Any ideas on how to create buzz before launching a startup. Need advice as I am about to launch http://www.onista.com in summer timeframe.

I would say that a lot depends upon the type of product that you're building. For example, if it's a web-based social networking app, send your beta announcement mail to, say, 10 people or 50 people and track views and signups for 2-3 weeks. See what kind of network effect you get. Pick your initial invitees wisely. If you want users, then you want them to be the so-called influencers.

I also have this question. I am a little reticent, though, because I'm concerned about scalability. In my case, I am writing the front end in typical database-backed fashion, but the backend is several custom C++ components. So while I want users, I'm not sure how much I want them on day one. Everything I read says, "get users, figure out your weaknesses, and scale as needed." That's reassuring. Nevertheless, the unknowns that we face can still be daunting.

Larger companies and people who have been around the block will often use a PR firm or will simply file a press release themselves. It costs about $1000, from what I understand.

I think from the standpoint of your average bootstrapper, guerilla tactics are in order. I plan on using Google Analytics. I haven't tried it yet, but I plan to. It will, for example, show hits based on geographic location. You can use that to target local advertising in the markets where you're getting some initial traction. I don't think there is really a set approach. When you're a guerilla, anything is possible.

I don't think creating buzz prior to launch is that necessary for most startups. The question is more how to get a lot of people to the site after there's something to do there.

creating buzz is not necessarily a good thing. the first product you launch will be bad because it hasn't had user input (nothing compares to real users using your site). it will become incrementally better as more people tell you how they actually want it to work.

taking the pre-launch buzz approach is high risk. take powerset for example - they have generated so much buzz that their product had better be a google killer from day one or they're in trouble.

Well Onista (http://www.onista.com) is a social marketplace where anybody can buy or sell anything and also socialize, create friends and never worry about paying any listing fees, commission, auctions. It would be very simple.

I was reading this article about "8 Simple Steps to Build Traffic For Your Internet Startup" @ http://www.scoreboard-media.com/internet-startup-traffic/ and was trying to understand, but some of the stuff I could not really follow. Like "What is defensible traffic". Also it says "Build links". But then how to build links? I do not mind spending money on having Press Release, but I do not know when is the right time to have one, and also who can assist me in writing a press-release. (My Written English sucks more than MC Hammer's accountant).

When you said, "end your beta announcement mail to, say, 10 people or 50 people". Should those be my friends and contacts or I can buy email list from somewhere. No Idea. I already sent email to my friends and contacts and so far 29 ppl have signed up to see when I release the product.

Someone signed up using email address "you_craigslist_wannabe_will_fail@badly_publically...." Funny... Very funny. Good that I'm not developing Onista anything like or even close to Cragslist. No connection.