[OSM-talk] [Design] Banners on the Front Page

Richard Fairhurst richard at systemeD.net
Fri Mar 22 16:31:23 UTC 2013


[wider issue, so cc:ing talk@]

On 22/03/2013 15:32, Shaun McDonald wrote:
> On 22 Mar 2013, at 14:06, Harry Wood <mail at harrywood.co.uk> wrote:
>> ...we have a strip down the left, and this screen real-estate is
>> valuable space. Here more than anywhere users are eyeballing the
>> graphics, text, and user interface elements we choose to put there.
>> We have in the past chosen to put graphical banner ads promoting
>> State Of The Map conferences and some other events, in the run up
>> to these events.
 >
> How about a rotating banner that rotates round showing all of the
> upcoming SOTMs? This would then minimise the vertical space needed.

Actually, this is a great opportunity to devolve local marketing to 
local chapters.

Let's call it the "message" space. Allow local chapters to choose what 
marketing message goes in that space for their country (subject to 
certain criteria, i.e. must promote OSM, mustn't give advantage to one 
commercial provider over another, mustn't look dog-ugly).

Use GeoIP etc. to find what country the user is from. Serve the message 
for that country.



So, to take this example, OSM-US decides its priority is promoting 
SOTM-US. It puts the banner there. US visitors therefore see it. Ideal 
solution for US visitors. Also ideal for Bulgarians who don't really 
want to know about a conference in SF; they have their own priorities.

The beauty is that it doesn't have to be restricted to conferences. 
Let's say the French community has a project to map shops. Fine: they 
put a little banner there which clicks through to the project page. Or 
let's say the US community wants to focus on addressing. Same again.

Of course, OSMF could still override for international messages (like 
the main SOTM conference), though it would be polite to give a couple of 
weeks' notice to the local chapters.

Our local presence and local knowledge is our strength. Let's make the 
most of it.

Richard



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