25
33 Comments

Don't just build in public, be strategic

Last month, I started to build in public after having heard about it in March.

Most days I don't know what to write.

Now I have a strategic system in place to put out content.

Before BIP

1️⃣ Most days I don't know what to write/share.

Even if I know what to write, it was done haphazardly.

There wasn't a system. Whatever idea came to mind that day, I write. If no idea → don't write.

2️⃣ I fear that if I BIP, people will know I don't have all the answers (vulnerability) and they'll laugh at me.

Now BIP

1️⃣ I have a strategic system in place when coming up with ideas on what to share.

On Sunday, I'll come up with content for the coming week. This is a mixture of valuable + casual content.

Valuable content = funneling folks into my "middle of funnel" -- my site and email list.

This type of content must be directly related to my product => this is very important. Don't just create any content as your heart desires.

Casual content = stay active and be a real human.

(no likable person only shares valuable content all the time, sometimes you can just share interesting or funny stuff).

2️⃣ Just write/share and don't really care what others think.

I tell myself: "I have a low follower count anyway, nobody is going to notice me. Use this to my advantage! Everything is a WIP anyway."

Even if just 1 person finds my sharing valuable or interesting, that's better than keeping everything to myself.

How's building in public working out for you?

  1. 3

    This is a great idea! On the other hand, for people that are just getting started and want to build in public, don't overthink it.

  2. 3

    Really like it! Building in Public in a way is content creation and audience building, so thinking deeper about how to share valuable content is important! I really like how you split into product content vs human content!

    1. 2

      Same, great way for content creation. Plus gives you the opportunity to learn if you are doing something improperly.

    2. 1

      Thanks for dropping in, Kevon!

      Kevon is the go-to guy for learning on how to build in public. It is this guy and his cohort program that got me started down this cool rabbit hole. I've learned tons from him!

      1. 1

        A lot of it comes from within yourself! But I'm happy to dig this rabbit hole with you!

  3. 2

    I agree that having a general system is good. If you don't have anything that is good to say then don't say anything at all, but I also fee like the allure of build in public is so that others can see your mistakes

    1. 1

      Being vulnerable is a big part of building in public. Everyone makes mistakes, and by showing we are also human -- that we make the same mistakes as others -- get us closer to our audience.

  4. 2

    I love how you're using notion to keep track of all your ideas and content. I might have to pinch this idea and get some content lined up!

    1. 1

      I previously used Evernote. Just started using Notion 2 weeks ago. So far, I love it!

  5. 2

    Plans and systems are always good 🤙

    1. 1

      As the saying goes -- fail to plan = plan to fail.

      1. 1

        My life motto is plan to fail 🤙

  6. 2

    Thanks for this @wellymulia! I started building in public by streaming on Twitch recently. I have had zero strategy and and fail to provide content on my website re: the BIP. But over the past couple of days I have begun to think about planning content for the week to combine with my stream to actually put content ABOUT my project and its ultimate goal out to the public....both to build an audience and to provide value to my future (hopefully) audience. Thanks for posting this!

    1. 1

      Nice! Let me know how it goes for you! Being strategic is key.

  7. 2

    Has build in public as a marketing strategy been working out for you?

    Do you have some sort of timeline to when you expect frequent posting to pay off? Have you already experienced that inflection point?

    Great post!

    1. 1

      This is only the 2nd week I've started strategically planning for my weekly content.

      I mainly BIP in Twitter and I think about a month ago (forgot the exact date) I got a new customer sign up for our email tool from Twitter.

      I only have 200+ Twitter followers ATM. I believe when you grow on Twitter, you grow exponentially instead of linearly because of the network effects.

      1. 2

        Excited to see those inflection points as you stick to it over a period of 6,9,12 months.

        I'm also at 250+ Twitter followers but alot of those are carry overs from old HS and college friends.

        It's like starting over. I'm headed over to follow you now. Interested in your journey.

        1. 2

          Nice! I also started over with Twitter in March. Deleted the old account and started fresh.

  8. 2

    Yeah, building in public definitely helps to keep me accountable. Because I don't want to let myself or my followers down.

    1. 2

      Definitely the accountability aspect helps to "force" you to create.

  9. 2

    no likable person only shares valuable content all the time

    I think this is really important. Sometimes it can feel you have to "always be on". It's okay to post about other things in your life. I typically reserve these for the weekend. Which I feel also demonstrates a work/life balance.

    1. 1

      Glad it resonated with you!

  10. 2

    I really like it. I have a really similar notion table :D

    I think starting finally to say What can you loose is great. Like you said if you post something bad nobody will see it anyway so nothing will happen :D

    1. 1

      Yes! You can only gain from this. Well, apart from the time you lose. But business is an uncertain investment, so we have to do whatever it takes right?

  11. 2

    Great post Welly!

    I'm trying to get into the habit of posting more often. Aiming to tweet everyday and releasing a long-form post on indie hackers every week.

    Sometimes I don't know what to say, but forcing myself makes it come more easily with time. Now I have tons of articles ideas and not enough time to write them all.

    Let's keep going 😀

    1. 2

      Cheers Dagobert! 👋

      I went from never tweeting in 10+ years to tweeting 2 - 3 times per day. It takes time to build the habit though, which I think is key. I got into this habit because of @kevon fault for introducing me to such thin as build in public 😅

      I went through his #30DaysInPublic challenge where we're required to tweet once every 2 days. From there, I basically build the foundational muscle to consistently tweet. I recommend you connect with him.

      1. 1

        He looks legit, thanks for the recommendation. I'll be following your journey more closely, it's fun to push ourselves to tweet like this 🚀

  12. 1

    This was my favourite post today.

    Best line IMO: I tell myself: "I have a low follower count anyway, nobody is going to notice me. Use this to my advantage! Everything is a WIP anyway."

    Keep sharing away!

    And post your ideas on Kern.al if you have a minute to test it out ;)

  13. 1

    Great post! Very helpful!

  14. 0

    Thanks for sharing! doing this and joining the IH BIP group now. See you over there.

    1. 1

      Thanks for your support!

Trending on Indie Hackers
How I grew a side project to 100k Unique Visitors in 7 days with 0 audience 49 comments Competing with Product Hunt: a month later 33 comments Why do you hate marketing? 28 comments My Top 20 Free Tools That I Use Everyday as an Indie Hacker 14 comments $15k revenues in <4 months as a solopreneur 14 comments Use Your Product 13 comments