Building in Public: A Detailed Guide for Everyone

I used to think you needed to be an “expert” before sharing anything online.

That you had to have it all figured out before documenting your journey. That building in public was only for successful entrepreneurs with impressive metrics to share.

I was completely wrong.

Last year, I watched a college student gain 50,000 followers by simply sharing her daily coding journey. No startup. No revenue numbers. Just honest documentation of learning Python, one day at a time.

That’s when it clicked for me: building in public isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being real.

Whether you’re learning a new skill, changing careers, working on a creative project, or yes, building a business, you can harness the power of transparency to accelerate your growth and build meaningful connections.

Here’s everything you need to know about building in public, no matter what you’re working on.

What Is Building in Public? (The Complete Breakdown)

Building in public is the practice of openly sharing your learning journey, projects, or development process with an online community. Anyone can do it—from students learning to code to professionals changing careers to entrepreneurs building companies.

It’s not about bragging or showing off finished products.

It’s about documenting the process, sharing the struggles, celebrating the small wins, and letting others learn alongside you.

The concept originated in the indie hacker and startup community, where entrepreneurs started sharing their revenue numbers, growth tactics, and honest business challenges on Twitter. But it has evolved far beyond just business building.

Today, people build in public while:

• Learning new skills (coding, design, writing, languages)
• Changing careers or industries
• Working on creative projects (art, music, writing)
• Developing personal habits and routines
• Building side projects or hobbies
• Pursuing academic goals and research

The key difference between building in public and regular content marketing? Authenticity and vulnerability. You’re not trying to sell anything or position yourself as an expert. You’re simply sharing what you’re learning as you learn it.

As one successful practitioner puts it: “Building in public is the practice of sharing stories about how products or services were—and are—being developed, with the aim of inspiring and engaging with like-minded people.”

Why Building in Public Works for Everyone (The Universal Benefits)

Here’s what I’ve learned after watching hundreds of people transform their lives through building in public:

Accountability That Actually Works

When you commit to sharing your progress publicly, you create external accountability that’s incredibly powerful. It’s one thing to break a promise to yourself—it’s another to disappoint people who are cheering you on.

Accelerated Learning Through Teaching

The moment you start explaining what you’re learning to others, your own understanding deepens. You’ll find gaps in your knowledge faster and retain information better when you know you’ll be sharing it.

Network Building on Steroids

Building in public attracts like-minded people who are on similar journeys. These connections often turn into collaborations, job opportunities, mentorships, or lifelong friendships.

Personal Brand Development

Even if you’re not trying to build a “personal brand,” consistent sharing about your journey positions you as someone who takes initiative and isn’t afraid to learn in front of others. Employers and collaborators notice this.

Feedback and Course Correction

When you share your process publicly, people will offer suggestions, resources, and different perspectives that can save you months of going down the wrong path.

Motivation Through Community

On days when you don’t feel like showing up, knowing that people are following your journey can provide the extra push you need to keep going.

Let me share a perfect example of this in action:

Nathan Barry, founder of ConvertKit, publicly committed to building a SaaS company before he even knew what it would be: “I had decided I was going to start a SaaS company, but before getting to work, I decided to tell everyone about it. I said, I don’t know what the SaaS company is going to be yet, but I’m going to generate $5,000 in revenue within six months.”

That public commitment led to ConvertKit, which now generates over $30 million annually.

But here’s the thing—you don’t need to be building the next million-dollar company to benefit from this approach.

The Universal Building in Public Framework: What Anyone Can Share

The beauty of building in public is that the framework works regardless of what you’re working on. Here’s what you can share, no matter your goal:

Learning Progress and Milestones

Document what you’re learning and celebrate small wins along the way:

• “Day 30 of learning Spanish: Finally had my first conversation with a native speaker!”
• “Week 3 of my UX design course: Here’s my first wireframe attempt”
• “Month 2 of learning to code: Built my first calculator app”

Process Documentation and Workflows

Share the systems and methods you’re using:

• Study techniques that are working (or not working)
• Tools and resources you’ve discovered
• Time management strategies you’re testing
• Workflow optimizations you’ve implemented

Challenges and Problem-Solving

Don’t just share the wins—document the struggles too:

• Obstacles you’re facing and how you’re working through them
• Mistakes you’ve made and what you learned from them
• Times when you want to quit and how you push through
• Problems you’re trying to solve and your thought process

Behind-the-Scenes Content

People love seeing the real, unpolished side of any journey:

• Your workspace setup and how it evolves
• Daily routines and habits you’re building
• Books, courses, or resources you’re using
• The people who are helping you along the way

Resources and Tools

Share what’s helping you succeed:

• Recommendations for courses, books, or tutorials
• Tools and apps that are making a difference
• Communities or mentors that are supporting your growth
• Free resources you’ve discovered

The Daily Question Framework (adapted from successful practitioners): Every day, ask yourself: “What did I learn today that another person would find useful?”

This simple question helps you identify shareable moments even on days when you feel like you didn’t make much progress.

What to Keep Private

Building in public doesn’t mean sharing everything. Here are boundaries everyone should set:

• Personal finances (unless you’re specifically documenting a financial journey)
• Family details and private relationships
• Sensitive work information that could violate confidentiality
• Specific struggles with mental health (general wellness journeys are fine)
• Details that could compromise your safety or security

The goal is transparency about your process, not invasion of your privacy.

Platform Strategy: Where to Build in Public (For Any Goal)

Different platforms serve different purposes when building in public. Here’s how to choose the right one for your journey:

Twitter/X: Real-Time Updates and Community

Best for: Quick updates, finding communities, real-time engagement

Twitter remains the most popular platform for building in public because of its real-time nature and strong communities around virtually every topic.

What works well:

• Daily progress updates in thread format
• Sharing quick wins and challenges
• Engaging with others on similar journeys
• Participating in relevant hashtags and conversations

One entrepreneur I follow grew his entire business through consistent Twitter sharing:

“Twitter is definitely my main source of traffic. I found an amazing community of supportive indie hackers & solopreneurs. I’m very active there, and I grow my audience a little bit every day.” - Luca Restagno

LinkedIn: Professional Development and Career Growth

Best for: Career transitions, professional skill development, industry networking

LinkedIn’s professional focus makes it perfect for building in public around career-related goals.

Success story: One professional documented their building in public journey on LinkedIn for 24 months, growing from 2,000 to over 61,000 followers and generating around 30 million content impressions.

What works well:

• Career change documentation
• Professional skill development
• Industry insights and learnings
• Networking within your field

Personal Blog: Long-Form Reflection and Deep Dives

Best for: Detailed analysis, comprehensive tutorials, SEO benefits

A personal blog gives you complete control over your content and allows for deeper, more thoughtful documentation.

What works well:

• Weekly or monthly progress summaries
• Detailed breakdowns of what you’re learning
• Tutorial-style posts teaching others
• Comprehensive case studies of your journey

YouTube: Visual Progress and Tutorials

Best for: Skills that benefit from visual demonstration, personality-driven content

Video content allows people to see your personality and follow along with visual processes.

What works well:

• Coding tutorials and walkthroughs
• Creative process documentation
• Skill demonstrations and progress videos
• Day-in-the-life style content

Choosing Your Primary Platform

Ask yourself:

• Where does your target community hang out? (Developers on Twitter, professionals on LinkedIn, creatives on Instagram)
• What type of content feels most natural to you? (Quick updates, long-form writing, videos)
• How much time can you realistically commit? (Twitter requires daily engagement, blogs can be weekly)

Pro tip: Start with one platform and do it well before expanding to others. It’s better to be consistently active on one platform than sporadically active on three.

Getting Started: Your First 30 Days Building in Public (Step-by-Step)

Ready to start your building in public journey? Here’s exactly how to begin:

Week 1: Foundation and First Posts

Day 1-2: Define Your Goal and Scope

• Write down exactly what you’re building/learning in public
• Identify 3-5 specific things you want to share about your journey
• Choose your primary platform based on your goal and audience

Day 3-4: Optimize Your Profile

• Update your bio to mention what you’re building/learning
• Add relevant keywords so people can find you
• Include a clear call-to-action (follow for updates on your journey)

Day 5: Create Your First Post

• Share why you’re starting this journey
• What you hope to learn or achieve
• How others can follow along
• Use relevant hashtags (#buildinginpublic, #learning, etc.)

Day 6-7: Engage with the Community

• Find others building in public in your area
• Comment meaningfully on their updates
• Share resources that might help them

Week 2-3: Finding Your Voice and Community

Daily Actions:

• Share one thing you learned each day
• Document one challenge you faced and how you approached it
• Celebrate small wins, no matter how minor they seem
• Engage with 3-5 people in your community daily

Weekly Actions:

• Write a longer update summarizing your progress
• Share resources or tools you discovered
• Ask your growing audience for advice or recommendations

Week 4: Optimization and Long-term Strategy

Reflect on what’s working:

• Which posts got the most engagement?
• What type of content do you enjoy creating most?
• Which community members are most supportive?

Plan your long-term approach:

• Establish a sustainable posting schedule
• Identify themes or series you want to create
• Set goals for the next month

Template Posts for Getting Started:

Introduction Post: “Starting my 100-day journey to learn [skill]. Here’s what I hope to accomplish: [goals]. Follow along for daily updates, struggles, and hopefully some wins! #buildinginpublic #learning”

Daily Update: “Day [X] of learning [skill]: Today I [specific accomplishment]. Biggest challenge was [problem], but I solved it by [solution]. Tomorrow’s goal: [next step]”

Weekly Reflection: “Week [X] recap: [summary of progress]. What worked: [successes]. What didn’t: [challenges]. What I learned: [insights]. Next week’s focus: [plan]“

Building in Public Success Stories: Real Examples Across Industries

Let me show you how building in public works across different contexts:

Tech and Startups

Nathan Barry built ConvertKit entirely in public, documenting every step from idea to $30M+ ARR. His transparency attracted early customers, advisors, and team members who believed in his vision because they could see his authentic journey.

Pieter Levels has built multiple million-dollar businesses while sharing everything from revenue numbers to tax bills. His radical transparency has made him one of the most followed indie hackers in the world.

Creative Industries

Artists share their daily sketches, painting progress, and technique experiments. Many have built massive followings and sold art directly to their audience by simply documenting their creative process.

Writers document their daily word counts, editing processes, and publishing journeys. Several have landed book deals or freelance clients through the communities they built while sharing their writing development.

Professional Development

Career changers document their transition from one industry to another, sharing job search strategies, interview experiences, and skill development. Many have connected with hiring managers and mentors through their transparent sharing.

Students share their learning journeys, study techniques, and academic progress. Some have landed internships or job opportunities with companies that followed their educational journey.

Personal Projects and Hobbies

Fitness enthusiasts document their training, nutrition experiments, and progress photos. They’ve built communities around specific fitness goals and even launched coaching businesses.

Language learners share daily practice sessions, cultural discoveries, and conversation progress. Many have connected with native speakers and found language exchange partners through their public learning journey.

The Common Thread

What all these success stories share:

• Consistency in sharing their journey
• Authenticity about both struggles and wins
• Value creation by helping others learn from their experience
• Community engagement beyond just broadcasting updates

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be an expert to build in public?

Absolutely not! Building in public is about sharing your learning journey, not proving expertise. Beginners often get more engagement because people relate to the learning process and enjoy following someone’s growth from the beginning.

What if I’m not building a business—can I still build in public?

Yes! You can build in public while learning a skill, changing careers, working on creative projects, pursuing fitness goals, or working toward any personal or professional objective.

How much time does building in public require?

Start with just 15 minutes a day. As experts recommend: “You can start with just 15 minutes a day. If you want to spend longer on the platform each day, then divide up your time so that you don’t saturate your followers’ feeds.”

What if I make mistakes publicly?

Mistakes and failures often generate the most valuable content and engagement—they’re learning opportunities for both you and your audience. The key is framing them as educational experiences rather than personal failures.

Is building in public safe for my privacy?

Yes, when you set proper boundaries. Share processes and learnings, but keep personal and sensitive information private. You control what you share and what you keep to yourself.

How do I find time to document everything?

Focus on sharing insights and lessons rather than documenting every detail. Quality over quantity always wins. Ask yourself daily: “What’s the one thing I learned today that someone else might find useful?”

What if no one engages with my content at first?

This is normal! Building an audience takes time. Focus on providing value and engaging authentically with others in your space. Your audience will grow as you consistently show up and add value to the conversation.

Your Building in Public Journey Starts Now

Building in public isn’t about having all the answers or being the most successful person in your field.

It’s about being willing to learn, grow, and share that journey with others who might benefit from your experience.

Whether you’re learning to code, changing careers, building a business, mastering a creative skill, or pursuing any other goal, you have something valuable to share: your honest, real-time experience of figuring it all out.

The best time to start building in public was yesterday. The second-best time is right now.

Pick your platform. Define your goal. Share your first update.

Your community is waiting to cheer you on, learn from your journey, and maybe even join you along the way.

What will you build in public?

Ready to start your building in public journey? I’d love to follow along. Connect with me on Twitter and let me know what you’re working on.