The (re)launch
Today I feel like I’m 23 again. Today feels a lot like September 29, 1999. On that day, I was caught up in all of the excitement, nervousness, and anticipation tied to the launch of my first business. The company was called TuRumbo.com - a bilingual network of online Hispanic city guides. The company was the brainchild of me and a group of college friends who were all passionate about Hispanic culture and excited to jump on the Internet startup bandwagon.
Today, I got the chance to do that all over again - sort of. Today I launched Sensis - a new name and identity for the interactive agency I have been running for the last 8 years (Focus Multimedia). I know - it’s not the same, but it sure feels similar. The launch revolves around a new Web site - sensisagency.com - and an exciting new brand our agency has been working on for almost 6 months.
Man, this feeling is intoxicating. There is nothing quite like it.
First, the satisfaction after having worked so hard for so long. We first decided to change our name back in April. Since then, we have gone through an exhaustive series of steps, starting with selecting a name, then a logo, and a business system. Then came the Web site - the creative concepts, the site maps, the mockups, the copy plan. Then the thousands of little things - ranging from our new emails to changing the caller ID on our phones!
Then there is the anticipation factor. What will people think about the new name, the new logo, the new Web site? Will the Web site track a lot of page views. How many people will check out the blogs (and this read this blog?) How many people will read the Press Release?
Lastly, the excitement about the future. A launch signals the beginning of a journey. In our case a new beginning. What will the agency look like a year from today? The client list? The employees? So much to look forward to…
Don’t get me wrong - when we launch a big campaign for a client or a major Web site redesign, it’s extremely exciting and fulfulling. But it’s different. The emotions are stronger. It’s just a more intense experience.
It’s also nice to have a few years of experience under my belt this time around. I may not know much, but I know a lot more than I did back in 1999.
Most importantly, it’s nice to know that I haven’t lost the optimistic enthusiasm of a naive entrepreneur. I need to do this more often…