Why Building in Public Changes Everything
Why Building in Public Changes Everything
There was a time when founders built in silence. Months of coding behind closed doors, no one knowing what was happening until “launch day.” That era is gone. Today, we build in public — and it’s changing how products, communities, and reputations are made.
The #BuildInPublic movement isn’t a passing trend. It’s a new way of creating — open, honest, and connected. Documenting your journey doesn’t just share progress; it amplifies it.
What Does “Build in Public” Really Mean?
To build in public is to share your journey while you’re still on it — the small wins, the painful bugs, the ideas that didn’t land, and the lessons that did.
It’s not about crafting a perfect brand narrative. It’s about letting people see how you build, not just what you’ve built. Your tweets, changelogs, screenshots, and reflections become chapters of an ongoing story.
In other words, it’s not about telling a success story — it’s about writing it live.
Why It Works (and Why More Founders Are Doing It)
🌐 Organic Visibility
Every update is a mini-story that can travel on X, Reddit, or IndieHackers. When people see your progress, they want to follow your evolution. You’re not interrupting them with ads — you’re inviting them to watch something grow in real time.
🤝 Feedback and Community
Transparency attracts other makers. By sharing openly, you don’t just build a product — you build a circle of feedback. People start giving suggestions, pointing out bugs, sharing ideas, or even collaborating with you.
🔥 Discipline and Accountability
When you say publicly that you’ll ship a new feature this week, you’re more likely to do it. It’s positive pressure — a public commitment that keeps your motivation steady, even when the energy dips.
💬 Trust and Credibility
We trust humans more than logos. When you share your story — struggles included — people root for you. It builds authenticity, not hype. That’s the kind of trust that can’t be bought with ads.
Builders Who Prove It Works
Plenty of successful founders credit “building in public” for their traction:
- Pieter Levels – creator of NomadList and RemoteOK, known for sharing revenue dashboards and product updates daily.
- Marc Lou – indie maker who posts weekly income reports and experiments, inspiring thousands to start their own projects.
- Arvid Kahl – built and sold a SaaS product while documenting every step publicly, turning transparency into a full-time brand.
They didn’t succeed despite being open. They succeeded because they were.
The Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
Building in public isn’t all sunshine and retweets. It can get messy if you don’t pace yourself.
- ⚖️ Don’t compare your progress to others — everyone’s timeline is different.
- 🧠 Share lessons, not just metrics. People care about how you think, not just what you earn.
- 📅 Keep a sustainable rhythm. You don’t need to post daily; consistency matters more than frequency.
And most importantly, keep track of your progress. Without a structure, it’s easy to lose track of what you’ve achieved or what’s next.
Centralizing Your Journey
Most makers start documenting their projects across multiple platforms — tweets here, notes in Notion, screenshots in Drive. Over time, it becomes scattered, hard to follow, and easy to forget.
That’s exactly why BuildInPublic Tracker exists: to give you one simple place to document, track, and share your progress as a builder.
It’s not about metrics for investors. It’s about milestones for makers. Whether you’re on day 7 or day 700, you can keep your journey visible — for yourself, your followers, and your future self looking back.
The Future Belongs to Transparent Builders
Building in public isn’t a marketing strategy. It’s a mindset — one built on honesty, iteration, and community.
If you’re building something, show it. People don’t just want to use your product — they want to see how it came to life.
Build in public. Track your journey. Inspire others.