Hi there -- Xubuntu is not my primary distro, but it's one I use more than occasionally (hence, it's why I'm on this list).
Rather than reinventing the wheel, you might want to take a look at how other distros handle marketing. One that does a good job of it is Fedora: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Marketing This marketing team works hand in hand with an Ambassador team that promotes Fedora: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Ambassadors Like Fedora or not, they do a pretty good job in promoting FOSS and Fedora, sometimes in that order. [Truth in advertising: I worked with the Fedora Project on the Ambassador program for about three years, until leaving recently to pursue other FOSS-related ventures.] As an aside, we are holding a Lindependence event to coincide with Software Freedom Day in September. We rent a local church hall and invite representatives from various distros to come and show off their work. I would welcome the opportunity to have Xubuntu represented. Larry Cafiero The Lindependence Project On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 4:06 AM, Vincent <mailingli...@vinnl.nl> wrote: > > > On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 4:40 AM, Charlie Kravetz <c...@teamcharliesangels.com> > wrote: >> >> On Fri, 3 Jun 2011 09:33:51 +0800 >> Jason Wee <peich...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> > start by spreading the news to the general public users and also only >> > consider users which is interested and responded to you. Then held >> > workshop on xubuntu on what it is and what can it do for users for >> > daily chores. I think users would want to know which opensource >> > software can replace the software that they use in windows and you >> > might want to consider that by teaching through the workshop. >> > >> > /Jason >> >> You have some good points here. Of cource, we have start somewhere, >> and perhaps that is by identifying our users? Who is the target >> audience of Xubuntu. I have long maintained that it is not the >> beginning Linux users. Ubuntu targets that group, and is well designed >> to meet their needs. We are in a good position to look towards those >> intermediate and expert users, I think. >> >> Now, how do I get news to the general public? > > Not really Xubuntu-specific, but for projects like Xubuntu in general the > problem is that for people new to the open source world, the concept of > "free because we are volunteers that run this project for fun" is a bit hard > to grasp. When people see free they have learnt to associate it with handing > over address details or getting lots of advertising, but as long as they > don't see what "the catch" is, they will assume it must not be good. > Therefore it might be good to focus on the kumbaya-feeling of open source, > so as to make people "wanting to be part of it". (This is, all, of course, > completely unscientific. I have no experience/training in marketing, this is > all just gut feeling.) > > When it comes to Xubuntu, start thinking about the reasons you actually use > it. Is it because it's free of charge, because of the freedom/control it > gives you, that you use it as opposed to one of the proprietary OS's? And is > it because of its light-weightness/usability-combo, the flexibility of Xfce, > the traditional desktop interface, that you use it as opposed to the easy, > popular choices of Linux distros such as Ubuntu? If you prioritize such a > list you can end up at the strengths of Xubuntu that will appeal to a group > of people that might not have heard of Xubuntu yet. (This is a bit hard for > me to do since I don't use Xubuntu anymore.) > > Then of course the next step is to get the word out to those people. I think > you should try to focus on existing Ubuntu users, as e.g. Windows users are > hard to reach. For the latter group, you want to make sure that if they go > looking for an alternative to their Windows installation with the before > mentioned characteristics, that they can find Xubuntu. However, when > actively reaching out, it would probably be easier to focus on people that > are already using Ubuntu and might be happier using/trying Xubuntu. A way > that I think Lubuntu is getting a lot of attention is because a fan of them > is in the OMG! Ubuntu team - it might be an idea to see if someone from the > Xubuntu community can nudge his/her way up there? ;-) > > There, I weighed in on a discussion on xubuntu-devel :) > >> >> > >> > On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 9:24 AM, Charlie Kravetz >> > <c...@teamcharliesangels.com> wrote: >> > > I have given marketing a lot of thought. I am by no means an expert in >> > > marketing, and may need someone to set me straight. However, I am >> > > hoping to at least get some discussion started. >> > > >> > > How do you market Xubuntu? It is free, it generates no revenue, and it >> > > must be given away. This seems to present a dilemma. >> > > >> > > How would you market Xubuntu if it were a new product to be sold >> > > today? >> > > Unfortunately, at the present time, the advertising budget is empty. >> > > But, that does not mean it can not be done. >> > > >> > > I would start by telling people what a great Operating System this is. >> > > It can replace Microsoft Windows 100% and it won't cost you anything. >> > > If you would like to use Xubuntu, we will GIVE it to you free. Along >> > > with Xubuntu, we are going to allow you to install any application >> > > included free. There are thousands of programs you can use. What's the >> > > catch? You must tell two (2) people about it. >> > > >> > > I would expect a session about this fantastic operating system given a >> > > couple of times a year. That could generate a lot of good will, and >> > > new >> > > users for Xubuntu. (That is called UbuntuOpenWeek and Ubuntu User's >> > > Days) >> > > >> > > What can you do to help market this great OS? Give us your ideas, >> > > please. What do we need to change to make this the best selling >> > > distribution available? (Every user we gain "buys" this distribution, >> > > every user we lose "throws away" this distribution). >> > > >> > > Can you sell this product? We are looking for great Marketing people, >> > > the position pays *lots* of self-satisfaction. It also provides great >> > > experience in Open Source marketing. >> > > >> > > -- >> > > Charlie Kravetz >> > > Xubuntu Project Lead >> > > Linux Registered User Number 425914 [http://counter.li.org/] >> > > Never let anyone steal your DREAM. >> > > [http://keepingdreams.com] >> > > >> > > -- >> > > xubuntu-devel mailing list >> > > xubuntu-de...@lists.ubuntu.com >> > > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/xubuntu-devel >> > > >> > >> >> >> -- >> Charlie Kravetz >> Linux Registered User Number 425914 [http://counter.li.org/] >> Never let anyone steal your DREAM. [http://keepingdreams.com] >> >> -- >> xubuntu-devel mailing list >> xubuntu-de...@lists.ubuntu.com >> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/xubuntu-devel > > > > -- > Vincent > > -- > xubuntu-devel mailing list > xubuntu-de...@lists.ubuntu.com > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/xubuntu-devel > > -- xubuntu-devel mailing list xubuntu-de...@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/xubuntu-devel
