Open Source Resource

Developing an Open Source project is complicated, not only because the technology is untested and supported by volunteers (instead of paid engineers), but because it is not possible to predict how future development of the software will proceed.

With commercial software, developers produce updates and upgrades because there is profit in it.

With Open Source software the motivations of the developers is unclear.

There is also the problem of marketing the Open Source software once is it produced. Software programmers are not marketers, and solid Open Source software often withers for lack of adequate marketing.

Note: This lack of marketing is understandable because:

• Software developers and programmers don’t understand marketing
• People who understand marketing make a lot of money, and don’t work for free
• Software that is given away without cost (i.e., free) does not product enough revenue to pay the marketers
• Competitors, i.e., the commercial software companies, have money for marketers and product development) and often produce a superior product

However, Open Source software projects can be successful, if Open Source advocates will pay attention to Open Source developers who were successful, and just follow the path that these other developers have taken.

This is easier said than done because many Open Source advocates carry grudges against the market leader, Microsoft™, and grudges and a negative attitude are “marketing results killers.”

Three profitable Open Source companies are Novel™, MySQL™ and SugarCRM™.

If Open Source advocates, examine these companies, they will see the positive side of effective marketing and communications. They will also see brand awareness, an ever increasing user base and paying customers.

MySQL owns the lion’s share of the Open Source database market and SugarCRM™ dominates the Open Source CRM space.

These products are also effective in capturing “e;Mindshare,” although these products are far from the best products for the job. (The commercial products from Microsoft™ and Oracle™ are superior.)

Are these the best products for the job? Maybe.

Do these Open Source software companies make money? Absolutely! Look at MySQL’s 65 percent sales growth from 2004 to 2005! Or consider the success of Firefox, which has reached more that 70 million downloads, primarily through campaigns like “GetFirefox” and “SpreadFirefox.” Both of these Open Source success stories demonstrate that Open Source viral marketing can be superbly successful.

It’s not Easy

Of course, Open Source software development and Open Source software marketing difficult. Developing viable Open Source software products is extremely difficult.

In the end, it’s the vision and the quality of the Open Source thinking that will drive the success of an Open Source software project.

But, the Open Source community can thrive if competent marketing, rather than “anger against the market leader, Microsoft™” drives the development project.

Vision and satisfying user “wants,” not advocates’s needs or Open Source zealot’s pet beliefs is key to launching a marketing effort that will help catapult Open Source software project to success.