The three ways we should be spreading Ubuntu
Posted: 2009-08-03
From my experience with the Ubuntu community, our main push to get people to switch to Ubuntu has been convincing and helping them to install it and try it themselves. I don't deny that this is important since at this point almost anyone who can install Windows can just as, if not more easily install Ubuntu, and we want these kinds of people to have experience with Ubuntu, but it should not be our only effort, or even our main one, to spread the love and joy that is Ubuntu.
As a side note to those who prefer other Free operating systems: i promote Ubuntu because it is in the best position to reach out to the masses which will benefit all of us as a whole. That's about as far as my loyalty extends. I'm sure your Linux distro is awesome too!
What percent of Windows users actually install it for themselves? If we spend more time reaching out to the users who don't, those who can install it will do so anyways. That being said, we shouldn't stop converting friends, because those personal connections are what help grow the community, but there is enough noise being made across the web about Ubuntu that if we completely shifted how and who we promote Ubuntu to, we could advance to solving Bug #1 much more rapidly. Individuals and Local Community advocacy groups are already in a perfect position for this.
- Sell Ubuntu Pre-installed
This should be the most obvious target for us. We should help provide free marketing to promote companies that supply hardware with Ubuntu Pre-installed, specifically companies that are dedicated to supplying only Linux like System76. Buy a machine for yourself and show it off as much as you can.
- Offer paid conversions and support services
Some people say we need to distribute Ubuntu with a price tag to increase its perceived value to potential users, but this is an even better option. While maintaining that Ubuntu costs nothing, we can sell conversion and support services. Marketing Ubuntu as a business can be much more effective. You talk about the same things you do as an activist (freedom, quality, security, and price), while selling a service that makes the unfamiliar software much less alien and intimidating. All you need to do is start offering this service on your own as widely as possible, and join together with others to start a small business around it.
- Marketing, marketing, marketing!
Focus on marketing using the same activism tactics you should already be familiar with to additionally promote the aforementioned targets: make videos for YouTube, hit the streets, distribute materials, appeal to businesses, organizations, and educational institutions, contact PC manufacturers and retail stores, get media coverage, lobby your government, get creative!