Building in public means publishing as soon as you're able, to involve the public in the process, challenges and decisions.
It works both as a feedback loop as well as a marketing strategy, it shows vulnerability, it might not be the right solution for every project.
Stablishes transparency, credibility and authenticity.
Allows for updates to be published via Blog or mailing list.
Case Study: MAKE Book
- Author announced and sold book before writing began
- Used a Typeform to collect pre-orders at $22.49
- Created a collaborative Workflowy list for content suggestions
- Generated $50,000+ in pre-order revenue
- Wrote chapters in Google Docs with reader access
- Refined content based on direct audience feedback
Notable Examples
- Buffer's transparent company metrics and salary information
- Drew Wilson's livestreamed development of Plasso (including sleeping and waking up)
- Pieter Levels documenting Nomad List development process
- Gumroad sharing internal metrics and decision-making
Additional Connections
- Broader Context: Lean Startup Methodology (building in public as implementation)
- Applications: Community-Driven Product Development (practical framework)
- See Also: Minimum Viable Product, Customer Development (complementary approaches)
References
- Pieter Levels, "MAKE" book (meta-example of the concept)
- Indie Hacker community resources
#building-in-public #product-development #community-building #transparency