[Typo3-marketing] Marketing Worksshops vs Action

[Sander Vogels]

Hi again,

> I just wrote that I understand that it does not lie with the
> responsibilities (or possibilities) of the Association to cover the expenses
> of such a national meeting.

I beg to differ if this is not -at least a little bit- within' the 
Associations' range of responsebillities. If we like marketing to be 
part of the Communications Committée, we should at least have some 
budget otherwise we're paper tigers..
> 
> Things like appearing at LinuxTag are either sponsored (Kasper was sponsored
> by Open Source Press) or paid for by myself in my case.

That's very noble of you but I would like people like Kasper and you 
have some budget to be able to go to important events might you have the 
possibillity there to give a lecture or something about TYPO3. These 
high-press aware events *must* be covered.

> I also don't think it is a problem to go on doing it like this for the
> foreseeable future, unless we would have to go somewhere more distant or
> more frequent, or both.

Well that I would like you to go, US events, China Open Source 
Conference etc. (not that I want you far away ;-)
> 
> Obviously the Association does not have the resources at present to do most
> of what you would like it to do and must concentrate on what is most
> important. I also think it is more effective to look at what you are
> proposing and try to think of how to find volunteers able and willing to
> take over these tasks, in order to get them done.

That is possible. I agree concentrating on R&D is key. But we're bihind 
the period were we all set in our dark offices coding all night. And 
sending Michelle to an important US conference will not such an impact 
as when Kaper goes (sorry Michelle, no offense). They always want to see 
and hear 'mr. Big'.
> 
> 
>>For global marketing is not much money needed and I think we should
>>spend some Association money on it, lets say about 6% of the anual
>>budget. Creating strong UG's and local portals for the US, South
>>America, Australia and Asia is part of it in my view.
> 
> 
> Isn't that something that should be done by people in those
> countries/regions with help from consultancies in more mature markets?

That is what is already happening. We will give our Dutch portal to 
other regions for tailoring it to that market. But then you still need 
budget for webmarketing. We pay Google for example.
> 
> As with Michelle's plans for the US portal, it also seems to me these things
> are best done by locals.
> 
> What do others think about using Association funds for marketing purposes
> such as Sander proposes?
formation to it.
>>
>>Maybe somebody can explain me what a face to face meeting can add to the
>>ideas and knowledge we already have?
> 
> 
> I would have thought there is room for improvement, but your vote is now
> clear, thanks.

Well maybe if there is a clear agenda with points that really need to be 
worked out in theory before taken into action, it makes sense. In such 
case a German national meeting might be usefull, this I cannot judge 
'from the outside' since I have no knowledge at all about the level of 
joint marketing out there.

Ciao, Sander