Hi Folks, i am a small time business owner converted to linux years ago and am trying to start a business helping cash strapped students and older people re-use their old machines by installing linux (ubuntu). I have successfully converted the family!! and now want to venture out to the public. I have some flyers made up but am darned if i know how to appeal to the public.

i came up with the following:

Free Your Computer?
Reclaim Your Computer
Computer Blues

and the usual stuff, but it sounds vague. Dont want to 'bash' MS and want people to understand via my leaflet what I can do for them but its a hard one if the public are not already aware of the benefits of linux.

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE some ideas. I am female, and not a techie, but i know enough about computers I already have a core of some people who i have helped and have saved people a lot of money which is what I want to do.

any help would be MUCH appreciated. Im not interested in making loadsa money, just want to do something ethical (which I think this is) and be able to live at the same time.

thanks so much everyone. Its good being here and reading all the threads!!! I have gained a lot reading here.

The Helios project did a radio ad some time ago. It sparked some interest...

As for a flyer... An interesting idea. Maybe a picture of Tux with the text: 'He'd like you and your old computer to be friends again.' along with details on how to contact you.

You say you're using Ubuntu. Have you familiarised yourself with Lubuntu or Xubuntu in case anyone turns up with hardware that Ubuntu would be too much for?

Hey there, thank you for replying and thanks for the great link you sent. Yes, i have lubuntu on my laptop and am familiarising myself with other desktops too.

I did a survey of my street, after sending out some flyers. It was entitled ' free your computer'. I offered all the things that linux could do, for people who were 'ready to throw out their computers'. The flyer said 'don't recycle - re USE'. I got a couple of people interested in the linux idea but i dont think a flyer can do much justice in terms of bringing people to linux just because they simply can't believe that there is an alternative to MS.

I will try though, and keep on trying. I am going to change my flyer to something like 'dont buy a new computer' save $$$, etc.

its about convincing people that they can save money and also take control of their machines, instead of the other way round. Aint it??

thanks again and anyone else with ideas, would be warmly appreciated.

Be sure to post whatever you come up with here! 8)

If you have the budget you can pass a few ubuntu CDs a week to people. A CD can tell more than a flyer.

BTW, I think Linux Mint, a derivative of ubuntu, would be a better choice for a complete newbie. Linux Mint will install the codecs and other proprietary stuff that ubuntu doesn't.

Welcome to LQ

Emphasize the benefits. They will be getting up-to-date software, unsurpassed security, unlimited free upgrades, access to thousands of free applications, the potential for total control over their computer, the potential to learn about computer software limited only by their own desire and aptitude, and it will take them off the expensive hardware upgrade treadmill that users of Microsoft Windows are forced to endure. Offer personalized technical support in addition to the freely available support of on-line communities.

Include a screen shot of a nice Linux desktop and one or two testimonials from satisfied "customers" that emphasizes how easy it is to make the switch and to use it for specific, common tasks, such as email, web browsing, money management, and word processing. Aim it at parents looking to give their children an advantage in computer skills, at low income people unable to afford expensive software suites, at elderly looking for low-maintenance, affordable hardware and software for connecting with family and friends on the Internet, at students on tight budgets who would rather spend their money on clothes or books.

Hi DV502 - well ahead of you there, been giving out cd's for free for a couple months now.

had a few calls back. its just gonna be a slow one, i think -

very hard to sell a 'concept' to people who think that MS is the only OS out there. Most people who contact me dont even know what an OS is, and actually think their computer (hard ware) is the same as their software, one and the same.

its all scary to them.

hard to convey on a flyer what i could offer, just looking for the right phrases to 'catch' their eye.

thanks for advice on Ubuntu mint - will bear that in mind.

How about this phrase

Use the Best And forget the Rest

Sorry, I'm not an advertising expert.

Like penguiniator said, Emphasize the benefits in a phrase.

List the strongest benefits that you can think of and include some youtube links of ubuntu and compiz fusion in action.

You can also setup a blog and share your experience after switching to linux. You can put your blog link in the flyer as well.


- Cheers

?????

there are a few things that MS and Apple are very good at so ....

i think of it as more of an "idea " or "philosophy "
-- this would not go over well --
the difference between marx and these two ,Mao and Stalin ( the last two are Microsoft )


maybe get some inspiration from
http://www.linux.org/info/success.html
http://www.linux.org/news/opinion/success_user.html
http://jeffhoogland.blogspot.com/201...right-way.html
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8449
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscente...use_linux.html
-- a bit old --
http://www.internetling.com/2008/03/...sts-reference/

@ John VV

Just a little linux humor, that's why I put the smilley afterwards.

Moved to GENERAL as it's a Marketing question, not a Linux one.

Offer to convert their computer to a dual booter. Maybe even have classes at the public library or charge them to get everything working fine.You would have to create an environment that nurtures perspective users like a music store where you can get the product and take lessons for it. If you are an expert getting Winonly printers to work and such that would be a great nitch.

Linux documentation should be as good as it can be and it is far from it so everyone shoul d try to help out in that area.

Such great ideas people. I have done a lot of work for the elderly in my community. I just wish others would listen to them when they pontificate on the ease of use of linux. The 'classes at local library' is a great idea. I have already encountered the wrath of a local pc repair shop (???) who dont 'fix' linux or install it - 2nd hand comments came to me via someone I helped, that this store wasnt too happy with the fact i was virtually upgrading pc's for 'free'. OhI well, all publicity is good I suppose.

Dont want to sound tooo evangelical but this is a no brainer for people who dont want to spend unecessary money on computers. It is a concept though, for most people and its like selling coke vs pepsi -

again thank you all for your kind advices!! really helped me a lot.
-

NOBODY will listen to that .Once you start people will tune you right out .

it needs to be there idea .They must want it . other wise they will not take the time to learn something new

Not the first time I've heard of that reaction. Maybe that'd be a good marketing line. "The 'secret' they don't want you to know!"

I've often thought there are people from big corporations down to small PC shops who are very comfortable with the situation where the general public use an inferior product that fairly predictably needs replacement or repair. Widespread use of a system that starts of with better stability and performance and then encourages folk to learn how to use and maintain it themselves won't go down too well, I feel!

BTW, here's something I threw together in 5 minutes. All it aims to do is to get people curious enough to realise there is an alternative out there...

Attached Files

tux_flyer.pdf (52.1 KB, 12 views)