<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;">Marc,<br><br>good point about the audience. I guess if they see,<br>in my original wording, my "fingerprints" all over<br>the source code and documentation, they will have<br>had to BE THERE LOOKING AT IT, and many clients<br>will never venture into the source sites.<br><br>I would very much like to discuss FOSS marketing<br>on a regular basis. (because I'm not very good at it)<br>For now, this list could be a reasonable place to do <br>it?<br><br>Several of my clients have been ones not likely to be<br>exploring the FOSS home sites. I've found a couple<br>clients who are web developer companies that know<br>they need some mapping but know nothing about it.<br>I've found them casting about in the general geo<br>community sites or geo jobs sites. I've also<br>suggested FOSS to clients for whom I've done<br>closed-source previously.
They are fairly attached<br>to the closed-source products but are attracted to<br>the FOSS cost model.<br><br>I'd like to perfect "pro-active" marketing, but have<br>never liked the "cold call" approach, and wonder if<br>that has a high success rate anyway.<br><br>Robert<br><blockquote style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"><br><br><div id="yiv10905705">
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In response to the discussion bij Frank and Robert I would suggest that their approach could only work if their customer/audience is a developer him-/herself. Perhaps the discussion should take into account whom you try to target, in stead of only addresseing the 'how2'. FOSS-duscussions on the topic 'marketing' often seem to overlook that the majority of users has no inkling of the engine underneath the bonnet. Pehaps some market segmentation is helpful.<br>I am curious if others will help broaden the discussion into a regular brainstorm on How2 market FOSS<br><br><br></div></blockquote></td></tr></table>