While I think Talli's idea of a foundation may not be a bad one in
the long-run, we should learn to walk before we try to run here.
Janine and Malte have both made outstanding points about
things we can do that don't require money. The main thing is to
develop a unified marketing message about the platform. Once
we have articulated that message, we should post web pages
on this site that essentially act as marketing materials for
anyone trying to sell OpenACS. This requires time more than
cash. Sweat equity is what makes this community work, and I
think we ought to stick with that model for as long as we can
make it work.
I also think we need to help each other figure out how to
pro-actively market to different segments. For example, one
OpenACS shop may decide they want to go after community
colleges. We should be able to help that shop fine-tune the
general OpenACS marketing message to reach out to that
particular audience. Then the people who run that particular
shop can decide if they want to spend money marketing to that
particular audience and, if so, how.
If we can build up a little trust here, then Company X shouldn't
worry about asking the community for tips about how to go after
that particular market. In fact, the opposite should happen.
Company Y should come along and say, "Hey, we're going after
higher ed too. Tell you what; we'll stay away from the Northeast
for now if you stay away from the Southeast for now. Or,
alternatively, we'll focus our efforts on the four-year schools and
you go after the two-year schools. In the meantime, let's swap
some ideas about how to sell to higher ed." As long as *you* are
going after the customers rather than waiting for them to come to
you, the world of possibilities is so huge that there's no reason
why Company X and Company Y can't agree to stay out of each
other's way, at least until they grow much, much bigger.
Now, of course there will be occasions when two or more shops
have to bid against each other. That's OK; it's called capitalism.
But the more we can do to expand the pie, the less often that will
happen. And if everybody is getting enough work to stay in
business, it won't hurt Company X quite so much to lose an
occasional job to Company Y.
