Hello NS2 E-Team!
This is just a quick note to let you know that we released the high-level features for NS2 yesterday. Here is the news post about this (http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/news/2007/09/ns2_features) and here (http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/about) is the 'about' page.
The reason I'm sending this out to you is because one of the ideas behind successful marketing seems to be narrowing your message down to a few key points and just hammering those points home constantly. This means that when talking about NS2 on a forum or blog, to try to frame your words in terms of one or more of these points. By doing this over and over, the message gets across to even casual or intermittent viewers. That's the plan at least.
The other thing I wanted to mention is Pyro Marketing (http://www.pyromarketing.com/). This is an awesome book and methodology that we're embracing for NS2. Here are the basic principles:
1. Gather the driest tinder : Focus your promotions on those people most likely to buy, benefit from, and then enthusiastically endorse your product or service. They are the only ones whose ignition temperature is within reach of your advertising. They light easily and burn hot. The driest tinder is where word-of-mouth wild fires begin. (Constellation, forum-goers, who else?)
2. Touch it with the match: To the extent you can, give people an experience with your product or service. If you want people to laugh, don't tell them you're funny, tell them a joke. Experience is the shortcut to product understanding. It touches people deeply and generates more heat than advertising, igniting even the mildly interested. (Pre-orders, beta, free demo?)
3. Fan the flames: Fanning the flames means giving people tools to help them spread your message throughout their social network. People spread messages more effectively than advertising. The fire is hotter than the match. This is why the process that spreads your marketing message must be different than the one by which it began. Leveraging the power of personal influence is the only way to expand your marketing fire beyond its point of origin (the driest tinder and mildly interested) to the masses. By understanding the process you can equip people with tools to exponentially increase their reach and influence. (E-Team, clan/social tools, Tell A Friend, Weekend Passes?)
4. Save the Coals: Saving the coals means keeping a record of the people you encounter through your marketing so you can quickly and easily reach them to fan the flames or to tell them about new products that match their interests. This allows your marketing to build equity and keep pace with the needs of your growing business. (Unknown Worlds site, these mailing lists?)
If you're interested in learning more, check out the site and watch the video or watch Greg's presentation (http://pyromarketing.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/12/womma_presentat.html).
There is increasingly more rumbling and stirring around the E-Team forum. Thanks for your help guys.
-Charlie
