Thread: Before Opening: Hush or Buzz?

I would say you'd be better off getting started now.

Not only will this benefit your business from a marketing point of you (could never hurt to get a head-start), but it'll keep you focused. If you're just keeping your plans and goals to yourself and you begin to have second thoughts about it, who's gonna stop you from quitting? If you communicate with others, you will feel accountable to them.

Also, blogging can help with your planning. When you share your ideas, you might get some good suggestions, too.

I think you're more likely to stick with it and be successful if you get started early.

Good luck.

I am in favor of promoting the idea now. I have two projects that are still in the beginning stages. I have one going already and need to maintain the momentum. It's not 100% there, so the website is very basic for now. But I have the other components of it going and the website is evolving.

My other project, I don't have full support of the people I am currently working with but they are interested. With that website, it will also be basic until I can prove to the group that is a worthwhile venture.

For me personally, I am more likely to check something out if there is a buzz. There was this new Middle Eastern restaurant opening up near me and I really was anxious about when it would finally open up so I could try it. I like anticipation... but that's me.

IF you're gonna create buzz, you should get something on your domain so people who hear it can at least visit a site. You should also have a way for them to get on some contact list so you can email them when you are live.

I used to think the same, create buzz now... however, I read this article last week and found a note that made me re-think that.

He seemed a little taken aback. "What classic mistakes?" he asked.

"Well, the first was that you got all this fabulous publicity before you were ready to take advantage of it. That was all wasted. The idea is to make sales. You should have waited until you had a product to sell. You'll never have that same shot again."

So, after reading that article, I came to the fantastic conclusion that.... it depends.

Is the product you are going to sell or the service you are going to provide so unique and innovative that people want to wait for when is ready, AND competitors can't replicate and/or bring to market faster than you if they have more re$ources? If so then yes, make a big deal about it and start the buzz campaign. Otherwise I'd wait till I have something to sell.

Momentum is important in this situation. You have to be able to bring your content up quickly, so that you gain a base audience before your competition does. I'd wager that many of the best "buzz" outcomes were planned in phases before hand.

Maybe this can help:

http://gettingreal.37signals.com/ch1...ood_Launch.php

http://gettingreal.37signals.com/ch13_Solicit_Early.php

Absolutely a private buzz, definitely not a public buzz.
Well, let me clarify: it depends. Hah! If your idea is an actual location/event/restaurant/store sort of thing that people will be waiting for and you have a firm date for opening, then yes create all the buzz you possibly can IF it's the kind of thing that people buzz for (people go crazy for new restaurant openings here in Rochester). If it's something that you can't see people actually pencilling into their calendars, then don't for a second waste your time and money bothering with until you can present the actual package. You mentioned having an idea and a domain - that leads me to believe it's going to be an internet site. Don't launch it until it's ready. If it's a business type thing or a classy entertainment type thing here's a great promotion: have a private Beta launch to certain users gleaned from a pool of relevant users (team up with another site for some cross promotions?). Otherwise mum's the word. No one wants to see a website with an "under construction" sign.

Originally Posted by andviv

I used to think the same, create buzz now... however, I read this article last week and found a note that made me re-think that.

VERY useful resources, thank you all! Rep.speed all around! I appreciate that you each take my questions seriously.

Those of you that know me know that I'm like the kid in that article. Too many ideas, and maybe too many irons in the fire. I only own one LLC, but it's currently running five individual "companies." I need to learn how to focus and enjoy the process.

Originally Posted by carlhuber

Absolutely a private buzz, definitely not a public buzz.
Well, let me clarify: it depends. Hah! ...........
Otherwise mum's the word. No one wants to see a website with an "under construction" sign.

There were so many good quotes in this thread, I didn't know which one to pull!

I'm in somewhat of the same mode right now. There will be a number of websites ultimately involved in the various phases of the project. How is that for sufficiently vague?

My thought was to put up a blog and as the links Jorge posted suggest, talk about the project, but keep it vague enough.

I know in the book world, you make sure the book is on the shelf...or at least the back room...before you do your big PR campaign. You only get one chance to make a first impression. But, privately you've been talking about it and creating a buzz within your community for about a month before the big launch.

So - the comment about private and public buzz, at least in the book world, is absolutely spot on. I would think a version of that is true in the eBiz world as well.

Oh, and reps all around as well. I'll be posting about my new project in the near future. All you eBiz guys have inspired me. Thank you.