Build & Launch

I'm baaaaaack! Here’s an update. Show notes justinjackson.ca/newsletterMaybe you shouldn't be a solopreneurLeave a review on iTunes!@mijustininstagram.com/mijustinSubscribe on YouTubeTransistor.fmStriker-metal.comUpdate from 2021: what am I working on these days? A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin. Want to start a podcast?

I'm planning something brand new for 2016. If it's going to launch, I'm going to need your help. Go here, put your email in the sign-up form, and I'll be in touch. Show notes MegaMaker.coCapital CNetwork Effectsthis question@mijustinRate and review the showJoin the newsletterStrikerPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

Learn how the Marketing for Developers launch went, and his initial sales numbers. You'll also hear the personal audio journals he recorded during the launch process. On sharing revenue numbers On the other hand, sharing numbers can sometimes feel a little… icky. It can feel like you’re shoving your success in other people’s faces.And maybe I need to work on my own insecurities, but I know that no matter how successful I am, all it takes is reading another one of these stupid “How I Made $17,000 in 24 Hours” posts to feel like I’m a miserable failure. After all, I didn’t make $17,000 in the last 24 hours. So I must be doing something very wrong!From Sacha Greif's Discover Meteor case study. Show notes Slides from my MicronConf Europe talkSacha Greif's blog post@mijustinRate and review the showJoin the newsletterGet Marketing for DevelopersPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes. I'm glad you're listening to them, but if you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

Referencing the "cult of personality:" People are buying products thinking that if they can get someone's secret sauce, they can re-create that person's success.Adam Clark said: In our culture, the independent entrepreneur is like the Marlboro Man. Everyone wants to be that guy.Show notes words@bizbox.caGumroad Small Product LabComic Drawing Toolkit for Photoshop@mijustinRate and review the showJoin the newsletterDon't Follow your HeroesPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

What is product validation? If you're building a product, you want validation. You want to know your product has value - that you're on the right track. Even deeper, you want to be validated. You want to feel like you're not wasting your time. You want to feel like your work is valuable. "YC is like the ultimate validation that you're on to something." - Lauren Kay, Dating RingIf you're building a business, there's only one way to validate that your product idea is good: are people paying money for it? The only two people who can give you real feedback about your product are people who just purchased it and people who just canceled. - Jason Fried (as told to Dan Shipper)Also, Jason Cohen says: First, find ten people who say they’ll buy.Current project: I'm working on a book: Marketing for Developers Show notes Startup Podcast, Season 2, Episode 2My interview with Rob Walling on Product People@mijustinRate and review the showJoin the newsletterjustinjackson.caPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

Justin also gives sneak peek of his new book: Marketing for Developers. The mantra of this show has always been: "Start small and start now."Two common mistakes product people make buildingAll the stuff that leads up to getting started doesn't count. The only thing that matters is the work.Writing Tip We often make our writing too flowery and formal. Here's a way to make your writing sound more "human:" read it out loud. When you read your writing out loud, you'll know right away when something doesn't feel right. Show notes Marketing for DevelopersBuild Your Audience video courseSee all the Build & Launch products@mijustinRate and review the showGet notified when I launch Season 3Jason CartwrightPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

How do you know what people want? After spending 24 hours in the mini-van with 4 kids, Justin is back from the Easter long-weekend and ready to update us on his progress on this week's project: "Marketing for Developers." Project update Marketing for DevelopersThree ways to validate your product idea 1. Email 15 people in your niche and ask them if they'd pay for your product. This is the approach that Rob Walling used when he validated his idea for Drip: I emailed 17 SaaS owners that I know, and I said "I'm thinking about building this product: would you use this? Would you pay me for this?" And out of those 17, I got 11 people who said yes.2. Use a landing page with an email sign-up form People giving you their email address is one proxy for gauging interest. This is what Nathan Barry did with his first book: There's intention there. When you say "Sign-up to hear more about this book." The assumption there is that you're signing up because you want to buy it.3. Do a webinar A third way to validate your idea comes from Brennan Dunn. He thinks that doing a live webinar is a great first step. It's way easier to do a webinar (and see if anyone's interested) than write a book, or create software. Show notes Marketing for DevelopersFull interview with Rob WallingFull interview with Nathan BarryFull interview with Brennan Dunn@mijustinRate and review the showJoin the newsletterWant to start a podcast?Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

The theme for this episode is "facing your fears." Was Justin able to re-launch Product People Club? He talks to more of his existing customers to discover what jobs they're hiring the Club for. “Do one thing every day that scares you.” - Eleanor RooseveltThis week's project: Product People Club. You can see it it here: megamaker.co Next week's project: Marketing for Developers I started writing this book in January, 2014, but never finished it. The idea had lots of traction (over 2,200 people signed up for the waiting list). I still gets messages every week from people who want the book. It's one of those projects that continually hangs over my head. This week, I'm going to finish it. Show notes Marketing for DevelopersJames Van Dyne@jamesvandyne@mijustinRate and review the showJoin the newsletterDo Things That Scare YouPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

This is the mid-week check-up: I had to do some hard stuff and actually call my customers, and hear what they thought of my product. This week's project: Product People Club Product People Club is a membership site for solopreneurs: people making their own stuff, by themselves. Here’s the story: 2 years ago, I was fed up. I wanted to launch and validate something really quickly. So I put up a landing page for a chat room for entrepreneurs. I capped it at 10 members, and decided I’d charge $10 a month. When I posted about it in Hacker News, it sold out in 30 minutes. The next thing I knew I had a waiting list of 200-300 people wanting to get in. By the 5th month, I was making about $1,100 a month with the community. Even better, early members started launching things and becoming successful: Product HuntUseronboard.comBut I always felt like ProductPeople.club wasn’t a “big enough” idea. But, I was talking with Adam Clark about this today. And I realized, that a big reason I haven't promoted it more, is that I'm scared. So, I decided to call one of my customers, Josh Doody, and ask him why he joined. He gave me a complete timeline of when he joined, and what his initial impression was. My job this week is to talk to as many customers as I can, and figure out what job they're hiring Product People Club to do. Show notes Take Control of Your CareerThe Gently MadJosh MichaelMy Coffee Pub@mijustinRate and review the showJoin the newsletterHey Paul StudiosPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

It's not about you achieving the American Dream. It's about you getting 1% better ever day. "Every time you put yourself on the line, you are creating your own luck, and increasing your chances of having some success"What are you going to do this week to improve your situation? The only way you get better, is by getting started.Quote from This American Life, Three Miles But nothing has happened for her for 10 years. I think it's some special brand of American pathological optimism, that so many of us believe the story of Melanie has to turn out to be happy, and that if it doesn't, something unusual has happened, and not just this is what happens all the time, that the supermarket might be full of Melanies.Quote from James Altucher on the Tim Ferris podcast: “I try to get this mindset I want to improve one percent a week. It seems like a small amount but if you do that, it results in enormous improvements over the course of the year."This week's project: Product People Club This week's project is an improvement on something I already have. The most successful thing I've ever launched is something called Product People Club: megamaker.co I want to make it better. This week I'll be calling existing customers, asking them why they signed up, and also figuring out how I can improve it. By the end of the week, I'll re-launch it so new members can sign-up. Show notes This American Life: Three MilesJames Altucher on episode 18 of the Tim Ferris ShowRandy SkopecekStage Lighting Basics@mijustinRate and review the showJoin the newsletterPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

In this episode he talks about balancing our creative projects with getting out and living your life. Ultimately, I believe that relationships are more important than the things we make.This week's project Weekofhustle.com - commit to building your project in a week. Start on a set date, and launch 7 days later. Show notes @mijustinRate and review the showJoin the newsletterPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

Justin is recording on the road from Edmonton, Alberta. In this episode: with only 4 days to work, Justin launch the first product of Season 2? See what it's like to eat your own dog food. This week's project Back in Season 1, Carl and Justin created a WordPress plugin that allowed you to create your own online course, and sell it using Gumroad. For this week's project, Justin decided to eat his own dogfood, and use the plugin to host his own online course. He had 4 days to re-build the course in WordPress, and launch it. Announcement: next week's project weekofhustle.com Show notes Build Your Audience courseGet the ProductPress pluginBead updateMetal EvolutioncarteseJoin the newsletterleave a review!Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

Here’s the deal: normally with this show I announce a new project on Friday, and I ship it on the following Thursday. Today is March 16th, 2015. I’m going to Vegas on April 12th for MicroConf and don’t want to launch anything that weekend. That gives me 4 weeks, to launch 4 new projects. Let's do this. This week's project I’m going to do a short week and try to launch something this Thursday. That gives me only 3 days. I'll be using ProductPress to re-launch my course, Build Your Audience, using WordPress instead of the expensive platform it's currently on. You can sign-up for the waiting list here: justinjackson.ca/audiencecourse Show notes @mijustinRate and review the showJoin the newsletterYou Need HelpPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

I give an update about the bachelor party (many soda pops, no one got hurt, everyone came home safe). Product update Carl and I received a cease-and-desist email for Productify. We've re-named the product ProductPress. Future Products WeekOfHustle.comJustinJackson.ca/CourseAdvice for people building their first product: Your first step should be to create a landing page: Show notes Photo 1Photo 2Photo3Interview with Dan MartellLeave us a review on iTunes@mijustinJoin the newsletterPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

How do you launch if you don't have an audience? Derek Moreno and Hassan both asked this question. Your product needs a target market, and you need a way of reaching that target market.Questions about the Build & Launch experience Mike Dario asked: 1. What was the biggest challenge? Find the time and energy each day, for sure. Staying focused and on-task. 2. How did you track the changes each day? I used Sprintly (project management software). I'd log in each day, look at what I had to do in my backlog, and do that. 3. What was one thing you'll change for next season? I'd like to do the "next iteration" sprint for each of the projects. Example: for Network Effects, I'd go out and try to get the first 10 customers in a week (record my sales calls, etc). 4. Did any of the projects seem too small, too big? Network Effects and the WordPress plugin were definitely big projects; but the hardest was probably writing the book by myself. 5. What was the hardest part about teaming up? Giving up control. In the past, I've been a lone wolf. Sharing everything with a partner was hard at first, but definitely a good decision in terms of our ability to get things done. 6. Why did you start Build and Launch? I really wanted to kick my own butt into gear. I knew that committing to building and launching something every week would force me to just do it. 7. What type of project would be too big? Most software projects I think are too big. A really long book (100+ pages) would be difficult as well. 8. In what ways was a weekly sprint helpful for these particular products? Harmful? It was really helpful in terms of focusing on creating the smallest, tiniest version of each project. Not much harmful actually. 9. How did your wife handle this experience? Lol. I'll have to get her on the show and have her talk about her side. ;) 10. How much after work time did you devote to this? An average of 2 hours a day (14 hours a week). Most of this was after work, with big chunks on weekends. Season 1 launches The Build & Launch podcastThe Product Hunt HandbookNetwork EffectsIrresistible PodcastingProductifyShow notes Heading to Banff this weekendInterview with Paul JarvisMike Taber's Single Founder HandbookLeave us a review on iTunes@mijustinJoin the newsletterPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

Justin responds to listener questions: Question 1: How do you decide if an idea is worth launching? The product founder doesn't push an idea on the people. Instead, the people provide the inspiration for the product.Your product idea really has to be something that people want. You can't force your idea on people, hoping that they'll buy. Question 2: How do you build products if you have kids and a full-time job? The only thing that matters, is the work – when you’re building a product, there are a lot of things you can spend your time on: tweeting, answering email, fiddling with analytics. No procrastinating. Building a product is like pushing a rock uphill: your whole focus should be getting that rock to move a little farther. Everything else is a distraction. Question 3: What outside material are you allowed to use in a podcast? In copyright law, there is something called Fair Use. However, it's application is complicated. For example, if I wanted to use a heavy metal track, there's a few things that might affect me using it under Fair Use: am I earning revenue from the podcast? Am I stealing business from the copyright owner? How much of the podcast does the copyrighted material take up (ie. 8 minutes of a 10 minute show?). Season 1 launches The Build & Launch podcastThe Product Hunt HandbookNetwork EffectsIrresistible PodcastingProductify Show notes We Are Not Normal People: Barber storyEnd of an EraAll for One, by StrikerFair Use for podcastsLeave us a review on iTunes@mijustinJoin the newsletterPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

7 days ago, Carl and Justin set off on an adventure to build a unique WordPress plugin in one week. Also - kids or no kids? This week's project The inspiration for this project came in August, after I launched my course. The course platform I was using was expensive. I was being charged $130 / month + 4% of course sales + transaction fees! Since August I've had to pay $1,288.00 to that service. If I'd used Productify, I would have paid only $39. ;) What I really wanted was to host my course myself on WordPress, but sell it using Gumroad. When I shared the idea with Carl Alexander he had an idea of how he could build it (without using a SaaS backend). So we did! "This is the product I'm most excited about. I want this. I have told so many people that I want this kind of product." - Paul JarvisWe shipped it! Check us out on Product Hunt! Sad news and good news This is supposed to be the last episode of Season 1. But you folks have been so awesome of joining this journey, and sharing your journey, so we're going to keep this going. While I get ready for Season 2, we're going to do two Q&A episodes: Ask your questions by sending me an email, or getting me on Twitter. Season 1 launches The Build & Launch podcastThe Product Hunt HandbookNetwork EffectsIrresistible PodcastingProductifyShow notes Five Iron FrenzyReview the showjoin the newsletter@mijustin@twigpressPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

This week he's working on a WordPress plugin with Carl Alexander. They're hoping to ship it on Thursday; will they make it? Everybody is in a unique place in life. Some of us have our health, some of us have more free time than others, some of us have more resources than others... that's just the way it is. The challenge is for each of to not compare ourselves to other people who are in a different situation. Instead, let's figure out: how can we make something tiny, and put it out into the world?Adam Clark, from last week, talked about what he would do differently: Pick something small you could launch in a week. That momentum of launching is really, really powerful.Great quote from James Altucher: "I try to improve myself 1% a day. It seems small, but over a year it makes a big difference."Project update GumroadWordPresswww.getproductify.comPrevious week's launches The Product Hunt HandbookNetwork EffectsIrresistible PodcastingProductifyShow notes Carl AlexanderJim Gaffigan, Mr. UniverseLeave your own review hereSign up for the launch list@mijustin@twigpressJoin the newsletterPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

How do you know when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em and when to walk away? Also: Justin announces the new Build & Launch product for this coming week. It's something we've never done on the show before... Launch notes: Irresistible Podcasting Course by Adam Clark Today's episode is a crossover episode with Adam Clark's The Gently Mad ep 33. The next Build & Launch project This week Justin is partnering up: this time with fellow-Canadian Carl Alexander. Carl lives in Montreal, and is really talented developer. This week's product: a WordPress plugin that interfaces with Gumroad. We've talked about Gumroad before: they allow makers to sell digital products directly. This plugin will allow makers to sell membership sites, courses, etc... built on WordPress using Gumroad as the payment processor. Previous week's launches The Product Hunt HandbookNetwork EffectsIrresistible PodcastingShow notes Leave a review!Shake it like a polaroid picture@mijustinJoin the newsletterThis is real lifeThe principle that changed my lifePodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.

This is the show where we build and launch something every 7 days. In this episode Justin does a mid-week checkup with Adam to see how he's doing with his podcasting course. Once you've promised the world that you're going to make something, that's when things get scary. Because now you have to make it. Most of us would rather create things in our cave and not launch, because that's safe. It's time for you to go public.Community updates Letterlist.comEmails that WinSkull ToasterThis week's project Listeners have asked me to do a "Build & Launch sprint" where I help someone else launch a product. So this week, I'm working with Adam Clark, to help him launch is course called Irresistible Podcasting. Action steps: what to do when you feel overwhelmed SprintlyDon’t try to cajole yourself into action by saying that you’re going to do one tooth then do them all. Just floss one. Do it every day. And watch what happens. I can tell you what happened to me – one day, about three weeks in, I had an itch for completion. I wanted, needed to floss them all. I wasn’t even particularly aware of the change, which seemed natural and unconscious. And now I can’t not floss. Mission accomplished. - Margaret Lukens, Floss one toothPrevious week's launches The Build & Launch podcastThe Product Hunt HandbookNetwork EffectsShow notes @mijustinGumroad's 30 Day Challengewords@bizbox.caGet on the mailing listTeza Harinaivo RamiandrisoaPodcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm. Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.