PR 2.0 Books Anyone?

Have you come across any great PR books for web 2.0? Or how about websites or articles?

I've been reading up on ways to market my website, using the latest technologies. Of the different marketing books I came across, I read two of them - viz. PR 2.0 and "How to Say It: Marketing with New Media"




The PR 2.0 book, unfortunately read more like a giant advertorial. It looked like it had its own agenda of marketing companies and products behind it. IAnyway, I pursued through the book, and finally did come out with a few good insights.
Some of the information that sank deep within included:
- use twitter, blogs and bookmarking to increase awareness of your site
- keep yo0urself updated on the latest goings on in your world - use rss feedes to get you the info you need. Keep consuming all the information you can.
- there are ways of getting closer to journalists and using them for marketing - even in today's web 2.0 scenario.

The second book though: How to Say it: Marketing with New Media; was a much better read. I found the tips and tricks in this book very handy for helping in marketing your website. I recommend this book for its well organized content - and great insights from belting out great blogs, podcasts and e-zines; and also info on how to get people signed up for them.

The startup journey

Heya All - My heartiest apologies for not having written sooner!

So my fledgling website is getting ready to take flight! It's been many vendors, many consultants, designers, SEO specialists, and advisors, even partners - all coming and going - since I last blogged.
There have been many folks giving out advice and criticism. Many books read - on how to manage people, how to manage companies, how to manage time, how to market, how to get noticed in web 2.0...
I have spent enormous amounts of time with my fellow teammates, inspiring, getting inspired...

I also found a coach along the way.

At the end of it - I'd say - you have yourself, and your belief in yourself - that takes you through thick and thin. It's most important to be eternally optimistic, yet open to feedback. Listen, and let your heart decide, your logic navigate. Handle the rocky waves when the advice you hear is not what you wanted! But ultimately, its not the nay-sayers, it's you, who decides.

The journey of a startup is to be traversed to be believed.

Moving to a dedicated server

And we're getting ready to move to a dedicated server.

I took this call, since I did not want to have to move the website when it is drawing crowds. It will increase our monthly costs, but I'm willing to take that cost in. Afterall, this is our primary link with our customers, and we want it to be a good quality one.

The vendor I went with, is softlayer, and so far, I'm happy with their services. I went ahead with a plesk control panel, and it is doing the job just right. It was not too difficult to pickup. I initally thought I'll avoid a control panel, and try configuring right at the operating system level - but I realized I was spending too much time in trying to administer the website. My recommendation - go ahead with a control panel such as plesk or CPanel.

likebucks will be moving to its dedicated server on the coming monday. Exciting.

Requirements: he said/she said

Now that our website development is coming closer to completion, conversations about the finer details of the requirements ensue. Mind you- not always the pleasant type of conversation! The conversations would typically revolve around what was agreed upon & what costs more.
Eg- if we said users can write comments, did we mention that they can edit their own comments?
I can now understand how disconnects between the requirements writers ( who want it all) & requirements implementers ( who tend to take a minimalist approach- especially in a fixed price scenario), take place.

Nonetheless we've been through some rounds of discussions, & trust between us was maintained through to the end. I do believe trust is an important part in any long term relationship.
So we have been able to make it through & maintain a great relationship too.

Beta comes alive

After many-many days of dreaming, designing & negotiating, likebucks has a decent beta version uploaded.

I was delighted to go online & see the work my developers had done. They had put up many of the features I had wanted without much hand holding and it was just the best feeling to see my dreams turn into something tangible

I met someone this afternoon for an entirely different purpose but I couldn't help mentioning likebucks and the fact that a Beta release had gone live!
Of course the reaction I got was like who??

Anyway now that the beta version is up I can walk prospectives through the site- Be they prospective investors customers or employees.
I saw a group called 'the vacationeers' online who have made hilarious videos about google products. So I contacted them & asked them to make something for me too. Lets see if that gets somewhere

Exciting times lie ahead!

Senseq Inc

And we're becoming an LLC (Limited Liability Company).

After a long, long time of putting this decision off, I finally went ahead and decided that I have to take this step.
Being an H1-B visa holder, I did not know whether I can indeed setup my organization in the US. I finally got confirmation from a friend that it is legal to setup my own company as an LLC (or even a C-Corp) in the US, as long as I'm a passive owner. I can appoint an active manager to handle the running of the company.

So I went on to legalzoom.com, paid them a hefty $700 to quick-create an LLC for me. They have a straight-forward questionnaire to create the company, and their telephone-support was knowledgeable and could answer all my questions.

I have appointed a US Citizen whom I know well, to manage the company.

Vendor Milestones

So my vendor had promised to deliver html versions of all the pages as of yesterday.

No news.

Asked him for an update. No response. Though, I had received a brief update sometime back - not a completed task, but a bit of work nonetheless. They had completed most of the admin control panel.

Hmm. Well, I have a contact down-under who needs a website developed too. I dangle the carrot in front of the vendors - "I have more projects for you guys" - lets see if performance and updates improve?

Also, I have setup a delivery SLA with the vendors. In case of delays in submitting the final work, they will be penalized $10 a day after the first week.
Not substantial - but there's also a $10 bonus for every day they complete sooner than schedule.