An Indie Maker is someone, or a small team, who builds and launches products independently. This means they don’t rely on big companies or outside investors for funding. Instead, they usually self-fund (known as bootstrapping) and focus on creating unique products that reflect their personal vision and passion. The key is independence – indie makers make their own decisions and have complete creative control.

I have a small dev team with 3 people, are we indie makers?

Yes, absolutely! Being an indie maker isn't just about being a solo creator. A small team of 2 or 3 people can definitely be considered indie makers. What matters most is that you operate independently, without external funding, and have full control over your product's direction. If your team is self-funded, makes its own decisions, and is driven by a passion for what you’re building, then you’re an indie maker!

Common Terms Used by Indie Makers

If you're new to the indie maker community, you might come across some terms that are frequently used. Here are a few to get you started:

• DR: Domain Rating - A measure of a website’s backlink profile strength, often used for SEO.
• MRR: Monthly Recurring Revenue - The predictable revenue a business earns every month.
• ARR: Annual Recurring Revenue - The amount of predictable revenue expected on a yearly basis.
• Hero Section: The top area of a webpage, often featuring a main headline and call to action.
• Bootstrapping: Building a business from the ground up without external funding, using personal resources.
• Churn Rate: The rate at which customers stop subscribing to a service or product over a period.
• LTV: Lifetime Value - The total revenue a business can expect from a single customer account.
• CAC: Customer Acquisition Cost - The total cost of acquiring a new customer, including marketing and sales expenses.
• SaaS: Software as a Service - A software distribution model where users access software over the internet.
• Freemium: A pricing strategy where a product is offered for free but with premium features available for a fee.
• MVP: Minimum Viable Product - The simplest version of a product that can be released to test a concept and gather feedback.
• Pivot: A significant change in a startup’s business model or product strategy to better meet market demands.
• Product Hunt: A platform for indie makers and startups to launch and get feedback on their new products.
• No-Code: Tools that let you build apps and websites without needing to write any code.
• Revenue Run Rate: A financial metric that forecasts future revenue based on current revenue.
• KPI: Key Performance Indicator - A measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives.
• Growth Hacking: Strategies focused on rapid growth, often with minimal cost and creative marketing techniques.
• Angel Investor: An individual who provides capital for a business startup, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity.
• Seed Funding: Initial funding used to help a startup grow before it generates its own revenue.
• Burn Rate: The rate at which a company is spending its capital before generating positive cash flow.
• Traction: Evidence of demand for a product or service, typically indicated by growing sales, customer base, or engagement.
• Onboarding: The process of helping new users understand and start using a product effectively.
• User Persona: A fictional representation of a company’s ideal customer, based on market research and data.
• Exit Strategy: A plan for how the founders or investors will sell their stake in the company, often through acquisition or IPO.

Tips for Indie Makers

Being an indie maker means you're handling everything from development to marketing to customer support. Here are some tips to help you succeed:

• Focus on solving a specific problem for a niche audience. The more specific, the better!
• Validate your ideas by talking to potential users before you build the full product. This can save you time and effort.
• Keep your costs low and try to reinvest your earnings back into your project to help it grow.
• Join communities like Indie Hackers or Product Hunt to get feedback and find your first users.
• Don’t be afraid to learn new skills, whether it's marketing, sales, or customer support. Being an indie maker means wearing many hats!

Indie making is all about creativity, independence, and passion. Whether you're a solo creator or a small team, it's about building something you believe in, on your own terms. So if you have an idea and the drive to see it through, you’re already on your way to being a great indie maker!