[BSDCert] New to the list: My two cents

[Sunny Dubey]

<warning buzz words ahead>

On Friday 08 April 2005 05:26 pm, Matt Edlund wrote:
> Well I saw a post about this certification on Slashdot and I thought I
> would join the mailing list and see if it is something to take
> seriously or not.  To be honest, that is the largest problem that any
> kind of BSD certification is going to face; if it will be taken
> seriously or not.

No, the single largest problem that any kind of mass computing certification 
is going to face is the marketing.

I am very much a geek like all of you, however I am also 3/4th through what is 
essentially a 'Marketing 101' course at the university.  And in all honesty, 
I don't think geeks should attempt marketing.

I think that the single best thing BSDCert can do is to go out and find a real 
marketing professional who has a slight clue about *nix.  If what I've 
learned thus far in class is any indication, such a professional will be 
*very very good* at automatically steering this group towards the correct 
segment of the market it can efficiently penetrate.  Floundering around and 
"learning the hard way" would be too costly.

I'm sure many are greatly offended by now.  But I leave you with this thought:  
Apple computers is the *master* marketer, it would be pretty damn hard to 
beat them.   Do you think Apple lets their OS-X coders create marketing 
strategies on side ?  No, Apple pays a pretty penny for marketing managers, 
artists, etc to create the image that OS-X Server and Xserves have.  Who is 
Apple targetting with such shiny marketing ?  the very same people BSDcert 
needs to target, the PHB's with the hiring and purchasing power.

I'm not here to belittle anyone, but I think finding external help ASAP is 
going to be immensely beneficial.

I can lend anyone in the NYC area my 'Marketing 101' book*, and you may very 
well be surprised how in depth and immense the material can be.  I certainly 
was.

Sunny Dubey

*  http://vig.prenhall.com/catalog/academic/product/0,1144,0131088300,00.html