The Bootstrapped Founder: Recent Episodes
Arvid Kahl
Arvid Kahl talks about starting and bootstrapping businesses, how to build an audience, and how to build in public.
I finally got to talk to Amanda Goetz, a marketer-turned-full-time-creator, who's generously poured out her wisdom on navigating the creator economy. Amanda's journey from corporate life to the creator economy is filled with valuable lessons about embracing awkward self-promotion, overcoming 'Cringe Valley', and the journey of (maybe?) writing a book. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to carve out a calm niche in a world full of "hustle culture," or just for those curious about the behind-the-scenes of a first-time author getting into book publishing.
I didn't set out to chat about writing books, but it was too exciting an opportunity: Amanda announced that she's writing a book! Amanda has walked the tightrope of maintaining authenticity while engaging with the book publishing industry's commercial demands, and she shares this experience with us. We get into the nitty-gritty of dealing with Imposter Syndrome, understanding the angle publishers are looking for, and using hype effectively. It's a deep-dive into the business side of books, the choices of self-publishing or seeking an agent, and the journey towards finding validation in our creative endeavors.
But it's not all hustle and bustle; we also touch on the vital importance of rest and self-care in our lives. Amanda talks about how crucial it is for creators to set boundaries on social media, carefully choosing what aspects of their lives to share. We learn about the balance between sharing personal and private moments, with invaluable insights from Amanda's own experience, including the trauma of a social media hack and the importance of diversifying platforms. So, tune in for a candid, comprehensive, and genuinely helpful discussion on thriving in the creator economy.
Amanda on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AmandaMGoetz
Amanda's Newsletter:https://www.amandagoetz.com/
Amanda's Instagram: http://instagram.com/goetzam
00:00:01 Finding Balance in the Creator Economy
00:11:45 Exploring Niche Markets and Writing Books
00:17:40 Imposter Syndrome in the Publishing Business
00:25:28 The Importance of Rest and Self
00:41:02 Boundaries and Authenticity on Social Media
00:49:07 Creator's Social Media Hack Lessons
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/amanda-goetz-the-antidote-to-hustle-culture/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/2af3083c
The video: https://youtu.be/DKFBGozqz_c
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
- (00:01) - Finding Balance in the Creator Economy
- (11:45) - Exploring Niche Markets and Writing Books
- (17:40) - Imposter Syndrome in the Publishing Business
- (25:28) - The Importance of Rest and Self-Care
- (41:02) - Boundaries and Authenticity on Social Media
- (49:07) - Creator's Social Media Hack Lessons
Get ready to learn everything about product marketing from our guest today, Corey Haines. Corey is a marketing pro who knows a lot about selling the right products to the right people. He talks about problems that indie hackers often face and gives helpful tips to solve them. He also invites us behind the scenes of his new business, Conversion Factory, which helps young companies with their marketing.
We chat about how Corey went from doing freelance work to starting his own company with two friends. He shares how they came up with the idea for Conversion Factory, their special way of (product) marketing, and how they make products really popular. We also look at new ways of doing business, comparing old and new methods — using subscription payments in an agency is pretty new ground. Corey's thoughts on this are really interesting and could change how you think about business.
We end our talk with Corey's views on how software and starting a business have shaped his career. He talks about why selling a product might be easier than creating software. We also discuss the benefits of having a business that makes steady money, which can help start other projects. Corey's experience in running a marketing company and the importance of being an expert in your field offer great advice. This conversation is full of useful tips for anyone interested in starting a business. So let's dive in and learn from Corey's experience!
Corey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/coreyhainesco
Conversion Factory: https://www.conversionfactory.co/
00:00:00 Indie Hackers' Struggles With Product Marketing
00:11:53 Hire Marketer, Launch Conversion Factory
00:17:56 Starting an Agency
00:30:36 Company Size and Service Needs Correlation
00:42:12 The Role of Software and Entrepreneurship
00:46:56 Website Design and Product Marketing
00:57:50 Product Marketing and Building Service Subscription
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/corey-haines-mastering-product-marketing/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/30c61a32
The video: https://youtu.be/WG6qrEnWNxA
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
Instead of writing a lengthy article this week, I pointed my iPhone at my face, clipped on a wireless mic, put the puppy in the background of the shot, and hit record. I share my thoughts about forcing yourself to take breaks, even when you feel like you shouldn’t. I dive into the times in my life when that sentiment caused me massive mental health issues, and I point out a few misconceptions that contributed to that self-delusion.
If you’re having trouble taking breaks, this is for you.
And if you’re good at taking breaks, please tell me how to do it ;)
Here’s my “take the break or the break takes you” moment.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/take-a-break/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/218285c3
The video: https://youtu.be/lmPE0ZT37L8
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
Emmet Gibney truly walked the path less taken. Today, you'll hear about an extraordinary journey from customer support to interim CEO of Rewardful. You'll gain insights into how Emmett skillfully braved the transition following the company's acquisition by a private equity group. This episode will acquaint you with the power of referral and affiliate programs, and how they can provide the much-needed edge to entrepreneurs in their quest for growth.
This conversation with Emmett is a goldmine of subject-matter expert insights. We discuss the lucky turn of events that propelled him to the position of interim CEO at Rewardful, and his role in the growth trajectory of the SaaS Group. You'll learn about the intricate management processes this Private Equity company has woven for its portfolio companies. Understand the distinction between customer referral programs and affiliate marketing programs, and the art of setting them up. Emmett's experiences serve as a testament to the potential personal growth and career trajectory that can be achieved by working your way up — or being referred, as we find out.
We also delve deep into the art of building successful referral and affiliate systems. Listen to the success stories of two indie hackers and explore the strategies to build trust with affiliates and identify the right people for your affiliate system. Embrace the wisdom of the long-standing community members and learn how to attract the right newcomers to your work. This episode is not just about strategies but also about the nuances of human relationships in business – a true masterclass for entrepreneurs and those in the SaaS industry.
00:00:00 Journey to Interim CEO at Rewardful
00:11:47 Transitioning to Private Equity
00:22:16 Referral and Affiliate Programs for SaaS Businesses
00:35:41 Building Affiliate Systems for SaaS Businesses
00:39:11 Finding and Building Affiliate Partnerships
00:44:43 Community-Centric Approach in Business
Emmet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmetgibney
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/emmet-gibney-referred-into-the-role-of-ceo/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/a68eab7b
The video: https://youtu.be/FpymMil-3Ks
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
- (00:00) - Journey to Interim CEO at Rewardful
- (11:47) - Transitioning to Private Equity
- (22:16) - Referral and Affiliate Programs for SaaS Businesses
- (35:41) - Building Affiliate Systems for SaaS Businesses
- (39:11) - Finding and Building Affiliate Partnerships
- (44:43) - Community-Centric Approach in Business
Get ready to unlock the secret to enhancing your business's value — whether you plan to sell or not. This episode will guide you through the concept of sellability and its crucial role in your business. Inspired by a riveting conversation with Kevin McArdle, a seasoned investor who shared valuable insights from his SaaS business acquisition experience, and the wisdom of John Warrillow's book, Built to Sell, I illuminate good business practices that can boost your business's sellability and value.
But it doesn't stop there. I'll equip you with practical strategies for exit planning that will make your business not only sellable but also ready for a smooth transition. Ready to build a sellable business?
00:00:00 The Importance of Sellability in Business
00:09:00 Practical Tips for Exit Planning
00:17:18 Assessing Alignment and Exit Planning
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/bootstrapped-saas-exit-planning/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/c4d259eb
The video: https://youtu.be/9cqVjugSsAs
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
- (00:00) - The Importance of Sellability in Business
- (09:00) - Practical Tips for Exit Planning
- (17:18) - Assessing Alignment and Exit Planning
Ever wonder how to build a successful start-up from scratch? This week, I'm joined by Louis Pereira, an indie founder who has done just that. Creator of the successful audio transcription product, AudioPen, Louis sheds light on his journey and the calculated risks he took with pricing and subscriptions to validate demand early on. He's a firm believer in building and launching products in public, a practice that he believes played a critical role in growing his audience and gaining traction — and it paid off mightily.
This isn't just a conversation about entrepreneurial success; it's a deep dive into the inner workings of a product, from handling customer conversations to managing bug reports and feature requests. Enjoy the inside view of a successful business on the rise.
00:00:01 Indie Founder Discusses Building Successful Startup
00:10:30 Building Features and Handling Customer Conversations
00:18:38 Building Business Trust
00:26:38 Building in Public and Unexpected Success
00:38:36 "Hackathon Launch Strategies and Productivity Mindset"
00:43:55 The Value of Reading and Accessibility
00:53:41 The Impact of Writing Tools
Louis on Twitter: https://twitter.com/louispereira/
Louis' website: https://louispereira.xyz/
AudioPen: https://audiopen.ai/
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/louis-pereira-when-an-indie-hacker-strikes-gold/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ad81b535
The video: https://youtu.be/aKOTYbp9bj0
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
- (00:01) - Indie Founder Discusses Building Successful Startup
- (10:30) - Building Features and Handling Customer Conversations
- (18:38) - Building Business Trust
- (26:38) - Building in Public and Unexpected Success
- (38:36) - "Hackathon Launch Strategies and Productivity Mindset"
- (43:55) - The Value of Reading and Accessibility
- (53:41) - The Impact of Writing Tools
Battle lines have been drawn. Human writers versus artificial intelligence - who will come out on top? I'm Arvid Kahl, your guide through the minefield of writing in a world where machines such as ChatGPT are generating content at a phenomenal rate. Can human authors still hold their own? Absolutely! Tune in as I reveal why the human touch and authenticity inherent in our content is irreplaceable, no matter how advanced AI becomes.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/human-creativity-amidst-ai-dominance/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/b3d424cc
The video: https://youtu.be/MqWEGSjnAlA
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
Ever wondered how to handle the competitive world of AI products and copycats while running a global business? Well, you're in luck. This episode of The Bootstrapped Founder features a heart-to-heart with indie hacker and global entrepreneur, Danny Postma. Danny takes us behind the scenes of his entrepreneurial journey, sharing priceless insights on transitioning from a solopreneur to a team leader, cleverly leveraging SEO, and the fascinating world of domain acquisitions.
Picture this: You're living the digital nomad lifestyle, working across time zones while experiencing new cultures. How do you make it all work? Danny Postma gives us a peek into his life as a digital nomad, the cultural differences that affect his way of work, and how he deals with the 12-hour time difference with grace. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the value of a good domain name and how it can be a game-changer for any business. Join us on this exciting journey and tap into the world of a successful global entrepreneur.
Danny on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dannypostmaa/
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/danny-postma-an-indie-hackers-business-evolution/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/1fbba06a
The video: https://youtu.be/X36_7wRC_WI
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
- (00:00) - Successful Global Business Building
- (10:05) - Solopreneur to Team Building Transition
- (17:09) - Dealing With Copycats in Business
- (25:10) - Competition and Evolution of AI Products
- (35:09) - Discovery of B2C and Acquisition Strategies
- (38:59) - Importance of SEO for Indie Hackers
- (50:12) - Building a Network, Avoiding Fame
- (56:10) - Digital Life, Remote Work, Cultural Differences
We delve deep into the world of online communities, exploring their growth, evolution, and the disruptive elements that can lead to their downfall. Drawing compelling parallels with traditional villages, we seek to understand the role of trust, shared culture, and considerate interaction in these digital spaces.
We touch on the dynamics that can lead to the erosion of online communities, such as inconsiderate self-promotion and the mass influx of new members who lack a shared understanding of the community's values. Drawing inspiration from Immanuel Kant's teachings, we discuss how short-term gains can often lead to long-term reputation costs.
The podcast episode offers insights on how to contribute positively and build a reputation as a valued member of these virtual communities. It serves as a guide to navigating the complex dynamics of online spaces, focusing on their enrichment rather than erosion.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/things-that-kill-the-village/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f317d6bb
The video: https://youtu.be/gakz2PeCYGY
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
Ever found yourself stepping into a role that you never expected you'd be in? That’s what my guest, Brian Sierakowski, did when he took over as CEO of Bearmetrics, a company that he had not founded, but was handed over to him after an acquisition by a private equity firm. Entering an existing team, dealing with the weight of expectations, and managing an already functioning business with its own culture and values, Brian's journey is a roller coaster of challenges and learnings that he’s eager to share with you today.
Brian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bsierakowski/
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/brian-sierakowski-leading-an-acquired-business/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/2ec803d1
The video: https://youtu.be/XWjC4w_cD7g
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
- (00:00) - From Indie Hacking to Acquired Businesses
- (06:39) - Taking Over an Acquired Business Challenges
- (12:09) - Improvements and Changes in the Business
- (26:14) - Cancelling Subscriptions and Learning From Feedback
- (34:33) - Managing Expectations in Public Settings
- (42:24) - Career Transition Options and Considerations
- (53:27) - Dual Perspective in Building a Business
- (01:05:23) - Selling Your Business
Learn about the power of eventual reciprocity and how it can benefit your business. Discover how giving without expecting anything in return can lead to long-term success, and find out how to strike the perfect balance between offering free content and monetizing your trade secrets. Don't miss out on this valuable lesson in entrepreneurship and audience building.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/eventual-reciprocity/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bb7d24fb
The video: https://youtu.be/6T_fRdQukMo
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
Step into the world of Tony Dinh, an accomplished indie hacker famed for his ability to craft products with show-stopping aesthetics while keeping them public on Twitter. Tony, who holds the helm in the product design world, made waves with his browser extension, Blackmagic, and his unique pricing and revenue model approach. Our chat offers a deep dive into Tony's journey and his decision-making process during the Twitter API price increase, eventually leading to the sale of Blackmagic to HypeFury. His insights on product design and experiences as a front-end engineer are worth their weight in gold.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:24 How do you get good at design?
00:07:50 Working in enterprise businesses first.
00:13:08 Selling as an indie hacker.
00:18:18 How to complete the sale?
00:23:02 Transitioning the ownership.
00:28:31 Running into platform risk.
00:34:13 The launch of the product.
00:38:42 Do you have a process for internal documentation?
00:47:22 How do you deal with clones?
00:51:19 The importance of having a ProductHunt-compatible audience.
00:55:39 What’s your current software portfolio like?
01:01:09 What to do when you’re stuck?
Tony on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tdinh_me
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/tony-dinh-ups-and-downs-of-an-indie-hacker-journey/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ee414120
The video: https://youtu.be/i99OHAacxbk
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com! Go to http://try.acquire.com/arvid/ to get started with making sure you run a sellable business.
- (00:00) - Introduction
- (01:24) - How do you get good at design?
- (07:50) - Working in enterprise businesses first.
- (13:08) - Selling as an indie hacker.
- (18:18) - How to complete the sale?
- (23:02) - Transitioning the ownership.
- (28:31) - Running into platform risk.
- (34:13) - The launch of the product.
- (38:42) - Do you have a process for internal documentation?
- (47:22) - How do you deal with clones?
- (51:19) - The importance of having a ProductHunt-compatible audience.
- (55:39) - What’s your current software portfolio like?
- (01:01:09) - What to do when you’re stuck?
Here the three common pitfalls that can sabotage your efforts to build a Twitter audience: transactional interactions, focusing on “free,” and a tonal mismatch. Learn how chasing virality, relying on transactional attention, and curating a negative tone can all backfire in the long run. Find out what kind of attention you should be seeking to build lasting relationships with your followers and grow your personal brand.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-bad-kind-of-attention/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/74843be8
The video: https://youtu.be/BGVSA1-B4AU
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
Are you a bootstrapper who's never considered raising investment money? Or maybe you're a die-hard VC-funded growth hacker who can't imagine running a business without that extra cash infusion. Either way, Jason Cohen's journey from bootstrapping to raising millions will give you a fresh perspective on the funding debate.
Jason discusses his personal discovery of wanting a different journey with WP Engine, which led to raising money after two years of bootstrapping. We also uncover the importance of understanding your competitors instead of demonizing them, in order to develop a unique strategy for your own business.
Jason has seen and done a lot as a founder. No matter what stage of this journey you’re on, you will learn something today.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:27 Raising money for bootstrapped companies.
00:09:16 When is it bad to sell your business?
00:15:31 The problem with self-imposed ignorance.
00:19:11 Founder mental health issues
00:23:04 How to hire people who are better than you.
00:27:26 The importance of having a consistent strategy.
00:31:20 The reality distortion field of a software business.
00:34:59 Do you ever consider building a solopreneur business again?
00:40:37 Do you ever consider not being a founder anymore?
00:45:12 The value of building a public network.
00:54:12 The importance of building public.
01:01:03 The importance of social media.
Jason on Twitter: @asmartbear
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/jason-cohen-two-exits-two-unicorns/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/b349aec5
The video: https://youtu.be/fMniLsLl5nc
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com! Go to http://try.acquire.com/arvid/ to get started with making sure you run a sellable business.
- (00:00) - Introduction
- (01:27) - Raising money for bootstrapped companies.
- (09:16) - When is it bad to sell your business?
- (15:31) - The problem with self-imposed ignorance.
- (19:11) - Founder mental health issues
- (23:04) - How to hire people who are better than you.
- (27:26) - The importance of having a consistent strategy.
- (31:20) - The reality distortion field of a software business.
- (34:59) - Do you ever consider building a solopreneur business again?
- (40:37) - Do you ever consider not being a founder anymore?
- (45:12) - The value of building a public network.
- (54:12) - The importance of building public.
- (01:01:03) - The importance of social media.
Are entrepreneurs born or made? Find out as we explore the profound impact of nature and nurture on the development of an entrepreneurial spirit. Discover how family stories, socioeconomic status, and exposure to diverse narratives shape your perspectives and behaviors. Uncover what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur in the digital age.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/entrepreneurship-isnt-genetic-its-memetic/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f85b818b
The video: https://youtu.be/vm4c4KQSKu0
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
Andrew McIntosh is a first-gen entrepreneur. And so am I. And we both needed help along the way. From building a sustainable and inclusive community for first-gen entrepreneurs to discussing the power of business coaching and growth mindset, you'll gain valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship without a safety net. Learn from a successful underdog's story and get inspired to take your own entrepreneurial journey to the next level. No matter what your parents say.
Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrew_drives
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/andrew-mcintosh-first-generation-entrepreneurs/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e49eaaa6
The video: https://youtu.be/Iez5Qcz6JOs
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com! Go to http://try.acquire.com/arvid/ to get started with making sure you run a sellable business.
- (00:00) - Introduction
- (02:08) - Learning by doing by making mistakes.
- (06:04) - The importance of having a support network.
- (10:43) - Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster.
- (14:07) - Have you always been crazy or is this a new development?
- (20:41) - Coaching vs. coaching.
- (24:28) - Building a digital community that is asynchronous.
- (28:19) - Community building and accountability in business.
- (32:47) - Entrepreneurship starts with a community.
- (37:35) - Share your wins and losses.
- (42:20) - Entrepreneurship as a vehicle for freedom.
- (49:35) - Getting people to the point where they graduate.
- (52:41) - The importance of sharing your story and building a community.
Are you responding to customer service requests as quickly as possible? You may think it's the best strategy, but this dedication comes at a hefty price. Today, I will share my experience with the pros and cons of super-quick customer service responses, the role of software tooling, and how to balance response speed with good business sense. Discover the layered approach to customer service that will help you have your speedy cake and eat it, too.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/responding-fast-to-customers-a-good-idea/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/5d404f4d
The video: https://youtu.be/J8qbNR3rz0w
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com
- (00:01) - Intro
- (01:38) - Customer service response times
- (03:42) - Proving that I’m the real deal
- (05:13) - The importance of prioritizing customer service and productivity
- (06:55) - How to embrace the bots
- (09:32) - Don’t act like your bots are people
- (11:12) - Optimizing for response speed
Today, I’m talking to Moritz Dausinger, a serial indie hacker with several exits under his belt. Moritz most recently pivoted his software business Refiner after 18 months of trying to figure out a way forward. Well, now he’s found it. We will chat about figuring out how to structure sales, how and who to hire, and if he wants to sell this business again, for a third time.
Moritz on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mdausinger
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/moritz-dausinger-serial-indie-entrepreneurship/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/215b9c09
The video: https://youtu.be/8jiwJZyMjEI
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com!
- (00:00) - Introduction to today’s episode.
- (03:04) - How did you get involved with the indie hackers podcast?
- (10:11) - It’s never just about execution.
- (16:40) - The importance of bootstrapping.
- (20:16) - Getting funding for Refiner.
- (24:47) - How to outsource your technical work.
- (29:29) - How did you decide to sell your company?
- (35:47) - The importance of building a good relationship with the seller.
- (38:38) - Sharing your story in public.
- (42:23) - The importance of sharing your story.
- (47:50) - Bridging the gap between sales and customer service.
- (51:56) - Pricing structure for dual models.
- (57:43) - How expensive is it to run a database server?
- (01:03:08) - What is the perfect sellable business?
Are you struggling to find the balance between the utility of your product and its perceived value? Let’s explore the biggest misconception in entrepreneurship and discover how to create a high-utility business at the intersection of your fields of interest. Find out what Swiss Army knives have to do with it, too!
My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/utility-pricing-and-entrepreneurship/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d8b22900
The video: https://youtu.be/G4KZWbYutEs
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn
Kevin McArdle bought my SaaS. For millions. And now, I get to talk to him about all things acquisition. In our chat, we discuss the importance of annual exit planning for startup founders, we explore the mindset and framework necessary for building a successful and sellable business, as well as the benefits of stepping outside of your normal workplace to think strategically. With practical advice and personal anecdotes, this conversation is a must-watch for any entrepreneur looking to achieve long-term success — and a big life-changing check at the end.
Kevin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kevin_McArdle
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/kevin-mcardle-the-man-who-changed-my-life-and-could-change-yours/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d938c4ce
The video: https://youtu.be/Wx0hEK0zNPU
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Join me on a thought-provoking journey as I explore the challenge of balancing authenticity and public opinion on social media. Discover the struggle faced by an entrepreneur and creator who wants to build a Twitter audience while staying true to themselves. Yours truly. I'll ask the tough question: how much of my "true self" should I reveal in the public domain?
My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/self-censorship-on-twitter/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9216f800
The video: https://youtu.be/6Hk5qbjXZJk
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn
Are you feeling burnt out or overwhelmed by societal expectations?
Today, I’m talking to Paul Millerd, author of “The Pathless Path.” We talk about hustle traps, the stories we tell ourselves about success, and our obsession with productivity. Learn how to connect with yourself, rediscover leisure as a positive force in your life, and find "the others."
Discover how to expand your horizons and find your own way in life, all while building and teaching in public.
Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/p_millerd/
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/paul-millerd-walking-the-pathless-path/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/14e38471
The video: https://youtu.be/fqAN89v8DQ4
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
- (00:00) - Introduction.
- (00:52) - Finding the pathless path.
- (07:04) - Taking action will lead to more action.
- (11:01) - Goals and aspirations.
- (17:08) - Leisure and Laziness.
- (24:09) - Generosity and not focusing on numbers.
- (27:57) - Why money doesn’t matter
- (33:44) - How writing helped me make sense of life.
- (38:28) - How to avoid bullshitting yourself.
- (43:08) - How to live your life.
- (50:34) - Finding Paul
Discover how to make your Twitter profile a promise of a fruitful long-term relationship with your future followers. Today,. let’s explore the biggest misconceptions surrounding Twitter profiles and how optimizing your profile can turn visitors into followers. From the purpose of your profile to the importance of using real estate wisely, you’ll find the common mistakes people make and how you can avoid them.
My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/twitter-teardowns-3-low-hanging-fruit-to-massively-improve-your-twitter-presence/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/20b5a449
The video: https://youtu.be/_Ia8dnuXOg8
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn
"Imposter syndrome isn’t just a moment of self-doubt — it’s all-encompassing. It prevents founders from taking action, from taking a risk in the first place."
This week, Dr. Julie Gurner shares with me how high performers combat the challenges founders commonly face. She’s a performance coach and Doctor of Psychology. We’ll talk about dealing with imposter syndrome, burnout, how to deal with the avalanche of advice on Twitter, and why it is so hard for founders to cope with stress.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dr-julie-gurner-founder-mental-health-101/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bb3e42ca
The video: https://youtu.be/RjIZ8g0sxZw
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
- (00:00) - How common is Impostor Syndrome?
- (02:42) - How social media can impact your business
- (08:00) - Vulnerability is not just a means of sharing negative feedback
- (13:33) - Diversity & Building in Public
- (17:54) - How to avoid falling into the Impostor Syndrome
- (22:35) - The importance of taking incremental steps
- (26:29) - Optimizing your business
- (32:18) - The importance of meditation
- (37:15) - The importance of having a routine that you enjoy
- (44:02) - The problem with the word "expertise"
- (47:43) - The importance of confidence in entrepreneurship
- (51:07) - Incorporating philosophy into your own life
Sharing your journey as an entrepreneur can be scary, but it's a great way to connect with your audience and demonstrate your expertise. Let's explore the difference between sharing business insights and trade secrets, and construct a Share/Don't Share list to help you decide what to share with your audience.
My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-to-build-in-public-without-revealing-too-much/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9ed43fa8
The video: https://youtu.be/iq_DetrM-DE
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/
This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn
Joe Masilotti is the founder of RailsDev —a reverse job board— and a Turbo Native consultant. In this conversation, we explore Joe Masilotti's philosophy on entrepreneurship and his focus on empowering software developers to find work. Joe's approach to monetizing Open Source is particularly interesting: he gives away his product for free with an eventual revenue share. We delve into the various marketing strategies that Joe uses for his different business ventures, including cold emailing, content marketing, and live coding.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/joe-masilotti-building-in-public-and-monetizing-open-source
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ebd473b8
The video: https://youtu.be/uxfUZ31QYGY
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
- (00:00) - Introduction
- (04:00) - B2B vs. B2C
- (08:12) - How to monetize?
- (14:24) - Reverse job boards
- (19:27) - Coding in public.
- (25:06) - Transparency
- (32:23) - Monetizing open source projects
- (37:57) - Selling the business
- (44:48) - The ideal future
- (49:25) - Overlap between marketing and cold email marketing
- (56:30) - Building in public and empowering people
Today, I am talking to Jakob Greenfeld. I’ve been reading Jakobs blog posts for years now, and they’re as spicy as they’re thoughtful. There’s not a single post on there that feels unfinished. That’s quite impressive. Well, I think we’ll figure out why that is during our conversation. We’ll also chat about how to unlock critical thinking by writing and what it means to give yourself permission to do things your way.
Here’s Jakob Greenfeld.
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
Here's the blog post for this episode.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
In my conversation with Daniel Vassallo this week, I learned that Daniel uses social media —Twitter in particular— to find inspiration for his own work as a teacher and content creator. Intentionally doomscrolling Twitter to come up with writing prompts and business ideas? Why not!
If we consider this a strategic effort, not just wasting our time on social media, let's develop a few frameworks that lead to more tangible results.
Today, I want to talk about finding ideas, problems, and points of tension that hint at practical business opportunities on social media.
- Find Business Ideas on Social Media
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
Today, I am talking to Daniel Vassallo, writer, founder, and person with very strong opinions. He is building a portfolio of small bets in public, on Twitter. I will talk to him about the importance of making money in diversified ways, how to structure your life around being a founder, and how to figure out which business ideas might actually work.
Here is Daniel Vassallo.
What is the lifetime value of a subscription business? 1:12
Different kinds of software fit different pricing models. 5:04
What is a portfolio of small bets? 9:30
Business is unpredictable. You need to radically reduce the input. 13:48
What common things do you share with other entrepreneurs? 17:46
Don’t try to be too novel. 21:31
What’s a good approach to spreading out your experiments? 26:14
What is the best price for your business? 40:08
How Pieter Levels’ portfolio has changed over time. 45:58
How you can use social media to get new ideas. 51:26
Sometimes it’s something seemingly unrelated that opens your eyes to a new way of doing things. 55:01
Links:
- Daniel's Revenue/Days on Market graph.
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
Here's the blog post for this episode.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
I was talking to Damon Chen, who built Testimonial.to to $400.000 in ARR this week, and at one point, he mentioned that he isn’t looking into selling his business just yet. Maybe even never.
That got me thinking.
While we all want to build sellable businesses, is there such a thing as selling too early? How can we determine when that phase ends and when it’s time to get acquired? Should we even do that, ever?
Let’s look into why we might want to hold on to our business even when acquirers come knocking.
And by the way, if you’re just starting out on your founder journey and you think that this would be a nice champagne problem to have, don’t underestimate having these things figured out in advance.
- Why You Shouldn’t Sell Your Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
Today, I am talking to Damon Chen, the founder behind Testimonial.to, a social proof tool that has recently reached $400.000 in annual recurring revenue. Now that’s extremely impressive, particularly considering that Damon got it there all by himself.
So, let’s just ask him how this family man accomplished such growth while living in one of the most expensive places you could build a business in. Here’s Damon Chen.
LonelyDev is a community that I built to solve my own problem. 1:01
Lonely Dev turned into IndieLog. 4:09
How to get out of a full-time job to start a business. 12:55
Why you need to be healthy and whole to be able to build a good business. 19:33
Why you need to add video reviews to your landing page. 26:31
Video and authenticity 31:30
There is a point where you reach saturation and you need help. 36:20
What is your exit plan for your business? 42:27
The importance of having a good exit strategy. 47:18
The importance of having a community to support bootstrappers. 51:16
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
Here's the blog post for this episode.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
Earlier this week, I talked to Michele Hansen of Geocodio on The Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Michele co-founded the business with her husband and ran it as a side project for several years. Now, that's a long time to wait before you commit full-time to a project. We also learned during our conversation that there are many ways of determining when the right time is to make that leap: for me, it was reaching a specific revenue figure, and for Michele, it was something else entirely.
So let's explore this critical step today. When should you go from side-project to full-time? What are the significant catalysts that speed up this process?
- When Should You Go from Side-Project to Full-Time?
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
I am talking to Michele Hansen, the co-founder of Geocodio, an indie SaaS business in the world of mapping and geolocation. I've been a fan of her work, both as a founder and as an active member of the Indie Hacker community for years now.
I followed her journey with the business just as much as her foray into writing her first book, Deploy Empathy. Michelle really gets the founder community, and she's a respected teacher of all things customer development.
In this episode, we chat about finding the right time to commit to a business, learning when to say no, finding your niche, and learning languages. Enjoy!
You can find Michele on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mjwhansen/. Also, check out her book Deploy Empathy.
Here is a short summary of the topics discussed in this episode:
How do you set boundaries with a podcast? 3:08
How do you judge what you say against what someone else would perceive as useful for themselves? 9:23
How do you make sure you serve the right customers? 13:06
Focus on what you already have instead of where you can go. 19:47
Work in progress vs. goals. 23:13
The journey is the interesting part, not the destination. 28:54
The challenge of self-actualization after a big transition. 31:58
What was the sign that it was time to go full-time? 39:14
The financial hurdle of being an entrepreneur in the US. 42:35
Where the fear of losing everything comes from. 48:09
The mean voice in your head speaking. 51:43
Being able to recognize your own growth is a big part of entrepreneurship. 57:38
Low expectations allow you to surprise yourself, which leads to a better result. 1:00:47
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
Here's the blog post for this episode.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
In a world where everyone talks about disruption and hustling, the concept of a calm business can seem out of place or even naive. How can you compete with people who spend 80 hours a week working in their businesses —publicly boasting about their so-called "grindset"— when you treat your fledgling business as a side project that you only work on in the evenings?
For many entrepreneurs, calmness is a pipe dream—a nice fantasy but impossible to accomplish.
As you can probably imagine, I beg to differ. Running a calm business is definitely possible, and the perception of it being a flawed concept
often lies in a few myths and wrongful assumptions that I want to debunk today.
-
Calm Business Misconceptions
-
Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
For most founders, running a business is juggling hot coals while riding on a unicycle. It's a stressful occupation, requiring constant vigilance, and offers barely any downtime to recover or relax.
But it doesn't have to be that way.
-
Operating a Calm SaaS Business
-
Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
One of the biggest points of confusion for any software business is pricing. It often takes months, if not years, to find a working way to charge your customers, and even then, you'll need to adjust it over time. Pricing is never done, and often, it doesn't work.
But fortunately, there are a few foundational choices you can make to keep your pricing efforts calm and manageable.
Today, we'll look at what dimensions to price along, what kinds of subscriptions to offer, and which pricing models to avoid.
-
Pricing for Calm SaaS Businesses
-
Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by RailsDevs.com and MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
Building a software product is both incredibly simple and excruciatingly complicated. You can build a new mind-blowingly helpful feature within hours, sometimes even minutes. But if you make the wrong technology choices, you might be rewarded with several months of additional work a few years later.
Let's talk about building a product that can carry your SaaS business to success calmly and intentionally.
- Product Development for Calm SaaS Businesses
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
When you're building an audience-centric and community-first business, you're delaying finding your business idea and building your product for as long as possible. First, you look into your market, validate the existence of a budget, and zero in on a critical problem to which people need a solution.
And even now, we're not talking about the product yet.
But we will talk about solving the problem. And there's a difference.
- Solution Exploration for Calm SaaS Businesses
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- The Toxicity of Growth Hacks
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Problem Discovery for Calm SaaS Businesses
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Market Analysis for Calm SaaS Businesses
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- On Art and Artifice
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Infrastructure of a Calm SaaS Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by The $100 MBA Show and MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Entrepreneurial Strategies & Anti-Patterns for a Calm SaaS Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by The $100 MBA Show and MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Business Models for a Calm SaaS Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by The $100 MBA Show and MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Fundamentals of a Calm SaaS Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by The $100 MBA Show and MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Fundamentals of a Calm Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- How NOT to Use Twitter DMs
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Don't blame the market; blame your marketing
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- On Saying No
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- The Risks and Illusions of the "Post-Exit Retirement"
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Permission to Follow Up: The Difference Between Owned & Borrowed Audiences
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Consulting in Public
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Founder Stories are Powerful Assets
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- The Forever Transaction
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Building in public and Legacy
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Parasocial Relationships: Imaginary Friends of the Social Network Age
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.
- Should Freelancers Offer Free Trials?
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also watch this as a video on YouTube.
- Choose Your Own Adventure: Creator, Curator, Commentator, or Connector
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also find this as a video episode on YouTube.
- Scalable Customer Service for Bootstrappers
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
You can also find this as a video episode on YouTube.
- Managing Expectations: Making Good (on) Promises.
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- You Don’t Need to be an Extrovert to Build in Public — an Introvert’s Perspective
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- Why Founders End Up Unemployable
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- Seven Kinds of Entrepreneurial Debt
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- Entrepreneurial Anti-Patterns — What to Avoid When You're Starting a Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- What Founders Can Learn from Professional WoW Gamers
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- How I Find Twitter Content Ideas
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. If you want to hear Charlie Joseph’s story, we interviewed him here (12mins long): https://youtu.be/145p-ipgIw0
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- How I (Fortunately) Failed to Launch an NFT Collection
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
This episode is a rebroadcast of my appearance on the Software Social Podcast with Michele Hansen. The episode there is called How to Use Twitter Effectively (feat. Arvid Kahl) and we go way beyond that in the conversation. We touch on building in public, mental health, empowerment, and kindness.
You can find more information on my course here: Find your Following.
- The SaaS Market Maturity Paradox
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. Here's an interview with the founder featured in this episode.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- The Power of the Narrative when Building in Public
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. Here's an interview with the founder featured in this episode.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- Building in Public and Negativity
- My Twitter Space appearance
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. Here's an interview with the founder featured in this episode.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- Purchasing Power Parity Pricing
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
- The Big Mac index
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. Here's an interview with the founder featured in this episode.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- Being Imperfect in Public
This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.
- The Performative Nature of Building in Public: A View From the Inside
This episode is sponsored by FE International.
Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.
- Fear-Setting
This episode is sponsored by FE International.
Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.
- The Power of Repetition
This episode is sponsored by FE International.
Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.
- Building in Public: Maintaining a Positive Self-Image
This episode is sponsored by FE International.
Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.
- What Founders Can Learn From Web3 Community-Building (And What They Can't)
This episode is sponsored by FE International.
Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.
- Twitter: The Gathering. How and Where to Find the Right Followers
This episode is sponsored by FE International.
Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.
- Make it Easy to Cancel
This episode is sponsored by FE International.
Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.
- Building in Public: How to Build a Minipoly
This episode is sponsored by FE International.
Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.
- Building in Public: How Radical Transparency Hurts Founders
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Building in Public: Oversharing
- Black Friday Deal on Gumroad (use
bf21for 50% discount on checkout)
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Passive Income and Entrepreneurship
This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.
The guest sponsor this week is Cold Email for Interesting People.
If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/
- Building in Public: What to Share at Which Stage of Your Journey
This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.
The guest sponsor this week is Innowayt.
If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/
- Building in Public: Taking Breaks
This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.
The guest sponsor this week is Logology.
If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/
- Building in Public: Balancing Building and Sharing
This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.
The guest sponsor this week is Typesense.
If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/
- Too Little, Too Much: Advice and How to Take It
This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.
The guest sponsor this week is Indie Worldwide.
If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/
- Burnout
This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.
The guest sponsor this week is Podopi.
If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/
- What Founders Can Learn From the Facebook Outage
This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.
The guest sponsor this week is Dawn.
If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/
- Copycats and Endurance
This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.
If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/
- Audience-building is not Community-Building
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Pivoting in Public: Risks and Opportunities
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Why Reading Fiction Is Important for Entrepreneurs
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Consistency, Accountability, and Perseverance
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Of Tangibility and Lawnmowers
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- The Creeping Nature of Stress for a SaaS Founder
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Why Competition is Good For Business
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Hyrum's Law
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- What Watching Gamers Fail for Days Can Teach You About Entrepreneurship
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- How to Kill Your Business
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Conversations are at the Core of Engagement
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- The Myth of the Immediate Payoff
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Say Thank You
- Zero to Sold Audiobook — Anniversary Edition
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Competition Isn't Always a Business
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Selfish vs. Selfless: Self-Promotion in Communities
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Properties of an Interesting Problem
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- The Line Between Stealing and Being Inspired
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Audience-Building and Relatable Content
- The ProductHunt Page for The Embedded Entrepreneur
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Platform Risk and the Three Kinds of Audiences
-
The Embedded Entrepreneur
-
The Indie Hackers post
- The Launch Tweet
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.
- Impostor Syndrome and Building Capital
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
- Entrepreneurship, Job Security, and Wealth Creation
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
- Accountability Systems for Founders
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
- All That Glitters Is Not Gold: Navigating Bootstrapping Advice
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
- SaaS, Self-Talk, and Many Small Bets
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
- Audience Graduation
- Gergely's Book "Building Mobile Apps at Scale"
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
Lifetime Deals and SaaS Businesses
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
The Goals of Audience-Building
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
Here are the original show notes, including a transcript of the episode.
Learn more about the Software Social Podcast here.
You can find Danielle on Twitter.
- The Shape of a Problem in the Wild
- Eugene Schwartz's book Breakthrough Advertising
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
On Re-Using Content
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
Audience Discovery: The Importance of Budget
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
- What founders can learn from Twitch streamers about building in public
- The Embedded Entrepreneur Alpha Reader
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
Here's the article for this episode.
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
Here's the article for this episode: When Your Business Gets Cloned.
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
Here's the blog post for this episode: Jargon and Community
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
Here's the blog post for this episode.
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
- How I Use Twitter
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
- On Offering Public APIs for Your SaaS
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
- Motivation Will Eventually Go Away: Build Accountability Systems Instead
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find the article on podcast audience building here.
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find the article on Avoiding the Validation Trap here.
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Tech Stacks and Indie Hacking
- One-Person SaaS stack post on Hacker News
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
As mentioned in the show, the Black Friday 20% discount code for Zero to Sold on Gumroad is bf20
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ When Privacy and Customer Value Clash
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ How I Approach Pricing for a Brand New SaaS
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Sunk Cost Fallacy Engineering
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ https://blog.checklyhq.com/setting-up-ssl-with-letsencrypt-for-saas-customers/
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- permanentlink (my new SaaS project)
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find the link to Audience First here:
- ✍️ Audience First: An Audience-First Book about Audiences
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Finding an Audience for Your Side Business
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Priming Your Business for Due Diligence
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Preparing for the Sale From Day One: Getting the Documentation Right
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ At a Crossroads: The Different Kinds of Exits
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ A Unified Voice: Staying Consistent When You Grow
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ How I Self-Published Zero to Sold, a Bestselling Book on Bootstrapping
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Positioning Is Where It’s At
- April Dunford's Obviously Awesome
- Andy Raskin's Talk on Storytelling
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ You Want a Tribe
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ When You Reach Your Limits: Growing a Company Beyond the Founder(s)
- My podcast episode on Continuous Validation with Jane Portman
- Kevin McArdle's podcast episode on SureSwift Capital
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ The Power of Omission: Killing Features for Fun and Profit
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Made to Stick: Shaping an Extensible Product
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Standard Operating Procedures: Managing Your Future Self
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Roadmaps and You: Building a Future Together
The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Customer Retention: How to Keep Them Around
As mentioned in the episode, feel free to check out my book Zero to Sold. Here's the launch tweet.
Undock sponsors this episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Balsamiq provides this sponsored airtime. Please check out both — they're awesome.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Customer Exploration: Seeing Through Your Customer’s Eyes
HipSpec sponsors this episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Balsamiq provides this sponsored airtime. Please check out both — they're awesome.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Being Small Is a Benefit: How to Leverage Being a Bootstrapper
Outseta sponsors this episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Balsamiq provides this sponsored airtime. Please check out both — they're awesome.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Spreading the Word: How to Do Marketing on a Shoestring Budget
Feature Upvote sponsors this episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Balsamiq provides this sponsored airtime. Please check out both — they're awesome.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Seller Beware: Pricing Models That Can Break Your Business
Links mentioned in part two:
https://untools.co/
https://www.teachthought.com/critical-thinking/the-cognitive-bias-codex-a-visual-of-180-cognitive-biases/
If you want to be inspired by Seth Godin, please read https://seths.blog/2020/05/dancing-with-tech/
Libpixel sponsors this episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Balsamiq provides this sponsored airtime. Please check out both — they're awesome.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Not All Subscriptions Are Equal: Offer Yearly Plans from the Start
This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast is sponsored by Treendly. This sponsored airtime is provided by Balsamiq. Please check out both — they're awesome.
You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:
- ✍️ Not All Subscribers Are Equal: How to Deal with Plans That No Longer Work
- ✍️ Profit-Sharing as Employee Compensation for Bootstrappers
This episode of the Bootstrapp ed Founder Podcast is sponsored by DrawSQL. This sponsored airtime is provided by Balsamiq. Please check out both — they're awesome.
Arvid explains how to make your service noticeably better for the majority of your users without making the product harder to use.
Arvid talks feature prioritization: Scoring, the Kano Model, and Story Mapping — how and why they work.
Arvid talks about how to create repeatable, reliable, and resilient processes and systems for your business.
Arvid explains the core attributes that make products stick around: focus, simplicity, and extensibility.
You can find the full article at Making Tech Choices: Don’t Add Risk to an Already Risky Business.
Arvid shares an actionable framework for deciding if you should build or buy (and the mistakes he made in the past).
Arvid talks about transparency, open data, and why bootstrappers usually stop sharing information about their businesses.
Arvid talks about how you can make sure you're still solving the right problem for the right people and if you still enjoy it.
Arvid explains what an MVP is, how to scope and time it, and what should go into a successful product.
Arvid talks about how you can find out if your potential acquirer is a good candidate, and what the red flags are.
Arvid talks about the kinds of churn founders will encounter, and which ones are actually welcome.
Arvid talks about the FeedbackPanda customer service system allowed them to run the business with 0 employees.
Arvid talks about the weird conversations you will have as a founder, and how to deal with them.
Arvid talks about why software products are never finished, and which kinds of changes you can expect to make.
Arvid explains the kinds of imaginary responsibilities he encountered in his business and how to deal with them.
Arvid talks about how to price aspirationally, underpricing, overpricing, and how much initial prices really matter.
Arvid talks about what to look out for when choosing a co-founder and his experience with his co-founders, good and bad.
Arvid talks about what makes a problem painful, what kinds of pains there are, and what questions you should be asking your prospective customers to find them.
Arvid shows how you can discover the risks your solution poses to the workflow of your prospective customers.
Arvid talks about how you can find meaningful numbers to help you pick the right market for your bootstrapped SaaS. For B2B, B2BC, and B2C markets, he shows you how you can get the most accurate figures.
Arvid talks about the right kinds of markets for bootstrapped businesses, what qualities they should have and how markets can change for better or worse.
You can find this article on The Bootstrapped Founder blog under the name Problem Validation: Making Sure You’re Talking To The Right People.
In the first episode of The Bootstrapped Founder podcast, Arvid talks about starting, running, and selling FeedbackPanda, his crooked career path, and what listeners can expect from future episodes of the podcast.