Re: Donations after new releases.

[steve <steve@szmidt.org>]

On Thursday 01 May 2003 23:53, Alex Kirk wrote:
> In all seriousness, this would probably be a good idea. I think
> people would respond better to "we only need $1,000 more to hit
> our goal of <$amount>" than "please donate, we really need the
> money". I'm not saying that people shouldn't encourage donations,
> of course -- but generally speaking, goals actually do improve
> performance.
>

I agree, based on my experience as a business owner, that goals are 
MUCH better, actually not having goals makes it very hard to 
accomplish things.

Now, one can have several goals. F.ex. to cover hotel we need $X, 
for Y we need $Y etc. One makes up games or challenges to overcome.

The ulimate test is the ability to make something go right! So if 
you want to play the "game" of getting something you want done 
done, you contribute what you can. Some obviously can contribute 
more than others.

In fund raising it's important to state a true goal. You enlighten 
people as to what it is that you are trying to accomplish. If they 
want to support your cause you give them choices as to what would 
be helpful. It could be fundraising, promoting the product, working 
on the product, money, etc. 

Then you come up with some kind of acknowledgement so that those who 
contributed can be properly acknowledged for their contributions.

I have a business partner who, in a different area, has raised 11 
million dollars from individuals to a non profit organization.

One of the things they need is ongoing funding to stay alive. Sounds 
applicable to me...

So they come up with levels of contributions which is increased when 
someone makes an even bigger contribution than they had before.

Each level gives certain priviledges. Discounts, early releases, 
listed in a newsletter (certainly tax writeoffs),  etc.

It starts with one person saying I'll manage it (as a volunteer).

This is a bit trickier of course being that all sorts of problems 
can and does occur when dealing with money. Especially when talking 
about complete strangers online.

An easy way around that is that all money collected goes directly to 
openbsd, not to Joe Blow who raised it. You could even give a 10% 
commission to Joe for doing it. Now he is even more motivated. If 
he's good he can substantially complement his income, or better.

As it grows the most successful guy/gal becomes in charge over 
others, as he/she has proven themselves a producer, and can make 
things happen. You can have weekly/monthly/quarterly and annual 
games where you score points by being a top fundraiser that 
week/month etc. and in the end win something you survey everyone 
for what they want to win.

Of course it has to be an enough desirable product to get people 
interested. It has to have enough quality and viability to make it 
look desirable. In the end it will fail if you cannot deliver a 
worthwhile product. OpenBSD should not have any problems here 
though.

You only add complexity as you grow. No need to be organized for 
1000 fundraisers with only two doing it. In the beginning you spend 
half your time raising money and the other half organizing. As 
things flow into place you can then be much more effective with 
your time and efforts

The good part is that anyone with online computers can really win 
having OpenBSD. It is desirable or at least useable and valuable to 
all. That leaves more organizations than you can handle as 
prospects. 

Ensure you can really enlighten your prospect. Have a kit put 
together that removes all considerations as to it's viability and 
quality. So many free hours of tech support could be a good 
exchange beside recognition. 

I've found the VERY best selling tool the ability to solve a REAL 
problem they have. That's how you get them to reach for your 
product. Now it's just a matter of how to do it, not if.

If they don't have a problem, don't try to force it on them. Offer 
enlightment - not a pitch! I will have more happier and loyal 
customers than any slick salesman can ever gather. 

It's the cost of getting a customer that's high. Once you got them 
it's easy maintenance. Just deliver what you promised!

Unix never grew beyond that certain point as it was never properly 
marketed. To the casual observer it looked waay to complicated to 
be grasped by the common computer user. Only the ones who had gain 
the knowledge used it.

Linux of course changed that as the price point, backed up with the 
quality, overcame that barrier.

Thus I would think that if you could show someone the value of 
OpenBSD and then remove the trouble of configuring and maintaining 
it, you can have a best seller on your hands.

Now listen to the succesful ones and drop things that did not work.

Well, that's a few pennies that I found in my pocket, to coin a 
phase. : )

-- 

Steve Szmidt
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