Image by Eric Eggertson via Flickr With many startups looking a lot like a throwback to the late 1990’s, differentiation becomes harder when we see 20 companies coming up with 20 different ways to poke your Facebook friends. People are starting to visit web sites, and not being impressed. Moreover, there is contention that Demo and TC50 are happening at the same time.

Actually, the issue goes much deeper, it is not that there are going to be a bunch of startups that paid a lot of money to get on stage and show off their product, even if it is just another way to poke someone on a social network. The TC50 and Demo are coinciding this year, which makes it even more interesting for the startups, two shows, same time, both are “must attend events”.

From the startup viewpoint, make sure you are not scheduled the same day at the same time, and that you have enough money to hoof it across town to be at both events, or simply bring everyone down and attend both. More bang for your buck, two awesome conferences at the same time, with a special SWAT team for each one, sharing the same hotel room. Nothing could be better for a startup, and nothing could be more interesting for the audiences that will go to both of them as well.

Even if “Demo Must Die.”

There is additional backlash on this one, Robert Scoble points out that many of the web sites “suck” for the people attending the conference. It is unlikely that this will help generate good will, note to startups, your web site is most likely the first thing that people will see, if it sucks, well then kiss that one goodbye.

Demo and TC are interesting events, but if you are going to spend the money, make sure you hit both conferences, with a good team of representatives. This is probably one of those few opportunities to really shine, and “get away from a fractured audience” as CNet says, and start building your community by being everywhere all at once, even if you have to take your parents along to help man the booth.

What makes this more interesting is that startups are ignoring the local blogs, the local press coverage in favor of mega events, when having a local blog, or a local reporter cover your company can go a long way in helping your startup get much needed press. We have always had an open interview process, and so far only 3 Seattle companies have taken us up on that. Most of what we get is through other means than talking directly to a company.

Word to startups – start courting the media, be everywhere all at once, and saturate the market once you tech your Techcrunch write up. Techcrunch is great for a couple of days if not a week, but it is the sustained interest of bloggers and the press that will keep that bubble growing. Stay in the news as long as you can, and use double book events to your benefit.

Tags: demo, tc50, web sites, suck, Robert Scoble, humor, fun