Before I launched the company, I was very secretive about it. I didn’t post pictures of the bag on the blog. Heck, I didn’t post pictures of the packaging, the logo, the website…not one thing.
People were not happy about it. I had comments on this blog like “why all the secrecy?” People I knew emailed me and ask to see photos and I wouldn’t let them! This was serious.
I didn’t even post this photo when the first bags went out (review bags to Penelope Trunk, Arianna Huffington, Shameeka Ayers, Kate Trgovac and Tory Johnson) because I didn’t want to let even the whiskers of the cat out of the bag.
I won’t do it that way again.
Now that people get what I’m doing, they are coming out of the woodwork! Everyday I get introduced to someone new who wants to help me. I meet with people who want to see the bag. Vendors want to see if I can give their business. Friends even say they can’t believe how “professional” the site looks. HA!
Lesson learned – YOU have the vision, but others don’t. Launching FAST is important. Secrecy is not.
I’ve heard this said before. Put your idea out there. Tell people about it. Don’t be worried about someone stealing your idea. I agree. I tell people my ideas, because I never know who they know or what they can do to help me in turning my ideas into reality.
Hmmm? I never really had issues with your secrecy, I thought it was very appropriate for your type of product. Think of Apple and the iPhone/iPad launches: for them secrecy was vital to build antipication, anticipation builds buzz, buzz brings attention… and, as you know, Apple gets A LOT of attention.
Imagine how bored people would be it you chronicled every minute detail of a project, like those annoying people on Twitter telling you every time they reach a different intersection on the road. I like hearing about the “process”, I don’t necessarily need to know it all. I also like a good mystery and do not always want to peek behind the veil.
How interesting! It does seem like it wouldn’t be as exciting to “launch” without the secrecy, but I could see how less secrecy could maybe get people more into it. Catch 22 I guess!