[ubuntu-uk] Leaflets

[James Tait]

Alan Pope wrote:
> Should this be done by the marketing team and not us?

I'd say it might be beneficial to us if they were involved, even just to
avoid duplication of effort.

> What leaflets (at a high level) would you like to see? "What is Ubuntu?" 
> "What is Linux?" "Can I run my Windows software?" kind of flyers immediately 
> spring to mind.

Although I'm not a marketing type myself, I'd echo some of Mark
Harrison's comments here.  Before we get into trying to answer
questions, we need to know what questions to answer.  And not many
non-techies are going to ask us questions because they don't even know
we exist, let alone who we are or what we do.  The first part of our
job, I think, is to address that -- get some visibility amongst the
"normal" public so they can come and ask us questions.

I've been sketching down some ideas for a little display at my son's
nursery.  I think it might be a good place to have such a display
because it's in an area where the cost of a new, high-spec PC with
Windows and Office is likely to be a massive barrier.

I was thinking of something along the lines of an FAQ leaflet as you
have described, but would need something arresting to make people stop
and look at the display to pick up a leaflet.  Mark's example with the
sound bite and tag line looks ideal and the marketing tips like the
embedded command are useful.  Also, I've already touched on the idea of
trying to appeal to the non-techie audience when I addressed the list
about an awareness-raising campaign in the past.

With that all said, questions I think we could address initially include
the obvious and you've already listed some of them:

  - What is Ubuntu?
  - What is Linux?
  - I understand free, but what is Open Source?
  - Will it work on my computer?
  - Can I run my Windows software?
  - Can I run my games?
  - How do I get it?
  - Will my hardware work with it?

These are some of the questions I've been asked by various people not in
the know -- my family, friends and neighbours.  I don't mind asking them
what they would like to know about Ubuntu to give us something to go on.

Overall I think it's a great idea and an excellent way of getting more
exposure outside the techie audience and I'm more than willing to
contribute where I can.

Cheers,

JT
-- 
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James Tait, BSc                        |    xmpp:jayteeuk at wyrddreams.org
Programmer and Free Software advocate  |       VoIP: +44 (0)870 490 2407
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