[Mageia-discuss] Wish List

[Graham Lauder]

On Monday 04 Oct 2010 10:11:48 Wolfgang Bornath wrote:
> 2010/10/3 Graham Lauder <yorick_ at openoffice.org>:
> > That is your opinion, and of course unprovable.
> 
> Same as yours.
> 
> You write a lot about how the naming and the colors ate away market
> shares. I never ever heard any Ubuntu user (nor even fan boys at
> events) talking about names or colors when describing the benefits of
> their distribution. Oh, and BTW: Ubuntu changed colors because a lot
> of Ubuntu users did not like the colors - how could they have been
> attracted by colors they don't like and want to be changed?
> 
> What Ubuntu did very well and what made their success is based on 3
> parts (and I do not mean lots of money to win tenders in the business
> world):
> 
> 1. Give the users the illusion that it is their distribution and that
> it is what they are doing, not some company far away. With all
> appearances, all speeches and all publications Shuttleworth gave out
> one message: Ubuntu is you, you are Ubuntu. That was the top reason he
> succeeded to build a critical mass of organised users who became the
> most valued asset - a cost free PR system.

Indeed, but it was a holistic approach, nothing in isolation, everything 
worked together

> 
> 2. Ubuntu lets people download ISOs just as all the others. But it
> also sends you CDs for free - I tried that once and 10 CDs were
> delivered to my door within 3 days. For new users this is far more
> attractive than any downloadable - what's it called, ISO?.

Indeed, That was a stroke of genius, not so keen on doing that now but as you 
say, it grabbed new user base.  OpenSUSE do this now, I had 200 DVDs sitting 
on my doorstep 5 days after ordering for Sofware Freedom day 

> 
> 3. PR, PR, PR, PR and then again PR. The media, print and web were
> flooded with PRs from Canonical, from local user organisations, etc.
> Ubuntu succeeded to have their name hammered into the attention of
> website and magazine readers, even non-IT media. Once started this is
> a runner.

Oh yeah agreed

> 
> None of this is related to the color or some names. Ubuntu would have
> the same success, not one user less if they had never thought of those
> names.

On this I would disagree.  Colour is incredibly powerful, emotion is 
incredibly powerful, style is incredibly powerful.

None of the above would have worked without visual appeal and emotional 
connection.  Ask any PR professional.

The OpenSUSE dvds are a perfect example.  The packaging up to 11.2 was 
designed by the community, Green and Grey looked very professional and well 
packaged.  I did three events at the last years Software Freedom day and gave 
away about 30 of the hundred I had.  I decided to make a play for LCA and got 
a box I think of 11.2 a sleeve with a picture of a grey CD on it and ended 
with a wjhole lot left over.

Then Novell farmed out the production of the promo DVDs to a company called 
OpenSLX and they repackaged them, funky graphics aimed at a young market 
bright colours and no grey.  There were a lot of unhappy people on the lists.  
Railing at this stupid colourful nonsense. 

The difference was at SFD this year I ran out of DVDs, all that I had I gave 
away.  Packaging, colours, funky graphics it works, but not in isolation it 
has to be part of a whole package. 

Cheers
GL

-- 
Graham Lauder,
OpenOffice.org MarCon (Marketing Contact) NZ
http://marketing.openoffice.org/contacts.html

OpenOffice.org Migration and training Consultant.

INGOTs Assessor Trainer
(International Grades in Open Technologies)
www.theingots.org