Dull thoughts in a sharp world.

I had the unique opportunity to sit down and talk with the founders of AirBedandBreakfast.com, a really cool site that allows owners to rent out a room or couch for a night.  They have done an incredible job with their PR strategy, aggressively executing a plan that resulted in a steady stream of press from top-notch outlets.  From the WallStreet Journal to TechCrunch, Brian, Joe, and Nate have been everywhere.  If their venture does not succeed (which it will), they have a future in PR.  Here is a summary of their strategy.

1)  Be bold –  Buzz terms do not work.  Social networking, social media, etc.  Everyone is Facebook + YouTube + Digg.  They told stories of how they helped people.  How people needed them.  The problem they were solving.  The were unique, creative, and genuine.  My favorite was their Obama O’s strategy for the inauguration.  http://www.airbnb.com/obamaos

2)  Button up –  You need to create buzz from the ground up.  Newspapers will google you and see how is talking about you on Twitter.  TV shows will see which newpapers are talking about you on newspapers.  

3)  It takes time – They spent 3 hours a day, contacting people.  They sent thousands of emails, called thousands of people, and did what it takes to tell their story.  

These guys are smart, young, and aggressive and they showed the a little bit of hard work and creativity goes a long way.  If you haven’t checked out their AirBedandBreakfast.com, you need to do so.