Demoing Marrily at TechCocktail Austin. Tips on getting attention?

http://marrily.com/?utm_source=hackernews&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=askhn2

by sr3d • 16 years ago

17 9 16 years ago

sr3d2• 16 years ago

I got invited to present my startup, Marrily, at TechCocktail Austin (http://techcocktailaustin2010.eventbrite.com/) this coming Thursday. Marrily is an online wedding planning service that I've been bootstrapped in the past 6 months. TechCocktail Austin is the first major event that I have the opportunity to demo/pitch to spread the words out.

I'm a single founder so I've been pretty much staying on the technical side. But I'd appreciate any tips or recommendations on how to grab people's attention and to spread the words out. The event is an expo-style, which I will have a table to setup whatever I want. My plan is to set up a couple laptops (3 at the moment, 2 Macbooks and a Dell laptop) and a 24" monitor. Then I'll just answer people's questions as they come visit my table.

I don't have any budget for other promotions besides handling out business cards. Any tips on how to grab attentions for free at a crowded tech event will greatly be appreciated.

I also setup a new facebook fanpage here: http://facebook.com/marrilyhappily/ so feel free to "like" it.

Also, during sign up, please use the coupon code "tca2010" (valid till 11/01), which will upgrade the subscription to the Free plan permanently. Just a way for me to say thank you :)

Thanks!

ojbyrne• 16 years ago

This may sound cynical, but hot girls work. Given the subject area, hot girl in a bridal gown and hot guy in a tux seems like it would be attention getting.

icey• 16 years ago

Have you had anyone use this for their wedding yet? Success stories about personal experiences can make for pretty attractive marketing.

qrush• 16 years ago

Wow, thanks. Currently using Highrise to plan ours but will give this a shot. If we have feedback for you what's the best way to contact you?

sr3d2• 16 years ago

You can email me at alexle at marrily.com or give me a call (my number is on the top of the app page). I'm also on IRC #startups with the same nick as well.

lrm242• 16 years ago

Some thoughts:

If you're going to the show, go with a goal. Just being there is only valuable if you're lucky and happen to meet and chat with the right person. These types of events are typically heavy on the alcohol and networking and don't make for a great environment to pitch your company. Given that, you need to do everything you can to improve your chances of meeting valuable people.

For example, If you're goal is to meet investors, look through the attendee list and find all of the investors that you want to talk with. Ideally you'd go to the event with someone else so that either you or that person can roam the floor looking for people that you've targetted. Give those people a small flyer or business card, mention where you're at in the room, and ask them to stop by if they have a moment.

If you get someone at your table that you think is valuable to your business, be short and sweet with them. Most of these people are there to drink and meet and greet. Don't trap them at your booth. Give them the quick pitch, tell them why you're unique and interesting, get their business card, and tell them you'll follow-up with them after the show for a coffee meeting.

If people come by your booth and they don't seem like a good fit for what you're doing give them the polite pitch and encourage them to move on (without being rude). If you just go to the show and sit behind the table you'll likely leave disappointed and frustrated. You need to proactive and network as best you can.

prawn• 16 years ago

What are you hoping to achieve there? Attract investors? Find employees? Get some publicity? Stumble upon some people who are getting married, or have friends that are? Who goes to these things?

What if you had a little case of business cards and as someone walked nearby, you complimented their shirt, tie, whatever and then got down on one knee, opened the card case and said "Will you Marrily me?" Then after their laugh or puzzled response, get up, deliver your one-line description/personal story (e.g., "I quit my day-job to start an online tool for people getting married.") and give them a few cards. Ask them to pass them on to any friends they have who are engaged or dating.

Something like that anyway.

Might be good practice because you're probably better off going to a wedding expo or doing deals with leaving your promo cards with related businesses (cake companies, dress companies, etc).

wallflower• 16 years ago

Will the tech expo have a defined floorplan? If they do and you can get it in advance and they are not printing their own maps, consider printing a map of the venue in the style of / like a wedding seating chart (with your logo somewhere near the legend).

skevvis• 16 years ago

I've presented at TechCocktail before. It's a great experience. Here are a few tips:

1) It's in a bar environment, so you have to stand out. I had a big retractable banner (8 ft high) which stood out, so when you walked into the room people saw it 2) 20" monitor hooked up to a computer playing a slideshow is also great 3) They have to walk away with something. Stickers? Something fun? 4) Talk to anyone and everyone who walks up, regardless of their background + interest. It may not be for them, but they may know someone who is.

Demoing Marrily at TechCocktail Austin. Tips on getting attention?

Related Stories