Kyle
Back in June of 2011 410 labs opened up their beta to their shortmail service. Shortmail is a service that helps users create 500 character emails that are concise and deliver the message without the superfluous chatter that clogs email messages everywhere.
It originally released to anyone with a Twitter account. In fact today you can still claim a shortmail account using your Twitter credentials, however in January they opened it up to anyone with a pulse via their web tool at shortmail.me
“Our goal is to bring communication simplicity to everyone,” says 410 Labs CEO Dave Troy. “After hearing from many of our our users that they love Shortmail, but don’t love their Twitter name, we’ve opened up a new name space that’s not tied to Twitter, so everyone can enjoy the benefits of shorter, more concise communication.”
More after the break
Dave Troy is no stranger to startups or Charm City’s thriving tech scene. His credentials include founding local ISP Toadnet, Twittervision and open source VoIP systems. He also founded Beehive Baltimore, Baltimore Angels and the TedXMidatlantic conferences. His Baltimore Angels are providing the prizes for Maryland Mayor Martin O’Malley’s startup contest being held on Pinterest.
While shortmail is a novel idea and a great service in itself, 410 Labs used a tool by Evolve Communications called “Rocket Packs For Startups”. These Rocket Packs come in three varieties ranging from $750-$3000 and help startups with PR tasks without the expense of a PR firm.
As startupbaltimore.org says in this article, Dallas Mavericks owner and ABC Shark, Mark Cuban, said once that “startups should never hire a PR firm”. This advice comes from the notion that PR firms are an expense startups shouldn’t take on, primarily because the founders need to be in touch with their industry and it’s media.
Rocketpacks does that. The three packages cover everything from boiler plate press release templates to how to get pickups. To demonstrate the effectiveness of getting picked up, using a Rocket Pack for Startups tool, 410labs was able to get featured on CNN and then picked up by 225 TV news stations nationwide.
To demonstrate the effectiveness of these “pick ups” Conan O’Brian mocked the news story by splicing together the introduction to the piece on 410labs. Conan ran the story and video below on March 6th. What’s significant about March 6th? While “Could this be the end of email overload” was touted by 225 news stations across the country, it was Super Tuesday as well.
Enjoy this hilarious video, and checkout 410labsShortmail here.
If you’re a startup and want this kind of fire power (results may vary) check out “Rocket Packs For Startups” Here
Source: Startupbaltimore.org
