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What 6 months of brutal honesty about my side projects taught me about building in public
r/SideProject
6/30/2025
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [No specific SaaS tools mentioned] | N/A | N/A | N/A |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Low conversion rates for MVPs
- Time wasted debugging simple errors like typos
- Project delays due to unclear processes
- Difficulty acquiring new clients
- Decision paralysis when choosing technologies (e.g., React vs Vue)
- Technical debt slowing development
- Scope creep with changing requirements
- Burnout and lack of motivation
- Fear of sharing imperfect work
Problems to Solve:
- Validating product ideas effectively
- Improving development efficiency
- Managing client expectations and project scoping
- Maintaining consistent client acquisition
- Selecting appropriate tech stacks
- Reducing technical debt
- Handling requirement changes
- Preventing burnout
- Building credibility through transparency
Potential Solutions:
- Documenting and sharing failures publicly to build trust
- Creating content around problems rather than just solutions
- Building communities for shared learning
- Collaborating with others facing similar challenges
- Implementing frameworks for balanced content sharing (e.g., sharing two struggles per win)
- Using AI tools to catch simple errors during development
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Building in public with authentic vulnerability
- Documenting both successes and failures transparently
- Focusing on problem-solving journeys rather than perfect outcomes
- Creating content around real-time struggles
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Vulnerability-driven content increases engagement (400% reported)
- Authenticity attracts inbound leads from followers
- Failure analysis posts generate shares and collaborations
- Sharing burnout experiences builds supportive communities
Monetization & Product:
- Transparent processes build stronger client relationships
- Documented failures serve as learning resources for others
- Pivoting based on feedback and failures
- Collaboration opportunities arise from shared challenges
User Engagement:
- Encouraging discussions around common pain points
- Responding to comments and DMs to build connections
- Creating content mix of struggles, learnings, and questions
- Fostering community support through shared vulnerability