this to the calendar? The agenda will consist of the below points, to see how we are moving along. Primarily, the goal is to see if people are volunteering to lead or help and in what capacity. We'll make the determination if this is going to work. I will moderate the meeting. Please set it to be in #ubuntu-meeting. 2. Mailing Lists are nice, but the first order of business is to create two signup lists: We need a grassroots registry of people that can be contacted and activated in times of need. The first list is people who aren't lurking; people that want to step up and do something for the Marketing Team if the Marketing Team could get their crap together. The second list will be of people wanting to LEAD this group. The die hard nutjobs that want to put in the blood, sweat, tears, and heartbreak that comes with leading a volunteer community. I NEED HELP CREATING THESE REGISTRATIONS. If nobody takes charge of this in the next 24 hours, I'll just do it in Google Spreadsheets. If you are willing, email me offline and we'll get this created (and transparent). 3. In the interim between now and the meeting, I want you to think about the ways a concerted marketing effort can help reinforce the efforts of the LoCo and the corporate marketing team of Canonical. This includes the possibilities of creating monthly materials for LoCo meetings, introductory packets for new users, comparison matrices against other solutions, etc. Just start brainstorming and have something you can share. 4. EVERYONE CAN BE A LEADER. Because this is a community, no person should ever be turned away. But there needs to be some leadership here, or people lurk and nothing gets done. I want us to find those leaders and the first step to that is asking people to step up! If you are willing to help lead this charge, you can and should sign up for the leadership team! Once we have some organization, maybe things will change for the better! 5. Finally, its time for a change. There are a few people who do their own projects, or small groups that move at a snails pace. Its clear the community at-large wants a change, and Ubuntu needs it now more than ever. I want this to be completely transparent and a step in the right direction for the community as a whole, not as a way for some people to put themselves above one another. We can do this! We are all here for the same thing and together we can help make Ubuntu better! -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
I showed up to offer my support, as did a few others. But unless we were missing something, the meeting never made it to the calendar, and nobody called it to order. I'm really sad about this. Thanks to those that showed up, I guess this means that U-M continues on its rudderless course. Maybe some day... On Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 11:17 AM, Jake Bradbury wrote: > My two cents: > > I think a meeting to discuss the direction of the Ubuntu Marketing team > would be a great first step. I would be excited to participate. I can make > time on Monday the 2nd as suggested by Martin. We do need a leader(s) to > provide a coherent goal/strategy and to prioritize activities supporting > that strategy. My opinion is that marketing should focus on getting the > Ubuntu message out. Ubuntu is "Linux for human beings" but a lot of less > tech savvy users either don't know about Ubuntu or are intimidated by > anything "Linux" (they think "oh I don't know enough about computers to use > Linux - that's for programmers.") > > I would suggest: > > The main goal of the Ubuntu Marketing team should be to increase the OS > marketshare for Ubuntu. > The strategy would be to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits > of Ubuntu vs. other OSs > The activities would be activities (blogging, setting up labs at > universities, hosting Windows 7-style "launch parties" [kidding on that last > one] etc.) that the community and Locos would carry out. We could decide on > specifics of those at the meeting. > > These are my suggestions for a starting point and I hope that you all can > improve on them. And while I don't think that we need financial support from > Canonical, it would be nice to have an "official" representative from > Canonical at the meeting. A little direction from Canonical could go a long > way in helping the community decide where to focus and then supporting the > community in its activities. > > Mozilla has done a great job of this. Check out > (http://www.spreadfirefox.com/.) By contrast, the efforts of the Ubuntu > marketing group have been (or at least seemed to me) very ad hoc and > targeted at the existing Ubuntu community. E.g. I love the magazine and the > volunteers do a great job on it. However, the magazine isn't an initiative > to evangelize people outside of the existing Ubuntu community - it is > something that engages the existing user base. > > Perhaps some Locos are doing things to get the word out about Ubuntu, but it > would be great to do some coordination and share what works. > > Jake > > On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 10:59 AM, Martin Owens wrote: >> >> Hey John, >> >> First, please don't post giant text. Or if you do, make all of your text >> giant. :-) >> >> On Thu, 2009-10-22 at 10:36 -0500, John Vilsack wrote: >> >> > Thanks for the offer. I'm not looking to throw anyone under the bus >> > about what occurred. It was just all standard fare if you are used to >> > those sort of politics. The people who held up the greatest amount of >> > resistance know who they were an no amount of reconciliation seemed to >> > matter. If you keep prodding enough, they will make their presence >> > known :) >> >> If you feel there is such a problem and it can't be reconciled, then >> we'll call a meeting. How does Monday 2nd November 2009, 23:00 UTC (6pm >> EST) sound, we'll have it in #ubuntu-meeting and make sure that the >> community knows it's going on. >> >> First and only agenda item, to elect a leader, or if enough people can >> not agree, to elect a board. 5 is usually a good number, but it depends >> on how many people are interested in marketing. >> >> Those who were burned last time only need to come to this one meeting, >> if it turns sour then you need not invest any more time than that. But >> it's worth not giving up just yet. Assuming we can get a gracious leader >> with a bit of vision, then the politics will largely fall away. >> >> Regards, Martin >> > >> >> >> -- >> ubuntu-marketing mailing list >> ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com >> Modify settings or unsubscribe at: >> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing > > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
The text posted giant? Ick. I copied something from your reply, but GMail must have kakked on me. Sorry, I'll switch it to plain text. I'll be in attendance to offer support. I think its a good idea to develop a core marketing team similar to what the Dev team has. I still have access to the Launchpad for it, if you all want to use that. Here's the original message from the last time I tried this :) On Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:59:06 -0500 > > "John Vilsack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > In order to help make the Marketing of Ubuntu more effective, a > > > new Launchpad team called the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team has been > > > created. This team will focus primarily on planning and > > > championing our projects and strategies that have an impact the > > > entire global Ubuntu community. The Core Marketers will help > > > design project plans complete with task lists that will allow any > > > contributor to help a project easily and effectively. > > > > > > Some of the rough ideas that the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team may be > > > able to help with are: > > > > > > * Creating a central repository where community members can > > > access the most up to date marketing information without having > > > to dig for it. > > > * Using Launchpad Blueprints to help give new team members a > > > concise map of the current direction of the team. > > > * Possibly using the Launchpad Bug functionality to showcase > > > which tasks are being worked on, and where contributors can lend > > > a hand. > > > * Moving the intense planning discussions off the main list of > > > marketing contributors that do not care for the exhaustive > > > rhetoric of the envisioning phase. > > > * Developing a release schedule that coincides with the Ubuntu > > > distro cycle so that materials are consistently up-to-date. > > > > > > In order for the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team to be a success, we > > > need several volunteers to help us get started: > > > > > > * A volunteer that is intimately active with the Ubuntu LoCo > > > teams willing to report the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team successes > > > and bring back information about the LoCos to the group. > > > * Someone who works with the Development teams that can help > > > parse information about upcoming distributions that we can use to > > > plan materials around. > > > * Members familiar with the wiki are needed to help publicize > > > core marketing initiatives. > > > * Leaders from the existing projects (SpreadUbuntu, Studio, > > > etc.) to join us and to contribute when it comes to their > > > projects or relationships with other projects. > > > * The best and brightest minds willing to step up and help create > > > and pilot exciting marketing projects for the whole Ubuntu > > > Community to use. > > > * Volunteers with positive attitudes that understand how to > > > convey excitement to others about new project ideas. > > > > > > If you are someone who feels the desire to contribute by helping > > > to plan or lead projects, sign up to come join the Ubuntu Core > > > Marketing Team today. The group is meant to be a transparent > > > addition to the ubuntu-marketing team that helps the ideas we > > > have together become a reality. We will use Launchpad, the wiki, > > > and the mailing lists to communicate with each other and the rest > > > of the community, so please feel free to contribute in any > > > fashion you would like. > > > > > > Please join us in our effort to create the building blocks needed > > > by the Ubuntu Community to spread Ubuntu throughout the world! > > > > > > Thank you very much, > > > John Vilsack -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
Note: I removed LoCo, News, and Devel from my response, because this pertains to marketing only. Martin, Thanks for the offer. I'm not looking to throw anyone under the bus about what occurred. It was just all standard fare if you are used to those sort of politics. The people who held up the greatest amount of resistance know who they were an no amount of reconciliation seemed to matter. If you keep prodding enough, they will make their presence known :) The problem was just like it is presenting itself now: the activity on the lists was stagnant, a handle of people wanted to get involved and give it some direction, and some of the folks who were "active' already stepped in and over-moderated until the new blood lost interest in the games and walked away. The last thing anyone wanted was the people that were already doing stuff to become disenfranchised and walk away from the important things they were already handling. "Ah, we're not a business, we're a community, it's not exactly the same. And it's not like we don't have a certain vision, we just don't have a good leadership for this section of the community." I appreciate, but don't necessarily agree with the assessment that the volunteer marketing team should be considered community. Ubuntu users form a community through their shared experiences and interactions throughout the world as they collaborate online and off about the Linux operating system. When you sign up to help aid and assist in marketing, you are offering to become a foot soldier in the grassroots movement. It is no longer about just wanting to be the person that tells all your friends how great your computer is now that you have cast aside the close source conglomerates. Its about using tactics and savvy that rival the big boys to promote awareness and to get people who are using our product to evangelize for us in the community and outside of it. Communal thinking is fantastic for the already successful LoCos. But when it comes to genuine, innovative marketing, the hive mind needs people to pull the trigger that can provide direction, proceed with vision, and deliver excitement to the rest of the group that needs to see some sort of progress in order to measure its own success. Until the old guard realizes this, the volunteer marketing group will continue to stagnate. John Vilsack email: jo...@the-house.com voice: 651-314-9858 (recently updated) Active Sports, Inc. 200 S Owasso Blvd E St Paul, MN 55117 651-482-9995 http://www.the-house.com On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 4:22 PM, Martin Owens wrote: > Hey John, > > On Wed, 2009-10-21 at 10:46 -0500, John Vilsack wrote: > > > It saddens me because Ubuntu is a dominant product that could be so > > much more if the grassroots movement would allow itself to have > > direction. But after years of infighting in politics and other open > > source products, I didn't have the constitution to go toe to toe with > > the embedded members of our community here who were putting up a > > fight. > > Could you identify these people? would it be possible to get a meeting > in IRC and hash out your concerns with an arbitrator/moderator? > > I haven't seen much stubborn, I've only seen lack of man power. If only > there was someone to fight, at least that'd be more interesting than the > tumbleweeds. > > > My feeling is that the only way this will ever change is with the > > direction of Canonical. Until that time, we will continue to get our > > collective rears handed to us by companies that have the discipline > > and cohesive message necessary to establish any sort of mainstream > > market awareness or saturation. > > Ah, we're not a business, we're a community, it's not exactly the same. > And it's not like we don't have a certain vision, we just don't have a > good leadership for this section of the community. > > Martin, > > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Reviving the Marketing Team (yet again!) with a focus on simple activism
This is largely a problem that exists not only with Ubuntu, but with the Open Source Movement in general. Last time this conversation came up, there was a large contingent of people we wished to see a core group of a marketing team come to fruition. Unfortunately, several of the more active members of the community tended to be the most vocal opponents, and threatened to abandon the project altogether if such a "tyranny" were created. I opted to back down because the moderators in IRC proclaimed that they could lead such a charge without any sort of core marketing group. The lack of results are more than enough evidence of their progress. The marketing community for Ubuntu is a reflection of what the Development cycle would look like if there wasn't a Core Development Team. Without direction, there can be no progress. Marketing from a community standpoint will continue to be dominated by the few who object to any sort of structure and the message will continue to be lost because the message itself has no clear delineation. It saddens me because Ubuntu is a dominant product that could be so much more if the grassroots movement would allow itself to have direction. But after years of infighting in politics and other open source products, I didn't have the constitution to go toe to toe with the embedded members of our community here who were putting up a fight. My feeling is that the only way this will ever change is with the direction of Canonical. Until that time, we will continue to get our collective rears handed to us by companies that have the discipline and cohesive message necessary to establish any sort of mainstream market awareness or saturation. Good Luck, John On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 12:45 AM, Martin Owens wrote: > Hey Danny, > > On Wed, 2009-10-21 at 01:30 -0400, Danny Piccirillo wrote: > > Cross-posting just to get the word out. > > I've added the Ubuntu LoCo Contacts lists, a group very pertinent to > this topic. > > > Many lengthy and interesting discussions have come up about what to do > > with the Marketing Team. Ultimately, it comes down to how motivated > > people are to create their own projects under the team. Just like any > > other LoCo, this depends on individual involvement, but i don't want > > to start yet another discussion on this. > > Well, what might be needed is someone to head up the team. Some artist > or designer (not developer) who stands like a poised like a hero against > the backdrop of the Ubuntu Community landscape and to whome we can all > look up and say: "I bet if I ask him, he'll know where I can get a > poster for my event" > > As the moment I produce content, I don't tend to produce it under the > banner of the marketing team. The website for spread ubuntu isn't linked > very well with the marketing team and the marketing team has no grand > vision or responsibilities. > > > I merely wanted to propose changing or adding to the scope of the team > > to include general activism. Dropping all focus on marketing probably > > isn't going to be any better, not to mention that just like marketing, > > activism is also something done by local community teams, BUT adding > > simple activism to the scope of this team, might give the team more > > purpose and drive up activity in other areas. Yes, marketing Ubuntu > > *is* activism, but i'm talking about officially recognizing general > > FOSS activism as one of the functions of the team. > > I'd advise against including activism. You don't need to widen the > scope. You just need to find someone or some people willing and able to > drop their own LoCo's work and come higher into the world community. A > leader perhaps? > > > The mailing list can be used to share ideas for activism and pass on > > things like this open letter to Obama in support of FOSS (reddit > > link: http://www.reddit.com/tb/9w23y/ original > > link: > http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20091020050110241). > If you're in support of this idea, just pass on any simple actions you come > across to the list. There's also this nifty activism guide: > https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ActivismGuide > > Interesting, thanks for posting Dan. > > Best Regards, Martin Owens > > > -- > ubuntu-marketing mailing list > ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Ubuntu Core Marketing Team Created! Join Us!
The Launchpad is now up and running. Mailing list is in process. Please feel free to sign up and join! https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-core-marketing -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Ubuntu Core Marketing Team Created! Join Us!
John B., I can appreciate your concerns. However the messages from the past 24 hours have all had a good point: If the idea is good, and the initiative is a good one, then it will flourish. If people do not embrace it, then it wasn't meant to be. I do not think for a second that it will hurt to try, and we can only learn from the experience. I do not think there is anything sinister in trying to organize things, but I think having a seperate planning group exposes it more publicly and thusly allows for more people to contribute. You never know who is listening that is interested in hearing what we have to say. I think as a collective group those that will come to be a part of the core-marketing group would welcome what you have to say about your project ideas. Thanks, John On Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 12:34 PM, John Botscharow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- > Hash: SHA1 > > John V., > > I am not sure that a new team within this team is the solution. I am > concerned that this solution will only compound the problems, not fix > them. I could be wrong, but I will need to be convinced :-) > > There are other options that need to be discussed, and which I wanted to > discuss somewhere other than this list, given the comments by a number > of people who are really not interested in discussing this. That is why > I contacted the people I knew were interested in taking a leadership > role, to discuss how best to proceed with this discussion without > offending half the list in the process. > > I started with those people who had expressed an explicit interest in > doing something constructive, plus some people that Jord recommended. > Five in all to start with. Three, including myself, responded. > > And I got "chastized" for that because people saw some sinister motive > in my intentions. I still think a few heads are better than one and I > still would like to have that "committee" meet and discuss things > separate from this list. > > By doing it as a small group, we would have the benefit of several > perspectives on the issues and perhaps come up with a solution that > pleases more people than anything any one of us alone could come up > with. Also, a small group is one step closer to a consensus than one > person's ideas. > > I am still willing to do this, if the people who were originally > invited to be part of the committee are willing. And, if you wnat to > recommend someone to add to the list. feel free. That was going to be > the first order of business after we work out the communication > logistics. > > To those people I originally contacted, the courtesy of a reply, even > to tell me you are not interested, would be appreciated. > > On Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:59:06 -0500 > "John Vilsack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > In order to help make the Marketing of Ubuntu more effective, a new > > Launchpad team called the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team has been > > created. This team will focus primarily on planning and championing > > our projects and strategies that have an impact the entire global > > Ubuntu community. The Core Marketers will help design project plans > > complete with task lists that will allow any contributor to help a > > project easily and effectively. > > > > Some of the rough ideas that the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team may be > > able to help with are: > > > > * Creating a central repository where community members can access > > the most up to date marketing information without having to dig for > > it. > > * Using Launchpad Blueprints to help give new team members a concise > > map of the current direction of the team. > > * Possibly using the Launchpad Bug functionality to showcase which > > tasks are being worked on, and where contributors can lend a hand. > > * Moving the intense planning discussions off the main list of > > marketing contributors that do not care for the exhaustive rhetoric > > of the envisioning phase. > > * Developing a release schedule that coincides with the Ubuntu > > distro cycle so that materials are consistently up-to-date. > > > > In order for the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team to be a success, we need > > several volunteers to help us get started: > > > > * A volunteer that is intimately active with the Ubuntu LoCo teams > > willing to report the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team successes and bring > > back information about the LoCos to the group. > > * Someone who works with the Development teams that can help parse > > information about upcoming distributions that we can use to plan > > materials around. > > * Members familiar w
[ubuntu-marketing] Ubuntu Core Marketing Team Created! Join Us!
In order to help make the Marketing of Ubuntu more effective, a new Launchpad team called the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team has been created. This team will focus primarily on planning and championing our projects and strategies that have an impact the entire global Ubuntu community. The Core Marketers will help design project plans complete with task lists that will allow any contributor to help a project easily and effectively. Some of the rough ideas that the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team may be able to help with are: * Creating a central repository where community members can access the most up to date marketing information without having to dig for it. * Using Launchpad Blueprints to help give new team members a concise map of the current direction of the team. * Possibly using the Launchpad Bug functionality to showcase which tasks are being worked on, and where contributors can lend a hand. * Moving the intense planning discussions off the main list of marketing contributors that do not care for the exhaustive rhetoric of the envisioning phase. * Developing a release schedule that coincides with the Ubuntu distro cycle so that materials are consistently up-to-date. In order for the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team to be a success, we need several volunteers to help us get started: * A volunteer that is intimately active with the Ubuntu LoCo teams willing to report the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team successes and bring back information about the LoCos to the group. * Someone who works with the Development teams that can help parse information about upcoming distributions that we can use to plan materials around. * Members familiar with the wiki are needed to help publicize core marketing initiatives. * Leaders from the existing projects (SpreadUbuntu, Studio, etc.) to join us and to contribute when it comes to their projects or relationships with other projects. * The best and brightest minds willing to step up and help create and pilot exciting marketing projects for the whole Ubuntu Community to use. * Volunteers with positive attitudes that understand how to convey excitement to others about new project ideas. If you are someone who feels the desire to contribute by helping to plan or lead projects, sign up to come join the Ubuntu Core Marketing Team today. The group is meant to be a transparent addition to the ubuntu-marketing team that helps the ideas we have together become a reality. We will use Launchpad, the wiki, and the mailing lists to communicate with each other and the rest of the community, so please feel free to contribute in any fashion you would like. Please join us in our effort to create the building blocks needed by the Ubuntu Community to spread Ubuntu throughout the world! Thank you very much, John Vilsack -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Marketing Strategy: What IS Marketing?
All, I think enough has been said about what we all think on the matter and we stand on the precipice of doing nothing, or doing something. I'm one for progress. I think the best course of action is to try out something new and to see how it plays out. I agree with Onno that whatever is done should be inclusive and not exclusive. At the same time, something must be done to seperate the endless planning from those that just wish to contribute. And those that contribute should have a place they can go to get informed right away and begin working immediately. So I am about to post my solution. I hope you all embrace it. This group, that group, this community...our entire world...they all work best when we all work together. Isn't that what this is supposed to be all about? Thanks, John Vilsack -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Clear new leadership
But now you have established points of contact to help build our group and that focus intently on what is important to their areas. I think there is a solid base for leadership that has already presented itself. What I am asking for is for you all to realize that with a little bit of infrastructure, you can begin rapid development of your own projects and see clear results sooner than later. Thanks, John Vilsack -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Clear new leadership (was: Re: the road ahead !!)
Cory, It was brought up during the meeting on Saturday that the more vocal of the group wished to see more concrete proposals and ideas before debating and ultimately voting on them. After watching the past few weeks of activity, I drafted my own recommendation which calls for a core-marketing team to form with subgroups forming to allow for greater focus and drive for the most important aspects of the group. You can find that proposal here: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarketingTeam/Proposal-Core-Marketers It may be a little rough from the transition from Google Docs, so any pointers there would be appreciated! :) I offered at first to help in any way that I could, but perhaps the community might best be served if I offered to help in the role of Tranitional Chair. If the proposal passes, the Transitional Chair would be the person who helps to get the leadership team built and then passes the torch to the core-marketers group . I have asked in my proposal that this person be excluded from accepting a leadership role to keep it fair, and I would be willing to agree to that if it meant I play a small part in getting recognized leadership for this aspect of the project. Please have a read and let me know what you think. I'll post it once the proposals thread starts, but I think were are waiting on some things still from Saturday's meeting. Thanks, John Vilsack On Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 4:25 PM, Cory K. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > John Vilsack wrote: > > All, > > > > Please keep in mind that we have all unified here to volunteer to help > > do what we can to help spread the word about Ubuntu Linux. A product > > whose very essence is built on learning about oneself through > > togetherness. > > > > Every voice here matters. Keeping an open mind to both sides of the > > debate will help you grow personally, and it will aid you > > professionally. There isn't anything wrong with hearing what others > > have to say on the matter provided that its relevent and timely. > > > > I would appreciate if in the future we all take a step back when > > addressing one another and congratulate in public but criticize in > > private. Keep the discussion on topic and do not let personal > > feelings influence your judgement. > > > > Thanks, > > John Vilsack > > So with this, I'd like to know who is currently the "official" lead and > who besides John Botscharow (who is the only AFAIK who has expressed > interest) would like to take over? Is the position even up for grabs? > Seems like it since nobody has really done anything with the team. If > there is a lead (who may just be inactive) there needs to be a clear > transfer of power. > > I've said it before, this team (as well as any Ubuntu team for that > matter) needs a clear leader who will drive the team. I'd recommend at > least a 1 development cycle commitment. > > -Cory K. > > -- > ubuntu-marketing mailing list > ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] the road ahead !!
All, Please keep in mind that we have all unified here to volunteer to help do what we can to help spread the word about Ubuntu Linux. A product whose very essence is built on learning about oneself through togetherness. Every voice here matters. Keeping an open mind to both sides of the debate will help you grow personally, and it will aid you professionally. There isn't anything wrong with hearing what others have to say on the matter provided that its relevent and timely. I would appreciate if in the future we all take a step back when addressing one another and congratulate in public but criticize in private. Keep the discussion on topic and do not let personal feelings influence your judgement. Thanks, John Vilsack -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] [Fwd: FCN submission - your reaction,
The different extremes being voiced seem to be, "Ubuntu Community Marketing will fail without leadership as it has before" and "Leadership in FLOSS will kill individual initiative". Why can't we think in terms of grey versus black or white? Yes, leadership naturally separates itself from the pack to assume roles of responsibility and with that comes the personal feeling of success or accomplishment. But how many open source projects fork at the first lack of consensus? If open source directives are truly free, then you are always going to have opinions that disagree regardless of how loud they might be. Ubuntu allows for anyone to contribute and that holds true for us as well as it does for every other aspect of the project. Like the core-developers team, a proposed core-marketing team would help determine our priorities, oversee tools and repositories to ensure that new contributions are added regularly to our "distribution" and be there to report back to the group instead of expecting everyone to listen to a cacophony of minutiae concerning each task. I still firmly believe that each change in direction, each major undertaking should seek consensus from the group. Each new person joining our team should always have the freedom to do as much (or as little) as they want in whatever areas that they want. All leaders should be responsible for making the things that we need the most help with more visible to those new users, so they can come in and make an immediate impact because they have direction and know what needs to be done. Thanks, John Vilsack PS: I think it would be remiss for us to begin listing off C.V.s and historic accomplishments as a means to justify our opinions. Some of the smartest people I have met in my life, and some of the ones who have made grand contributions throughout history have done so by taking their first steps. We should judge based on initiative and talent, not bullet points. -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Marketing Restructure Proposal - No Attachments
I sent two messages, one with and one without attachments. I wasn't sure which one was going to get through. The titles are only rough ideas. What is more important (to me) is that we have coverage in all the separate areas. This way, we can ensure each area gets the attention it deserves and no one person is overwhelmed with so many things that they burnout. Thanks, John Vilsack On Sat, Jun 7, 2008 at 12:41 AM, VidA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Nice work John :) > > On Sat, Jun 7, 2008 at 2:58 AM, John Vilsack <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dg523cct_41d8t388r5 > > hmm...your mail didnt have any attachment (atleast i didnt get any) > and the document does not allow me to save it so that i can read it > later. > > Since the meeting time is inconvenient, i will not be able to make it > on irc. So for folks all around the world who find fixed irc meeting > times inconvenient, can we use LP for the voting process. Corey is the > team owner and he can easily setup the poll on LP. > > The second suggestion : Assuming the initial roles like "directors", > etc.. are voluntary, i'd propose a fixed period for those (1 or 2 > years max.) This will give new members an opportunity to make a > difference. > > For starters the proposal is good but my concern is that while > leadership is important, the folks behind the scenes are more > important than the leaders. All of us are volunteers, hence someone > who is not on the elected board should not feel that their effort is > not valued because they dont have a title. So please can we have a > less fancy (no offence :)) title for a voluntary position. > > /end my zero paise. > > -- > Vid > || http://www.svaksha.com || > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Marketing Restructure Proposal - No Attachments
Dan, The goal is to have a leadership in place that helps organize tasks and helps place the contributions of the team in a central place for everyone to have access to. People who just want to contribute will have it much easier than it is right now. If you are new, you can come in an take a look at our "issues" list that has everything broken down into the different areas I show on my proposal. It will be much easier to come in and contribute right away this way. On the flip side, someone who is just starting to get motivated to spread Ubuntu in their area will be able to come to us to get kits and information they can use to get started. They can use as much or as little as they want, but everything will speak with the unified voice that collaboration brings to a project! My proposal is centered on rebuilding the infrastructure of the leadership, but this only covers a few initial steps. Once the members of the Core Marketing group are in place, you can be sure that their number one priority will be to support those gracious enough to spend their time, energy, and resources on the Ubuntu community. I hope this helps answer your question! Thanks, John Vilsack On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 at 10:42 PM, John Botscharow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- > Hash: SHA1 > > Dan Trevino wrote: > > On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 at 10:48 PM, John Vilsack <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > >> Thank you for the vote of confidence! > >> > >> My recommendation is to base a quorum on attendance levels. I would use > >> tommorrow's attendance level as a baseline and then establish that 66% > or > >> greater of that number are needed for votes at the next meeting. > >> > >> In the event of appointing a Core Marketing Group, I would say the same > >> level (2/3 or more) should be met to allow for the group to vote on any > >> motion. > >> > >> Hope that makes sense. If anyone has any better ideas please feel free! > >> > >> - John > >> > >> > > I dont know how to dissent without sounding like an ass. I certainly > > appreciate all the work you've apparently put into this. > > > > I cant help feeling like you certainly have accounted for a lot of > chiefs. > > What about about the indians? > > > > We have guys in our team that do really good work. But they only have > time > > to do maybe some web graphics here, some fliers there, some CD labels > here > > ... you get the idea. In the past we've certainly taken collateral from > the > > 'marketing team' and re-used it. We'll continue to do so...but I dont > want > > to put barriers in front of these guys contributing just because they > dont > > have the time to fight their way into the 'core marketing team'. > > > > dan > > > Dan, > > First of all, I don't know much of the discussion of the last few weeks > you've read, but the general consensus has been that this team is sorely > lacking leadership and a sense of who and what we are. Once we get that > resolved, then there will be lots of work for everyone. And John's > proposal does allow for the people you call indians. Hopefully once we > have the core group and the mission, we can set yp specific tasks and > projects that will keep everyone in the group productive and happy. > > > - -- > Peace! > > John > -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iD8DBQFISgOg3oYFui6B2koRAjDUAKC/HtJdCn8skLaibbwi2RiJTJWPzgCZAUxx > AsQmp9MsMm9PGtV0bxYee2A= > =gzHc > -END PGP SIGNATURE- > -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Marketing Restructure Proposal - No Attachments
Thank you for the vote of confidence! My recommendation is to base a quorum on attendance levels. I would use tommorrow's attendance level as a baseline and then establish that 66% or greater of that number are needed for votes at the next meeting. In the event of appointing a Core Marketing Group, I would say the same level (2/3 or more) should be met to allow for the group to vote on any motion. Hope that makes sense. If anyone has any better ideas please feel free! - John -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
[ubuntu-marketing] Marketing Restructure Proposal - No Attachments
[The following message is being submitted twice, once with attachments and once without for spatial consideration of some users - John] Greetings all! I apologize in advance for my recent silence, I have been pulling 70 hour work weeks in preparation for an upcoming e-commerce project at work. What free time I have had I have been spending on the topic of this email. I hope to make (what will be for me) tomorrow morning's meeting, but fate and physical state will determine my alertness at the time :) As promised, I have composed a restructuring proposal that encompasses the three points I consider to be the overwhelming topic of conversation on this thread as of late: finding our niche, determining leadership, and bridging the gap between what is foreseen as the entities we should have a relationship with (Canonical and the LoCos). I apologize for not sharing this earlier, but it has been a work in progress up until literally moments ago. I submit it here in advance for your consideration when thinking about the future of the Marketing Team. The proposal will be submitted in a variety of formats, as it was written in a Google Doc. If the document is not in a format parsed properly for you, please let me know and I will rectify the situation ASAP. If you would like to view it online, please go to: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dg523cct_41d8t388r5 We all want the same thing, and I am sure we all have great ideas about how to go about it. We've spent weeks mapping out our wants and our perceived needs and tomorrow we shall hopefully have some direction. My hope is that the choices we make moving forward are about achieving actionable goals rather than politicking about the planning cycle. At a certain point, someone has to step up and separate the signal from the noise and make things happen. I would ask that my proposal stand apart from any consideration of appointment considered in the future direction of the team, but it can be assumed that similar output could be expected of me if you were to trust me in a position of need or responsibility. I am a firm believer of rapid, intense planning on a large scale and breaking projects up into reasonable tasks that can be delegated and measured. A team can only work so well as each part of the overall machine. Therefore, I volunteer myself for your consideration of the leadership or council role of the Marketing Team. I believe that there is a great deal of talent and leadership within this group that can be channeled to achieve great benefits for the Ubuntu Community. I feel that with my direction, I can help our team harness those abilities and develop a strong group capable of delivering what we expect from the future of the marketing team. If anyone has any questions about this or my following proposal, please do not hesitate to contact me. I may be in the current mode of "working late, sleeping late" due to my familial responsibilities, but I assure you that I am always open to hearing what you have to say. Thank you for your time, and I hope you enjoy the following proposal. John Vilsack [EMAIL PROTECTED] Proposal viewable at Google Docs: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dg523cct_41d8t388r5 -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Organizational meeting proposed (Mike Feravolo)
It looks like 8pm CMT this Saturday is a moment that suits well for quite a lot of people: To find out when this is in your time zone: http://doodle.ch/participation.html > > May I ask two questions: > - Is there any (even inofficial) structure within the marketing > "community". I'd say that before electing anyone it would be a good idea to > have a clear idea of a structure. I don't believe so. That is one of the things I am proposing to change though. > - Is there an official "liaison" person who links to Canonical? (Or a > Canonical person who links to this "marketing community". I don't believe so. I have contacted their primary marketing contact, but have yet to hear back from them. > - Does anyone have any document about the Canonical Marketing strategy. I > mean something that says a bit more than just "they're sending out CD". I don't believe so. I've scoured the sites and haven't found much of anything. Regardless, their plan seems to be more high level than grassroots. They provide a presence at trade shows, in the media, etc. whereas my hope is that we provide the metaphorical armaments for the average user to become an empowered evangelist. > Sorry if these questions have been debated here previously. I'm still very > now to this list. > No worries, brother. I think many of us are new here and its good to see the enthusiasm being stirred up by the discussion! Thanks, John Vilsack > Simon > > ------- > Simon Schneebeli > 078 619 31 18 > --- > > > > John Vilsack wrote: > >> I respectfully disagree. >> >> THe point of the marketing is not to be the Ambassadors, our job is to >> manufacture and provide strategies to those that will evangelize the >> product. We may all be those same Ambassadors when not performing our >> undertaken responsibilities, but the two are seperate nonetheless. >> >> In a perfect scenario, I can see the newest "Big Fan" of Ubuntu coming >> across a page filled with our hard work in an easy to understand fashion. >> The prospective evangelist can download a paper to give to their boss to >> show why Linux is a smart choice for the business workplace, they can print >> out a rider brochure that users can give out with the Live CD, or they can >> download this month's newest meeting kit, with full instructions about how >> to start up a LoCo and how to reach other to other fans of Ubuntu. >> >> "Ambassadors" of Ubuntu are absolutely essential to the livelihood of the >> product. They should be considered our customers and our number one >> priority. If Canonical is able to collaborate with us to make sure we >> aren't repeating ourselves, then great. But we do not "need" them to >> accomplish these goals nor to satisfy any sort of budgetary needs we may >> have at this time. >> >> Thanks, >> John Vilsack >> >> On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 8:21 AM, Mike Feravolo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: >> >>Hello: >> >>I would be happy to contribute any way that I can to the the >>marketing >>team. >> >>The increase of traffic on the list is a good thing, people >>shouldn't be >>concerned if people talk about the same thing. They should just be >>glad >>that people are talking period. >> >>The success of this team depends on whether Canonical is going to back >>us or not. Right now they produce ton's of CD's and believe that >>all you >>have to do to sell Ubuntu is give them a CD and they will try it and >>what to make the switch. This method is fine if the only people >>you are >>marketing to are people with the technical know how to install an >>operating system. However for the other 99% of the people out >>there that >>use computers, they are afraid of the Live CD and don't try it at all. >> >>A more effective way to reach them is in print with information that >>makes them to use Ubuntu and seek out support. People in the support >>business will then support them. >> >>The marketing team should be "ambassadors" for Ubuntu and need the >>support of Canonical to make it work. >> >>Thank You >> >>Mike Feravolo >> >> >>-- >>ubuntu-marketing mailing list >>ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com >><mailto:ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Organizational meeting proposed (Mike Feravolo)
I respectfully disagree. THe point of the marketing is not to be the Ambassadors, our job is to manufacture and provide strategies to those that will evangelize the product. We may all be those same Ambassadors when not performing our undertaken responsibilities, but the two are seperate nonetheless. In a perfect scenario, I can see the newest "Big Fan" of Ubuntu coming across a page filled with our hard work in an easy to understand fashion. The prospective evangelist can download a paper to give to their boss to show why Linux is a smart choice for the business workplace, they can print out a rider brochure that users can give out with the Live CD, or they can download this month's newest meeting kit, with full instructions about how to start up a LoCo and how to reach other to other fans of Ubuntu. "Ambassadors" of Ubuntu are absolutely essential to the livelihood of the product. They should be considered our customers and our number one priority. If Canonical is able to collaborate with us to make sure we aren't repeating ourselves, then great. But we do not "need" them to accomplish these goals nor to satisfy any sort of budgetary needs we may have at this time. Thanks, John Vilsack On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 8:21 AM, Mike Feravolo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello: > > I would be happy to contribute any way that I can to the the marketing > team. > > The increase of traffic on the list is a good thing, people shouldn't be > concerned if people talk about the same thing. They should just be glad > that people are talking period. > > The success of this team depends on whether Canonical is going to back > us or not. Right now they produce ton's of CD's and believe that all you > have to do to sell Ubuntu is give them a CD and they will try it and > what to make the switch. This method is fine if the only people you are > marketing to are people with the technical know how to install an > operating system. However for the other 99% of the people out there that > use computers, they are afraid of the Live CD and don't try it at all. > > A more effective way to reach them is in print with information that > makes them to use Ubuntu and seek out support. People in the support > business will then support them. > > The marketing team should be "ambassadors" for Ubuntu and need the > support of Canonical to make it work. > > Thank You > > Mike Feravolo > > > -- > ubuntu-marketing mailing list > ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing > -- John Vilsack Network Administrator The-House.com 300 S Owasso Blvd E St. Paul, MN 55117 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.the-house.com p. 651.482.9995 f. 651.482.1353 -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Organizational meeting proposed
> > > That's veeery interesting, as Arte Johnson used to say on Laugh In. > As soemeone wha has a very strong background in the social sciences, I > feel that natural selection, for the humans species, is more culturally > influenced than for say chimps or gorillas. We can control, either > consciously or unconsciosusly, our own future as a species;. Right now > it's more unconscious than conscious. My meaning is that if we define things definitively from a project management viewpoint similar to the way our developers handle bugs and feature requests, people will naturally pick items from the list and work on them...the roles that we envision or predict may be far different than those people are actually suited for in this situation. > This is true, but, certain roles can only be filled by one person at a > time, for instance, Fearless Leader. If more than one person is willing > and able to fill that role, then the team needs to decide by a > democratic vote. That is the point I was trying to make. No one should > be asked to do something they do not want to do, and I certainly hope > that I did not imply otherwise. > I respectfully disagree. In fact, I would challenge to say that given the decided lack of action up to this point we all see from this group, appointing a single person in a top down approach is the absolute wrong thing to do. My recommedation is to nominate from the floor at least three members of the group to form the core-marketers team that would be voted on in a manner deemed appropriate by either the Community Council or by a quorum at a marketing meeting. From there, this new "council" could begin accepting applications to the core group based on similar qualifications that exist within the core-developers process. Assuming that three members are chosen, it could also be determined by the three that an "executive override" position could be created if the need for a final vote came up. This should be alot less about titles and alot more about getting things done. A team of three is able to keep each others' responsibilities, workloads, and accountabilities in check. Maintaining a strong and inviting atmosphere that allows new members to be welcomed with open arms and integrate tightly into the existing workload is a tough job. You have to balance ego, people's expectations of how we will respond to them and their needs, and a healthy respect for their pro-bono time and effort they are dedicating to the project you are responsible for. I'm modeling my ideas based on a similar experience founding a 501(c)3 charity I helped found. Its not a perfect science, but when people have nothing but good intentions reinforcing their discipline and commitment to a project, you have to hold that in the highest of regards. Thanks, John -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Organizational meeting proposed
Actually, I think Natural Selection will take care of this to a greater or lesser extent. To truly embrace the open source movement, we have no ability to ask unpaid volunteers to focus on any one particular piece of the project. Sure, we can make recommendations, but in the long run, people will focus on what they want to focus on. My intent is to have us focus on the Marketing aspects of Ubuntu in a similar way that the Development team focuses on the distribution. Our "bugs" will be outstanding tasks that anyone can address. Our "roles" will be similar to the various aspects of the Linux and Ubuntu distribution as a whole. Our "code base" will be a central repository that the core-marketers have final approval on that anyone and everyone can access as "Approved for Distribution" dissemination. I will try and get this done as soon as possible, but I do have a full time job and several voluntary positions, so I am doing my best to get my proverbial ducks in a row :) I definitely think that my idea will allow for several of us to take on a leadership role in the various areas that we have to cover...this isn't going to be a one person show by any means. We have alot to do, alot of ground to cover, and alot of different balls to juggle at the same time. I hope any contribution I can make can help accomplish this goal further. However you have every right to say I am a quack and I should shut my yapper :) This is the beauty of democracy! Thanks, John On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 1:04 PM, John Botscharow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Fri, 2008-05-30 at 08:45 -0500, John Vilsack wrote: > > I've also begun listing out the various roles that I envision would be > > a part of this type of restructure, and I hope that those actively > > contributing to the list now would be willing to step up and assume > > ownership of one of these. > > This is the area, I suspect, where we will need to cast votes, unless I > have completely misjudged the situation. I suspect that there will be > more than one volunteer for at least some of the roles, and that is > good. It should be the membership that decides who they want to assume > those roles. > > > -- > Peace! > > John > > You do have choice on what operating system you use: > http://www.ubuntu.com/ > > I am an Ubuntu user! > My profile: > https://launchpad.net/~jbotscharow<https://launchpad.net/%7Ejbotscharow> > My wiki: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/JohnBotscharow > > ------ > Read my blog: http://hbotscharow.com > John Botscharow: Reflections on Religion, Politics & Life > > -- John Vilsack Network Administrator The-House.com 300 S Owasso Blvd E St. Paul, MN 55117 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.the-house.com p. 651.482.9995 f. 651.482.1353 -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Organizational meeting proposed
Due to the international nature of the group, I also think a meeting is somewhat unfeasible for 100% attendance. I am about 90% done with a rough draft of a proposal to the council which covers the three main topics (focus on materials and collaboration, core-marketers, Canonical liasion) which I will post once I have something readable but certainly before the meeting. Barring any vehement opposition to the proposal, I will submit it thereafter. I've also begun listing out the various roles that I envision would be a part of this type of restructure, and I hope that those actively contributing to the list now would be willing to step up and assume ownership of one of these. As Alan said, much of what needs to be said in a discussion has been said. Its time for actionable objectives and realizing our goals. My time is -6 GMT, Central Daylight, United States of America Thanks, John On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 7:32 AM, John Botscharow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Fri, 2008-05-30 at 12:03 +0100, Chris Rowson wrote: > Chris, > > I agree that setting up a meeting for the entire group is going to be > difficult, but not impossible and I think that THIS meeting should > involve everyone. We may very well end up with regional meetings later > on, but right now we need to resolve the organizational issues at a > single meeting of the entire group - or at least as many as can make it. > > As for what day of the week, I suggest either Sat. or Sun. since that > should avoid any day job conflicts for most people. Amd, given, from the > time zone responses, that we have a 13 hr range of time zones, it would > seem that something in the early afteroon say 1 or 2 PM UTC would keep > the time reasonable for all of us - not too early for those of us at UTC > -5 and not too late for those at UTC +8. > > Also doing it on a Sat. would probably give everyone the most > flexibility in the amount of time they can commit to the meeting. I > really don't think this is going to be a short meeting :-) and we all > should be prepared for that. > > The urgency of getting organized is another reason that I feel we need > to do this at a full team meeting. Regional meetings first would > lengthen the time frame of resolving the organizational issues, and I > don't think we have that luxury. > > > I think part of the problem with these meetings is that given the > > international basis of the marketing team, whenever you organise one, > > someone will be unable to attend. > > > > I propose that an agenda is fixed, with a set of issues to be > > addressed and that the agenda is discussed at a group of regional > > meetings. > > > > The responses to the discussed issues could then be noted and fed > > 'back up' to the international level and a decision arrived upon based > > on the common consensus of the regional findings. > > > > Either that, or split the marketing team into regional marketing teams > > with the main marketing team as an advice centre for people to discuss > > and feed ideas up to. I did this over at ubuntu-uk here > > https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-uk-marketing<https://launchpad.net/%7Eubuntu-uk-marketing> > > > > Although we've not done much as of yet, it is a good way to identify > > people with an interest in marketing in each locality and I'm sure > > formalising the process would help get things moving along more > > smoothly. > > > > Chris > > > -- > Peace! > > John > > You do have choice on what operating system you use: > http://www.ubuntu.com/ > > I am an Ubuntu user! > My profile: > https://launchpad.net/~jbotscharow<https://launchpad.net/%7Ejbotscharow> > My wiki: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/JohnBotscharow > > ------ > Read my blog: http://hbotscharow.com > John Botscharow: Reflections on Religion, Politics & Life > > > -- > ubuntu-marketing mailing list > ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing > -- John Vilsack Network Administrator The-House.com 300 S Owasso Blvd E St. Paul, MN 55117 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.the-house.com p. 651.482.9995 f. 651.482.1353 -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] The future of the Marketing Team
As I mentioned earlier, I am willing to do whatever it takes to get this project in line. I am a firm believer that we can do this democratically, but someone has to be given "the ball" to put filter the discussion and finally provide some forward momentum. Mr. Botscharow and myself have written almost identical messages and share similar views. In fact, his mission statement almost uses the same exact language! Onno is also saying what I feel...its clear to me that there is a lot of initiative in this group that we could use to make these ideas all work! I was preparing a draft statement to the Community Council to ask for the development of a "Core Marketers" team or a "Marketing Board" to be treated in a similar fashion as the Core Developers. A core team would have the same responsibilities to the intangible aspects of the Ubuntu movement that the development team has to the distribution. If approved, I recommend we appoint at most three members of the current group to step into the role of leadership. From there, members of this core group could be inducted based on a similar methodology that the Core Developers use. Everything should remain transparent, but committal to the overall agenda as well as standardized marketing materials would be handled by this new group. I believe shaping the direction in this manner would allow for us to have both a leadership team and a direction that would be a suitable arrangement for an open source project of this magnitude. We want to keep it open to all and allow for everyone to participate, but at this time, the Marketing aspect of community is languishing so poorly, we need to have some folks step up and take control. How do you feel about putting about proposing this to the Community Council? Is leadership what this group needs above all else? Thanks, John Vilsack On Wed, May 28, 2008 at 12:57 PM, John Botscharow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jeez, Cory, that one caught me off guard. I am very flattered by your > question and very honored. Let me hold off answering that for a day or > two to give others a chance to express their opinions; but you are > right. the team does need to set up strong leadership and that is > something we should do soon. > > Until we have more of a consensus on leadership, I guess I'll "lead" the > writing of the marketing plan. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do > it LOL. > > On Wed, 2008-05-28 at 13:39 -0400, Cory K. wrote: > > John Botscharow wrote: > > > The reason, IMHO, that it appears we are running in circles is because > > > we are due to the fact that the marketing team has not, as far as I can > > > tell, established any real sense of its own identity or its direction. > > > > I'd like to know are you up to leading this new Marketing Team? It needs > > to be asked because without strong leadership we can talk about this > > stuff forever. > > > > I'd like to have an clear, established lead then go from there. > > > > -Cory K. > > > -- > Peace! > > John > > You do have choice on what operating system you use: > http://www.ubuntu.com/ > > I am an Ubuntu user! > My profile: > https://launchpad.net/~jbotscharow<https://launchpad.net/%7Ejbotscharow> > My wiki: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/JohnBotscharow > > -- > Read my blog: http://hbotscharow.com > John Botscharow: Reflections on Religion, Politics & Life > > > -- > ubuntu-marketing mailing list > ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing > -- John Vilsack Network Administrator The-House.com 300 S Owasso Blvd E St. Paul, MN 55117 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.the-house.com p. 651.482.9995 f. 651.482.1353 -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] The future of the Marketing Team
I think we are running in circles. Gleaning what I can from these messages, This is what I think we should consider: 1. The Local Communities are their own entity, and should be considered free to do what they want, with no perceived or implied oversight from any governing body. This group should be "forked" into a specific LoCo group. 2. A Marketing team should be formed to oversee the direction of marketing as a whole for the open source project. While Canonical is responsible for the trademarks, a marketing team should be able to build materials between releases for items such as white papers, meeting kits for LoCo's, talking points for dealing with the press, etc. I envision the team as being the equivalent of the core-developers for the intangibles of the Ubuntu project with a similar contribution model and transparency. 3. Establish a liaison within Canonical to help facilitate a coordinated effort with them that is also mutually exclusive. This would ensure we are using the trademarks properly, not doubling up on projects, and filtering upstream whatever projects or ideas might require their contributions. I think if we simplify here, we can see that there isn't much that is needed, except defining the discussions between Local Communities and the Marketing team as separate but equally important endeavors. The Marketing Team's purpose would be to support the Local Communities if they choose to, but giving them the freedom to do as they please. This grassroots model was proven effective in a Presidential campaign I worked in that had a "global" message team that distributed information to local grassroots meetups for dissemination. Each group was asked to only "consider" the information, and it was a fantastic success. Thanks, John Vilsack -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] The future of the Marketing Team
> I would draw attention to the nature of much of the marketing creative > and effort resource - it certainly has a central objective. Canonical > and the wider set of volunteers have strongly overlapping objectives. > However, the factors of geographical location, local culture and > circumstances, and local flavour of motives, are all key factors which > will fuel the effort at ground level, in the 'wild', the wider world. > I believe the work will be done by self motivated volunteers. My > experience of volunteers is that they will go a long way to do what > they want to do, and not nearly as far to do what somebody else wants. > This is the niche I believe a Marketing Team has to fill. Autonomy should exist at the local level, but if someone new wants to start or gain access to a local chapter, then the Marketing Team should be there to fill the niche with information and kits about how to get started. > I really think the use of bumper stickers would be very effective in > UK from about now. I am fascinated to find that the only bumper > stickers which seem to be available are way too big for most UK > (European?) vehicle bumpers. I have had to cut somedown fo rmy own > use, but a cut sticker can look poor quality unless great care is used. Alan brings up an interesting point, and this is a firm example of why I feel somewhat listless in the direction of Marketing the project. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=738134 : This is a simple vinyl sticker I made that obviously mimics the white logo of another hardware and software manufacturer. Virtually everyone who chose to look at it felt that it could be worthwhile to produce for evangelists of Ubuntu. Unfortunately, I have tried several times to contact someone at Canonical to seek approval of this type of usage to no avail. We could be out there scanning the bumpers of cars during rush hour, looking for that "secret handshake" that shows we are all a part of something we love...instead I get dead air from our commercial sponsor who needs to have input on the matter. Marketing needs leadership. We need people responsible for working with Canonical to establish coordinated marketing efforts and to ensure the grassroots movement is armed with easily accessible material to make launching a LoCo a snap. In essence, we need to stop treating the Marketing group as a hobby full of buzz words and promises and start treating it as seriously as product releases. Thanks, John -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
Re: [ubuntu-marketing] Marketing Team Announcement
I agree that this is an issue, but a solution is available. The only way we are going to see penetration into the consumer market in which sales representatives are able to help customers make informed decisions is through user education. There are many aspects of the movement Ubuntu is involved in that we all take for granted. Even your average "Mom & Pop" stores would only be able to sell these based on their own experiences with the community and the software itself. I believe that generating some sort of documentation that training teams could glean information from would allow us to either develop a relationship with organizations that train their employees or perhaps directly with the employees themselves. We could design it in a philosophy similar to Ubuntu: clean, easy to understand, and accessible to everyone. The more easy-to-use, bulleted documentation we can provide, the faster we can get people on board to evangelize the product. I would even go so far as to recommend obtaining a new URL like sellingubuntu.com so that companies can find it even easier. We could even offer contact information to interface directly with those who are trying to understand how to sell the idea of Ubuntu to others (in a more finite environment than say the forums or a mailing list). Does anyone feel this is a good/bad idea? Thank you for listening, John Vilsack PS: This is my first contribution to the marketing team. I hope to contribute in any way that I can! On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 10:46 PM, Nick Ali <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 9:15 PM, Danny Piccirillo > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > We are organizing a letter writing and calling campaign to get Ubuntu in > > Stores. Please read "The Final Push: Linux in Stores" and Digg it! > > I find it interesting that you have Walmart listed in the > UbuntuInStores wiki page. They already made an attempt with the Everex > gOS machines. > > And have pulled them from their stores already. Maybe they are still > being sold online. > > IMO, this is why it won't work anytime in the near future, at least in > the US: "Staff will have to know about free software and Linux, so > customers will no longer be kept in the dark." Companies like Walmart > will never spend money educating/training their employees. > > I remember reading some article where the reporter interviewed a > Walmart employee about the gOS machines. The employee said he didn't > know much about the computers, but warned customers they don't run > Windows applications. > > Mom and Pop stores may be a better target. > > nick > > > > > -- > > http://boredandblogging.com > > -- > ubuntu-marketing mailing list > ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing > -- John Vilsack Director of IT The-House.com 300 S Owasso Blvd E St. Paul, MN 55117 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.the-house.com p. 651.482.9995 f. 651.482.1353 -- ubuntu-marketing mailing list ubuntu-marketing@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-marketing
