Tweets

This CNN documentary on depression in the tech industry is good:

http://edition.cnn.com/videos/cnnmoney/2017/03/08/mostly-human-silicon-valleys-secret.cnnmoney

To get expertise you need to have experience.

To get experience:
1. Try things on your own
2. Partner with others
3. Work for others

After 8 years hanging out here, it's fun to have the blue check mark. 👌

Request: somebody build a Chrome extension to block these "ShareThis" widgets.

How a SaaS succeeds:

1. People really really really want it.
2. Easy to get their credit card.
3. The software delivers ongoing value.

Increasingly I'm convinced that we should be teaching people *how to think* as opposed to *what to do.*

Viral launches like 🍑, Beme, and Ello are driven primarily by FOMO.

The challenge is to turn that drive into long term usage. Very hard.

So many memories.

#windows95

We’re #3 on @ProductHunt right now!

Thanks to everyone who has upvoted and commented. 👏

Let’s keep it going!

Cruisin’

Lauryn Hill on the turntable.

This album is perfection.

Landed in Denver for @PodcastMovement and ran into @jonbuda (my friend and business partner at @TransistorFM), and @mikevardy and @RussLoL!

#pm23

Meanwhile, back in West Kelowna, this is how fast that fire consumed the region.

Devastating for so many. Lots of homes lost. 💔

I just made a quick video explaining what Bluesky social is, how it's different than Twitter, and how invite codes work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs0VXcCs69Q

@csallen @stripe @IndieHackers @ChanningAllen Whaaaaaaat. Wow! I think we need a podcast episode on this (stat!).

(Congrats on going indie! 🎉)

@adamdangelo @ESYudkowsky @ylecun Dr. Stuart Russell has articulated his concerns as well:

This ChatGPT app will generate an audio podcast for you based on any prompt:

https://aipodcastmania.web.app

😳 Yikes. This Silicon Valley Bank scare will definitely be stressful for startups & indie makers:

SVB used to be the default bank for all Stripe Atlas-incorporated companies. 😰

(And is still an option listed on Stripe Atlas
https://stripe.com/docs/atlas/payments-business-bank)

In business, you want people who are searching for a particular product/service/solution to find you.

But what people are really seeking is the best version of that thing.

If there's another business down the street that's better than yours, people will pick the better option.

On Mastodon:

📝 you can edit posts
🗒️ posts can be 500 characters long
#️⃣ hashtags are pretty important for discovery

These “features” are desperate money making ideas from a desperate billionaire who overpaid for a social network that’s been losing money for years.

🤔 What are the implications of AI-writing tools recommending specific products and brands?

Using Lex (GPT-3 writing assistant) I entered the title: "Best audio interface for Shure SM7B"

The AI generated text that specifically recommends the "Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Duo"

Giving people a never-ending stream of content designed to keep them on a centralized platform longer where the algorithm is controlled by some megacorp (and its shareholders) isn’t my idea of a great future.

It’s fucking dystopian.

Remember the open internet?

<sigh>

Those were better times.

Most success in business is the culmination of many small actions, over time.

Don’t invest everything in one big action (“a big launch,” “a major sales deal”).

Just wake up and try to make incremental progress every day.

A variation on @JamesClear’s quote, but for founders:

“The small actions you take every day in your business will dictate the big milestones you’ll cross in the future.”

it's just weird that we're a bunch of static smiling avatars typing stuff in boxes to each other.

Getting that initial $2k MRR can feel like you've validated an idea.

But often, it's not there. There's no underlying demand pulling your business forward.

The danger is building a business that is completely reliant on the founder's relentless drive

https://twitter.com/tylertringas/status/1402276241655439379

This is bad ass.

https://twitter.com/wendyzuk/status/1489776879531958273?s=20&t=AuMKARFVI1_yi_m702Y1wg

How is the NFT community thinking about the *distribution* problem?

I'm a big proponent of decentralized systems (RSS, email, websites), but we've always had to rely on centralized sites for distribution (Yahoo, Google, Twitter, etc).

NFTs have the same challenge?

Marketing is hard because there are multiple variables:

• The category of product you’re building
• The market of people who might want it
• The underlying motivation that’s causing people to search for a product like yours
• What people end up searching for in google

JTBD describes a customer’s motivation, but your H1 should describe what they search.

JTBD 👉 “I want to start a podcast because I think it will get more more respect in my industry.”

Google search 👉 “How do I start a podcast?”

Headline 👉 “Start your podcast on Transistor”

There are apps for iPhone (like Camo from Reincubate) that do this; but I don't want to have to plug my iPhone into my computer, and set it up on a tripod, each time.

I like a camera that's permanently set up. I just click "on" and I'm on.

People keep talking about podcasting's "discovery problem;" but the people I know, who listen to podcasts regularly, seem to have no problems in finding new shows to listen to. 🤔

If anything, they have the opposite problem: too many good shows to listen to!

For transparency: my company, @TransistorFM, is a small, bootstrapped 3-person company.

Last year we gave $10k to @RainforestUS.

This year, we've contributed nearly $10k to @stripe's carbon removal program (kudos to @patrickc for setting this up!)

I honestly feel like entrepreneurial employees are worth 5x a regular employee. They're worth pursuing.

(In my career, I've hired a handful, and they've all been incredible)

Even if they don't stay forever, many will stay 5+ years and contribute at a high level.

Sometimes, getting expansion revenue is as simple as making it easy to invite team members to your billing plan. 🎯

Kudos, @derrickreimer; this "invite link" flow is perfect. 👍

I've been asking for a "premium version of Twitter" for a long time, so I signed up for @TwitterBlue.

I *really* wanted to like it, but...

I'm going to cancel. Currently, it misses the mark for avid Twitter users.

Review here:
#comment-1380245" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.producthunt.com/posts/twitter-blue#comment-1380245

Curious about Apple's new Podcasts Connect?

I just got access and tried to submit a new podcast RSS feed.

Here's how it went...

💯

(move to Canada and start that business) https://twitter.com/John_Dearie/status/1350078002877636611

Entrepreneurship is a huge risk (financially).

You're giving up some of the best years of your career to focus on a bet that might not work out.

The potential financial rewards should account for the risks you're taking.

Don't invest 5x for a 1x financial return.

"Build an audience first" isn't necessarily a bad idea. In fact, it works great for selling online courses, books, etc.

But for SaaS, having an audience isn't enough.

An audience is helpful but isn't a replacement for overall customer demand in a category.

It's been a while since I've asked about WYSIWYG editors... 😜

Currently, we're using Trix at @TransistorFM, but we'd love to be able to support markdown.

What we *don't* want is a really big bloated editor.

Podcast show notes are super simple: <p><strong><em><a>

Ideas?

Hey everybody.

What’s your plan for today?

@joshmanders @daviswbaer @arvidkahl @SimpsonDaniK @jonbuda Transistor is still just Jon and I (and a few part-time contractors).

We are well above $50k MRR now.

Question: what tangible benefit do startup incubators/accelerators provide?

Have any of my followers really benefitted from one? In what ways?

If I want to start a business in a recession, how should I do it?

New video (with @noahkagan and @AswathDamodaran)

My kids loved this one.

I should mention that two days ago I had to touch a debit machine at Safeway and I’m still very anxious about it.

After debating with @tylertringas on Twitter, it was nice to jump on the mics and discuss this topic with more nuance.

We definitely benefitted from having @csallen moderate, and I ended up agreeing with a lot of Tyler’s POV. 👍

Check it out: https://twitter.com/csallen/status/1235974412190375937

Me: "How big was the demand for @memberspace?"

@wardsandler: "All I knew was that 100,000 people were interested in a membership solution for Squarespace."

Me: "Whoa. That's a big wave." 🌊

Have you ever wanted to start a podcast?

Right now @TransistorFM is running a contest where you could win:

🎤 A great microphone from Samson
💻 A year of podcast hosting + analytics

Only a few days left!

https://transistor.fm/contest

@yongfook Lots of walks.

Daily social interaction.

These sleep aids:
https://justinjackson.ca/sleep

It's Saturday morning.

@jonbuda and I are fighting...

(over who gets to answer support tickets)

We get a "good idea for a product" in a fit of inspiration. (For me, it often happens at night)

The problem is (most of the time) these ideas are disconnected from any sort of market demand.

It's just something you made up.

Hi folks! I'm recording a Q&A episode of @buildyoursaas today.

Have questions about bootstrapping, starting a software company, getting traction, finding cofounders?

AMA! (reply in thread or DM me)

Still my favorite About page of all time:

"When I was in 6th Grade I fought Cesar Gaona and lost badly. I knew I’d lose, he knew I’d lose, the whole school knew I’d lose, but I fought that motherfucker anyway.

That’s about all you really need to know about me." – @MikeVallely

Looking for a new bootstrapping podcast?

Subscribe to @FounderQuest: https://www.founderquestpodcast.com/.

It's my new fave! 👍

@marcoarment Also, when talks are recorded and posted to YouTube they become incredible assets.

Your XOXO talk (2013) has over 37,000 views. It's a record of Overcast's journey! 👍

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2RoYvcqhgM

🎯

“Subscription-based businesses are hot at the moment, but analysts say that consumers will begin pushing back and asking, How many entertainment services do I really need to be paying for every month?” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/03/business/media/luminary-media-podcast-app.html

Writing show notes for today's episode of "Build your SaaS."

If you want some ideas for marketing your software product, subscribe here:

https://saas.transistor.fm/subscribe

🔥 Awww yeaah.

🙌 Can't wait to check this out @JamesClear!

📖 Atomic Habits https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

Computer work requires 100% of my attention.

At home, my family needs me to be 100% present.

I can’t do both at the same time.

The only notification I have turned on these days is @CashNotify.

So fun getting these throughout your day (especially during a launch, when it's ringing constantly!).

The difficult thing about writing,
is discerning which words were meant for the world,
and which words were meant only for you.

My chat with @adamwathan is up on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/X5B7A2nsF74

"How devs can make a living from their own projects." ⚡️

Still reading this post by @freakboy3742.

SO MANY GEMS:

"You haven't really made a sale until the user gets value from the product."

I've been looking for an automatic way to transcribe podcasts / videos forever. Just figured it out!

Tutorial here:
https://youtu.be/jnVSyBY5yYc

Marketing tactic that doesn't get talked about enough:

Build something people can't live without.

Truth is, there are TONS of businesses that would happily pay you $$$ RIGHT NOW.

But you have to pitch a solution that solves THEIR pain.

The relationships you form now are the foundation for your future success.

To the point! 😂

If you’re in a creative rut, the quickest way to get out is to:

- put yourself in new situations
- meet new people
- try new things

Awww yeaah! @joltbook is on @producthunt today! 🙌

https://www.producthunt.com/books/jolt-make-your-product-stand-out

The hardest part about making stuff: YOU EVENTUALLY HAVE TO SHOW IT TO REAL PEOPLE.

Looking for marketing ideas?

I'm writing a new book filled with good tactics to try.

Get a free chapter:
https://cards.twitter.com/cards/pt2jpq/1sq86

I have a theory: people make their purchasing decisions emotionally, and then try to justify them rationally.

"I think creating something will cure almost anything. It always makes me feel better" - @CaseyNeistat

An encouraging word is like oxygen for creative people.

When you have kids, getting to drink your coffee warm is a victory.

Marketing shouldn't be about "you," "your app" or "your features."

It's about "them," "their needs" and "what they want."

Event organizers! Ask attendees before they arrive:

“Why are you coming?”

Use their answers to form your agenda.

I asked beta readers of @marketingdevs to send me their testimonials. This is by far my favorite.

Thanks mom! 💖

Here's a simple way to test business ideas: "Do I know someone right now who would pay money for this?"

Can't name anyone? Move on.

"Remote teams create innovation, but managers are stuck in habits based on the central workplace." http://buff.ly/13AY0gt cc @dhh

I can finally talk about this “bucket list” experience I had in DC:

I got to see an @NPR Tiny Desk concert live!

@laineywilson, and her band, were the surprise guests.

I’ve loved watching these on YouTube with my family - really cool to be there.

Your biggest competitive advantage? Understanding the customer (and what they truly want) better than anyone else.

If you want an example of a solid "solo podcast," check out @calebporzio's "Notes on Work."

It's consistently good. 👍

Yesterday, @iamjeremyenns and I sat down and recorded our first episode for a new show about podcast growth, marketing, and data.

More details are coming soon; here's a preview clip!

Something I've been thinking about:

📉 tl;dr - most reports in software don't answer the key question: "What does this chart actually mean for me?"

When I see graphs, charts, analytics, and stats in web apps I use, most don't answer the two fundamental questions:

"What…

@aarondfrancis Who is saying that people who build a side project are toxic?

Taking a break.

It’s only May and this is the wildfire and smoke situation in North America.

https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/

Damn. Look how much of the screen these AI answers cover. 😧

What LLMs know about your product/brand (and the likelihood of them suggesting your product) just got a lot more important.

RIP SEO? https://twitter.com/tomcritchlow/status/1656359951483170822

The first step was asking my wife for help.

Lorinda is amazing at office design, aesthetics, lighting, colors, and building shit.

She re-designed and re-finished our coworking space, and it turned out awesome.

Lately, I've been getting way more engagement on Mastodon (where I have less than 2,000 followers) than on Twitter (where I have over 37,000).

Is anyone else seeing less reach here? 🤔

“Norway, a global standout in electric-vehicle adoption, is replacing its EV subsidies with support for people walking and biking, while also considering a car-weight tax to nudge purchasers away from the bulkiest electric cars.”

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/electric-vehicles-suv-battery-climate-safety/672576/

"Twitter is a platform for free speech."

Also:

"Here is a list of things you can't say on our platform."

Don't trust health advice from GPT-3!

Paraphrasing @benthompson: "GPT is good at providing a confident answer, complete with supporting evidence and citations, that is also completely wrong"

https://stratechery.com/2022/ai-homework/ https://t.co/PLJUqIEl0i

I'll be sad if Twitter goes away.

I've built so many internet friendships here.

I'll be spending more time on my email newsletter.

Join here and let's keep the conversation going. 🤞

https://justinjackson.ca/newsletter