Re: Marketing the platform was: System i - Mentioned twice in SD Times

I understand your position on this Trevor. I have no problems with the stance you propose, but I would point out that "I program for the AS/400" is a very clear and unambiguous 5 words. The verbiage you suggest is 21 words, and I had to read it twice to understand what you are saying.

I am not trying to editorialize, just pointing out that a niche product destroys itself if it is not easily identifiable to the non-niche buyers.
You use a Mac. Simple. Clear. I have no idea what model of Mac; even if you told me it would mean nothing to me. But Apple kept the Mac brand and it is clear and identifiable. They could leverage the i so that they pretty much have stolen the i-object brand name. (Hence IBM had to admit that iSeries was a failed name change - everyone thought it was an Apple product.)

Ah well... just as as an informtional piece, Trevor, I have found that a commonly understood name can be "IBM midrange machines" Everyone seems to understand "I program for the IBM midrange machines." Thats 7 words, but it seems to work the best for me.





Trevor Perry wrote:

Booth,
Today, the IBM name for what we do is i5/OS. What you are doing is i5/OS
consulting, or i5/OS software. Your brochure should address the audience you
chase. Decide who that is, and mention them on your brochure.

My personal suggestion is to use i5/OS in your title. Somewhere on the page,
you can define the audience. An example:

"I am an i5/OS consultant."
"My customers are companies or organizations using i5/OS or OS/400 on
AS/400, iSeries or System i servers."

And then shut up about it. Explain it no further - you have all the relevant
names. Sorry if that sounds pretentious or confused to you, but with this,
you cover all your bases, google included. Stop defending it, and just say
it like it is. Stop trying to explain it. Stop deriding it.

If you want to move a little step further into the future, you could say:
"My customers are companies or organizations using i5/OS or OS/400 on
AS/400, iSeries, and System i servers and Power6 blades."

Adapt and evolve.
Trevor


On 2/21/08 11:10 PM, "Booth Martin" <booth@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

If Chevrolet can be a brand name for 75 years than so can't AS/400.
People understand that Malibu, Corvair, and Caprice are name plates, but
Chevrolet is what they are buying.

I am soooo tired of spending my energy trying to figure out how to reach
my potential clients without sounding either old fashioned or so edgy as
to sound pretentious and confused.

You tell me, Trevor, what do I put on my brochure? I want to reach the
owners, users, and IT directors of the IBM midrange platform, including
those whose iron may be pre-2005, or even pre-2000.