Optimal Work Daily - Career, Productivity and Entrepreneurship

1638: Why You Should Build Your Product In Public AND How I Use My Email List by Ryan Hoover

Mar 26, 2025

Ryan Hoover, a dynamic entrepreneur and speaker, discusses the advantages of building products in public, highlighting how transparency can foster trust and attract early adopters. He shares compelling insights into using his email list as a discovery and testing tool, proving it’s much more than just a communication channel. With real-time feedback loops and community engagement, Hoover illustrates how this approach can enhance product validation and inspire innovation.

11:04

Episode guests

Ryan Hoover

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Building products in public cultivates trust and community ownership, enhancing user emotional investment and feedback during the design process.

Leveraging email lists for personal engagement transforms casual readers into loyal followers by fostering direct communication and unique content sharing.

Deep dives

The Benefits of Building in Public

Building a product in public offers several significant advantages for startups, particularly in fostering community engagement. When founders invite user feedback early in the design process, they not only enhance their product but also increase users' emotional investment. For example, when a design received over 50 pieces of feedback on a comment system, it highlighted the benefits of transparency and collaboration. This approach not only allows creators to refine their product based on community insights but also establishes a sense of ownership and loyalty among users who feel their contributions are valued.

The Power of Building Products in Public

10min

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Episode 1638:

Ryan Hoover makes a compelling case for building products in public, showing how transparency builds trust, attracts early adopters, and fosters real-time feedback loops. He also shares a behind-the-scenes look at how he uses his email list as a tool for discovery, testing, and community-building, proving it’s not just a broadcast channel but a powerful engine for product validation.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@rrhoover/why-you-should-build-your-product-in-public-e28c54629bc1 & https://medium.com/@rrhoover/how-i-use-my-email-list-dfd1fdde61c5

Quotes to ponder:

"Build in public and you’ll build an audience."

"I ask questions to learn. I share my process to inspire."

"Your email list is more than a distribution channel; it’s a product discovery tool."

Episode references:

The Lean Startup: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898

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