[OSGeo-Discuss] Re: [Incubator] Defining the Marketing requirements for OSGeo Incubation

Tue Nov 9 14:56:48 PST 2010

Hi,

because I was asked about how OSGeo should promote its projects as a follow-up to my self-introduction as a charter member nominee, let me also add my 2¢ here.

I think the important question is: what kind of marketing is required? OSGeo does not sell anything, but the organizations involved in the OSGeo projects do. And the organizations, for obvious reasons, have an incentive to do marketing for the solutions they provide, but not necessarily for the underlying software stack.

There is, however, a common benefit in having a neutral entity provide marketing by means of something like an "OSGeo Certified" program. OSGeo has become a well known brand, and could learn from marketing initiatives like organic food certification programs. A glossy brochure explaining the criteria for certification, along with standardized fact sheets (how many organizations involved, how many installations etc.) and case studies for each project - this is what I meant in my introductory statement.

I don't see myself as a potential OSGeo-Live maintainer or Marketing committee member - I perform best as a software developer, so this is what I'll continue to do. What I want to do is help explain needs and concerns of communities to those at OSGeo who see their role in marketing, from the perspective of a developer with conference booth savvy.

Regards,
Andreas.

On Nov 9, 2010, at 14:56 , Daniel Morissette wrote:

> For the record, I agree with the comments made by Arnulf and a few
> others that encouraging projects to produce this material and keep it up
> to date is a good thing, but making that an incubation criteria may be
> pushing it a bit much.
> 
> I also believe that a Live DVD is a nice thing to have and a great
> showcase, but I'm not convinced that we should discriminate between
> OSGeo Live and OSGeo4W, DebianGIS, UbuntuGIS, EL-GIS and other packaging
> efforts... they all facilitate access to the software for non-technical
> users in the environment that they are already familiar with, so all
> projects should be strongly encouraged to participate in all of them as
> well as in the OSGeo Live DVD. As a bonus, the projects who put energy
> into DebianGIS/UbuntuGIS are much easier to integrate in OSGeo Live, the
> reverse is not true.
> 
> My 0.02$
> 
> Daniel
> 
> Seven (aka Arnulf) wrote:
>> Cameron,
>> thanks for your initiative. Let me add a few notes to reconsider about
>> *how* we want to go about this.
>> 
>> Marketing is an OSGeo service for it's projects. Adding the proposed
>> requirements as criteria to pass Incubation feels a lot more like a
>> stick than a carrot. What I do like is the aspect of revisiting all
>> incubated projects once a year -> I proposed this to Incubation twice
>> but so far it never got anywhere.
>> 
>> The current proposal is very focused on the needs of OSGeo Live. Don't
>> get me wrong, I like the OSGeo Live project and have already used it
>> successfully in workshops and recommend it everywhere. But to me it is
>> more like another OSGeo project and should not become a cirteria for
>> incubation. To get my idea just imagine that supporting GDAL/OGR is an
>> OSGeo incubation criteria. Did the OSGeo Live project ever incubate at
>> all? Should be easy, maybe you want to apply?
>> 
>> Respective to what marketing material we need: My personal perception
>> (which can obviously be wrong) is that DVDs at trade fairs and
>> conferences get taken away and then never looked at again. The contained
>> information is as quickly outdated as that on any piece of paper. An
>> OGSeo folder with summary pages and a short description on paper would
>> be a great hand-out. It could be a additional benefit to sponsors who
>> appear in this folder. Sponsors can reuse this material and add their
>> own portfolio to use in their sales. This is one of the few concrete
>> wishes of our current sponsors.
>> 
>> Some of the items you suggest seem to duplicate efforts already in
>> place. The short intro page to each project is on the OSGeo web site:
>> http://www.osgeo.org/<project name>
>> The project logos should not be uploaded to yet another disconnected
>> repository. Marketing might want to scrutinize and consolidate what we
>> have now.
>> 
>> One last comment is that I would not support "powerpoint" as a
>> desireable format. Especially with presentations once stuck on one
>> office package you will never leave because everything invariably falls
>> apart. Let us for now stick with whatever projets are used to and wait a
>> bit more for HTML5.
>> 
>> To me "nudging" feels a lot more like OSGeo than the threat of "imposing
>> rules". But this is just my old me...
>> 
>> Best regards,
>> Arnulf
>> 
>> Cameron Shorter wrote:
>>> Jody,
>>> Why not add your comments by email initially.
>>> I suggest that we discuss this at the next scheduled Marketing Committee
>>> meeting.
>> 
>>> We have just changed the timeslot, Tyler should be able to tell us the
>>> next meeting time. (It doesn't seem to be up to date here:
>>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Marketing_Meetings )
>> 
>>> On 08/11/10 18:57, Jody Garnett wrote:
>>>> I was thinking of taking that discussion to the marketing list; to see
>>>> how it aligns with committee goals before pestering project leads.
>>>> 
>>>> Would you like to make an IRC date; even if it is just the two of us
>>>> we could run through your wiki page and give it the once over.
>>>> 
>>>> I am pretty busy at work; but could try for Tuesday evening if you are
>>>> available?
>>>> 
>>>> Jody
>>>> 
>>>> On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 7:03 PM, Cameron Shorter
>>>> <cameron.shorter at gmail.com>  wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> On 06/11/10 13:38, Frank Warmerdam wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Jody Garnett wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Bit confused here cameron.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> The incubation committee is focused to helping projects into the
>>>>>>> foundation; the marketing committee needs to sort out what is
>>>>>>> required to
>>>>>>> facilitate involvement with any promotional activities OSGeo
>>>>>>> undertakes.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> So please don't respond to the incubation list; not really our cup of
>>>>>>> tea.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Jody,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I believe Cameron is hoping the incubation committee is a good place to
>>>>>> seek buy-in from the projects, and that we would make production of the
>>>>>> desired artifacts a condition of graduation.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> It does seem Cameron set a wide net (discuss, marketing and
>>>>>> incubation).
>>>>>> I personally don't like cross-list discussions.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Best regards,
>>>>>> 
>>>>> Jody, as Frank notes I've endeavoured to notify all people likely to be
>>>>> effected by marketing requirements for projects, and then focus
>>>>> discussion
>>>>> on one list, and I picked incubation as I expect that most people
>>>>> effected
>>>>> will be on this list.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I'm a little nervous that no one has questioned my marketing proposal.
>>>>> Either everyone thinks it is a great idea, or people have not had a
>>>>> chance
>>>>> to read through the proposed advanced incubation criteria and then raise
>>>>> concerns.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I'd appreciate some review of the proposed Marketing requirements and
>>>>> comment on whether I'm on track or not:
>>>>> 
>>>>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Marketing_Artefacts
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> -- 
>>>>> Cameron Shorter
>>>>> Geospatial Director
>>>>> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
>>>>> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254
>>>>> 
>>>>> Think Globally, Fix Locally
>>>>> Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Source
>>>>> http://www.lisasoft.com
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Incubator mailing list
>>>>> Incubator at lists.osgeo.org
>>>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/incubator
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> Daniel Morissette
> http://www.mapgears.com/
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-- 
Andreas Hocevar
OpenGeo - http://opengeo.org/
Expert service straight from the developers.