I've built quite a few projects from 0 -> business over the last 20 years, and I think the fundamentals are still true today.

First rule: if you're building the product solo, is it something you're the target user of? I've always felt like the biggest "cheat code" for building successful products is just making them for people like you. I know that goes against a lot of lean startup methodology (talk to users, etc.), but it has always worked in my experience. Use your unique domain knowledge to make something meaningfully better, cheaper, more accessible/simple than the competition.

Second rule: marketing is important. Almost all the things I've built are developer services, so to get user feedback and early traction, I'd submit to go speak at the local meetup groups in my area, talk about the tech stuff I worked on as part of the product, then give people a free shirt if they'd give me some in-person feedback after the event. I made some good friends that way (hello, SoCal Pythonistas!), and also made meaningful product growth. Don't be a shill, just genuinely nerd out about the things you're doing in an authentic way. People like that.

Third rule: write well. Don't use LLMs to spam blog content that's low quality about your product. Write about it yourself. Show examples, highlight features. Don't use marketing words, use simple descriptions.

Well said.

I truly believe that the product will be better if the author is the first targeted user.

> AI coding tools moved the ceiling.

I'd say AI coding tools raised the floor, not the ceiling. Building a product with great UX is still difficult and demands constant attention to detail.

Thank you so much for the feedback. Marketing is my weakest aspect in this project. I've tried the grass roots organic approach, but I think I need to start venturing out of my comfort zone.

-Chris