Peter Shankman : How did you grow HARO from a Facebook page to over 20,000 subscribers in less than six months?

I own a PR agency and started a Facebook page to start posting PR opportunities that were coming from my journalist friends. I was shopping in Duane Reade, and Profnet called and accused me of stealing their leads. I said to them, “If a journalist gives you a lead and me a lead at the same time, how is that stealing your lead? Maybe you are stealing my leads.” I would have never launched if they hadn't made me so angry. In two days I created a website and emailed my friends of Facebook to come over, got a bunch of press about it, and here I am. I have a 96% open rate for my emails, and journalists tell me they get a much more targeted response than with Profnet.