[diego]

These posts make me want to write a Startup FAQ:

Q: How do I get on Techcrunch:

A: Ignore Techcrunch. Don't waste brain cycles on them. If they cover you on their own, great. It almost certainly won't do anything to improve your odds of success, but it probably can't hurt. A better question to ask is: how do I design and implement the right marketing strategy for my startup?

[ry0ohki]

I think you're getting the wrong point. TechCrunch is not a good source for acquiring non-technical users. However it can be good for getting your name out to investors (being mentioned in TechCrunch is better then never being mentioned in TechCrunch), SEO, and general brand recognition. So yes, don't try to get on TechCrunch to grow your users, but it's not a bad part of a larger media strategy.

[jcfrei]

I'd say the takeway from yipit is that they need to build a better product. If the engagement is that low after receiving 8k+ hits (resulting in 3 returning users), then it's probably not the right time to work on a marketing strategy. you need to go all the way back and work on the fundamentals of your product. 0.03% (as well as the 1.5% for users who successfully signed up) is an abysmal rate for returning users - no matter how you put it.

[vacanti]

The post was loosely based on our experience years ago. We now have many users and our conversion rates are much higher.

I just wanted people to know that getting some PR isn't the finish line, it's the start of the race.

[jcfrei]

that's encouraging to hear. so what did you do to increase conversion rates? work on the landing page, change your product or something else?

[diego]

I agree. Also, it turns out that improving their product involves marketing. I went to the site and I had no idea why I would want to sign up. How is it different/better than all the existing coupon/deal sites? The "about" link is below the fold, and on my laptop screen I had no way of knowing that there was anything to scroll down to. Chrome doesn't show a scroll bar until you try to scroll.

[nhangen]

Really depends on who your audience is. If the Techcrunch readership isn't your audience, those conversion rates aren't necessarily indicative of anything.

[nostromo]

Please do, I'd love to read it. Your blog is the most honest account of entrepreneurship I've seen. ("Exploiting Silicon Valley For Profit and Maybe Fun" was one of my favorite startup reads ever.)

At a previous startup I cofounded, we had an incredible launch. TechCrunch, NYTimes (online and print), Gizmodo, etc. -- it was incredible! We still pivoted a few months later. If anything, the press helped us justify holding on to something that wasn't working.

[general_failure]

He has already written the startup FAQ. It has one question :)

[verelo]

I actually clicked on this thread to write something very similar.

"Techcrunch != success, spend your time building value and engagement, not a story." - Me, Now