2 ms·

My fault, I should have provided more info about my start-up: 1. we already launched our site mid-Jan 2. we are getting good traffic and natural growth 3. w

by zaidf 20y ago

My fault, I should have provided more info about my start-up: 1. we already launched our site mid-Jan 2. we are getting good traffic and natural growth 3. we want to accelerate the speed of growth We're close to launching a major release following which I would consider the core of our site done. Back to PR - this is about a very specific(and fun) marketing idea we are planning.The ONLY goal of it is to get our name out and new user sign-ups - if anything money might be a side product. Also, this is a pretty reputable(albeit small) PR firm with clients including Google and BestBuy.

bootload 20y ago
'... We're close to launching a major release ...' Are you listening to your own customers and gradually improving the site? So you want to increase the numbers of users? Ok. I'm cautious here because if this is really just an investment play, it is in their interest because they think they might miss out. '... this is about a very specific(and fun) marketing idea we are planning. The ONLY goal of it is to get our name out and new user sign-ups ...' What is plan b, c? What is the budget? and what are the objectives? Do you have a target of sign-ups? (these are questions to ask yourself)? I've seen these kinds of deals before (in my case ~ branding for customers but not equity ... Large banking corporate branding exercise on a e-commerce to increase users via rewards points). Done to increase the visibility of a site with questionable results. You have got to ask yourself ... "Is this a HIGH VALUE TRANSACTION?" [0] Do you waste your time with these guys? Is it a distraction? Or could you really do something off your own bat? '... this is a pretty reputable(albeit small) PR firm with clients including ...' So this is an angel investor or equity investor? Is this deal a sweetener for a VC intro? Are you still looking for other investors? Don't stop looking because it may prevent you getting a better deal. Don't get too excited as any deals made can play out over time. Sorry to be cynical. Set some realistic goals, add a dollar value. If it makes sense, play hard ball. These guys will, especially if they sniff a bit of desperation. Are you short of cash or ideas? PS: Care to add the url? maybe an announcement here will give you the acceleration you require. Reference [0] Joshua Schacter, 'YC 2006APR06, MP3 28Mb' http://wiki.ycombinator.com/presentations/apr06/Joshua_Schacter.mp3 http://wiki.ycombinator.com/presentations/apr06/Joshua_Schacter.mp3
- zaidf 20y ago
  My site is iJigg.com
  - bootload 20y ago
    New music distribution, so you need to get above the noise? Now I understand. Give them a look, but do your planning and make sure you deal with it but do not let it stop what you are doing. Make sure you consider points 11 to 14 ~ http://www.paulgraham.com/startupmistakes.html http://www.paulgraham.com/startupmistakes.html One thing I had a problem with was the plugin. But the system is a linux 64 bit system & can't get certain plugins to work with firefox. But I don't think thats really your market.
    - zaidf 20y ago
      Sure you have latest version of flash plugin? Most linx issues are because of people not having latest flash plugin. Had a discussion with these guys today. We're meeting up next week to discuss further. -Zaid
      - bootload 20y ago
        '... Had a discussion with these guys today. We're meeting up next week to discuss further. ...' excellent. '... Sure you have latest version of flash plugin? ...' not a problem for you (linux 64 bit users) but for me the latest plugin informs me they haven't compiled for 64 bit. There are hacks around. Funny enough Wufoo has calls from linux to simplify the ui (remove flash or whatever) but Wufoo was a web tool.

by zaidf 20y ago

bootload 20y ago

'... We're close to launching a major release ...' Are you listening to your own customers and gradually improving the site? So you want to increase the numbers of users? Ok. I'm cautious here because if this is really just an investment play, it is in their interest because they think they might miss out. '... this is about a very specific(and fun) marketing idea we are planning. The ONLY goal of it is to get our name out and new user sign-ups ...' What is plan b, c? What is the budget? and what are the objectives? Do you have a target of sign-ups? (these are questions to ask yourself)? I've seen these kinds of deals before (in my case ~ branding for customers but not equity ... Large banking corporate branding exercise on a e-commerce to increase users via rewards points). Done to increase the visibility of a site with questionable results. You have got to ask yourself ... "Is this a HIGH VALUE TRANSACTION?" [0] Do you waste your time with these guys? Is it a distraction? Or could you really do something off your own bat? '... this is a pretty reputable(albeit small) PR firm with clients including ...' So this is an angel investor or equity investor? Is this deal a sweetener for a VC intro? Are you still looking for other investors? Don't stop looking because it may prevent you getting a better deal. Don't get too excited as any deals made can play out over time. Sorry to be cynical. Set some realistic goals, add a dollar value. If it makes sense, play hard ball. These guys will, especially if they sniff a bit of desperation. Are you short of cash or ideas? PS: Care to add the url? maybe an announcement here will give you the acceleration you require. Reference [0] Joshua Schacter, 'YC 2006APR06, MP3 28Mb' http://wiki.ycombinator.com/presentations/apr06/Joshua_Schacter.mp3 http://wiki.ycombinator.com/presentations/apr06/Joshua_Schacter.mp3

zaidf 20y ago
My site is iJigg.com
- bootload 20y ago
  New music distribution, so you need to get above the noise? Now I understand. Give them a look, but do your planning and make sure you deal with it but do not let it stop what you are doing. Make sure you consider points 11 to 14 ~ http://www.paulgraham.com/startupmistakes.html http://www.paulgraham.com/startupmistakes.html One thing I had a problem with was the plugin. But the system is a linux 64 bit system & can't get certain plugins to work with firefox. But I don't think thats really your market.
  - zaidf 20y ago
    Sure you have latest version of flash plugin? Most linx issues are because of people not having latest flash plugin. Had a discussion with these guys today. We're meeting up next week to discuss further. -Zaid
    - bootload 20y ago
      '... Had a discussion with these guys today. We're meeting up next week to discuss further. ...' excellent. '... Sure you have latest version of flash plugin? ...' not a problem for you (linux 64 bit users) but for me the latest plugin informs me they haven't compiled for 64 bit. There are hacks around. Funny enough Wufoo has calls from linux to simplify the ui (remove flash or whatever) but Wufoo was a web tool.