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So, we are in YC, but we'd gotten onto TechCrunch etc multiple times before we were, so I'll respond anyways. You don't have to be "somebody" to get PR coverag

So, we are in YC, but we'd gotten onto TechCrunch etc multiple times before we were, so I'll respond anyways. You don't have to be "somebody" to get PR coverage. YC espouses building something people want. To get coverage, you need to build something people want to talk about. You can substitute connections, bulldog PR folks, or hurl money at the problem, but IMO you should never attempt PR until you're pretty sure you have something to talk about that makes a reporter say, "Holy crap-- that'll make a good story". The common response is that it's really hard to be worth talking about with a boring product, right? Because no one wants to talk about shoe companies (except Zappos) or project management software (except 37Signals), right? If your product isn't inherently interesting, you need to craft a different story. About customer service mania or simplicity. Or how the idea came to you. Or how your founders are living cheap to avoid funding (TicketStumbler has done a killer job here). Seriously, read "Made to Stick", or at very least read the summary. http://www.madetostick.com/excerpts/ http://www.madetostick.com/excerpts/

kineticac 17y ago
thank you, that is really good advice =) We need to figure out what is that "made to stick" story. Collaborative web surfing in real-time with zero-setup for shopping doesn't seem to cut it =) hehe
- Shooter 17y ago
  I think it would be easier for you to convey the idea of your site to potential customers if you had a more descriptive domain name. 'Browseology' is a good name, but not for what you're doing. In fact, 'Browseology' could be almost anything shopping or internet-related. How about 'ShopSync' or something like that (that particular domain is not available for new registration it appears, but it IS for sale.) There are many variations on that domain concept, using synonyms and such, and many of them seem to be for sale by the same domain owner...perhaps that person tried a similar site and failed [or, more likely, never got started.] He/She may be open to joint ventures or other creative arrangements if you don't have the cash to buy an existing domain. I'm sure there are also other good domains that you could find for just the registration fee. Browseology would be a good name for your parent/holding company, once you're raking in the dough from this and move on to your next project ;-)

kineticac 17y ago

thank you, that is really good advice =) We need to figure out what is that "made to stick" story. Collaborative web surfing in real-time with zero-setup for shopping doesn't seem to cut it =) hehe

Shooter 17y ago
I think it would be easier for you to convey the idea of your site to potential customers if you had a more descriptive domain name. 'Browseology' is a good name, but not for what you're doing. In fact, 'Browseology' could be almost anything shopping or internet-related. How about 'ShopSync' or something like that (that particular domain is not available for new registration it appears, but it IS for sale.) There are many variations on that domain concept, using synonyms and such, and many of them seem to be for sale by the same domain owner...perhaps that person tried a similar site and failed [or, more likely, never got started.] He/She may be open to joint ventures or other creative arrangements if you don't have the cash to buy an existing domain. I'm sure there are also other good domains that you could find for just the registration fee. Browseology would be a good name for your parent/holding company, once you're raking in the dough from this and move on to your next project ;-)