I have seen Jeff Jarvis reference the startup he is involved in, Daylife, a few times. Today I decided to click through and see what it is all about. Clearly they are in a private stage and are not ready for the public to see. Most sites go through this and many are used to the “Sorry we are not ready yet, leave your email address and we will let you know when we are ready.”

Not Daylife. I clicked on the Sign In link thinking there would be a sign up page or leave your email for info. But instead is one of the most unfriendly “go away” messages I have seen on a startup.

Here is what you are greeted with

Granted I do not know who the target audience for Daylife is. It may not be the general public. But I have read and agreed with many instances of Jeff telling corporate America to throw off the protective coverings and open up to the public. Let the public be more involved, let them have a seat closer to the editorial table.

Well now I have to delete any bookmarks to the site? How does that let the public stay close and watch? Does that mean I can’t mark the site with Delicious, is it not a social bookmarking site? This blurb is too much like corporate RIAA speak, not like a web company that wants to engage the public.

My advice? Throw up a sorry we are not ready to show off our stuff type message. Included in that blurb you can put a very nice message that says our site is currently only for the use of our private testers. But encourage me to hang out and stay. Don’t try and scare me with a delete all bookmarks and you are “logging me”. How big brother.

Those of us in the IT world know we are logged, that is where all the metrics come from. But I just am surprised at how a lawyer can make a site so unwelcoming.