Hi HN, my unnamed-so-this-isn't-spam startup is looking for advice on getting our name out there and getting more eyes on our site. We're stronger on the tech side than on marketing and PR, but we're trying to learn quick. We're self-funded, so $ is on a YC scale, not VC. How do we connect with our startup audience without being disrespectfully spammy?<p>--<p>Edit: Thanks everyone for the actual feedback on our site; I appreciate the extra eyes and thought. However, I'm actually (genuinely) interested in generic strategy as well. How do other startups go from being unknown to getting press and leads/visits? Even if our design isn't ready for it, there have to be other startups who are in a similar place. Do other startups really just keep re-submitting to places like HN/launchly/TC/digg/etc until they get their dedicated userbase to spread organically? Whose advice do you read on these topics?<p>Thanks again, HN; you're awesome.
I would also consider using a professional designer to help with improving the overall look and feel of the site/product, or maybe even a service like 99designs.com. It looks like a solid product and something I'd use, but often I find myself having to consider a product twice if the site is not up to a certain standard of design and/or professionalism.<p>In terms of getting the word out there, I'm with aberman in giving away free accounts for x users. If you can get a small group of paid users you can also start an affiliate program where referrals earn users money or usage credits.
In my experience, it comes down to knowing your target, knowing what you want them to do, and being smart about how you allocate your marketing resources.<p>For example, I've seen a lot of companies focus on getting people to the site without a plan. Once someone discovers your site, what are you doing to keep them coming back? Are you requesting them to submit information, presenting them with a unique offer or message, or do you just want to see what they do naturally?<p>The second thing is measuring your efforts. Every channel and tool that brings in visitors can be measured and quantified. While you shouldn't purely base decisions on the data, they can provide some very good direction on where you should be focusing your efforts.
I checked out your site--your non-spam post motivated me to find it :)<p>I think you guys have a pretty cool product. Maybe you should concentrate on one specific vertical. Right now you are trying to market to everybody, which may be tough. But if you can pick one particular use case, it might be easier to develop a marketing strategy.<p>Also, make everything free for the first X users. That will really motivate people to sign up. Right now $75/month seems pretty expensive.
I just found <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/tribebuilding" rel="nofollow">http://www.squidoo.com/tribebuilding</a> which seems related, but very generic.
General comments. As a preface, I established several online marketing teams at a multinational ad agency, back when things were new enough that they didn't have anything in place. I am <i>super</i> skeptical of most claims about online marketing.<p>Fundamentally, whatever you do, marketing has to be based on three things:<p>* Honesty (no b.s. about your products, don't mislead)<p>* Integrity (play hard but play fair)<p>* Respect (always treat your customers with the golden rule)<p>Never, ever sacrifice those values. Always gauge all marketing against those values. Seems obvious but many marketers (both client side and agency side) don't do this basic check.<p>Ok, onwards.<p>----------------------------------------<p>1. Make sure your site is as search engine friendly as possible. This is your foundation and without it any future promotion, marketing, word of mouth will fall flat.<p>2. Make sure your site reflects the impression you want to leave your customers/prospects minds. Be brutal in your evaluation. Do not skimp on this. First impressions on the web occur in a matter of seconds.<p>3. Measure measure measure. Get a baseline on traffic to your site. Use Google Analytics to track progress through the site. This is just like being a store owner and seeing who comes in, what merchandise they like and how long they stay.<p>3. Identify your targets. How do they communicate? Are they emailers? Twitterers? Where do they hang out online? Draw up a profile of your prospective customers. This is the beginning of an online media strategy.<p>3.5 Figure out what you want to tell these customers. If you have some existing customers talk with them. Craft your message. You may have multiple messages for different prospective customers.<p>4. Start slow, small and free. Drop honest, open non-spammy comments into forums <i>that you are already a part of</i> (no sock puppets). In other words: this should be dealt with much like you are dealing with any product you believe in. Be honest that it's your product, welcome feedback, but don't be shy about saying why it's good and why you feel it would be interesting to the people you're talking to.<p>5. <i></i><i>Always approach any marketing as, fundamentally, a conversation.</i><i></i> Never talk at people. Even print advertising should be one side of an ongoing dialogue with customers.<p>6. As you start to get the word out, watch traffic. See what works. Stagger your efforts so that you can track results easily. This is poor-man's media planning. Plot it out in a spreadsheet or proj.management app or calendar so you know when you'll start to communicate certain messages in certain channels.<p>I could go on about this. Not sure if this is the feedback you're looking for. Happy to write more.<p>----------------------------------------<p>(edit: formatting)