I used to run a free BBS back in Florida (mid '80s) and there was a LOT of
local competition (about ten in my town and a couple dozen more in nearby
Gainesville). These were all free-to-use (assuming local dial, of course)
and the competition was mostly for bragging rights ("I have thirty players
in MY Trade Wars!" "I had ninety logons yesterday!" ). As a result I got
involved with some guerilla marketing. I cut up sheets of paper into 1"x2"
pieces with my BBS name and phone number printed on each piece and went down
to the local book, computer and gaming stores. I would slip these one of
these sheets into the first third of as many related books as I could
(sci-fi fiction, role-playing games, computer related books, etc). At the
stores selling computer equipment I would try to slip these into any modem
boxes I could. When people would buy those items and come across these tags
some would probably throw them away as not interested, but others would give
my system a call. Back in a time when 300baud modems were still common and
word-of-mouth was the only major way of learning about BBS numbers this gave
me a major leg-up.
Now, I'm not suggesting this same level of "spam" (the mid '80s were a much
friendlier time :-), but there is the possibility of using similar tactics.
Several of us could make up little tags like the one I mentioned, listing
this mailing list, the local LUG websites and maybe even that there are "New
User Nights and Installfests available" (don't give dates...these books may
sit on the shelves for months). My first exposure to Linux was buying a
"Linux Unleashed" type book that included a Slackware CD. These would be
logical targets for LUG tags. So would any Linux for Dummies, Linux in 21
Days and similar books. For that matter, so would any books on
Troubleshooting Windoze. :-) Places where the distros are sold are a
harder process. Now days everything is shrink wrapped and you can't just
slip little sheets of paper in. But maybe someone has some creative ideas
on that one that wouldn't torque off the retail store. The idea is to try
to let new people know that there is an option available for various levels
of assistance, and if the big-name retailers won't let you do it directly
then maybe we need to get down into the trenches. I try to visit the
Portsmouth B&N at least once a week on my lunch break and would be happy to
participate in a guerilla campaign of penguin promotion if others are also
interested. Maybe someone could come up with a basic, friendly little tag
(small enough to slip into books w/out much notice) that can be used by all.
Input? Opinions?
-Larry
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