Why Building in Public Feels Scary (and Why You Should Do It Anyway)

If you’re working on a SaaS or side project, chances are you’ve thought:

“Should I post about this online? What if it flops? What if people think it’s dumb?”

Welcome to the fear of building in public.

It feels scary because it’s exposing. It’s admitting you’re working on something that might not succeed. And the internet is full of opinions.

But here’s the truth: building in public is the most underrated growth hack for early SaaS founders.

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Why It Feels Scary

1. Fear of judgment.
   You worry people will laugh at your idea or criticize your progress.

2. Fear of failure.
   If your project doesn’t work, everyone will “see you fail.”

3. Fear of irrelevance.
   You post and no one cares. That’s sometimes even worse than criticism.

These fears are real. But they’re also exactly why most people stay silent. And that silence is a missed opportunity.

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Why You Should Do It Anyway

1. People root for the underdog.
   When you post honest progress, strangers become your supporters. They want you to win.

2. Feedback comes faster.
   Instead of guessing what users want, you get real comments, questions, and ideas.

3. You attract allies.
   Building in public puts you on the radar of early adopters, collaborators, and sometimes even investors.

4. It compounds.
   Each small post builds trust and authority. Over time, your “tiny audience” becomes your biggest asset.

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How to Start Without Feeling Overexposed

• Share tiny wins (first 5 users, fixing a bug, finishing a landing page).

• Be honest about struggles without overthinking them.

• Use visuals (screenshots, charts, product mockups) — they’re easier to consume.

• Engage with others who are building — community beats shouting into the void.

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Final Thought

Building in public won’t magically make your SaaS succeed. But it will:

• Give you an audience.

• Create accountability.

• Make the journey less lonely.

The scariest part is hitting publish on your first post. After that, it gets easier.

And honestly? No one’s rooting for your failure. Most people are too busy cheering for themselves.

So post the thing. Build in public. Let the internet surprise you.