Comments on: When Free is the Right Strategy for Analysts http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2005/06/21/when-free-is-the-right-strategy-for-analysts/ because technology is just another ecosystem Sun, 13 May 2012 00:23:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: sogrady http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2005/06/21/when-free-is-the-right-strategy-for-analysts/comment-page-1/#comment-807 sogrady Thu, 23 Jun 2005 20:39:19 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=480#comment-807 Marion: thanks for the kind words. re: what we do, it's a continuing challenge for us to explain this simply, but as far as building communities or RSS/blogging, i'd say that we have significant expertise in those (versus being experts). we have done several engagements on just those topics, however, in the past quarter. our main beat is enterprise software (i do no hardware), but the difference between us and, say, Gartner, is that we're broader (but shallower) and more cutting edge/emerging technologies focused. i wish for marketing's sake that i could put it more simply than that, but it's probably the most succinct way of describing us. on the Gartner question, it comes down to marketshare. free, open and standards are all things favored by laggards (us), not near monopolies (them). take publication revenue as an example; we're very happy to drive down the cost of publications and research simply because that's never been where we've made our money; not so for Gartner. put differently, the open source model threatens them in much the same way it does Microsoft, and i think they'll ultimately be forced to adapt just as the folks from Redmond have. Bill: thanks for the kind words, and likewise. Marion: thanks for the kind words. re: what we do, it’s a continuing challenge for us to explain this simply, but as far as building communities or RSS/blogging, i’d say that we have significant expertise in those (versus being experts). we have done several engagements on just those topics, however, in the past quarter. our main beat is enterprise software (i do no hardware), but the difference between us and, say, Gartner, is that we’re broader (but shallower) and more cutting edge/emerging technologies focused. i wish for marketing’s sake that i could put it more simply than that, but it’s probably the most succinct way of describing us.

on the Gartner question, it comes down to marketshare. free, open and standards are all things favored by laggards (us), not near monopolies (them). take publication revenue as an example; we’re very happy to drive down the cost of publications and research simply because that’s never been where we’ve made our money; not so for Gartner. put differently, the open source model threatens them in much the same way it does Microsoft, and i think they’ll ultimately be forced to adapt just as the folks from Redmond have.

Bill: thanks for the kind words, and likewise.

]]> By: Bill Higgins http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2005/06/21/when-free-is-the-right-strategy-for-analysts/comment-page-1/#comment-806 Bill Higgins Thu, 23 Jun 2005 15:55:53 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=480#comment-806 Makes sense. I certainly have learned a lot from you and James - even about my own company (IBM)! Thanks very much for your insight. Makes sense. I certainly have learned a lot from you and James – even about my own company (IBM)!

Thanks very much for your insight.

]]> By: sogrady http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2005/06/21/when-free-is-the-right-strategy-for-analysts/comment-page-1/#comment-808 sogrady Thu, 23 Jun 2005 14:41:44 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=480#comment-808 Marion: i left out that i enjoy your blog as well, and have been seeing it make the rounds more and more ;) Marion: i left out that i enjoy your blog as well, and have been seeing it make the rounds more and more ;)

]]> By: Marion Vermazen http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2005/06/21/when-free-is-the-right-strategy-for-analysts/comment-page-1/#comment-805 Marion Vermazen Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:30:09 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=480#comment-805 Stephen, Your posting was very timely. I always enjoy reading your blog. You have educated me on the analyst business and your approach to it. But I was thinking about it recently and I realized that while I think I sort of get it. I'm not sure I could have explained to someone else what you do and why I might want to hire you or for that matter how you make money. I think after reading this post I get it. So what do you consider your areas of expertise? Do you consider yourselves experts on how to build community? How about blogging? Do you consult on how to use blogging to get closer to customers? I suspect you focus on more technical kinds of consulting but I'm not sure. One other question. You kind of lost me on your last statement. Is there no incentive for Gartner because they already have a customer base paying for the current model? Why wouldn't the benefits you see also be incentive for them? Stephen, Your posting was very timely. I always enjoy reading your blog. You have educated me on the analyst business and your approach to it. But I was thinking about it recently and I realized that while I think I sort of get it. I’m not sure I could have explained to someone else what you do and why I might want to hire you or for that matter how you make money. I think after reading this post I get it. So what do you consider your areas of expertise? Do you consider yourselves experts on how to build community? How about blogging? Do you consult on how to use blogging to get closer to customers? I suspect you focus on more technical kinds of consulting but I’m not sure. One other question. You kind of lost me on your last statement. Is there no incentive for Gartner because they already have a customer base paying for the current model? Why wouldn’t the benefits you see also be incentive for them?

]]> By: sogrady http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2005/06/21/when-free-is-the-right-strategy-for-analysts/comment-page-1/#comment-804 sogrady Wed, 22 Jun 2005 16:58:57 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=480#comment-804 couldn't agree more, Nigel, and on that note you're a perfect example of this, having given your time freely to discuss your PHP experiences. thanks again for that, and i look forward to more discussions in the future. couldn’t agree more, Nigel, and on that note you’re a perfect example of this, having given your time freely to discuss your PHP experiences. thanks again for that, and i look forward to more discussions in the future.

]]> By: Nigel Fortlage http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2005/06/21/when-free-is-the-right-strategy-for-analysts/comment-page-1/#comment-803 Nigel Fortlage Wed, 22 Jun 2005 04:25:24 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=480#comment-803 Stephen, I think all related consultant business (ours being international trade) make a credibility statement to our clients by being open to the initial level of discussion and thought without being on the clock. It not only buys credibility but also acts as a great reference vehicle as well. One benefit that we see is that the initial conversations answer the easy questions of most clients, that in all honesty you don't want to go to the hassle of billing for anyway. That leaves the real meat and potatoes that you are paid for in providing your expertise and guidance or the larger projects that really help pay the bills. Stephen, I think all related consultant business (ours being international trade) make a credibility statement to our clients by being open to the initial level of discussion and thought without being on the clock. It not only buys credibility but also acts as a great reference vehicle as well.

One benefit that we see is that the initial conversations answer the easy questions of most clients, that in all honesty you don’t want to go to the hassle of billing for anyway. That leaves the real meat and potatoes that you are paid for in providing your expertise and guidance or the larger projects that really help pay the bills.

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