[ubuntu-uk] UK Marketing: Promo Videos

[alan c]

Matthew Larsen wrote:
> Hey all, been a while
> 
> IMO I think the idea of viral videos is a waste of time. When have
> they ever worked? I personally think its just a buzz-word and a
> marketing experiment gone crazy. We need to stop trying to 'trick'
> people in to moving to Linux. We need to show people the benefits and
> the facts, none of this bulls**t lifestyle 'join the crowd' bollocks
> that floats around too much. People make up their own minds to switch,
> its just about raising awareness, crushing the myths and informing
> people. IMO that's what will REALLY get people to switch en masse

I really *loved* the get firefox videos, I still watch them and laugh. 
I do show them when appropriate. I think they have an important place 
and do a couple of things - have a good effect inside the community, 
and also outside - to illustrate that there is something to be had, 
and a community exists.

Once people have already been tricked into the windows habit   :-)  I 
do not think they can be tricked a second time..... and I do not think 
the proposed videos aim to trick, at all.

Benefits and facts - yes, but *how* to get the message across?

People can only make up their minds to switch (or consider it)  a) if 
they are aware of an viable option, and b) the FOFM (friend or family 
member) they use for support, does not put them off the idea.

Raising awareness - emphatic yes. What is a typical marketing budget 
for a multinational product launch? OK forget actual budgets, what do 
they do to get attention?

I think people will do something en masse when they have no choice, or 
(have a visible choice) and an eager need to do it.

I come across many people who simply have no idea that either open 
source or Linux exists. So, if I can, I begin a process of offering 
information. It can take a long time, because they only expect real 
things to be advertised by the conventional methods (media). Some 
stranger telling them about something so good - why doesn't every one 
already use it then? Microsoft are very good at marketing.

> I think using live demonstrations is a fantastic idea. People get to
> see what happens, ask questions and immediatly get shown how to do it.

I would love to see more of such events, maybe install fests also. An 
install fest was the defining point of change for me some years ago, 
and suddenly Linux became credible. Strange thing to say, but before 
that linux was out of reach in some way. Brainwashed.

-- 
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391