Sandro Groganz has pointed out a new article in the latest issue of the German publication PHP Magazin about marketing open source PHP software titled "Auf die offene Art".

Good source doesn't always speak for itself because the better product does not always establish itself without help. Why is that? This article gives some answers as to how a PHP-based product can be presented well in the market with the right marketing and community as a PHP based product well in the market can be placed through appropriate marketing and communication palatable to potential customers.

You can get your copy of this latest issue (German only) from the PHP Magazin website (with a cover story looking at the DojoX framework).

In this new post to his blog, Richard Heyes talks about an example he's come across of PHP being used as backend behind a large marketing project:

I recently read an interesting example at Neil Shearing's internet marketing strategies blog of combining .NET desktop software with a PHP backend.

We all know PHP is often slated by "real programmers" as a scripting language only useful for kiddie's home pages, and its nice to see a serious marketer choosing PHP to power the backend to a serious piece of viral software with the potential to go load-mad.

Richard also points out some of his experience trying to market his software and which of his customers are the ones that would provide the most return (the ones looking for updates) and how he can gather their information more productively to further his project's goals.

After moving on from Mindquarry, Sandro Groganz has decided to start up a new venture to help out the Open Source community - an Open Source Marketing Consultancy.

Due to solid demand, I will officially start my own business offering marketing consulting services to Open Source software creators and contributors in February. Clients will be able to choose from a broad range of marketing services, including strategic as well as operational tasks and social media as well as traditional marketing.

He will be offering services to help Open Source projects become more visible and profitable including creating marketing strategies, branding, positioning, public relations, collaterals and working with social media. He's also providing some of the basics behind it all in entries to the wiki on his site.

On the Zend Developer Zone today, Cal Evans spotlights one of the organizers for the upcoming Zend/PHP Conference - Te Smith.

One of the great things about my job is the people I get to work with on a daily basis. One of the people that make the experience so much fun is one of the "Zend Goddesses of Marketing" Ms. Te Smith. Te is managing the details of the coming ZendCon so I thought I'd call her up and quiz her on the conference.

Because the conference is mere weeks away, getting phone time with Te is nigh-on impossible. However after sufficient supplication and begging, I was granted an audience. Here's what Te had to say when I asked her how things were shaping up for ZendCon.

Te talks about how well things have come together, what to expect at the conference, and some of the keynotes that have been scheduled.