Tweets

Another great piece by @itsurboyevan:

"What Happened to the Creator Economy?"

https://every.to/napkin-math/what-happened-to-the-creator-economy

I’ll go first: a hiring manager can received hundreds of applications. After a while, every resume looks the same.

Personally, I go straight to someone’s personal website to see what projects they’ve built.

This is the best way to stand out:

Show, don’t tell, the work you’ve…

Do you think it's harder to break through the noise today than it was 5 years ago?

(with your marketing, promotion, ideas, product, video, song, blog post, podcast)

I keep hearing that businesses are hiring "prompt engineers," but is this really happening?

Has anyone here actually hired a full-time AI prompt engineer?

@waitbutwhy Curious if the existential risk you’re referring to is:

a) Climate change
b) AI
c) Political collapse
d) All of the above?

Got an overhead bar installed today.

Did a few lighting experiments with a few lights we had laying around.

I’ll show you what the shots look like next. 👍

I just checked my credit card statements.

Here are some indie products I've paid for so far this year:

- @PolarHabits
- @robwalling's book
- @laravelforge
- @theKevinShen's course
- Laravel Vapor
- @ConvertKit
- @typefully
- @Bandcamp albums
- @usefathom
- @blogstatic

❤️

The goal is to upgrade everything to give me a consistent look (and stop using my window as my main light source).

One of the best parts of @theKevinShen's course is it gives you equipment recommendations.

We're going to try everything they recommended (camera, lenses, lights).

For podcast editing, @iChris is so darned good.

He's been editing my shows for years, and he consistently delivers. 👍

(Also love the little easter eggs he puts in our episodes)

In modern life, we have many "inboxes," each with tons of items competing for our attention:

YouTube - new recommended videos
Podcasts – new episodes
Slack - new messages
Projects - new tasks
TikTok - new shorts
Gmail - new emails

It's no wonder getting attention is so hard. 😅

I've wanted this feature since we launched @transistorfm in 2018:

Now you can embed YouTube videos on your podcast episode's landing page!

Perfect for podcasters who already record video + audio and want to feature both on their website.

https://transistor.fm/changelog/embed-youtube/

🤦‍♂️ this is not an “indie hacking” problem.

👀 look at your invoices folks. Many big corps, well-funded startups, etc, are not collecting international sales tax properly.

🇨🇦 here in Canada, about 50% of the international vendors I use are not collecting GST + PST. https://twitter.com/brtkdotse/status/1624468025834348544

A calm company can translate strong customer demand into healthy returns with reasonable effort.

Honestly, that’s the beauty of it: purposefully leaving some energy, time, and resources in the tank, and not spending (risking) it all on the business.

What email do I want to get from my lawyer?

Maybe a newsletter that is specifically written to their SaaS clients about the legal blindspots they see many of us fall into.

Don't send an email the recipient doesn't care about!

Merry Christmas 🎄

As a remote worker working in tech, one of the best ways for me to contribute to my community is by shopping locally.

One thing I've done for the past few years is published a "Local Christmas gift guide" on my blog + newsletter for shops in #vernonbc.

https://vernonbc.me/gift-ideas-in-vernon-bc

Getting inundated with followers like this.

@benthompson I think the bigger problem will be revenue.

90% of $5B revenue was ads. It seems (increasingly) that much of that has evaporated.

It’s doubtful that Twitter Blue will reach even 5% of that number.

Decreasing staff costs only helps if revenue stays higher than expenses.

Should you give out candy to teenagers who show up on Halloween?

HELL YES.

If you have the opportunity to spread some good cheer to a teenager (or really, anyone who shows up at your door) why wouldn’t you?

Being a teenager is tough; show them some kindness!

Beauty night #vernonbc

👏 @VCAC @CityofVernon

Who else has these cups?

In the future, AI will predict how you’d live your whole life, and will just play it for you as a movie when you turn 5.

No need to go school, graduate, go to college, get a career, date, meet someone.

Instead, you’ll don your Oculus and play Candy Crush in the Metaverse.

I was surprised by this story!

It’s worth reading. https://twitter.com/mjwhansen/status/1565242260744175616

I was really hoping to write my treatise on RSS and podcasting (vs proprietary platforms) before I leave for @PodcastMovement.

Despite the recent memes around RSS (😄 @Podnews) there’s still an important discussion to be had around open protocols, and how they benefit creators.

Collaborating on a small project is underrated.

Find a friend, suggest a small project, and meet every Sunday at a coffee shop to work on it.

That practice alone will pay huge dividends in the future.

Invest in yourself, in small ways, every week.

These micro-investments compound over time, and make future success in your business/career more likely.

Take small risks (make small bids), but do it consistently.

My meta point is that we, subconsciously, mimic the people we admire. They have more of an impact than we realize.

I’m calling on people to fill their minds and feeds with better stuff.

(This means following people with integrity, who can also challenge our thinking)

“What’s it like being acquired by @Spotify?”

Really good episode with @dzohrob.

We explore VC-funding vs bootstrapping, what it’s like to go from a small startup to massive company, and why we make things on the internet.

https://saas.transistor.fm/episodes/whats-it-like-getting-acquired-by-spotify-dave-zohrob-from-chartable

@yongfook One thing I spoke to @patticus about today was this industry-wide graph on @ProfitWell.

Overall growth rates for SaaS companies:

- In June 2020, growth rates for $100+ ARPU SaaS companies were 4.23-5.29%.
- Now they're 1.62-2.81%

Encouragement like this is such a massive boost for an indie startup (like @TransistorFM).

Thank you @AndrewWarner for the ❤️! We really appreciate it.

(And thanks for inspiring me to start my own podcast back in 2012!)

Really fun to see all of these old-school web folks celebrating the beauty and simplicity of HTML.

(I originally wrote this piece in 2016 and cringe a little bit when I read old writing... but I'm glad people are still enjoying it!) https://twitter.com/anildash/status/1523703801718657031

If you google “andreessen climate” you see a single $4.5 million investment.

If you google “andreessen crypto” you see a $4.5 BILLION dollar fund.

Honestly, he should be embarrassed.

This episode will drop on Tuesday.

Subscribe here to get it:
https://saas.transistor.fm/subscribe

@adamwathan A few come to mind:

- @sivers
- Kathy Sierra

As a founder, it's pretty cool to stumble across your product out in the wild (when you aren't expecting it).

I googled "play-to-earn axie game"

I found this @naavik_co page, where they have a podcast episode (hosted on @TransistorFM!) talking about it:

https://naavik.co/business-breakdowns/axie-infinity

Something to think about if you want to build a product in 2022: https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/1169285308254478342

Yes, the category of product you choose to build matters.

All categories have a different “shape”:

How many people want this thing?
How often do they want it?
How much will they pay?
How costly is distribution?
How complex is the product?
How expensive is the production?

Successful indie startups who serve prosumers, hobbyists, and consumers:

🗃 Carrd by @ajlkn: I’m guessing he is close to 1 million customers. $19/yr

🌬 @tailwindui: main product costs $199 (one-time); millions in revenue.

🎙 @TransistorFM: $19/month, thousands of users.

My larger point: if you see an opportunity with growing demand, and it’s a good fit for you personally, don’t ignore it just because “it’s not B2B.”

Your business doesn’t have to fit the dominant narrative to be successful; indie B2Prosumer products can be incredibly profitable.

Just published this episode with @CasJam on the @buildyoursaas feed!

Hear about Brian’s journey with @ZipMessage, and some of the ways he’s planning to grow it.

Here’s what helped @jonbuda and I hire amazing folks at @TransistorFM:

1. Shared our journey on @buildyoursaas (folks heard our vision + values)
2. Became profitable before hiring
3. Being active in communities (Chicago tech, @megamaker, etc) for a long time
4. We hired slowly https://twitter.com/bentossell/status/1460941095626444803

@IndieHackers Can you define what you mean by "fastest startups?"

Fastest... to what?

In 2017, I went to this retreat in Colorado. I arrived feeling dispirited and cynical, but I left with a new mindset.

I wrote about it here:
https://justinjackson.ca/cynical

I've been working with @joshuaanderton on launching @meepsapp's early access, and I've learned a few things!

Biggest takeaway:

Building a community of early-access customers (true believers!) is a super power.

Our early-access Discord is especially 🔥.

Not great air quality, but not the worse either.

The post is live!

🙏 please share.

Trying to get 25 startups to start contributing to @stripe climate. 🌱

██░░░░░░░░ 20% towards our goal!

https://transistor.fm/climate-change/

There are small indie companies out there earning good revenue that many folks might not recognize.

But using the most famous fitness influencer in the world as your example definitely doesn't prove this point. 😆

I’m not saying space isn’t cool.

But, if these billionaires truly cared about the future and technological progress, they’d invest in fighting climate change.

There’s no way we’re getting 8 billion people settled on Mars.

Right now, our most pressing need is to save earth. 🌎

The beach can also be great.

The key is you really need to stay somewhere right on the water.

Being able to walk there from where you’re staying (and go home for lunch and naps) really helps.

"How did you get the idea for @TransistorFM?"

Had a really nice chat with @GetTheAudience about how business ideas are discovered.

Listen to the whole interview here:
https://share.transistor.fm/s/e031ee19

“Someone will make a lot of money from me by exploiting my 80s nostalgia and pairing it with something-something-crypto” – @yongfook

Omg. Yes.

ACiD could re-release all their ANSI art packs as NFTs and I’d go from “NFTs are dumb” to “take my money!!!”

http://www.acid.org/

"Basecamp went from ostensibly being an open and trusting workplace to lockdown in the space of a few days.

Changes as drastic as these mean there has been a rupture between staff and management."

– @fakebaldur

@m1guelpf A... smart contract?

1. Content marketing is particularly effective (tutorials, technical posts, quick tips)

2. Ability to reach devs through Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, HN, http://Dev.to, etc

3. Lots of online communities (Slack, Discord, HN, Reddit, forums)

4. Increased WoM frequency https://twitter.com/xakpc/status/1366094293954396162

💯 Big thanks to @johnlpollard at @buzzsprout.

(He preemptively reached out to us)

Shows a lot of class. ❤️ https://twitter.com/BryanBarletta/status/1364322875512029185

@ndwignall Finally going to therapy.

Realizing I had a lot of internal stuff to deal with in my personal life (even though I felt like I had it “all together”).

I recently tried hypnotherapy and it’s been very helpful.

Another example:

@endcrawl provides software that generates film credits. Their pricing starts at $499 per project.

That might seem like a "high price," but they're still faster + cheaper than doing it the old way.

https://twitter.com/iampliny/status/1359229092198043664

Before I get too many replies and emails:

YES, in certain cases offering a higher price (for a truly premium offering) is a better approach.

But in software (in most categories) your pricing is already being anchored by your competitors:

https://justinjackson.ca/charge-more

You should read Nathan's whole piece on podcasting.

It's good. 👍

https://every.to/divinations/a-post-mortem-for-social-podcast-discovery

🎯 Exactly this: https://twitter.com/kvlly/status/1356235136245919748

Another unfair advantage that new SaaS founders have:

“Pick the idea you’re most excited about, because you’ll put in the extra energy and time to do it. This is why you often get the best customer service from new (small) SaaS.” – @asmartbear

@dvassallo @dr This is false equivalence.

Yes (of course!) banning people because of the color of their skin would be wrong.

But banning someone because of their actions? That’s perfectly reasonable.

If someone comes into my store not wearing a shirt, I can say: “no shirt, no service.”

I will say: I think @leenyburger and @mjwhansen have the best new podcast for bootstrappers (@SoftwareSocPod).

Next year, I wouldn't be surprised if they win multiple categories:

https://softwaresocial.dev/subscribe

What do you do the day after Christmas?

Hey! @mariepoulin and I are doing a podcast about money. What should we talk about? https://www.pscp.tv/w/co7HUDM4NTU1MXwxa3ZKcG9EQXdsUUdFO4UU0RqdaHq_VN2JjKtH4s2r5ltEqaZZsGVL_Tsaufg=

Hold on to your butts.

@derrickreimer @savvycal_ Damn you’re good at this.

- Incredible product person (look at that UI 😍)
- Awesome marketer (all your assets are 💯)

Bigger orgs seem to have so much cruft (compared to 1-5 person indie companies):

- tons of internal politics
- extraneous process, KPIs, meetings
- layers of management

Personally, I feel like I get better service + a better product from small indies.

(Your mileage may vary!) https://twitter.com/alphacolin/status/1319391633729712128

(Kudos to @patio11 for agreeing to be my first guest ever. I was very nervous. I remember waking up at 5am that day to prepare for our call at 7am)

I just donated to @keliwestgate’s BC Green Party campaign in #vernonbc

https://www.bcgreens.ca/donate_to_keli_westgate?recruiter_id=1179983

Why do we even need this?

Aren’t we all working from home now? 😬

https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21453709/ring-always-home-cam-indoor-drone-security-camera-price-specs-features-amazon

Before you build a product, you're looking for *evidence of demand*.

Sometimes, folks are already buying products in a category, but they're itching for a better solution.

Other times, you might notice folks putting considerable effort into hacking together their own solution.

The climate doesn’t care about borders.

Wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon has drifted thousands of miles north to my sleepy little town in #vernonBC. (AQI is currently 258)

(this might get me in trouble)

I think this is why some designers have a hard time in business.

Designers have good taste. They often *know* what's better.

But... what that the client *wants* is to use Comic Sans on their menus.

It's hard to swim upstream.

I'm already using @statamic 3 for @TransistorFM's marketing site:

https://transistor.fm

(We deploy it to Netlify!)

True:

https://twitter.com/itskingapollo/status/1270761549041369089?s=21

@dbchhbr @SamHarrisOrg The evidence we've seen in the past weeks is overwhelming. Police brutality is on display every day.

It's OK for us to evaluate alternatives (like defunding the police).

https://twitter.com/Carnage4Life/status/1268527517213749248

The restaurant industry needs open source.

Think about how open source helped level the playing field for indie tech businesses.

Every tech entrepreneur benefits from free software.

Why should low margin restaurants be any different?
https://twitter.com/danpriceseattle/status/1251667344155217921?s=21 https://twitter.com/DanPriceSeattle/status/1251667344155217921

@bentossell Definitely @taylorotwell:

https://saas.transistor.fm/episodes/taylor-otwell-didnt-even-like-computers

Marketing experiment we're trying at @TransistorFM:

We're using @ContestKit to power a giveaway contest:
https://transistor.fm/contest

It's only been running for a few days, but one positive effect we've already seen is the number of people talking about Transistor on social.

I’ll be your @byte_app friend. 🤙

I’m mijustin. ✨

Most customers aren't buying products/services with respect to the niche they belong to.

They just have a job they want done ("graphic design," "email marketing," "custom form builder").

Folks who are building too much positioning around a niche will miss out on those queries.

oh damn https://twitter.com/TheCatWhisprer/status/1215833927249690624

This is one of those hard realities I don’t want to think about.

I like flying to conferences and events. The face-to-face connections I’ve made there have been invaluable.

But, if we’re serious about tackling climate change we need to look at everything.

I can't wait to hear how @wesbos pronounces "JavaScript."

"Email newsletters aren't effective anymore: I used to get 95% open rates on my email newsletter, but now I only get 30%."

Maybe your readers are still engaged, but the quality of your data has gotten worse?

(For example, maybe more email clients are blocking tracking pixels)

And on Oct 26, 2019 I wrote this note.

Don’t ask.

Is Justin currently eating cereal?

✅ Yes
🔳 No

If you need help with transactional email inside your Rails app, my friend @garrettdimon is an expert:

https://applicationemail.com/

Working on a website (live) if you want to come hang out https://www.pscp.tv/w/cG4SfTM4NTU1MXwxeW5LT3dyVndOUUtSC9FrnmBwpeDaFzsJEFPJX5C9VY52_ZZtmKzKi4uqKks=

@r00k A few options:

@honeybadgerapp uses http://printfection.com

@balsamiq uses http://spreadshirt.com

I use @Printful for print-on-demand (although, they also do screen printing + warehousing): https://www.printful.com/a/30546:3ad08bb331312cb3c38361d019d03814

Specifically I’m interested in:
- nightly routines
- changes in habits
- environment fixes
- sleep products that work

Really enjoying this bootstrapping chat between @joshuaanderton and @benediktdeicke.

https://overcast.fm/+T1MwYnIEk

@adamwathan @TransistorFM ✌️

The key is to respond to demand that’s already being demonstrated in the market.

What we don’t want, as entrepreneurs, is to come up with an idea that seems cool but doesn’t naturally attract customers.

When you target a solid market (with good distribution channels) and give them a product that they're hungry for, you don't have to do much pushing or pulling.

Customers just naturally move towards the products they want.

Live web dev: going to try to use Glide PHP to dynamically generate WebP images (with fallbacks) in @statamic https://www.pscp.tv/w/cCW9IDM4NTU1MXwxeW9KTUVvbURQREpRLdeB4Jmvh9AA_Gljn3xQgr9IxJYgbtqcIDjSpW1Azuk=

“The hardest thing in the world is simplicity. You want to write a sentence as clean as a bone. That is the goal.” – James Baldwin

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Most fun nerd show.” https://twitter.com/noplanstomerge/status/1154479239673946113

This past week, @jonbuda said we needed to have a phone call.

The way I was managing projects was stressing him out! 😧

We talked about it on @buildyoursaas. It's worth a listen:
https://overcast.fm/+MBmV4dQDA