We're launching our private alpha next week, and I've been in touch with journalists and bloggers for a while now. Of course, everyone wants 'an early look', but is it ever too early for press? We believe in releasing early and releasing often, but am worried about showing a site that's too raw to a prominent blogger/journalist. First impressions count for a lot. What were your experiences like?
Ask YC: Is it never too early to invite press coverage for a startup?
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Re: Ask YC: Is it never too early to invite press coverage for a startup?
#2Press releases are best used when you have something ready for the masses to use. If what you have is ready for its beta then I would go ahead and get journalists involved, but if it's not ready for the average user, then I would hold off.
Of course if you can use the press to build public anticipation then it would be worth it. Just be careful not to let anything break.
Re: Ask YC: Is it never too early to invite press coverage for a startup?
#3Re: Ask YC: Is it never too early to invite press coverage for a startup?
#4If you can deliver a demo and pitch that gets people excited you're probably in good enough shape for the press. Try it out on some non-press people first. Make sure you get honest feedback and have good answers to the tough questions.
Re: Ask YC: Is it never too early to invite press coverage for a startup?
#5Again with the Wil Shipley:
"Don’t announce until it can be downloaded. Don’t let it be downloaded until it can be bought."
His argument is actually a bit more subtle than that, and since you're in a similar position I'd recommend listening to his actual C[4] presentation instead of just this isolated quote.
But it boils down to: Yes, you can get the PR out of sync with the product. Yes, it can cost you sales. Yes, it can even tank your company. Go google "Joel Spolsky Marimba Phenomenon": http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2005/11/02.html