The Ubuntu community has contributed 12357 ideas, 58479 comments, 1187050 votes
Idea
#1229: Ubuntu needs better marketing
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Written by ninoskiz the 29 Feb 08 at 10:35.
Category: Others.
Related to:
Nothing/Others.
Status: New
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Description
Ubuntu’s goal is to be the most popular desktop OS for humans. But new versions of Ubuntu, like most Linux distros, are still marketed towards Linux geeks. They’re concerned with technology, trumpeting version numbers and drowning out the actual things you can do with their software.
We’re picking on Ubuntu specifically because it has higher goals than most distros - it’s Linux for human beings, not Linux for hackers. Unfortunately, the release announcements have forgotten what humans care primarily about: themselves....
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Comments
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Remmy wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 10:41
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The problem is that Ubuntu (or GNU/Linux in general) doesn't have a marketing team that will work without compensation. People are willing to devote their time and resources towards the creation of incredibly intuitive advertisements that appeal to the average Joe, but without the money to place such advertisements in the public eye, it's pointless.
An initiative to do such would be great, but it would need to be spearheaded by a known name in the community who could be trusted to handle such a task.
By the way, I agree with you 100% and I have been a *nix user for 12 years, just switching to a desktop environment in 2004. I want growth. Growth brings developers, developers bring software, and software brings growth. It's a cycle I hope never ends.
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PreviousN wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 10:46
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I don't think anyone would argue that better marking is a good thing.
Ideas:
1. I think promoting the ubuntu magazine on the ubuntu webpage for example would be a good idea.
2. Maybe a partnership with google to put some adds for some support for canonical. I seem to recall that they use a modified version of it themselves.
3. tit-for-tat marketing for dell and the like. Let them show an add on ubuntu's webpage and dell may agree to have ubuntu put a flash of 3d desktop and wobbly windows on their site?
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jimmystewpot wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 12:06
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Yes, Marketing could be a good thing. The flip side of that is by marketing a product which may not be ready in many peoples eyes for the mass market will only hurt the long term goal of the project. If we look at the improvements that Ubuntu and Linux in general have made in the desktop arena over the last 2-3 years (I have been using Linux as my sole desktop for ~6 years or more) its been amazing, but my partner and friends who use my systems tend to still have issues which means by marketing a product that is not ready for the wider community in general it could cause people to really dislike linux and ubuntu even more... once burnt twice shy. The flip side is that its possible by marketing the project more people become interested in it and more help / money is provided through support to improve the projects faster. Its hard to tell without trying which outcome would be more likely.
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Jadd wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 14:07
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So what's your idea? You haven't actually given any.
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employeeno5 wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 16:22
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Sell Ubuntu bumper stickers.
It's not as potentially effective as other marketing could be but it raises Ubuntu's and Linux's public profile while potentially generating revenue for development rather than spending money on advertising.
People can show their enthusiasm while potentially peaking the interests of strangers, or reinforcing the potential interest of the Linux-curious who might see the stickers.
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rawsausage wrote on the 1 Mar 08 at 19:43
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Marketing != advertising. Marketing is about integrating the demand and the offer. That means strategic and bold changes to the product. Never doable in a democratic community project with too much change resistance.
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ninoskiz wrote on the 7 Mar 08 at 15:08
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My idea coincides with the 100% that blog! So I decided to publish it here, I did not know if it was lawful to put linck a blog!
In practice my proposal is the creation a group marketing to deal fully and promotion of ubuntu! Managing the homepage, release notes, the appearance of the site, creating banner initiatives and so on!
Here's a little idea:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71538651@N00/2316824342/sizes/o/
Forgive me: English maked by google translate!
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