Hi, I write for TechCrunch and figured I could add a few thoughts (this is a great article, BTW). Don't say things that are clearly bullshit. I'd rather hear

Hi, I write for TechCrunch and figured I could add a few thoughts (this is a great article, BTW). Don't say things that are clearly bullshit. I'd rather hear a 'no comment' than an outright lie. Example: I once asked a CEO who had laid off most of his staff how many employees he had left. His response after an awkward pause: "I don't know". Uh, right. Stats are great and can definitely help your cause, but don't take them from an obscure source or try to make them sound better than they are. Regarding the competition: know who's out there, what they're doing, and how you're different. If I ask you about the competition and you say you're not sure, I know you're either lying or incompetent. Also, to the people saying that it's okay to ask about seeing an article before publication, let me reiterate: don't do it. It immediately makes me think you're a jackass, even if you do it politely. If you know your website or company has a major flaw, you're taking a risk whenever you try to hide it. If the journalist misses it, then great. But if we stumble across it later then there's a good chance we'll get annoyed. I prefer a tactic that lawyers tend to use: preempt the tough questions by pointing out your flaws ahead of time and explain how you're going to fix them.