6 steps to becoming an indie hacker
Tags: indie, hacker, freedom, revenue
Published: 2020-03-21 23:00:25

## It's 2020, and the future is indie.

Whether it's $500/month on the side or $10,000/month to quit your job, it's easier than ever to draw an income from your own projects.

## indie • hacker

noun

A person building an online project that can generate revenue
A person seeking financial independence, creative freedom, and the ability to work on their own schedule

Follow the steps below to get started!

## 1. Commit to a goal
Before you get started, chart a course. How do you want your life to look? What does success look like? And what would make the journey to get there enjoyable?

**RECOMMENDED READING**
[Questions to Ask Before Starting](https://www.indiehackers.com/post/questions-to-ask-yourself-before-starting-9813f617b3)
[Scientific Guide to Setting Goals](https://jamesclear.com/goal-setting)
[How to Get and Stay Motivated](https://jamesclear.com/motivation)
[Making a Living On Your Own](https://www.indiehackers.com/@znq/why-a-lifestyle-business-beats-a-startup-44c7c6fafe)
[Founders Share Their Revenue](https://www.indiehackers.com/interviews)

## 2. Find a partner 
Many people thrive when working alone, but sometimes it helps to find a partner to complement your skillset and keep you motivated. What's right for you?

**RECOMMENDED READING**
[Benefits of Working Together](https://justinjackson.ca/cofounder)
[On Being a Solo Founder](https://baremetrics.com/blog/startup-solo-founder)
[Dos and Don’ts of Partnering Up](https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/guide-to-finding-business-partners/)
[Finding a Technical Co-Founder](https://robwalling.com/2008/03/13/how-to-recruit-a-developer-entrepreneur-for-your-startup)

## 3. Brainstorm an idea
Coming up with an idea is easier than you might think! Check out the resources below for some inspiration and top-notch guidance.

**RECOMMENDED READING**
[Successful Business Ideas](https://www.indiehackers.com/post/how-to-come-up-with-profitable-online-business-ideas-0ae2514808)
[Do a Tiny Product First](https://stackingthebricks.com/when-should-you-start-a-saas)
[How to Brainstorm Great Business Ideas](https://www.indiehackers.com/post/how-to-brainstorm-great-business-ideas-ab51c3d51c)
[Start By Finding an Audience](https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/finding-a-market-to-build-a-saas/)

## 4. Create your MVP
No matter what you're creating, it's best to start small. What's the minimum viable product (MVP) you can get out the door and start testing on real customers?

**RECOMMENDED READING**
[Going from Idea to Product](https://tylertringas.com/shipping-a-saas-minimum-viable-product)
[Examples of Building Products](https://www.indiehackers.com/post/what-tech-stacks-are-indie-hackers-using-for-their-products-2ab076c62f)
[Coding Products Quickly](https://levels.io/how-i-build-my-minimum-viable-products)
[Learn to Build Without Code](https://www.makerpad.co/)

## 5. Find your first customers
Just because you've created something doesn't mean people know about it. It's time to get the word out, build an audience, and grow your customer base.

**RECOMMENDED READING**
[Ultimate Guide for Marketing](https://www.julian.com/guide/growth/intro)
[Do Things That Don't Scale](http://paulgraham.com/ds.html)
[Case Studies for Finding Users](https://www.indiehackers.com/post/finding-your-first-users-without-spending-on-ads-69d79d88ba)
[A Good Product Isn't Enough](https://brianbalfour.com/essays/product-market-fit-isnt-enough)
[Skip the Big Launch](https://stackingthebricks.com/dont-launch-product-hunt)
[How to Grow an Audience](https://nathanbarry.com/curate)
[Your First Ten Customers](https://stripe.com/atlas/guides/starting-sales)

## 6. Build in public
Being an indie hacker is a lot more fun when you're talking to others. Get support and feedback from your peers by sharing your journey in public.

**RECOMMENDED READING**
[Why You Should Build in Public](https://thenextweb.com/dd/2014/04/21/build-product-public/)
[Where to Share Your Progress](https://hackernoon.com/how-to-build-a-product-in-public-1b4159d5df6b)
[Gain a Competitive Advantage](https://blog.asmartbear.com/building-in-public.html)

To know more about indie hacking, join the [INDIE HACKERS](https://www.indiehackers.com/) community.

Cheers!🍻