I should have known all this good karma was too good to last... check
out what just landed in my inbox:
Dear Mary Smaragdis,
Sun Microsystems, Inc. and the JavaOne(sm) Conference Content Team
are
grateful for your proposal to present at the 2005 JavaOne conference.
The high quality of submissions made the selection process extremely
difficult. We regret to inform you that we will be unable to accept
your proposal entitled ' Built a better mouse trap? Get Marketing to
beat a path to your door. '.
Thank you very much for your submission. We appreciate your
continued support of the JavaOne conference.
Sincerely,
JavaOne Conference Content Team
:-(
double :-(
I don't get to be a
JavaOne
speaker, despite my very best efforts
Here's the details of my submission... i really think it would have
made for a great BOF. regrettably the powers that be didn't agree with
me...
Title: Built a better mouse trap? Get
Marketing to beat a path to your
door.
Abstract: This lively and entertaining BOF shares practical how-to tips
on getting your marketing organization interested in picking up your
innovation and taking it to market. It provides an insider's
perspective on working the system to get the marketing engines working for you.
Summary: This is an overview of what this BOF will cover:
I. It's easier to ride a wave than start one
-Aligning with existing objectives
-Figure out where you fit in the global plan; don't
expect your
Marketing people to
-Make it brain-dead obvious what problem you're
solving
II. Getting a buzz
-Codenames
-Importance of demos -- killer reference app
-Blog; get others to blog
-Participate in a community (e.g. java.net)
III. Making friends in Marketing
-Don't roll your eyes when you meet with them
-Stay focused on the problem you're solving and how
it fits into the
global plan
-Help them get it without making them feel stupid
o Define words and concepts (they
won't ask).
o Analogies are good o
Symbols/diagrams/charts are good if they're simple; bag
them if they're not
-Get them to use your innovation. Put them on the
pilots; Get them
in the beta program
IV. Keeping them as friends
-Be upfront about technical shortcomings;
competitive landscape
-If it's going to slip, tell them about it as soon
as you know.
Don't surprise them.
-If you want Marketing to make you a priority;
you've got to make
them a priority
V. Helpful hints
-Talk about what the innovation does today; don't
have the
conversation focus on what it will do
-Always have a demo up-to-date and ready.
-Nobody knows more about this innovation than you --
write a book or
at a minimum blog. Distinguish yourself as an expert.
I feel like i did when i was applying to colleges... and I kept getting
the skinny envelopes.
:-(
double :-(
tipple :-(
mary
p.s. should have known all the good karma was too good to last.
