Ask HN: Tips on a Founder's Blog

2 points by freedmans 1 year ago | 2 comments

Hi everyone,

I’ve greatly appreciated the candid feedback from this forum. Recently, I shared my personal webpage for review, and the suggestions I received immediately improved the outreach and responses for my work.

(The best stinging reaction: Your website comes across like you're self-absorbed and don't want feedback. This hit a nerve with me because I'm constantly trying to balance the act of doing it yourself and not waiting for anyone to save you, and, collaborate more with others and don't hog the ball like Jordan did in his early years. -- Not that I'm comparing myself to Michael Jordan, but sports metaphors. I'm told they're useful in communication. Tangent. -- But this has encouraged me to try and change my whole approach of presenting myself. Because it's truly not my intention, and I've found that this increased mindfulness has made not just a better entrepreneur, but also maybe a better person. I'm trying...I'm only thirty. Being a person has been a humbling experience. But I like it! lol)

Now, I have a new question: I’ve been encouraged to start writing about my company’s journey. I work in the film industry, where development is a lengthy process.

The goal of these blog posts is to clarify my own thought process and highlight our unique approach to film development, which differs from others in the industry. Additionally, I aim to reassure investors about how their funds are being utilized.

I was going to host the blog on my personal website, away from the official company page.

I've also wondered if I should just confine these blog posts/memos to the password protected Investor Portal I've created for investors. The portal is regularly updated with the projects we're working on, and the projects we want to work on next.

Looking for some thoughts about navigating all of this.

I know it's a mixture of preference and practical application.

My sister likes writing on Substack, where folks pay for genre of memoir. I'm not sure if that's what I'm necessarily trying to do. But I've been tempted to explore Ghost as a platform...

I understand the power of blogging and newsletter because...well...I read Hacker News everyday myself, and have been for nearly a decade, maybe? -- But I'm a new founder so I'm here to take all the feedback.

Thanks everyone, Daniel.

PaulHoule 1 year ago |

I used to point people to

https://www.pinecone.io/blog/

as a great example of a startup blog although it's gotten more corporate and self-centered lately. I think they might have also cleared out their early posts. They were early to the vector database trend and were working on it before the ChatGPT revolution and they used blogging to get visibility. They did all the obvious SMO things, turns out I am wearing a "LOVE THY NEAREST NEIGHBOR" T-shirt today which they sent me because I gave some kind words.

In your case you have some concern about whether this should be public as you might be under NDA or just think that some of your stakeholders might rather keep things under wrap. You've mentioned investors but I'd think that other people involved might have concerns too.

Many people would say you should be thinking about what goals you want to attain: keeping investors sweet is important, but perhaps you could build buzz about a movie before it is released, or get messages out to people who might work for or with you, etc. Left to my own devices I would be inclined to "write a blog because I want to have a blog" but the people who advise me would want me to have specific goals in mind.

KaisoEnt 1 year ago | |

This is great advice