Do I need a big audience to build in public?

No. Most people start with almost no followers. The audience grows from consistent, useful posts and from replying to other makers.

Should I share my revenue when building in public?

It's optional. Real numbers get more attention and trust, but share only what you're comfortable with. Growth rates or user counts work too.

Can building in public help me get customers?

Yes, especially early. Followers become beta users, give feedback and turn up on launch day. It works best when your audience overlaps with your customers.

How to build in public (without burning out)

Building in public means sharing your progress, numbers and lessons openly while you build, so an audience grows alongside the product. Post what you learned rather than what you did, share real numbers when you can, keep a simple weekly rhythm, and turn followers into early users by inviting them to try things first.

Why it works

People root for someone they've watched struggle and improve. By the time you launch, you have readers who already know the product and want it to succeed. It also gives you a steady stream of feedback before you've built the wrong thing.

What to share

Lessons: what worked, what didn't, and why. These travel furthest.
Numbers: users, revenue, traffic, conversion. Even small ones; honesty is the point.
Decisions: two options you're choosing between, and asking which people would pick.
Behind the scenes: a bug that cost you a day, a design before and after.
Milestones: first user, first payment, first launch.

What not to share

Customer data or anything a user told you privately.
Constant "just shipped X" posts with no lesson attached.
Anything that would hurt you if a competitor copied it before you're ready.

Where to post

Pick one main place and use the others for reposts. X has a large maker crowd under #buildinpublic, LinkedIn suits B2B products, and Indie Hackers is built around this kind of story. A simple public changelog or monthly update on your own site also works and helps SEO.

Keep it sustainable

Set a rhythm you can keep: a few posts a week and one monthly recap is plenty.
Keep a notes file of small lessons as they happen; posts then take minutes, not hours.
Reply to people more than you post. Conversations build the audience.
Don't measure the week by likes. Measure it by what you shipped.

Turn followers into users

Invite followers into a beta, ask a few to test a feature, and tell them first when you launch. A waitlist built from your posts is often the warmest list you'll ever have.

Share a launch page with your followers

Launch on IndieLaunch for free and give your audience one page to visit, comment on and share.

Launch your product

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a big audience to build in public?: No. Most people start with almost no followers. The audience grows from consistent, useful posts and from replying to other makers.
Should I share my revenue when building in public?: It's optional. Real numbers get more attention and trust, but share only what you're comfortable with. Growth rates or user counts work too.
Can building in public help me get customers?: Yes, especially early. Followers become beta users, give feedback and turn up on launch day. It works best when your audience overlaps with your customers.