Goodhart's law is powerful and important to remember for every creator: when a measure becomes a target, people tend to optimize their behavior to meet that target, which can lead to unintended consequences. You'll see examples of this law in action, including in education and social media, and learn the negative consequences of over-optimizing for follower count. But I won't let you go without prevention methods and tips for building a quality audience on social media.00:00:00 Intro00:01:51 Goodhart's Law00:03:28 The Pitfalls of Focusing on Follower Count00:07:32 The Negative Consequences of Over-Optimizing for Follower Count 00:09:18 Prevention Methods00:12:16 How to Build a Quality Audience on Social Media The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dont-fall-for-the-follower-count-trapThe podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/33be4469The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1HtIy5JyHIYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Fathom Analytics.

Today, I’m talking to Matt Wensing — the founder behind Summit and tweeter of many often controversial things. We talk about bootstrapping a financial SaaS, how to deal with integrations, and when to take funding. Here’s Matt.00:00:00 An exchange of stories00:04:54 What’s your strategy?00:09:31 Writing long-form00:15:05 Bridging the gap between invention and commercialization.00:19:56 Creators and salespeople.00:25:58 How a little bit of cash can change the trajectory of your business.00:34:34 Bootstrapping is not a shot in the dark00:41:48 The importance of trust (in the crypto space.)00:47:55 Centralization has to occur for other people to benefit00:54:58 How not to leave people behind00:59:29 How do you look at platform risk from both sides?00:1:05:06 The nature of platformsThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/matt-wensing-publish-your-juicy-thoughts/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f7deea33The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pBYsl1UxeYYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

Stair-stepping into software entrepreneurship is a great way for developers to start their own businesses without taking on massive risks. Building a plugin on an established platform allows developers to leverage existing user bases and traffic to grow their business quickly, while also being aware of the risks associated with platform dependency, profit-sharing, and limited flexibility.My interview with Collen Schnettler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpcYTO5x3cYRob Walling's Stair-Stepping: https://robwalling.com/2015/03/26/the-stair-step-method-of-bootstrapping/Preetham Nath: https://www.preetamnath.com/blog/grow-shopify-micro-saas-to-25k-mrr-in-14-monthsThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/stair-stepping-with-plugins-platforms-to-build-on/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/51643e63The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjOHqn4PJZMYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Drata.

Today, I’m talking to Colleen Schnettler, co-founder of Hammerstone and build-in-public podcaster. We talk about getting bootstrapper-compatible funding, juggling way too many projects, and selling a business when you know it’s time to move on. Here’s Colleen.00:00:00 A lot of podcasts00:06:01 Building on Heroku00:12:25 Building on Marketplaces00:16:59 Dealing with support requests00:21:49 Pressure to sell?00:26:27 Hammerstone00:31:24 Business Value00:35:46 Value of value 00:41:11 The risks of having just a few big customers00:46:12 Getting bootstrapper fundingThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/colleen-schnettler-stair-stepping-into-saas/ The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/281dbe46The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpcYTO5x3cY You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

Experienced writer and entrepreneur Arvid discusses the importance of writing for self-funded founders. Topics include using writing to communicate ideas clearly, attract attention, build relationships, and create a personal brand. Examples from successful entrepreneurs highlight the impact of writing on business growth and success.

Today, I’m talking to Hassan Osman— he’s the host of Writer on the Side, and himself a prolific writer. We talk about crafting books that sell (and keep selling), self-publishing on Amazon, and how to write while having a full-time job. Here’s Hassan!00:00:00 Introduction to Hassan Osman00:05:59 Slowly shifting your perspective00:10:48 Do you update your books that you have written?00:17:24 How short-sighted publishers can be00:24:29 The importance of the time component in your book00:29:12 The ROI if a diverse range of topics00:34:47 Pick topics that are intersectional, not generic00:41:43 You don’t need to write a big book to be successful00:47:03 Using a marketplace vs doing it on your own00:52:15 Investing in yourself and your public brand00:56:22 Selling on Amazon and Udemy The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/writing-on-the-side-with-hassan-osman/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/b67953c3The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsx78OkIiEkYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

Arvid talks about how applied kindness builds a brand and an audience.In a hostile world, many founders isolate themselves, but this isn't sustainable. Kindness changes the world, so be honest when self-promoting and set boundaries with hostility. Kindness can be seen in every aspect of life, creating a cycle of positive change.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/be-the-kindest-person-in-the-room/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/0f9109d5The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY3xrnn82QgYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

KP talks about building in public, sharing your journey, and becoming a respected community member.Today, I’m talking to KP — the build-in-public guy. KP has been a pillar of the indie hacker community, and we talk about how to involve yourself, empower others, and eventually build a community around your personal brand and the things you care about. Here’s KP.00:00:00 KP’s founder hotline00:04:32 The struggle beneath success00:12:11 The connection between teacher and student00:16:26 Sharing what you know00:19:18 The importance of staying in the community00:23:28 Serial entrepreneurship is severely misunderstood00:29:46 An iterative approach to learning00:33:38 Removing yourself from your ask00:37:14 Sales and trust00:42:21 The fear of losing your market00:49:23 The importance of having a mindset of “I’m not the XYZ guy”00:55:12 Quality doesn't matter as much as we think- Building an Authentic Personal Brand with KP- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now including Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurshipThis episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Negative reviews are an important part of the customer experience, as they provide valuable feedback to creators about how their product or service is being perceived. Reviews can be a source of frustration for founders, as they may not reflect the quality of the work, but rather the disconnect between the customer's expectation and the reality of the product. It is important for creators to stay mindful of how they position their products in the marketplace and ensure that their messaging aligns with the customer's experience.00:00:00 Negative Reviews00:01:11 Reality vs Expectation00:02:43 Positioning ErrorsThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/negative-reviews-are-good-for-you/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/46b3421dThe video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fulkEU1JAVUYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Drata.

Brennan shares the secrets to using emails to build relationships and increase your revenue.Today, I’m talking to Brennan Dunn, the founder of Palladio, co-founder of RightMessage, and general email expert. As a newsletter author myself, I took to this opportunity to learn as much as possible about personalizing and optimizing my email strategy. You’ll also hear what most people get wrong in email marketing. Here’s Brennan.00:00:00 Brennan Dunn00:00:48 What is up with email clients?00:05:05 Integrating with large platforms00:08:34 Maybe build a competitor?00:12:12 Emails and metadata00:16:20 Email personalization and how it works00:22:07 How do you get started with this?00:25:28 Focusing time and effort on certain platforms00:31:24 The difference between an email list and a newsletter00:36:30 The importance of segmentation00:41:06 Use segmentation to increase your list00:48:56 Customer centric marketing00:54:24 Is email the right medium to de-risk?00:59:20 Don’t over-saturate- Mastering Email Marketing with Brennan Dunn - 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 entrepreneurshipThis episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.