Startup Founders Guide to Build in Public

Key Highlights

• “Building in public” is a Internet sub-culture of startup founders and builders in which they transparently share their journey, from idea to launch and beyond.
• This approach fosters community, builds trust with potential customers, and offers valuable learning experiences for both the founder and the audience.
• Sharing progress updates, financials, product development insights, and behind-the-scenes content are effective ways to build in public.
• Founders can leverage platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, newsletters, TikTok, and niche communities to share their journey. Most popular platform for “build in public” is Twitter.
• Build in public approach requires authenticity, vulnerability, and a willingness to embrace feedback, both positive and negative from people on the Internet.

What is “Build in Public”?

“Building in public” is a way for startup founders to show how they create their business. Instead of hiding what they do, these founders share everything openly. They talk about their successes, failures, and what they learn along the way. They may even share their financial information.

This approach helps build a community around a product or service. Potential customers and other entrepreneurs can see the true journey of starting a business. It’s about making real connections and building trust. By showing the behind-the-scenes of a startup, they create a way for people to feel involved.

Why build in public? – Benefits of building in public

To Build in public is highly benefitial for startup founders, especially in the early days of their startup. By sharing their journey openly, founders can connect with potential customers, investors, and mentors. These people can give feedback, support, and insights that they might not get otherwise.

This kind of transparency helps build trust and authenticity. These qualities are crucial for creating a loyal customer base. Plus, by documenting their startup journey publicly, founders can boost business growth. This attracts early adopters, helps with marketing, and builds a strong brand identity that connects with people.

10 Ways to “Build in Public”:

Building in public can take many forms. This gives founders different ways to connect with their audience. They can share their first ideas and show the messy details of launch day. There are many options, and these can fit into different platforms and styles.

Founders might share weekly updates on social media. They could show their financial details with full transparency. Another choice is to host live Q&A sessions. This allows them to chat directly with their community. Each of these ways shows a unique side of the entrepreneurial journey. It helps people understand the product, the brand, and the founders behind it better.

Sharing the Journey from Idea to Launch

Capturing the journey from the first idea to the significant launch day tells a story that many people relate to. Business owners can show their real selves by sharing this process. It lets others see how an idea turns into something real.

Sharing challenges, changes, sleepless nights, and big wins makes the business experience feel more human. This makes it easier for new founders to connect and feel inspired. Using personal anecdotes can make this even more impactful. These stories show the strong feelings and hard work that go into creating something from the ground up.

Founders even share the journey of things that they are learning on the go! There are examples of founders who figured out how to become a software developer or started learning web3, shared their learnings, and eventually built a tech company. The journey even furthers the connection with the community as people are inspired by the story.

Also, inviting the audience to see how an idea grows and asking for their input builds a sense of shared ownership. This helps create a strong connection between the brand and potential customers.

Weekly Progress Updates on Social Media

Maintaining good communication is important for building a strong audience. A great way to do this is by sharing weekly updates on social media platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn. This regular connection keeps your audience informed, involved, and interested in your journey.

Weekly updates can cover many topics. This helps keep the content fresh and interesting while being open. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Share your important achievements and milestones.
• Talk about the challenges you faced and the lessons you learned.
• Hint at upcoming features or project developments.
• Share positive customer feedback and testimonials.
• Give a sneak peek into your daily tasks and decision-making.

When you show your weekly progress, you create excitement. Your audience will look forward to your next update.

Open Financials and Metrics Sharing

Being open about your startup’s money and important data can really help build trust. It may sound surprising, but sharing this information shows that you care about honesty and being responsible. It also shows that you are willing to share the real truth about how your business operates.

When you share details about your money, like how much you earn, spend, and grow, your audience can see how their support helps you. This also gives useful lessons to other business owners who face similar issues. It encourages working together and learning from each other.

Of course, being this open needs careful thought. You need to be ready to answer tough questions. But the gains from being this open, especially when it comes to building trust with your community, can be very rewarding.

Interactive Product Development Feedback Sessions

Engaging your audience in making your product is helpful. It lets you collect feedback while creating a feeling of community. You can host events where people can share their thoughts on new features, designs, or ideas for the future. This direct involvement can shape how the product grows.

Working together in this way helps create a product that fits the needs of your audience. It also builds a strong connection between your brand and the community. When you invite people to take part, they are more likely to feel loyal and excited about what you do.

Think about having live Q&A sessions, using online polls, or offering feedback forms to gather ideas. These activities show that you are serious about developing a product that truly connects with your audience. This can also increase your brand’s authenticity.

Behind-the-Scenes Vlogs on YouTube

Granting your audience a look at what happens behind the scenes of your startup with vlogs on YouTube can help make your brand more relatable. This can build a personal connection with your viewers. These vlogs show the people behind the product. You can highlight their personalities, passions, and daily tasks.

You can film a regular day at the office, the excitement of a product launch, or the challenges you face and how you overcome them. These glimpses create a sense of closeness and realness. Viewers enjoy the honesty and can connect with the human side of your startup journey.

YouTube vlogs can also be a fun way to show your skills, share useful tips, or even provide tutorials related to your product. By inviting viewers into your world, you promote transparency and build a stronger bond with your audience.

AMA on Reddit and communities

Hosting an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on sites like Reddit is a great way to connect with your target audience. It lets you answer their questions and show authenticity and vulnerability. This open setup encourages honesty and helps create a direct communication line between founders and potential customers. A lot of people would see you as an expert of “Build in Public” approach and would love to get your views on what they should and should not do

Reddit is known for its active and varied communities. It can be an especially good site for AMAs. By choosing subreddits that fit your industry or target market, you can reach an audience that is eager to learn more about your product or journey.

It’s also important to prepare for tough questions. Answering honestly, even about past mistakes or current issues, shows vulnerability and helps build trust. This openness underlines your commitment to transparency and boosts your credibility in the community.

Sharing journey on YouTube with Videos

Using YouTube to share your startup journey through videos helps you connect with your audience more personally. Videos are a great way to show emotions, show off your personality, and tell your story in ways that writing cannot.

Having your own YouTube channel for your startup lets you create a series of videos. These videos can tell the story of your journey, starting from your first ideas. You can talk about the challenges you faced, the milestones you reached, and the lessons you learned. The videos can be short and casual or longer with more detail about your product, industry, or business experiences.

When you share genuine video content regularly, you let your audience be a part of your journey. This builds a sense of community and excitement as your startup grows.

Live Working Sessions on Twitch

Live streaming on platforms like Twitch is a great way to “build in public.” It lets your audience see your daily work and thoughts in real-time. Twitch started with gamers but now includes many types of creators, like entrepreneurs and developers.

You can share live coding, design sessions, or marketing talks. This gives your audience valuable insights and shows transparency and authenticity. They can learn about the ups and downs of building a startup by watching your process.

Also, live streaming is interactive. You can answer questions right away and use feedback from viewers in your work. This builds a community and turns viewers from passive watchers into active participants.

Start a newsletter

Creating a regular newsletter for your startup journey helps you communicate directly with your most interested audience. Newsletters give a personal touch. They are a great way to share news, insights, and behind-the-scenes moments, building a sense of community and special access.

Unlike quick social media posts, newsletters allow for longer, detailed content. You can explain your experiences, share important lessons, and explore your thoughts more thoroughly. This deeper engagement builds a stronger bond with your audience, enhancing their loyalty and commitment to your journey.

Additionally, newsletters let you group your audience based on their interests. You can tailor content for specific groups and give updates that really matter to them. This individualized approach makes your newsletter valuable. It becomes a key resource for those who care about your journey.

Build in Public Podcast

Launching a podcast about your startup journey is a great way to share your story. You can connect with your audience through audio and show that you are a leader in your field. Podcasts let you tell your story, showing the emotions, challenges, and wins of starting a business in a way that feels real and engaging.

Podcasts also offer a chance for transparency. You can have deep talks about how you make decisions, what you learned from setbacks, and how you found success. Sharing these honest insights makes your brand feel more human. It also provides helpful knowledge and motivation for other entrepreneurs facing the same issues.

Think about inviting guest speakers like mentors, advisors, early employees, or even customers. Their views will add to your podcast and make the listening experience better for your audience. This teamwork builds a sense of community around your startup journey.

Examples of Founders Building in Public

Countless startup founders have embraced the power of building in public, openly sharing their journeys and inspiring others along the way. These individuals, through their transparency and willingness to share both their successes and failures, have not only built successful businesses but have also fostered thriving communities around their brands.

Their stories serve as a testament to the power of authenticity and vulnerability in connecting with audiences, generating genuine interest, and fostering trust. Here are a few inspiring examples:

• Austen Allred
• Domm Holland
• Suhail Doshi
• Paul Yacoubian
• Pieter Levels
• Justin Welsh
• Scott Delong
• Damon Chen
• Monica Lent
• Noah Bragg
• Leo Bassam
• Kevon Cheung
• Nicolás Cerdeira

Conclusion

Sharing your startup journey with others can really change games. Being open and joining with your community, plus getting feedback right away, are important parts of this way. When you talk about your process, struggles, and wins, you build trust. You also draw in others who can give you good tips. Use social media, vlogs, podcasts, and other platforms to share your journey as a business owner.

Remember, “Build in Public” helps you create a helpful network. It also builds real connections with your audience. So, go for it! Share your story and see your startup grow!

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