Tweets

Had a good ride with my boys today.

Happy Fathers’ Day 🙌

@rezzz @ConvertKit +1

@thepatwalls Congrats Pat! Really inspiring story. So glad you were able to pay off that debt!

“Systems with slack are more resilient.”

https://wp.me/p9XDcM-77y

@peterc agreed!

@abadir_ thanks!

@amberlturner @statamic Nice work! 🙌

Part of the problem with my WP site is the page builder + plugins.

But it still feels like it's harder to get WP to go fast. WP has lots of cruft built in.

For example, for JS WP still relies on:
- React (Gutenberg)
- Backbone.js (Media Manager)
- jQuery (legacy code)

@nlemsieh @statamic Perhaps I'm being unfair in my comparison but still feels like it's more work to get WordPress to go fast.

WP has architecture issues that are hard to get around.

For example, for JS WP still relies on:
- React (Gutenberg)
- Backbone.js (Media Manager)
- jQuery (legacy code)

@juliaborgini 👋 I'm an amateur webmaster too! Still learning tons.

@Statamic is the CMS (like WordPress).

Tailwind is a CSS framework (kind of like Bootstrap). I used it to build a custom Statamic theme for my website. 👌

Other items that prompted the move:

1. Custom theme dev in Statamic is way better than WordPress.
2. Statamic works with our existing Git workflow.
3. Statamic auto deploys on updates to master on GitHub. ⚡
4. Statamic stores all the content in flat markdown files. No database!

@cjkoepke @tailwindcss I still feel like WP has some deep "architectural" problems.

For example, for JS WP still relies on:
- React (Gutenberg)
- Backbone.js (Media Manager)
- jQuery (legacy code)

@paidinsights Nice! My guess if you've got a speedy CDN behind that score?

Are you using Google Cloud for all your hosting?

@cjkoepke This is true.

But it just feels like it's more work to get WordPress to go fast.

(I'm guessing Cloudflare is a big reason your site is speedy?)

There were other things that prompted the move as well.

(WordPress theme development is terrible compared to Statamic)

@theandreboso @statamic @tailwindcss Those are the mobile tests! 🔥

@statamic is great for devs, but also has an amazing dashboard / editing interface for regular users. 👍

Just look at the difference between request chains on WordPress, and request chains on the new site built with Statamic + Tailwind.

Before you ask: "Did you try to optimize WP to run faster first?"

YES! For months I've been trying CDNs, caching plugins, reducing the number of plugins, minifying scripts, optimizing images...

The whole architecture of WP and our theme just has too much cruft.

Here's my first PageSpeed Insights test on the homepage.

The new @statamic + @tailwindcss site BLOWS AWAY the old site.

The culprit? WordPress plugins loading unused CSS & JS resources on EVERY DAMNED page.

Statamic + Tailwind is way leaner.

This past month, I set out to build @TransistorFM a new marketing website using @statamic + @tailwindcss.

(Current site is on WordPress, Astra theme + Beaver Builder)

One problem I wanted to solve? Slow PageSpeed scores.

I just tested the new site. Want to see the results? 👇

Going to try to deploy this new @statamic site for Transistor to @laravelphp for the first time https://www.pscp.tv/w/b9P8-jM4NTU1MXwxTVl4TmRBUnBwUEd3uG1M3CQL3VPE7b-RRfMxxy4o8xCBjnntE5Tyye8PF_c=

How easy is it to transfer your existing podcast to @transistorfm? https://www.pscp.tv/w/b9PTjTM4NTU1MXwxeU5HYXZxandwZ0pqdHVwk22aPoWxZMO7QSW7_4SEHxEi_wlpmLgivw8pg1E=

@conorgil @TransistorFM Suggestion for you:

Upload a "Trailer" episode for your podcast (in your case, schedule it for before June 6). Make it a 30 second to 3 minutes intro to your show. This is easily shareable and gives people an idea of whether they want to subscribe.

@conorgil @TransistorFM Oh man, so hard to say. So much of it depends on a podcaster's existing audience.

If you're building a new podcast from scratch, really difficult.

The average podcast gets less than 1,100 downloads per episode in its first 30 days.

@MattGiovanisci @YoFolyo holy shit

RT @TrinAndTonic: Canada just beat America in basketball. Under Space Jam rules, they own us now

@venikunche I loved Ducktales!

@jayclouse @upsidefm @ekhornung Don’t see any microphones!!

🎙👀

@venikunche Which cartoons?

Forget motorcycle gangs; join my rocket pack crew.

@chrisvickers It’s taken me way less time to rebuild the site on @statamic. WordPress has so many finicky bits.

Status update: here's what the new @transistorfm site looks like on @statamic + @tailwindcss https://www.pscp.tv/w/b9LUTzM4NTU1MXwxT3dHV2tQTmRPakdR4anuTZqMTi44hizpZF4Fts1Mo_awBo9eiCtTkgHs5w4=

@joshuap This is what we're doing for @buildyoursaas:

https://transistor.fm/automatic-podcast-email/

My favorite part about our brave wireless future is when my keyboard runs out of battery. 😩

@csallen @adamwathan how much can he bench

👀 More podcast acquisitions on the horizon.

@DrMichelleF @mkobach 👋

@m1guelpf @TransistorFM 👍

@statamic This is my dream site.

@CADbloke yup

I’d love to see the @CBC audio app replicate this feature for us in 🇨🇦

https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/12/18662060/spotify-your-daily-drive-playlist-update

@StephenWilson 👋

so wait, did the oilers win the stanley cup

@tylerlwsmith Yes! "People like us to do things like this" (which is from Seth Godin) is such a useful concept.

Finishing up a new marketing site for @transistorfm (built with @statamic + @tailwindcss) https://www.pscp.tv/w/b9FxMjM4NTU1MXwxa3ZKcE9uRWtkb0dFI6AyEg-vqes4alQVqBXgx1dygtrc9LUNKHwOViAiPoY=

Going live in about 15 minutes: going to finish up a new SaaS marketing site for @TransistorFM (using @statamic + @tailwindcss)

It should be available here:
📺 http://youtube.com/justinjackson/live
👾 http://twitch.tv/megajustin
🐦 http://www.pscp.tv/mijustin

It's easier to use what everyone else is using. Suggesting something else adds friction.

The friction is both social and functional in nature. Social, because we want to fit in. Functional, because everyone has it installed, and understands how to use it.

Don't underestimate the power of "people like us, do things like this."

"Let's do a demo; is it OK if I send you a Zoom invite?"
"Perfect, that sounds great."

☝️ "people like us use Zoom for demos and meetings."

Why not Google Meet? Because social norms are powerful.

@GantSoftSys Yup. It's true!

@senofrank hahaha

RT @jessarchercodes: 🎙️ The latest episode of my podcasting adventures with JMac is out!

We chat about opportunities to use objects instea…

@ScottHYoung Yeah, I’m thinking of audiences bigger than 1,000 I think.

Once there’s this critical mass of folks you’re performing for, it gets tricky.

@Evanish Nice! 🙌

@lovevalgeisler Shoot. Fixed that!

@nbrempel @TransistorFM That’s @ecammtweets Ecamm Live

@mitchdennett1 @jonbuda We talked about that here 👌

https://saas.transistor.fm/episodes/finding-a-cofounder-you-want-to-work-with

@coreyhainesco 1. Did market research https://saas.transistor.fm/episodes/pricing-transistor

2. Asked other founders https://saas.transistor.fm/episodes/saas-pricing-experts

3. Questioned the status quo https://saas.transistor.fm/episodes/the-charge-more-debate

@jayclouse I agree with you. Just interesting to temper my initial enthusiasm with some of the drawbacks. 😉

@mitchdennett1 @jonbuda it really depends on the idea, your runway, and your skillset.

BUT... having a cofounder has been amazing for me. 💯

https://justinjackson.ca/cofounder

Made some good progress today on the new @transistorfm marketing site that I'm building on @statamic (with @tailwindcss)!

@lovevalgeisler @dohertyjf I've actually done this for all my books. When you buy @marketingdevs or @joltbook, you get a secret podcast feed with the audio book!

RT @sitapati: @mijustin In Norway, every bar has non-alcoholic beer available, by law

Going live motivates me to ship more updates to this new @transistorfm marketing site https://www.pscp.tv/w/b9AXbjM4NTU1MXwxbER4THJSTmFRWkdtCk4cJAsQkcyvVgYMIesT0_NyPyQhWIJ2O1resRhn8II=

@lovevalgeisler Should redirect to : https://transistor.fm/private-podcast/

@ideasasylum I'm referring to this phenomenon:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Standup/comments/26jz4d/when_you_guys_did_your_first_open_mic_did_you/

@ideasasylum I'm saying, this is a mistake "new" comics make.

They'll start by playing to their friends, but realize later that their material isn't as good as they thought it was.

@carbonology_ Yes! Exactly.

It really does remind me of standup comics, who try to test their material on complete strangers to prove that it really is funny.

Again, this makes me think about comedians.

Lots of new comics will invite all their friends to their first show. And they'll kill!

But then they'll go on the road and bomb. The audience doesn't know them; their material has to stand on its own legs.

Contrast that with @TransistorFM (and projects like @megamaker and @marketingdevs): these products benefitted from my audience initially, but have found good (ongoing) traction from other channels.

Your product has to have legs outside of your personal network.

In the past, I released a product that looked like a big winner. Lots of preorders and positive testimonials.

But after the initial launch, sales stopped.

What I learned: many of those launch customers were fans, excited about my new project.

But beyond fans, nobody wanted it.

Customer intent is huge.

What you want: folks who are genuinely searching for a solution to their problem (and are willing to pay to fix it).

What you don't want: folks signing up for any other reason ("I'm curious," "Saw you on Product Hunt, and wanted to see your UI")

RT @StephenLJohnson: @mijustin I didn't build an audience before launching @TopoMaps. My plan was to leverage the app and ASO to build an…

@davidscolgan Yes. It gets more complicated as your following grows, however.

On one hand, you want to be able to publicize your "new thing" to your existing audience, because they'll help with word-of-mouth, referrals, and they'll likely be your first customers.

@lovevalgeisler Not exactly. We do offer the ability to host a "private podcast:"

https://transistor.fm/team-podcast/

However, from the beginning, we've thrown around the idea of offering a feature for memberships. 🤔

This is why you'll sometimes see well-known artists release work anonymously. They want the work to stand on its own and attract attention on its own merits.

Similarly, standup comedians know that a room full of friends isn't a good barometer for how funny their act is.

The other big problem with having an audience?

Ego.

It’s gratifying to have fans; they make you feel good.

But it can lead to us subconsciously deluding ourselves into thinking we’re on the right path (when what we’re really doing is protecting our ego).

@chrisbowler @derrickreimer yup! I mention that further down. 👌

https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/1138488163200987136?s=21

This performance anxiety can cloud your judgment.

When you’re worried about “what will my audience think?” it’s harder to evaluate your business clearly, and make smart choices.

It’s like trying to solve a complex math problem, while thousands of people look over your shoulder.

Folks who have a big audience also have an additional pressure to succeed.

If you’re unknown, and you fail, it’s not a big deal. You learn, and move on.

But when you’re known, your failures get amplified.

(on that last point, @derrickreimer recently shared this story about how that happened to him with Level)

When fans sign up for your waiting list, that momentum can fool you into thinking you have product-market fit (when you don't).

What are the downsides to having an audience?

When you're validating an idea, your fans often add noise to the signal.

They'll sign up because they want to support you. They'll be enthusiastic even if they don't really want the product.

On the benefit side, an audience can give you more leverage.

Your connections, who you know and who knows you, can provide you with a big boost when you launch.

I've been rethinking this idea of "build an audience before you build a product."

There *are* benefits.

But there are also some major downsides.

@tristanbailey @brianfbenton 👋 I’ve had a few people ask me why http://Transistor.fm isn’t on this list. Happy to show you around!

@JoshDoody @TransistorFM Yes! That’s crazy to think about.

@thepodcasthost @jonbuda Totally. It’s scary to think: is this all just a bubble? Is there a big churn cliff coming?

I think all we can do is keep building the best product, and giving the best service.

@dannoblaster Yup, i’ve been sober since Jan 1

@petebray Plenty of room in the right market.

ConvertKit competes with MailChimp and is doing well. 👍

Carrd competes with Squarespace and is doing well. 👍

Transistor competes with Libsyn and is doing well. 👍

As a teen, I remember looking up the costs for an AM radio license, a transmitter, etc, and being very discouraged.

Now, a $60 mic and a @TransistorFM account is all you need.

Incredible.

If you’d told me in 1995 that I’d be able to run my own talk radio station and reach thousands of listeners, all for $20 a month, I would have signed up in an instant. https://twitter.com/davegerhardt/status/1137869975421706241

@tylertringas 👌

@tylertringas Haha. Oh god.

If you’re referencing my post, i’m not actually against the idea that “1,000 fans/customers” can build a legitimate business.

Rather, it’s the idea that “the internet is big, so any niche you choose will do.”

@tylertringas Slack’s real super power is its per-user billing model.

3 million paid users!

That’s a lot of expansion revenue.

@designbynuff @MatMacQuarrie That looks good! 💯

@charliprangley jesus christ. what's wrong with these people?

@rhapsaadic Thanks for the share.

But I'm not in Silicon Valley! I live in a tiny town in British Columbia, Canada.

I'm in tech (bootstrapping @TransistorFM) but don't identify with SV at all. 😉

@ryanflorence Sweet! What do you call it?

@_michaelgeorge I wish that was available in 🇨🇦!

@swissmiss Thanks! I quite drinking Jan 1st.

I’m realizing that so much of “social drinking” is just having a drink in your hand and feeling like you belong. 👌

Club Soda + Lime / Cranberry / etc saved me!