[TYPO3-marketing] FW: National TYPO3 sites (marketing) - guidelines/how to use TYPO3 CI

[Sander Vogels]

Hi,

There has been a discussion about a year ago about if local/regional 
websites should be created that target local markets, or if we just 
should have all different language versions of typo3.com and maybe even 
.org. Let me give an abstract and my own view about the matter.

This whole topic has three dimensions;

1. marketing
2. organisation / responsibilities
3. design / TYPO3 CI

Ad.1. Every market (country) has its own language, dynamics, economics, 
CMS players, culture, government etc etc. So the need for localised 
TYPO3 websites is obviously there.

Ad.2. The T3A has clearly stated that they don't want to get involved in 
local organisations, local marketing, local sub Associations etc. This 
would al be too much to organise and this level of organisation is not 
something you wish for in an open-source project. TYPO3 is no 
multi-national corporation and should not behave like it. Typeheads that 
organise the local UG's, handle press and take care of tha local 
language versions of TYPO3 work quit good. User-Goups that organise 
themselfses are the perfect form in open-source. Conclusion is -imho- 
that they are the right people to take the initiative and the lead 
creating a local -country- portal.

Ad.3. Now there is a new CI and a style guide that comes with it, what 
you need more? As long as the local TYPO3 websites keep-up with the 
style-guide and certain quality standards which can be set by the 
Typehead, it should work-out fine I guess.
We definitly should not copy .com or .org for local websites, this would 
be very confusing. Since the local site is no official T3A publication 
it should not give the impression that it's official. On .com and .org 
the Active Members of the T3A have everything they publish under control 
so they can also be responsible for what is put online. Locally this is 
not the case so this should clearly show in the design.

So if I combine these three aspects of the topic my conclusions are:
1. Every country needs it's own localised portal;
2. This portal should be organised by the country's Typehead ad created 
by the local UG;
3. The design should stick to the TYPO3 CI and the rules layed-down in 
the Style Guide but be clearly distinguish from .com and .org.
4. The local site should also be the home-base of the local UG.

This is what happening right now in the US, Canada, Russia, Netherlands 
and Belgium. I would recommand others to do the same.
'Do not ask what the T3A can do for you, ask what you can do for TYPO3!'

Ciao,
Sander

PS I wrote a little paper last year which also refers to local 
marketing, you may download it here: 
www.netcreators.nl/fileadmin/SHARE/docs/Four_levels_of_marketing_TYPO3.pdf


Erik Svendsen (privat) wrote:
> Forwarded answer from Rasmus Skjoldan
> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Rasmus Skjoldan [mailto:rasmus at bee3.dk] 
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 4:48 PM
>> To: Erik Svendsen (privat); typo3-marketing at lists.netfielders.de
>> Subject: RE: National TYPO3 sites (marketing) - 
>> guidelines/how to use TYPO3 CI
>>
>>
>> Hi 
>>
>> This is something we've talked about all along the T3BRAND 
>> project and I still agree that it should be done.
>>
>> There's just no way for me to look into it right now. 
>>
>> The style guide is almost finished and will hopefully be 
>> released later this week. In there are some additional 
>> guidelines to the logo guide that will help make these 
>> choices about national TYPO3 sites.
>>
>> But apart from that I'll ask Ben O'Hear if he has any ideas 
>> about it - and if he has time to look into it.
>>
>> Best,
>> Rasmus 
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Erik Svendsen (privat) [mailto:erik at linnearad.no]
>>> Sent: 18. februar 2006 12:48
>>> To: typo3-marketing at lists.netfielders.de; rasmus at bee3.com
>>> Subject: National TYPO3 sites (marketing) - guidelines/how to 
>>> use TYPO3 CI
>>>
>>> This question was somehow put on the table in this
>>> thread/post in teams.typo3.org.
>>>
>>> news://news.netfielders.de/mailman.1118.1140168392.3122.typo3-
>>> team-typo3org@
>>> lists.netfielders.de
>>>
>>> I quote some of it.
>>>
>>> ---- From my own post ----
>>> Shouldn't it be made some guidelines for making national
>>> TYPO3 sites. If they are using the design and logo of 
>>> typo3.org/typo3.com they will look somehow official, and 
>>> should have a look thats "approved" by the association.
>>>
>>> I think national TYPO3 sites should give the same impression
>>> and still be easy to distinguish from typo3.com/typo3.org
>>> ---- End ----
>>>
>>> And a part of Robert's answer
>>>
>>> ---- quote ----
>>> Yes (to the first point)
>>>
>>> We also have to distinguish between typo3.com clones and
>>> typo3.org clones.
>>> While it makes sense having marketing focussed websites in 
>>> different countries, I don't think that it makes sense having 
>>> a second typo3.org.
>>> That's why I recently prepared all extensions on typo3.org 
>>> (including TER2) to support multiple languages so we have the 
>>> option in the future to offer typo3.org in other languages too.
>>> ---- end ----
>>>
>>> I think we need to use the momentum the new design, relaunch
>>> of typo3.com/typo3org and the version 4 give us, and try to 
>>> launch national sites where it could help to promote TYPO3 
>>> (and build local communities).
>>> And do a redesign where there are national sites already. I'm 
>>> planning one in Norway.
>>>
>>> But before we each on our own turf, is making our own design,
>>> with great potensial to spoil the new CI we should do/discuss 
>>> following:
>>>
>>> 1. Make guidelines how national sites/semiofficial sites
>>> should be designed compared to typo3.com. My opinion; give 
>>> the same impression, but still be easy to distinguish from 
>>> TYPO3.com. Maybe different picture/language is enough. Maybe 
>>> different colour on the topmenu. I think Rasmus and the 
>>> design team should take the responsibility making these guidelines. 
>>>
>>> 2. Who are allowed to set up national/semiofficial sites with
>>> an "approved"
>>> design. Maybe it's not important whom, but I think they have 
>>> to commit to have the site up and running, update it and to 
>>> cooperate with the national press contact, typehead and user groups.
>>>
>>> Maybe it's other topics to discuss.
>>>
>>> I don't know if this is the best list to discuss this topic.
>>>
>>> Ciao
>>>
>>> Erik Svendsen
>>> www.linnearad.no
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
> 
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