I see there is a thread with the subject of Leaflets. I have been away
until recently so please forgive me if I am not dovetailing into the
existing discussion well.
I am an 'Infopoint' (note 1) volunteer - FOSS information at events
and particularly Computer Fairs. I am lucky in having one held locally
each month, and can mostly attend and display at them.
My particular leaflets are tuned to the audience of 95% windows users,
some not even knowing what an operating system is.
For better or worse, the leaflet is now accepted in the local library,
the local small business computer shop ('have you any more leaflets,
they've all gone'? they asked today!), another computer (windows only)
repair shop (two or three staff only), and my local Dixons (Staff
interest only), also the local College IT tutor gladly accepted some
leaflets with other things (including live CD) to give to the near end
of term students, some already use Ubuntu.
Although the leaflet may not be 100% acceptable for linux cognoscenti,
it does seem to catch and hold attention of my target audience.
I am very happy if it could be added to the leaflet resources we
produce for Ubuntu.
Please note it is *deliberately* arranged as/for the following:
1) A folded format leaflet, 3 columns each side, folded as concertina.
(An earlier A5 double sided one was simply not well received - similar
content).
2) Mono (black) ink only. I print quite a few and ink does cost some
money, colour costs a lot more. (Any other pensioners out there?) I
wonder also if a fully professional leaflet would not look so credible
from a small volunteer outfit such as (I am)(!) 'Free' software is
greeted with suspicion enough without too obvious a mismatch about the
perceived cost of publicity.
3) In the leaflet heading, the first word is 'Free' then 'Open' and
'Source'.
'Free' and 'Open' are words with have very common use, and positive
use, also non technical, and 'source' is not too bad either. 'Free'
is the clinch. People start to read.
4) The secondary word is 'Information'. This is a *very* gentle sell,
no pushy stuff. 'Information' is accepted by public libraries, it
implies a culture of choice or benefit from knowing the information.
5) First page emboldened sub headings are 'Open code', 'good quality',
and 'Free', in that order.
Note that once the main word 'Free' has captured attention, the slant
moves to openness and quality, then a reinforcement of 'free'.
Whatever the analysis, it does seem to work :-)
6) (other content)
7) Note that the leaflet is based very locally, for Bracknell, so
local groups are referenced (Surrey LUG got left out, sorry), this
would obviously need change for other use. Ubuntu helpfulness is
hinted at but mention of the Forums is omitted because people using
the forums are already committed to at least a trial. They are not
this audience. The leaflet is aimed at people who may have heard a
brief reference to open source but are just curious, and usually
frightened or (not bothered) to move from windows.
I give my phone number to some people, depends on circumstances.
8) The leaflet begins with Freedom, Openness, quality and choice. It
then introduces *Ubuntu*, its popularity, and its community, including
helpfulness.
9) A ghostly Tux image. The simple graphic gives a bit of light
relief, and I personally think that Tux is a very useful Global
blanket branding in *concept* at this stage. It emphasises there is -
in concept - an alternative to Windows. I think that a Ubuntu logo
here at this stage in (my local) this context in such a broad leaflet
would be a bit out of place.
Ubuntu is very specifically singled out anyway. Ubuntu is the specific
instance of the Open concept.
I am not using my own web pages yet (I have a couple of virtually
unused empty sites), so if somebody will volunteer, I will happily
email them the leaflet (with only my own contact details edited out)
for downloading by others for modification or whatever and other
distribution.
Any volunteer please?
Note 1:
Infopoint Project - started by Jono Bacon a while ago for getting the
open source word out onto the streets. I have found it to be an
excellent label to use in my advocacy efforts locally:
http://infopointproject.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
--
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391
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