Punchbowl Blog

A few times everyday, someone tells me (either in person or by email) that I should do something. A few examples:

• “You should go to this upcoming event.”
• “You should really meet this person.”
• “MyPunchbowl really should have this feature.”
• “You should check out that site.”
• “You should partner with that company.”

I’m fine with someone making a recommendation, and I love when people share new and interesting things with me. But I don’t like it when others assume to know my priorities and insert their beliefs with the simple word “should.” Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we removed ”should” from the dictionary?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently as more and more customers have written in to tell us what MyPunchbowl “should” do. With almost any feature in MyPunchbowl, I can think of a user who told us exactly how they think the feature “should” work. But as with all software design, there’s much more than what meets the eye. It’s hard to explain the nuances of a particular feature implementation to a customer over email, but often there is a very good reason why the feature works the way it does. When a user tells us that the feature “should” work a certain way, it’s usually a clear signal that they haven’t looked at the problem comprehensively.

I was thinking about writing this post today, when I came across a post from my friend Dharmesh Shah titled “Why You Should Attend Business of Software 2008 in Boston.” I know that Dharmesh is well-intentioned, but his post would have been a lot more effective if it was called “10 Great Reasons to Attend Business of Software 2008 in Boston.” With that title, I’d be more intrigued to learn about the conference. The conversation would start from a point of excitement and interest.  I wouldn’t feel the need to defend my decision not to go to the conference.

Yes, I suppose there are a few things that you “should” do in life. Most people would agree that you should pay taxes, and you should brush your teeth. But doesn’t it feel better to encourage someone to brush their teeth because of the health benefits versus saying “you know, you really should brush your teeth.”

Look back at the title of this post — how did you feel when you read “You should read this post.” Wouldn’t it have been more effective if I wrote “I hope you’ll read this post”? (And for the record, I hope you’ve read this far, and I hope you’ll continue to read my blog.)

Am I wrong? What would happen if we removed “should” from the dictionary? Are there cases where the word “should” is appropriate? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

This morning as I sat and ate some cereal, I read the text on the back of the box of my Raisin Nut Bran (by far my favorite cereal). On the back of the box, the text reads something like this:

“Eating breakfast gives you the energy that you need to have a productive day. So stop hitting the snooze button and make time for breakfast.”

This simple statement says a lot about how General Mills thinks about their product and how it relates to their real competition. General Mills realizes that their biggest competition is not other cereals or even other breakfast foods. Their real competition are those people that don’t make enough time for breakfast (those who substitute sleep for breakfast).  The best thing that General Mills could do to increase sales of their product is to find a way to get people out of bed in the morning rather than hit the snooze button. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that GM should partner with alarm clock manufacturers like Bose and strike some radio programming deals that help people get out of bed.

As I mapped this way of thinking onto MyPunchbowl, one substitute is probably “paper and pencil”. It’s certainly possible to plan out your entire event using paper and pencil (and lots of people still do it this way). However, it’s not as efficient, it will take more time, and I would argue that you will have a less successful event (for example, when you use MyPunchbowl’s Pick-a-Date feature you can ensure the key people will be at your event). One other potential substitute is other forms of celebration (like vacations). For example, my sister-in-law recently told me that they are going to take a trip this year instead of holding a birthday party for my nephew. If somehow we could convince people that hosting a party or event was the best way to celebrate a birthday, our traffic would likely go up significantly.

Think about your product in this light: rather than focusing on other companies who are competing for the same market space, think about the substitute for your product. What substitute is the real competition for your product?

Anyone who has worked with me for an extended period of time knows I have a handful of email related pet peeves — and one that has been bothering me a lot recently is what people choose to write as an email subject.

I get a lot of email everyday. I’m trying to learn the methodology of touching an email only once and immediately handling it, but invariably some emails linger in my inbox (sometimes for days, and sometimes for weeks). Numerous times in a day, I’ll scan my inbox either to tackle a specific issue or delete an email from something I’ve recently completed. I often read my email via my cell phone (I’m a fan of the Palm Treo) which makes the readability of email subjects even more important. I’m pretty fast at scanning my inbox, but without a clear email subject I can really get slowed down.

I have many pet peeves about how people write email subjects, but it primarily boils down to two main items:

Pet Peeve #1: A subject that doesn’t have enough information which causes me to have to open the email to find out the basics of what it is about. Here are a few of the examples that are currently in my inbox:

1. “Questions”
2. “Info”
3. “Intro”
4. “Help”

Pet Peeve #2: Email subjects that have WAY too much information and are WAY too long. Here are a few examples:

1. ‘Hi Matt, Your thoughts on a partnership with XXXXX company and how you could work with them.”
2. “Been a while. How is Punchbowl doing and have you seen our latest newsletter?”

So with that in mind, I present to you a 10 point checklist for writing good email subjects:

1. Your subject should be more than one word, but no more than seven (4-5 words is ideal)
2. If you’re a company, start with the name of your company (e.g. Punchbowl: Follow-up)
3. If it’s an intro to someone, include the person’s name in the subject (e.g. Intro to Matt Douglas or Bill meet Jane)
4. If it’s a meeting, include the date in the subject (e.g. Punchbowl meeting 6/17/08)
5. Do anything you can to make it not generic. (e.g. “Hey Matt” is a really bad subject)
6. If you use a SPAM filter, make sure your subject doesn’t get filled with SPAM tags (e.g. SPAM-LOW)
7. If the email has bounced around before, remove the Re: Re: Re: or Fwd:Re: that litters the subject line
8. Use proper capitalization: it’s easier to read
9. If the subject is a question, re-write it
10. If the subject has exclamation points, take them out

I believe that writing a good email subject is important: it’s how you present yourself and it influences the quality of the response from the recipient. I’ve certainly noticed that I tend to respond more quickly and thoroughly to people who send me an email that has a clear subject line (perhaps that’s because the content of the email is usually more clear too).

So please… before you send me an email, take a moment to think about the subject line before sending it. And if I sent you this blog post as a response to an email you sent me, allow me to apologize for my pedantic behavior. Yes, I know that email subjects are not the most important topic in the world — but give it a try. My inbox will thank you for it.

This morning, the “Digital Goddess” Kim Komando covered MyPunchbowl as the “Cool Site of the Day.”

Being named a “Cool Site of the Day” by Kim is an honor. Kim Komando has had a nationally syndicated radio show and a popular website since the mid 1990’s. Her company, WestStar TalkRadio Network, now does a weekly show in more than 450 markets around the United States. In addition, she has a very popular newsletter: according to her site, more than 5 million newsletters are sent out every week! Her most popular newsletter is sent out every Saturday morning to coincide with her morning radio show. More than 550,000 newsletters were sent out with a link to MyPunchbowl this morning (and yes, thanks to some advanced warning we were prepared to handle the traffic– the site is still running very smoothly!)

I pitched Kim and her team a few times last year and again this week after our announcement of the new MyPunchbowl feature called “Buzz.” The folks at the Kim Komando show are friendly and personable. It was great dealing with them as they prepared to feature MyPunchbowl on the Kim Komando show. Special thanks to David S. and James M.

Here’s what Kim had to say about MyPunchbbowl this morning:

It’s Saturday morning and you have the entire weekend ahead of you. So what will you do with your time off? If you had thought about it, you could have arranged a nice dinner party. Or maybe you could have hit the town with friends. Dinner parties and other events are difficult to arrange. Maybe that’s why you didn’t plan one for this weekend. But MyPunchbowl takes the hassle out of party planning.

Once you register, you can pick a date for your event. Then, send out invitations and create a checklist. The site even lets you manage RSVPs. MyPunchbowl is certain you’ll arrange some great parties with its service. So it will also help you keep the memories alive. It integrates with Flickr and YouTube for photo and video sharing!

Thanks to Kim Komando and her team for covering MyPunchbowl. I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Kim Komando and WestStar TalkRadio Network.

Kim Komando, the Kim Komando stylized logo and the Kim Komando Weblink logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of WestStar TalkRadio Network.

As part of our announcement yesterday about the new MyPunchbowl “Buzz”, we also announced a game for Facebook. Here’s the relevant snippet from our press release:

Punchbowl Software also announces the launch of a new game available on the popular social networking website Facebook. “The Hangover Game” is an entertaining diversion for Facebook users. The Hangover Game challenges Facebook users to be the first among their friends to collect all of the 100 Hangover cards. The game features party situations that will make you laugh so much you’ll want to share them with your friends. Facebook users can play The Hangover Game for free at by adding the Facebook application.

The Hangover Game is something we developed on the side — our goal is to offer something fun to Facebook users and gently spread the word about MyPunchbowl.com.

So what are you waiting for? Go check out The Hangover Game — but be forewarned: it’s a little addictive. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

So I was talking to my friends over at Celebrations.com (1-800-Flowers), and they reminded me that today is the last day to enter the super bowl party “Big Game party idea contest.” I’m a little bummed that I can’t enter– you know those pesky little legal rules that don’t let co-marketing partners participate.

If I did enter, my entry would center around the viewing experience. I’ve got my eyes on a new flat-screen TV, and that would be the center of my party. I’d order out catering from the Carnegie Deli in New York (overnight shipping to keep the corned beef fresh), and I’d decorate the house as a disco bar for half-time entertainment, complete with strobe lights and disco balls. Did I mention the beer imported fresh from Modelo in Mexico? Hmmm, maybe this party idea is a little more than $5K. Check out some of the other great party ideas that users have submitted at Celebrations.com.

For those of you who are hosting a Super Bowl party, I suggest that you kick your party planning into high gear. You can get started in less than 5 minutes by sending your guests a “Save the Date” and then follow up next week after you have a chance to peruse our free online invitations. You’ll be glad we have a easy-to-use checklist feature to organize everything you need (and even ask guests to bring something). For more ideas, head over the party expert herself: Penelope.

My Super Bowl plans aren’t set yet– if you’re having a party (or you happen to be the lucky $5K winner) I hope you’ll send an invite to me and the Punchbowl crew. We’ll bring the punch!

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Party Planning and Free online invitations at MyPunchbowl.

This morning I noticed a very interesting message on My Yahoo page:

I was struck by this message for a few key reasons:

1) Yahoo has been trying to get me to switch from the old My Yahoo to the new layout for a few months now. I’ve tried the new version a few times in the last three months– and I think it is a step backwards. While the layout lends itself to better advertising placement (which I’m sure is at least part of the motivation for the new My Yahoo), the layout itself is poor. There’s far less information on the page (which causes more scrolling), and I find the entire UI monotone (which makes it harder to quickly find what I’m looking for). I know how difficult new design is (it looks so easy, it must be easy!). So I don’t fault Yahoo for the new design. It’s just not for me.

2) Does Yahoo actually think I’m going to trust a quote by “C.”?? At one point, we put a user quote on MyPunchbowl.com. You know what? No one cares, and no one believes it. The quote itself is pretty ridiculous — is it “amazing” that there is a Netflix widget? Um, no.

3) I’m one of those people who has struggled between using Gmail vs Yahoo Mail. There are many, many things I like about Yahoo Mail. I use Gmail now, but I’m not opposed to switching (if the transition is easy). Gmail is the center of my “digital life” and I interact with Google products many hours a day as a result. By including Gmail access as a reason to switch to My Yahoo, it feels like Yahoo has given up on their own product. It’s almost an admission: we know you use Gmail — heck, even we use Gmail. So why not use your Gmail in your My Yahoo page?

Many have written about the popularity of Yahoo Mail. So why are they “advertising” Gmail? (Yes, I know they are simply trying to make My Yahoo more appealing to me as a Gmail user– but Yahoo Mail is one of the most important products in Yahoo’s arsenal).

Hey Yahoo: don’t sell out on your prime jewel. Tell me the benefits to using Yahoo Mail, and remind me why I should take another look. If you give up on your own product, so will I.

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Party Planning and Free Online Invitations at MyPunchbowl.com. Try it today!

Our friends over at Celebrations.com (1-800-Flowers) are running a contest from now until the end of this week. It’s easy to enter and the prize is pretty damn good: a $5,000 Big Game dream party.

Here’s the deal: simply register on their site, and then enter some Super Bowl party ideas. I was perusing the site today, and saw a few interesting entries. My favorite one was called “Lights Out” — a rabid San Diego Chargers fan with some good food and beverage ideas. Hey, meesh82, let us know what’s in your “Lights Out Punch.” I’m sure Penelope would love to have the recipe.

The great bloggers at Celebrations just wrote a nice post about our free online invitations for Super Bowl parties. Thanks Mindy!

So what are you waiting for? Think you have a better Big Game party idea? If you win the $5,000 party, make sure to invite me and the Punchbowl crew. We’d love to crash your party.

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Party Planning and Online Invitations with MyPunchbowl

I’m sitting here in Santa Cruz, CA where I’m spending the holiday. I like Santa Cruz, and have been here a number of times in the past. Yesterday when I arrived, my brother-in-law and I went down to the dog park (with his awesome bulldog Boomer). It’s pretty amazing how many people I saw at the dog park with Santa Cruz related merchandise. I saw a few people with the well-known Santa Cruz logo emblazoned on their clothing:

I think this logo has something to do with a skateboard company, but I’m not sure. But it’s definitely the brand for Santa Cruz. It’s a simple logo, and evocative of California. Clean and crisp, it looks great on a sweatshirt.

Brand is a tough thing to build for a company, let alone for a town or city. Many large cities build their brand from the landmark buildings: New York (Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty), Chicago (Sears Tower), San Francisco (Golden Gate Bridge). But I’m strugging to think of any smaller cities (or large towns) that have as recognizable a brand as Santa Cruz.

Any come to mind for you? Can you think of a small town or city that has as recognizable a brand as Santa Cruz?

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Party Planning and Online Invitations with MyPunchbowl

Before the TechCrunch Boston Meetup, I had never met Michael Arrington. (For those of you who don’t know, TechCrunch is a very popular blog in the startup world, and Mike is the founder. As a result, he enjoys “celebrity” status in the startup world and also has his share of detractors).

Now before you read further, you should know a few things. First, I’m not personal friends with Mike — in fact, I don’t know him very well at all. Like most startup entrepreneurs, I simply sent TechCrunch information about MyPunchbowl.com a few days before we launched. I have some experience in PR, so I wrote Mike a pointed email telling him why he should care about MyPunchbowl. Of course, I was very happy when he emailed me back to say that TechCrunch was interested in taking a look. A few days later, I met with Nick Gonzales. Nick is a great person and he really took the time to understand why MyPunchbowl is different. TechCrunch covered our initial launch and again when we launched “Pick a Date.”

Throughout my dealings with TechCrunch, I’ve mostly dealt directly with Nick, but Mike and I have traded a few emails and spoke on the phone once. No interactions of consequence.

Fast forward to the TechCrunch Boston Meetup. I spent most of the night around our demo area talking to users, VCs, and press folks. One of Punchbowl’s board members is Don Dodge, and at one point towards the beginning of the night, Don pulled me aside to introduce me to Mike. We said our pleasantries, I thanked him for inviting us to sponsor, and I moved on. What transpired after our initial introduction was amusing to say the least.

The announcement podium was near our demo area, so Mike was back and forth near our demo area throughout the night. We were very crowded, so it was a tight fit to get by. At one point, as Mike walked by, I put a MyPunchbowl “World’s Greatest Host” sticker on him. With a smirk and a sarcastic comment, he accepted. Here’s Mike sporting the MyPunchbowl sticker:

Later, Mike inadvertently bumped into me as he passed by our demo area. He jokingly asked, “Who are you? Have we met?” Apparently Mike didn’t know I’m from New York. I pushed him back, pretty hard. Mike’s a big guy, and he was pretty amused at all 155lbs of me leaning into his shoulder. He smiled, and continued on.

20 minutes later, the scene repeated (Like I said, it was pretty crowded…). A smile, a smirk, a slightly harder bump — and he moved on. I’m pretty sure I talked trash and said something to rile him up, but I don’t remember what it was.

About an hour later, the scene repeated yet again. This time he leaned his shoulder into me pretty hard as he passed by. And then we had this exchange:

Matt: (I got in his face.) “Hey Mike, I’m going to kick your ass.” He seemed to liked the challenge.

Mike: “When are you going to stop busting my balls?” He towered over me.

Matt: “When the %^$* are you going to actually look at my site?” (note: although TechCrunch has reviewed the site and we sponsored their event, Mike has never actually registered on the site as far as I know).

Mike: “Give me one reason I should bother.”

Matt: “Because I spent the last 3 years of my life and most of my savings on this startup.”

Mike: (Thinks for a second, takes my card and puts it into his shirt pocket) “Yeah, ok.”

And then….. Mike hugs me. It was a kind of sarcastic “I feel your pain” hug, and he held on as if to prove his point. I laugh and tell him that I won’t let him forget that moment…

Later, I’m downstairs and I tell Don Dodge about what happened upstairs earlier. And he insists on a picture between Mike and I to reenact the moment.

I’m sure Mike gets hundreds of emails a day — and my guess is that at least 80% of them are people kissing his ass and pitching for coverage on TechCrunch. I don’t know exactly what that’s like, but I have a good idea. When I was at Adobe, I got hundreds of emails a day. It was a constant battle to separate the noise from the gems. Eventually you turn cynical to just about everybody — that is, unless they do something to show you that they are different.

So what have I learned about what Mike Arrington and Matt Douglas have in common? Like me, Mike has a sarcastic sense of humor and enjoys a challenge. He’s got a soft spot for the “truth” about what it takes to start from nothing and build a startup. And while he geninuely enjoys recognition, he can laugh at himself and the absurdity of it all.

I’m not friends with Mike– but get us away from the tech/startup world and I think he and I would enjoy having a few beers and playing competitive air hockey. Just for the record, I’d win.

Here’s another shot of Mike and I at the end of the night:

So Mike… if you’ve read this far: when are you going to create an account and let me know what you think about MyPunchbowl.com? Don’t make me hunt you down — I may be small, but I pack a hell of a punch.

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Party Planning and Online Invitations with MyPunchbowl