Linux Marketing info. leaflet

Hi

Hope you can help me here ..................

Been working long in Linux & Open Source Solution as a techi. ,
thought let me try to sell my Linux skills to small companies (having
5-10 networked pc's), decided to prepare a marketing leaflet, so can
start with distributing and hoping to hear from the companies.

What you think of the below Linux Marketing leaflet ?? , what
text/sentence would you add/delete inorder to attract a client.

Here is what am thinking to add on the Marketing leaflet ..........

===========Linux Marketing Leaflet=============

Can you answer the following questions :-
1. Were you affected by the Sasser worm ?
2. Do you regularly update Anti-virus on your computer ?
3. Are you scared to open email attachment from strangers ?
4. Is your IT network vulnerable to external attacts ?
5. Tired of viruses infecting your company ?
6. Did you pay for Anti-spam, Anti-virus and Email sofwares ?
7. Do you regurarly pay for MS Windows softwares License ?

If "YES" to any of the above then talk to us ASAP, we'll provide you
with much better cost effective solutions.


XYZ Ltd offers the following services :-
- Computer Installation/Repair/Upgrades/Maintenance
- Web Server - VPN
- Network File Server - Internet Firewall
- Network Design/Installation - E-Mail Server
- Network Security Audit - Remote Backup
- Networking - Wireless Networking
- Broadband Setup


...........FREE OFFER ..........FREE OFFER..........

FREE NETWORK LINUX FILE SERVER INSTALLATION
NO CATCH , IT'S OUR PROMISE

A Linux network file server for MS Windows PC's. You provide the
Intel/AMD hardware, above PII, 128M RAM, 4GB HDD.

XYZ Ltd, will install & configure on your company network, with ONE MS
Windows PC configured to the server with an option to configure more
MS Windows PC's.

Total typical cost will be 550, for you it will be FREE.
FREE OFFER Ends -
xx/xx/2004


Talk to us, we'll advice you how you can save on software license
cost.

XYZ Ltd is a Linux and Open Source Solutions (OSS) Provider.

================================================== =============================

Sorry, I am not a marketing person and requesting your help here.

Thanks in advance.

Regards
Dharmin

"dharmin" <dharmin98@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c870fd0eoi@enews2.newsguy.com...

> Been working long in Linux & Open Source Solution as a techi. ,
> thought let me try to sell my Linux skills to small companies (having
> 5-10 networked pc's), decided to prepare a marketing leaflet, so can
> start with distributing and hoping to hear from the companies.

dharmin ... Sorry, I think you are pretty far off base.

In a small company, the owner will be making those sorts of decisions. With
a few exceptions (and maybe you can play to that niche), his computers are
an annoyance he has to deal with. He probably hasn't heard of Sasser, he
wouldn't know how to open an attachment if he got one, and he probably
assumes his secretary updates whatever needs to be updated.

He probably doesn't think of his half dozen PC's as an "IT network", he
thinks of them as a cost he has to put up with.

Now there will probably be more than a few who will have heard of VPN's and
firewalls. They won't know what they are, but they -might- think they are
"cool". Again, this will be a narrow niche, but it might be one you could
break into.

For most small businesses, though, the only way you will sell something to
them is by telling them how you are going to reduce their costs. Talk to
them in dollars and cents. That is your customer's language.

....

"dharmin" <dharmin98@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c870fd0eoi@enews2.newsguy.com...
>
> Hi
>
> Hope you can help me here ..................
>
> Been working long in Linux & Open Source Solution as a techi. ,
> thought let me try to sell my Linux skills to small companies (having
> 5-10 networked pc's), decided to prepare a marketing leaflet, so can
> start with distributing and hoping to hear from the companies.
>
> What you think of the below Linux Marketing leaflet ?? , what
> text/sentence would you add/delete inorder to attract a client.
>
> Here is what am thinking to add on the Marketing leaflet ..........
>
> ===========Linux Marketing Leaflet=============
>
> Can you answer the following questions :-
> 1. Were you affected by the Sasser worm ?
> 2. Do you regularly update Anti-virus on your computer ?
> 3. Are you scared to open email attachment from strangers ?
> 4. Is your IT network vulnerable to external attacts ?
> 5. Tired of viruses infecting your company ?
> 6. Did you pay for Anti-spam, Anti-virus and Email sofwares ?

Software is plural. But spellcheck will catch that along with attacks.

> 7. Do you regurarly pay for MS Windows softwares License ?
>
> If "YES" to any of the above then talk to us ASAP, we'll provide you
> with much better cost effective solutions.

1. Spell check
2. If Yes or I Don't Know "You need to talk to us ASAP.
Maybe offer some kink of basic quick free phone consultation.

>
>
> XYZ Ltd offers the following services :-
> - Computer Installation/Repair/Upgrades/Maintenance
> - Web Server - VPN

(Virtual Private Network) Avoid too much geek-speak. Whoever is getting this
may not know what a VPN is or need one, but don't alienate them by using
terms they may not know.

> - Network File Server - Internet Firewall
> - Network Design/Installation - E-Mail Server

Maybe explain the advantage of having a local email server to pull messages
from the ISP's server to store locally. Or, convince them of getting their
own domain for email at least so they look more professional. You may be
able to sell them on having a local email server that could even run on a
dialup and pull their messages from a web host. Shouldn't be hard to find
small companies still using @comcast.net or @aol.com addresses.

> - Network Security Audit - Remote Backup
> - Networking - Wireless Networking
> - Broadband Setup
>
>
> ..........FREE OFFER ..........FREE OFFER..........
>
> FREE NETWORK LINUX FILE SERVER INSTALLATION
> NO CATCH , IT'S OUR PROMISE
>
> A Linux network file server for MS Windows PC's. You provide the
> Intel/AMD hardware, above PII, 128M RAM, 4GB HDD.
>
> XYZ Ltd, will install & configure on your company network, with ONE MS
> Windows PC configured to the server with an option to configure more
> MS Windows PC's.
>
> Total typical cost will be 550, for you it will be FREE.
> FREE OFFER Ends -

(Typical hardware cost if you don't have a spare PC)

> xx/xx/2004
>
>
> Talk to us, we'll advice you how you can save on software license
> cost.

costs.

Some of the more adept marketing types in the group I'm sure will have more.

--
McWebber
No email replies read
If someone tells you to forward an email to all your friends
please forget that I'm your friend.

> Been working long in Linux & Open Source Solution as a techi. ,
> thought let me try to sell my Linux skills to small companies (having
> 5-10 networked pc's)

You need to rethink your potential customer base IMHO. Linux is
intimidating to non-techies. Besides, the benefits of Linux such as
scalability, reliability, and security are small issues or non-issues to
small business owners. Their needs are met relatively well with Windows,
and the owners are probably more familiar with Windows.

This is not a bash against Linux. IMO, Linux is best left to medium and
larger companies that need strong back end computing. Remember too that
Linux can be time-consuming and difficult to administer. You will be
dealing with a wide range of situations.

You should think about doing market research before you hang your head out.
It can be as informal as talking to some buisness owners. The important
thing is to get a good objective idea of what needs exist. Remember, the
goal of business is to find needs and fill them.

> What you think of the below Linux Marketing leaflet ?? , what
> text/sentence would you add/delete inorder to attract a client.

To answer this question, you need to know what business owners are seeking.
You don't need to think you know, you actually need to know.

> Here is what am thinking to add on the Marketing leaflet ..........
>
> ===========Linux Marketing Leaflet=============
>
> Can you answer the following questions :-
> 1. Were you affected by the Sasser worm ?
> 2. Do you regularly update Anti-virus on your computer ?
> 3. Are you scared to open email attachment from strangers ?
> 4. Is your IT network vulnerable to external attacts ?
> 5. Tired of viruses infecting your company ?
> 6. Did you pay for Anti-spam, Anti-virus and Email sofwares ?
> 7. Do you regurarly pay for MS Windows softwares License ?

Try to avoid buzzwords or technical terms. Boil it down into manager speak.
Don't talk about IT networks (what the Hell is that, anyway?).

What impression do you want others to have of your company? Do they think
you're honest? Reliable? Available? Think of this, then go backwards and
come up with your offering. Have you developed a mission statement or a
business plan? If you haven't done any of this, then you're putting the
cart before the horse. Before you talk about marketing tactics, you must
have a firm strategy. If you've done this, good job. Go back and see what
your mission says, then make the leaflet consistent with that mission.

I'll tell you this, people don't respect pure technical ability. They get
turned off quickly if you show up and start spouting technical specifics.
Think broad. What do small businesses really want? Is price most
important, or quality, or something else? What do they want as far as
service? Do they expect you to maintain the equipment? For free? If not,
then how much are they willing to pay? These are all questions that are
specific to each market. You must research and find out the answers to
these and other questions.

> If "YES" to any of the above then talk to us ASAP, we'll provide you
> with much better cost effective solutions.

This is too wordy. It needs an edge.

> XYZ Ltd offers the following services :-
> - Computer Installation/Repair/Upgrades/Maintenance
> - Web Server - VPN
> - Network File Server - Internet Firewall
> - Network Design/Installation - E-Mail Server
> - Network Security Audit - Remote Backup
> - Networking - Wireless Networking
> - Broadband Setup

The most important thing is your target market. If you choose the wrong
market you will fail. It almost sounds like you're targeting medium-sized
businesses. What method did you use to come up with this list? Some of it
is good, but I can't imagine a small buisness owner wanting a network
security audit. I can guarantee they won't know what that is, and they
surely won't want to pay money for it. Remember, small business owners
don't have a ton of cash to throw around. We're back to needs again.

> ..........FREE OFFER ..........FREE OFFER..........
>
> FREE NETWORK LINUX FILE SERVER INSTALLATION
> NO CATCH , IT'S OUR PROMISE
>
> A Linux network file server for MS Windows PC's. You provide the
> Intel/AMD hardware, above PII, 128M RAM, 4GB HDD.

What if the company needs 100GB of storage on their file server and they
give you one with a 4GB HDD? There is too much technical information here.
The file server needs to serve a purpose. Another type of promotional may
be better. Maybe you could offer a free domain name with the purchase of a
web server. You would be out $20 for the name and charge them what you like
for the server. It wouldn't be technical or complicated, since people
understand domain names. You could get pretty creative with your
advertising here.

> Sorry, I am not a marketing person and requesting your help here.

I'm sort of a marketing person. I'm not expert for sure. The important
thing is remembering the reason you're in business. Tell me more about the
business as a whole and I'll give you more ideas.

I hope this helps.

-Kevin

I propose you boil down the customer benefits a bit more.
Everything you mention (in your list of questions) boils down
to the following fundamental customer issues/concerns:
* Can your business afford to lose its computing environment
for 2-4 days if you're attacked by a virus or some other
security breach?
* How vulnerable is your business if key information is stolen?
* Is the overall cost of your computing environment too high?

I'd focus on two basic things as you market your services:
* Highlight the BENEFITS your solutions provide. If you're using
technology in your benefits then they're not benefits.
* Make sure that 5-10 networked PCs is a size of environment
that warrants the type of server(s) you're wanting to install.

Jim Haselmaier
Ft. Collins, CO