[OSGeo-Discuss] Comment on OSGeo Project Marketing template before we set it in stone

[Jason Birch]

Arnulf,

Yes, I like both of those options.

I think my initial reaction was because it implied that a project was
only supported by a single commercial entity, which isn't healthy. But
I can definitely see the need to meet the use cases you've outlined.

It makes a lot of sense to encourage/enable local consultants to
modify the marketing material for their own use (hopefully without
destroying the brand: OSGeoJason). We need to support our commercial
efforts wherever possible.

Providing a box at the bottom with some boilerplate for the SPD ("for
other commercial support options?") but making it clear that business
cards should be attached on top of it is a great way of supporting the
folks who are working the booths and developing local support for (and
businesses around) OSGeo.

Cameron,

If there are OSGeo projects that are not represented if the provider
directory, this needs to be fixed, probably with a Trac ticket. I like
the idea of a support.osgeo.org that allows you to choose the
"product" you need support for, and are then provided with links to
website, documentation, and a list of commercial support providers
which could be filtered by location. IMO, this would be better as a
separate app than trying to hack drupal. Any takers? :)

I think using the existing templates makes a lot of sense. My main
recommendation for typography (and I'm as far from knowing what I'm
talking about as anyone) would be to pick a single face. As a
non-designer I try to keep the visual hierarchy as simple as possible,
using size and weight and staying away from colour, style, and white
space for defining importance. These can all used effectively, but are
easier to mess up too.

Jason

On 2010-06-05, Seven (aka Arnulf) <seven at arnulf.us> wrote:
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> Cameron,
> this should be tied directly to the project overviews / info sheets [1]
> that are already available on the OSGeo website and "should" be
> maintained by the projcets themselves. Tyler has provided really nicely
> layouted templates to do just this. To me it does not make sense to make
> projects deliver several different version that need to be maintained
> and updated separately. It is hard enough to nudge, encourage and coerce
> folks to maintain one such artefact.
>
> We would need to check what to do with projects that have so far not
> shown any interest / do not plan to get involved more closely with OSGeo
> (yet). But I guess that a more neutral layout should be easy to glean
> from what is there already.
>
>
> Jason,
> some time back we envisaged a project template with a free space in the
> lower right corner. At conferences this can be used for some neutral
> OSGeo info or business cards for folks appearing at an OSGeo booth.
> Companies providing support can use these templates to add their logo /
> stamp / business card in the lower right corner.
>
> Sponsorship prospectus;
> We (so far Tyler, Jeff and me) try improve our sponsorship prospectus
> and we came up with a related idea to provide these flyer / brochure /
> info sheets as readily printed out marketing material as an asset for
> OSGeo sponsors. They can use shiny "original" OSGeo material for
> marketing and add their brand to it with very little effort. This is
> especially interesting for smaller companies who in general do not care
> / spend little time on creating marketing material. This would be a real
> net added value for them and would mean little extra effort for OSGeo.
>
> Would that be a type of commercial hint / support that goes better with
> your concerns?
>
> Best regards,
> Arnulf.
>
> [1] as examples: http://www.osgeo.org/mapserver
> http://www.osgeo.org/grass and so on
>
> Cameron Shorter wrote:
>> For the OSGeo Live DVD that we are developing for FOSS4G 2010, we will
>> be asking all applications to provide a punchy, one page overview of
>> their project.
>>
>> This overview will conveniently double as Project Flier to hand out at
>> conference stands, and also be a page in a book of OSGeo projects.
>>
>> The aim of these overview pages is to have them be consistent, sexy, and
>> sell OSGeo in a positive, professional manner.
>>
>> To support this, I've created the attached pdf template. Please review
>> and provide feedback before we set the template in stone, and ask all
>> projects to create material against this template.
>>
>> Template source:
>> https://svn.osgeo.org/osgeo/livedvd/gisvm/trunk/doc/descriptions/postgis_overview.odt
>>
>>
>> Marketing artefact definition:
>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Marketing_Artefacts#Application_Overview
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>
>
> - --
> Arnulf Christl
>
> Exploring Space, Time and Mind
> http://arnulf.us
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