Re: Informix Directions

Tim Schaefer wrote: > With no intentional disrespect here Dave, I have to say that working > at Informix has not given you the optimal viewpoint that I and others > have regarding Informix sales. I rarely think in terms of only the > Informix salesman in my perspective. Although they are a part of > the equation, I think more in terms of the overall sales effort > Informix has expended as a company. To be sure, the car salesmen > that sell Informix software are indeed important, but they are > not the only component. Had decent marketing been done in the > trade magazines, and other media, certainly Informix would have > the upper hand. > Uhmmm, that's more difficult than one can think. Decent marketing means market research and market planning. That takes time and insight. It also sometimes takes money. Informix has always relied on the grass roots type of marketing. Only now, they have done everything possible to destroy those roots! [BTW, Tim, Dave has spent way too much time in the trenches, so yes, he is painfully aware of what you face as a client. He has been forced to see your scenario played out many times, to your single set of experiences.] > Presales momentum is Oracle's big advantage, with clearly articulated > ads that leave no doubt. A manager has been presold, through sales > media, thusly the sale is closed before the car salesmen ever show up. > Oracle's web site is geared toward sales, Informix's web site is geared > towards chit chat. > Hmmmm, I always thought that Informix's site was there just to toot their own horn. ;-) Of course the techinfo site is managed by a different group and has always been out of date hence worthless. > My big puzzler for you is: Is Oracle actually better than Informix? > Oracle has always had better marketing and sales. > Even with their billions > Microsoft and Oracle still advertise on TV, and in print, with clearly > articulated messages that increase mindshare, which ultimately increases > marketshare. If a salesman was involved, it was only enough to tip > the close, but the sale was done long ago in the advertising. > > Mindshare moves software, not car salesmen. > > Tim Well, Its important to have mindshare. Oracle and Microsoft are going after a different market place. Oracle has evolved and is attempting to leverage their success into a new market and to compete against Microsoft. But esentially you are correct. You have to have brand recognition and positive word of mouth. Something that Informix lacks or has too much of a bad thing. In the past, Informix has run the same blah-blah ads in the trade journals. Yet, they claim that they are trying to influence the upper management. Sometimes the non-technical staff who are part of the decision making process. What do they read? All they see are the statements about shitty sales and litigation. So what is Informix going to do to say "I'm not dead yet!" ? [Its a monty python thing :-] Informix has always used some Silicon Valley PR firm. Its time they started to think for themselves. -Mike -- #include <std_disclaimer.h> /* Mike Segel (MS385) */ #include <No_Spam.h> #ifdef OFFENDED_BY_CONTENT The author takes no responsibility for this post. Any resemblence to a coherent rational thought is purely coincidence. -The Management. #endif ***************************** Due to AGIS's Refusal to Act Responsibly We are blocking all of their domains at the packet level. This block will exist until AGIS modifies their policies to conform to existing RFCs and net community standards. We encourage all ISPs and domain holders to do the same. *****************************