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{ random thoughts about startups, social media, and technology }

Dull thoughts in a sharp world.

Jan 21, 2009

SF Gate Comment String

In a recent story about RentWiki.com, I definitely think our message was misinterpreted.  Take a look at the comments.

Even with the smallest of starups, the common vision can have difficulties transcending all employers, managers, and partners.   In this case, in a press release crafted by our PR firm, and reviewed by myself and partners, we overlooked a subtle verbiage difference, but changed the fundamental question and problem we are trying to solve.

The SFgate.com article cited our assumption that the fundamental question asked by movers is, “Do people like me live here?”  When I set out on RentWiki, it was because I moved into two bad living situations and one average situation.

1)  North Phoenix – Though the neighborhood was safe, in a good school district, and up and coming, this was a 8 months of my life that I hated.  It was a suburb.  It was plain.  It had no close restaurants.

2)  Walnut Creek – Again, suburb.  Apparently I did not learn my lesson.  I even asked people if the commute was far, and I was told it would be okay.  I found myself heading into San Francisco everyday, sometime commuting more than 2 hours.

3) Russian Hill, San Francisco – Really nice, expensive, clean, filled with great restaurants, and friendly residents.  Lacked art, music, and the diversity I sought.

Point is, each time I was seeking a neighborhood with certain characteristics that fit my lifestyle and personality, not my ethnicity.  I felt personal pain and difficulties when I moved, and sought to solve that problem from happening to others.

How can we prevent our message from being misinterpreted?  How do we ensure that the vision trickles down from founders to hired ad agencies, PR firms, and every employee spreading our message?

I think it has to come from ensuring that all that levels understand the vision, and can relate to the pain.  I know that many startsup require 10% of everyone’s time to be used survey, talking with, and getting feedback with their users (or clients).  For everyone to understand the problem that is being solved, everyone needs to understand the consumer and business.  Developers should attempt a sales call with clients, sales should talk to consumers, etc.  I agree that this is a worthwhile use of time.

6 Total TweetBacks: (Tweet this post)
  • : #SOA 10/27/09 10:32am
  • ko: KT는 유무선 통합 서비스로 확고히 하는군요 SKT 10/14/09 05:24am
  • en: New here? Best to reserve criticism http://is.gd/1xJEc psyblog offers a study with timely advice. 07/14/09 12:46am
  • en: This is heinous, no Olympic athlete should do this to his mouth.... http://is.gd/1xJEC 07/14/09 12:45am
  • en: REM - Three key indicators to pricing predictability. http://is.gd/1xprF 07/13/09 06:19pm
  • Eric_Urbane: SF Gate Comment String http://tinyurl.com/bt2ll4 01/24/09 01:41pm
  • Eric, Good Morning
    I am not so sure your message was completely misconstrued. I thought that the comments were interesting, but what struck me as possibly an underlying nugget of information for you is about the clients you are going after; ie new buildings. Perhaps there is a greater value for potential residents for reviews in older neighborhoods, older buildings. I get that the new buildings are the better paying, more lucrative clients, or maybe the only clients, and this isn't any type of criticism, it just struck me. Maybe you have lots of clients with older buildings, Perhaps owners of older buildings are even more challenging to sell the idea too, not sure, just rambling.

    I have an offer for you. I am willing to do an open and full disclose testing of your product at our Urbane Apartment Communities. If you lack the resources to launch something in our area I am willing to be an ambassador for you and manage the process for you, under your directive. I have only one request, should you have interest, and that is that all comments be open and available for all to see, good and bad. No watering down of your original intent and idea. i belive that has so very much value for the potential resident

    I am convinced, to the core center of my being, that open comments are paramount to your original idea. I understand the fear that apartment operators and executives have. Through our own experience of practicing transparency, I fully believe that it is where the most significant value is hiding, and if we can effectively demonstrate your product, from its original intent, perhaps that may help transition our entire industry to a new paradigm, of "Enhance the Residents Experience" and "Break From the Pack of Apartment Commodity"

    As the product takes hold, I will also help you sell it here locally, regionally and nationally as opportunities arise. I believe in the product offering, and believe that the consumer, the renter is ready for this, and will run with it. I do think there are inherent challenges in selling the concept to reluctant owners and apartment executives, and the more Case Studies of success you can show, the easier it becomes.

    For disclosure purposes, because the comment has became more than just a comment, I am not looking for anything from you/your company, this is only an offer and opportunity to use Urbane Apartments as a testing lab for these ideas and concepts, and I will happily blog, spread the word and help usher your concept.

    Communicate when you can, -Eric
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About Me

I'm a twenty something entrepreneur living in San Francisco. I'm the founder of RentWiki.com, I've spoken at NMHC, AIM conference, Harvard Entrepreneurship Conference, and Multi-housing World, and was named one of BusinessWeek's Top 25 Entrepreneurs Under 25. I enjoy great design, all relevant and irrelevant technology, reading, and good people.