Building in Public

What Is Building in Public?

Building in public means sharing your progress as you create something. The good, the bad, the messy middle. You invite people into the process, not just the finished product.

Why It Works

Accountability - When you say you'll do something publicly, you're more likely to do it.

Feedback - Early input helps you build the right thing.

Audience - By launch time, people already know and care about your project.

Trust - Transparency builds credibility.

Where to Build in Public

Twitter/X - Quick updates, screenshots, thoughts. Good for tech/startup audience.

YouTube - Longer updates, tutorials, behind-the-scenes.

Discord - Direct community interaction.

Blog - Detailed write-ups for SEO and posterity.

Pick 1-2 channels and be consistent.

What to Share

Progress updates - "Added user profiles today. Here's what it looks like."

Decisions - "Choosing between options A and B. Here's my thinking."

Challenges - "Stuck on this problem. Tried X and Y, neither worked."

Wins - "Hit 100 users today. Here's what I learned getting here."

Failures - "This feature flopped. Here's why I think it didn't work."

What Not to Share

Security details - Don't share API keys, passwords, or vulnerabilities.

Private user data - Respect user privacy.

Legal issues - Consult a lawyer before discussing publicly.

Competitor bashing - Stay positive and focused on your own work.

Building an Audience

Be consistent - Regular posts beat sporadic bursts.

Be genuine - People detect fakeness. Share real thoughts.

Engage back - Respond to comments, answer questions.

Help others - Share knowledge freely.

From Audience to Users

Your followers become your first users:

1. They know the backstory
2. They've given feedback that shaped the product
3. They feel invested in your success
4. They'll tell others about it

Building in public is marketing that doesn't feel like marketing.