Lean Startup Don’t Seek Publicity Too Soon

Steve Blank Don’t Seek Publicity Too Soon Transcript

Any of you read TechCrunch, all right? Maybe you read some other blogs. What’s another good technology blog? Venture, and Gadget, et cetera. Isn’t it cool if like, you’d start your company, the first thing you do is like, TechCrunch mentions you? Wouldn’t that be the coolest thing ever? I’ve got to tell you if I’m on your advisory board or board, I’ll break your arms. You go “whoa, whoa, what’s that about?” Why would I say something like that?

For me any type of press, any type of PR, any type of talking about your company is not done over here because on day one your hypothesis about what your company’s about, what service you’re offering, what pricing, what whatever … trust me, it will be radically different after you have some contact with customers. And while it might make you feel good being able to show your mother or father a picture of you in the press or a mention, I’ll do that for free. I’ll take your picture. We’ll hold up the New York Times, and then we’ll send it to your parents. But I’d rather any press you get for a company is part of a strategy, not a random tactic. That’s typically done after you’ve understood what business you’re in, who your customers are, and how do you need to scale demand for your company.