1) I loved the categories of startup. Stealth –> Private Beta –> Nerd Scarcity –> Invite beta –> Iteration –> Public Beta –> GA –> Paid Drivers.
My favorite? Paid drivers.
2) The importance of Marketing and PR. I’ve heard it said that 80% of a product is it’s marketing and PR. Sadly, it’s true and a lot of great products languish because they can’t speak the same language as their customers to make them say “hey, this would be really great for me.”
Anyone who thinks they can go without learning marketing and sales should stay out of startups. Good thing I changed my mind
When we got PR Help – No one cares about your stupid little startup
3) Tie yourself to a bigger trend. We see them coming often, and do nothing. Every day there is a growing need the more, and more our lives, our photos, our information, our people get more and more connected, more integrated. We need ways to manage, organize, use, and leverage all of this connectedness to improve the quality of our life, not drown in it.
4) Network, network, network. Let every journalist and person you can find know about what you’re doing and how it works. If it’s really that cool, they will help you.
5) Positive Word of Mouth. Advertise and market the best you can. The people who do find you, empower to evangelize for you. LIstne to them. Listen to why they feel they way they do about your product and what they need. Consider it but don’t implement it all.
Customers are attracted to things that do the hard work to make something complex into something simple. Their tendencies for suggestions will often involve complexity, either in wanting features, or in how they are wanting to solve their problems. Listen to their problems, but solve them your way, the way that initially attracted them. Use their help if it feels right.
6)
6) Journalists are lazy. Help them be. I don’t know if I can fully agree with this since I worked at a newspaper for 4 years in Edmonton in the News Research department. I’d say it’s a mix.
The point being made here, though isn’t one to miss out on. Have a clear, concise, printable message. If you do it well enough they will copy and paste, or heavily rely on your wording. Make it sound less like an advertisement and more like an announcement to the benefit of others. Make your media briefings like the articles you want to see, with quotes, testimonials, examples, and it will increase the chances of it being picked up. Learn to write well or get someone who does and it will go a million miles for you.
