Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Right here's the story so far:

Some of us think it could be both fun and useful to have a marketing campaign run by the community. The basic premises for it is that it should be fairly easy to execute and not require the participants to spend any of their hard earned dollars, euros, RMB etc.

This thread is dedicated to you suggestions of what this could consist of. Any suggestions are welcomed, and in the spirit of open-source everyone should feel free to contribute ideas, fidget with other peoples ideas etc.

After we collect some finished articles we'll hold a poll in the community to see which ones gather most support.

So, let the brainstorming begin ;)

PS: link to original thread http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=31433

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

My suggestion for a slogan:

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

OK, cool slogan.

I like:

Maemo, the future is wide open

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

There you go.

I'm thinking that besides openness, what sets the N900 apart from the iPhone and a few other competitors is touchscreen + keyboard. So a video could start by displaying a montage of pure touch uses for a second or two, and then a voiceover mentions the slogan while the keyboard slides open and the animation kicks into overdrive (along with music... which would have to be free of constraints and if worst comes to worst I could come up with something). I see the music as starting very soothing techno during the early montage and cranking into rock when the keyboard opens...

Just a thought.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

definitely the keyboard need to be featured, but one thing that I've noticed people seem pretty excited about is the fact tha it is open source and the number of developers and people making fixes this could mean. Do you think this should feature or is it a bit to scholarly for a video?

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Oops! I omitted that-- yes, the voiceover should tie in the openness after the keyboard slides open. Absolutely that should be mentioned and I am suggesting that the text about openness should tie in with visuals (not just the sliding keyboard-- that would be the start).

And the subject of music touches on my other concern about Nokia and other restrictions. I would like the music to incorporate elements of well-known Nokia ringtones (from works of Jean Sibelius or others) and this may require permissions (not necessarily from Nokia).

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

right,

So how about this:

Competition for the best N900 video to be pushed by the community in a viral campaign?

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Sure. And I personally would also like to see, in a separate effort, a community-led collaborative production.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Yeah that might be beter actually as it might limit the amount of time and effort any one individual has to spend. It also gets me out of the pickle of making a video without actually owning, or ever having laid hands on, a device.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

That was my thinking as well. I may get access to a device soon, but if so it won't be for long. If I participate I will focus on music and possibly text content.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

I'm no Jean Sibelius, but I do some musical production and instrumental scoring. Mostly hip hop flavored, but I'm versatile enough to pull off any genre. Just so you know, since I'm basically free and Jean may not be.

Not to poop on the previous ideas, but I think we need something bold, funny, and that talks to geeks. I had this idea awhile for the N95 in its heyday, and could easily adapt it to the N900:

The point of the N900 is it is open, so its able to do anything we want, can solve problems in an instant, and is backed by a group of highly skilled open source developers ready to supply any apps we need in a quick manner. The N900's biggest advantage over all other devices is its developer network, and I want it front and center in the campaign. That plus the versatility of the device.

So I propose producing a short film. In it, we have a Verizon Wireless "the Network" type of group that is always following the user. The user will have problems, and need a certain function to solve them. That's where the devs step in, tap a few keys on keyboard while huddled together, and voila! Issue solved with an app!

You can also show "other" smartphones taking too long to do something, and the N900 taking over more tasks at once with multitasking,

using the N900 with TV out for gaming when a Playstation breaks at a party,

using the N900 for movies at the theater when the projector is on the fritz,

using the N900 connected to a sound system at a party just abandoned by a disgruntled DJ,

showing a snooty movie director getting upset at his staff and trashing the panavision cameras, and then mulling cancelling filming for the day, until the Maemo devs step in and hand him an N900, and next it shows the director filming with it, yelling "CUT!", and "Brilliant", with the entire staff behind the screen clapping.

showing 2 guys with smartphones lost in the desert without a data connection, with one using an "iPhone-like" device, unable to use mapping software offline, and the N900 using its offline maps to direct them to an oasis of bikini clad ladies with drinks, and when they see the guy with the N900, they rush him seductively into a cabin but don't allow the "iPhone-like" user.

Show a lonely and small geeky teenage software developer before a massive app approval council similar to the UN security council, speaking of his new app that solves world peace, global warming, and food shortages of the world, but the council rejects the app because the council's device already has a calculator app that solves problems just fine, and "we don't duplicate functions, boys". Then the N900 developers say, "Come with us, we know just what you need..."

And the N900 fills the screen. Then the geek says, "I can't leave yet. I need to call my mother first!", and the N900 rings the Nokia ringtone, and the guy goes, "Mom! I'll be a little late for supper..."

I'm full of this stuff.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Do we have any other digital media guys here? I know timsamoff is the king. Maybe he can lead this initiative if he has time, or even do the entire video! Don't be so lazy, Tim... LOL

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Ok... so one of the first focus is to have some sort of viral video that we can easily forward to other people with a youtube link.

I think rather than sharing each of our imaginations of what the winning video would/should be like, it'd be better if we arrange a competition and the winning video(s) are based on public voting.

Everyone will obviously think their idea is the winner... but that's not always the case.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Now I'm wondering about using material from pre-existing videos, like from Nokia, in a mashup...

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

hm, a few slogans that came to my mind:

Nokia N900 - Mobile computer on the go.
Nokia N900 - Everything. Everywhere.
Maemo 5 - Use your imagination.
Maemo 5 - Explore the unlimited.
Maemo 5 - You choose. You decide.
Maemo 5 - Open as the sky above.

What do you think? :)

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

wow,

we're really getting some great ideas here now!!

@christexaport I love the ideas! alhough I think showing a director shooting a movie gives the wrong impression about the quality of the cam. Say what you will but it won't win you any oscars ;)

How do you think we, as a community, could realise these concepts?

@ysss and Texrat: I think if we have a competition we'll end up with a mash-up of existing footage (sort of a Maemo mix), but do you think we'll get enough people to contribute their own videos o make the option of a competition viable?

@Jack6428 I personally really like the Nokia N900 - Everything. Everywhere and Maemo 5 - You choose. You decide. I think this looks like the kind of message that Nokia are looking to send regarding device (besides the message that it's not a phone;))

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

wow,

we're really getting some great ideas here now!!

@christexaport I love the ideas! alhough I think showing a director shooting a movie gives the wrong impression about the quality of the cam. Say what you will but it won't win you any oscars ;)

How do you think we, as a community, could realise these concepts?

@ysss and Texrat: I think if we have a competition we'll end up with a mash-up of existing footage (sort of a Maemo mix), but do you think we'll get enough people to contribute their own videos o make the option of a competition viable?

@Jack6428 I personally really like the Nokia N900 - Everything. Everywhere and Maemo 5 - You choose. You decide. I think this looks like the kind of message that Nokia are looking to send regarding device (besides the message that it's not a phone;))

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Call me a perv, but that reminds me too much of goatse.cx :D

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

there are so many ideas... wow!

the one thing i'm not sure about is: what's the message? is "open" something ppl will get excited about? apple's message, i guess, was "cool". cool is what some folks apparently want to be. i hope nobody here suggests "even cooler" as our message or else i'd shiver.

so how could "open" become more emotional? what's open aside from the software ecosystem?

i believe there should be people. people interacting. people being more open/inviting/friendly/... than the average geek. i like christexaport's ideas because the involve people.

open - open to new people - open minded - open to all kinds of ideas - ... "connecting people" is close, but too conservative.

scenes that show how a maemo device makes people meet and have fun together... people who wouldn't have had a reason to talk to each other without their devices. make it clear how they share, create, how they use open software to create stuff they share open...

good looking, relaxed people. the "i want to be like her/him"-kind of people.

sounds like a €1000000 video production? not necessarily. it could be a blog entry, a photo on flickr, 20 seconds on youtube.... the point is to transport emotions, not only facts and "i like it because..."

oh, one more note:
i know one person who owns an iphone. whenever he sends a mail from this device, the signature reads "sent from an iphone". i don't know if this is a default setting or if it was his idea, but it drives me nuts. never. never. never do this. :)

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

This thread reminds me of thoughtfix's contest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OffXE...video_response

So how about someone sponsoring such a contest...

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Video is where it's at, no doubt. A series of short videos, maybe from 15 sec to 1 minute long, could be uploaded to Youtube, etc. YouTube has no restriction on such use. Something (hopefully) cool and hilarious, that will grab attention. A little risky, edgy, so there's some chance of a viral effect.

Downside is, if they're NOT cool or hilarious, they could be come an unintentional bad joke and do more harm than good. So you'll have to be careful to get the desired effect.

Thing is, people here will have plenty of good ideas, actually pulling 'em off will be the hard part. IMHO cristexaport has some good ideas - not that others haven't or won't, but as examples. Ya need to get a few people together to pull his off. But they're a good starting point, have the right 'feel'.

Especially the bold and funny part. To make an effort worthwhile, i.e. to make a dent in the market, the campaign needs to appeal to much more than just geeks.

Cute idea, but Veri$on might get twisted about that.

The N900's multitasking goes beyond not just the iPhone, but beyond anything Android phones can do. It's one of the best things about it and should be hyped to the hilt.

Good ones for the TV out. But lotsa phones/ipods can connect for sound. How many can do it via an FM transmitter? Maybe have an iPhone guy without a cable and a guy use the N900's FM to save the situation.

I like this, and while I can see freppas' point, who really cares if it kinda overstates quality of the cam. That's what funny ads do - exaggerate for effect.

A geek's dream. Sex sells. Just wish I could get in on recruiting the ladies.
And that's another N900 advantage that needs to be highlighted.

Anything that brings attention to the 800x480 screen resolution would be good. Maybe 2 guys trying to watch a video and one can't tell who people are or just what they're doing. The other says he can easily on his N900 and pulls up the video to take a look. "It's Dick and Jane and fool, that's not YouTube you're watching, it's YouPorn!"

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

I guess you aren't aware of the various films and music videos created with Nokia phones, such as music videos by the Noisettes, Rob Dickinson, Eskimo Hunter, Chantal Kreviazuk, plus complete short and feature films from Spike Lee and Barbara Seghezzi.

Many aspiring filmmakers use Nokia Nseries devices for video, and the N900 shoots probably the best video other than the N93, and though without autofocus, which Nokia doesn't have in any other video device, probably alot sharper than the N93 as well.

Just trust me, the video angle will be a winner. It is for most Symbian guys, and the N900 will bring a different level of video and image capture than most of you are used to. It is DVD quality video. That's better than anyone else by far, and the world needs to know.

I agree whatever we do must speak to more than geeks, but we don't want to be too simplistic. The N900 is for the tech savvy guy, and we'll need to speak his language in layman's terms.

Something I think resonates with geeks on a subliminal level is if the characters are lampooned, like the Beastie Boys in the "Sabotage" video. The 70's look and bad wigs makes people laugh. It's totally G4/TechTVish in nature.

For the "Verizon like group", we don't need to copy them at all. I say call the devs "The ORG", and they should not look like geeks with the tape on the bridge of the glasses, but sleekly dressed trendy guys with fashionable framed glasses and expensive clothes. The RICH geek that's your boss, not the nerds with no ladies that work in the A/V dept. We need the geeks to be something cool, maybe a group of 10 guys and gals, all attractive, with laptops, wireless microphone headsets, the works.

I'm all for the FM transmitter deal, and the TV out one as well. Not many devices have true tv out.

I'm ready to start doing storyboards, but I don't have any video equipment at all right now. I can contribute music if necessary, maybe write a script. I'd really hope to have timsamoff as the lead on this based on his expertise and experience. Do we have a time constraint to get this done? I'm really wanting to make it happen.

I think the quality of the production should be good. To have multiple videos on YouTube of various quality may detract from the perception of Maemo and the N900. Apple ads are always perfect. We need the same quality, and I don't see why we can't get it ourselves.

Does anyone have any volunteers for a cast?

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Let's play "Stand by Me" with n900's just like these guys :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM

Or we can sing something more related like "Heaven for Everyone" by Queen :)

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

^that was way cool... Thanks again.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

If you want to have a campaign before or around the Summit you won't be able to use and show the N900 itself. Actually you won't beable to tell much based on your own experiences since most of you will not have grabbed one yet.

So what about something like 60" max videos with you explaining why you think Maemo 5 and/or the N900 are ideal for you? can be a self-portrait while you speak or something else with your voice in off etc

Easy to produce, good for right now and in the meantime you can prepare more complex productions...

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Is the reason people may not have grabbed one due to the n900 not being shipped? This poster has suggested Nokia sent a letter related to a delay until November. Is it true?

Just wondering since I have pre-ordered the n900.:D

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

I think some youtube videos of people in "actual" situations would be legit. Using ideas already posted in this thread would work fine.

Like two guys driving in a car, and one guy pulls out his iphone and starts playing some crap music. Then the other guy pulls out his n900, and FM transmits some good music to cover it up. And the iphone guy is like dude, how are you doing that!!!

Or (my favorite part of the tablets):

The iPhone guy is like 'OHHH LOOOK! A app to take timed pictures! Only $5!' I'm a downloading it!!

Then the n900 guy is like "pshhh..." Whips out his tablet, and writes a shell script in the time it takes for the app to download.

However, the biggest selling point of the N900 is the multitasking, so something like a guy browsing the web, and listing to music, and talking on IM, while downloading some torrents, while doing other stuff i cant think off...

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

@Thesandlord: Unless you have a graphical drag&drop script builder for maemo that's usable by non-coder end user, I don't think that's a good thing to advertise:

Those potential buyers who can script and are already interested in Linux pocketable device, have probably already heard about maemo\N900. So we don't need to tout maemo's merit to them much..

Those regular Joes who make up for 90+% of the potential buyers will either get turned off by 'writing text programs' to do something that they can buy a $0.99 widget.. or will get the wrong ideas, and think writing scripts is like making Automator macro on a Mac.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

@christexaport, no I'd never heard of that actually, that's so cool though! You live and you learn I guess.

I'm definitely down for making a short video about why I think Maemo and the N900 would be ideal for me. They could be a good basis for later efforts as well, Say using the voice of someone explaining what they'd like with images of the N900 actually performing them. But that's a later thought.

I have a slight problem though, since I am currently residing in China I have, at best, an extremely slow connection to youtube, facebook, twitter etc. Can you guys view www.youku.com? I know some of the content on there is blocked in the US for example.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

freppas, I can view Youku content just fine from my end here in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, aka "Telecom Prairie"

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

"Does it have a vibrate function?"

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

So where's Tim Samoff?? And we have a few ideas, so what will we need to implement some of them? What resources can we share to make some of them a reality? I'm prepared to work on all of them, but I'm not privy to any film equipment anymore, and I've pawned my camcorders.

What's the plan?

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

How about the n900 reflects the new age post greed, post self, post I......phone.

Now its about Altruism,community, the planet, more than myself its about WE.... phone.

Mike C

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

I like that. Apple has the iPhone. Nokia has the mePhone! Mobiles MY way.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

myphone :) "This is what I'll do with Apple! ;) :D

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

wePhone. Cool. ;) (Although it does also relate to "wee" -- both the "small" definition and the "urin" one.)

Hey, I'm happy to help, but my current work-load makes it nearly impossible for me to instigate "new" ideas. If you have something you need me to do, tell me and I'll consider. Otherwise, I probably won't self-start (until after the Summit).

Someone had an idea for recording video testimonials about how they'd use an N900. I think that is really cool -- and anyone can do it without help. What I can do it try to setup some a Channel on YouTube (I've never done it before, but I'll look into it). Then everyone can upload (or add?) there.

If someone wants to outline a blog announcement post about it, I'd be happy to edit/rewrite and post it on the m.o blog.

Thanks,
Tim

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

I think the idea of setting up a youtube channel is great. Then you can all just add videos there. Testimonies, advertisements, etc..

Anyway, I think you should stress the possibilities, so those who are pre-ordering the n900 and getting them when they come out (I'll be waiting till my contract with Sprint ends and maybe the n900 will be slightly cheaper next year =P) could record videos from the n900's desktop. Then maybe compare it to the iPhone/Android equivilent.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

All right, we have a channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ourMaemo

It's called "ourMaemo."

Now, all we need is a "call to arms" and some videos.

If I get indspired, I'll write something. Like I said earlier, if anyone would like to present a rough outline of what should be said, that would be better. :)

Update: You may upload videos to this channel by using <zz1n8cdac640 [at] m [dot] youtube [dot] com> (Subject = Title; Body = Description). Be sure to add your name and/or URL to the description. I'll attempt to moderate the "garbage."

Thanks,
Tim

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

And if everyone takes their N900 (or stand-in) from screen left and ends with passing it off screen right, we can have Eternal Maemo.

Re: Proposals for community-based marketing campaign
 

Nice. :D

Tim