Is building in public losing its value?
At first, it was novel. It gave us a real look into what it takes to build a clothing brand, a tech product, or a service business. It built loyalty, connection, and people appreciated the honesty.
But now it feels like everyone has to do it, like it’s an obligation. Feeds are flooded with MRR screenshots and “day 37 of building X,” and it’s harder to tell what’s authentic.
Curious what it’s been like for others. Have you found it worth the effort?
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Depends on how you look at it.
Some people watching that can be motivated, while others can be discouraged.
I am thankful I found such great people on Twitter in #buildinpublic community because I couldn't find such ambitious people in real (offline) life living near by me :)
@busmark_w_nika Agreed.
That’s interesting. I’m curious how you leverage this community. Do you mostly read posts, engage in discussions, or find collaborations?
@theideator I usually engage with other people and try to find inspiration :)
I think it's still important to build in public, so that prospects don't think you're some random Internet scammer - but I think the bar is rising in terms of the quality of posts.
@wesley_liaw I get the prospects angle for a services business. Do you think it applies the same way for people building products?
"Build in public" is mostly an invitation to do marketing. Тo talk about yourself, your product, your wins. There’s not much real value in those MRR screenshots, but they do help you get noticed on social media.
I don’t particularly like the approach, but it definitely works.
Personally, I prefer "Educate in public".
Тeach people what they can do with your tool.
Show how new technologies can be applied in your industry.
That’s real inspiration. Not empty MRR numbers.
@byalexai Absolutely agree. I love when companies invest in good YouTube channels that share product demos and educate their audience on topics beyond just their product.
Totally hear this!
“Build in public” started as a way to share the process the uncertainty, the small wins, the thinking behind decisions. That rawness built trust. But over time, it’s started to feel more like performance. Lots of polished numbers, fewer honest reflections.
I don’t think the value is gone but the signal-to-noise has changed. The most meaningful posts now aren’t just updates; they’re thoughtful insights or questions that invite conversation, not just applause.
The format isn’t broken it just works best when it’s real.