May 2022 Summaries

Neil Pierce is a career IT specialist who has managed teams and created internal IT tools using Bubble, a no-code platform. He discovered Bubble in 2014 through a simple Google search while looking for a tool to build web applications without coding. Neil was motivated to use Bubble due to its ability to build full-stack applications, which he believed would streamline his workflow. His most exciting project on Bubble is Atomic Fusion, a Google Chrome extension and hub experience that allows users to save, share, and reuse Bubble components. To learn no-code tools like Bubble, Neil recommends diving in and building something small, spending time learning proper front-end and back-end development, joining online communities, and being patient when faced with challenging concepts. Building in public has helped Neil grow his Twitter following and acquire users for his product, but requires caution against trolls and constructive feedback.

The blog post discusses the performance of web applications built with Bubble, a no-code platform, emphasizing the importance of perceived performance over actual performance. It highlights that while Bubble's platform is generally optimized for speed, users can inadvertently slow down their apps through poor planning or mismanagement. The post offers insights into common pitfalls like creating complex pages and inefficient database structures, and suggests strategies for improving app performance, such as planning thoroughly, keeping pages lightweight, using server-side processes for heavy workloads, and effectively communicating with users to manage their expectations. It stresses the significance of balancing technological efficiency with user experience to create fast and satisfying applications, while reminding developers to prioritize getting their product to market over obsessing about minor performance improvements. The post also encourages users to explore additional resources, such as "The Ultimate Guide to Bubble Performance," for a deeper understanding of optimizing no-code applications.

Jean-Baptiste Giambarresi, a product manager at a French media company, discovered no-code tool Bubble after being introduced by a friend two years ago. Initially, he didn't think it was the right fit for his project but was convinced by three main points: building a solid desktop application and adjusting it to mobile without separate development, the active community eager to help, and the simplicity of possibilities on Bubble. He has since worked on several exciting projects, including PrepInt, an application to help job-seekers organize their job hunt. Giambarresi found resources in internal Bubble tools and the community forum, and advises others to ask for help, think out of the box, and involve their community in making product decisions through Building in Public.

To build an NFT marketplace like Opensea, Rarible, or LooksRare with Bubble, start by registering for a free account and familiarizing yourself with Bubble's visual design tool and database fields. Design your user interface using Bubble's visual design tool, and then create the necessary pages for your marketplace, including a landing page, marketplace page, item page, connect page, and account page. Configure your database to store users, collections, and NFTs data, and then build workflows to connect these elements together. Use plugins like Rarible SDK and Pinata to handle minting, uploading media, and connecting wallets. Create a workflow for putting an NFT on sale, buying an NFT at a fixed price, and handling errors or rejections. Add additional features such as open auctions, timed auctions, search and filtering, and purchasing with fiat currency. Finally, set up privacy and security measures to protect user data, and consider hiring a developer or dev team to build your platform if needed.

Lead generation is crucial for the success of any company, especially in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry. To sustain growth, businesses need to fill their sales funnel with qualified leads. The guide aims to help SaaS companies identify and implement effective lead generation strategies using real case studies and experience. Best practices include SEO, which is essential for search-driven industries like software, and involves intelligent content strategy, keyword research, and long-form blog posts. Other strategies mentioned include SaaS affiliate marketing, Google Ads, sales prospecting, conversion rate optimization, hosting webinars, leveraging email signatures and social media, remarketing, and hiring lead generation companies. Each of these methods can be used to generate high-quality leads that convert into customers, ultimately driving business growth.

Bob Summers, the founder of Goodcall, an AI-powered app created in Bubble, aimed to help small businesses implement 24/7 automated phone systems at a reasonable price. He leveraged Bubble's no-code features to quickly create his Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and showcase it to investors and customers, securing significant funding. Goodcall utilizes conversational AI, similar to Amazon's Alexa or Apple's Siri, and offers features such as customizable responses, data gathering from Yelp pages, and pre-built responses for various business scenarios. With over 10,000 phone calls served, Bob is expanding the service, increasing its team size, and exploring international markets, with plans to support multiple languages and regions.

Lee Hills is a web developer and designer who has been creating products for himself and clients without using code, and recently turned to Bubble as a tool to grow his businesses. Lee had previously spent 10 years freelancing online in the UK, avoiding coding despite having experience with design tools like Dreamweaver and WordPress. He discovered no-code tools like Bubble around 2014 while searching for a DIY animation software solution, but didn't pursue it at the time. Lee returned to Bubble when he needed a way to onboard new freelancers quickly, leading him to create a dashboard to share his freelance business apps with others. His most exciting project in Bubble was LaunchStash, which he built with co-founder Edmund Amoye to help makers share and store affiliate links. To learn Bubble, Lee used YouTube, the Bubble Twitter community, and the forum, and advises new builders to focus on one tool and start building immediately. Lee's experience with Building in Public has increased engagement on his profile, led him to create a weekly Bubble newsletter, and helped him secure a new low-code developer role at a fin-tech firm.

Building a cash-back site like Rakuten or Ibotta with Bubble involves creating several key pages, including a dashboard page for browsing offers and viewing cashback values, a profile page for regular users to see their transaction history and points earned, and a referral page that redirects users to merchant websites. The platform also requires a database to store user data and affiliate tracking links, as well as workflows to automate tasks such as saving changes to brand details and awarding points to users. The tutorial covers how to create these pages and configure the workflow using Bubble's visual design tool and drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to build their app without coding.

JobHunch is a Nigerian-based job review platform that allows users to leave anonymous reviews of their workplaces or look for new roles, with features such as a job board and Q&A section to improve the job search process. The app was built by Tobi Gbemisola using no-code tools like Bubble after he realized the need for a platform in Nigeria where most companies don't have reviews on popular sites like Glassdoor and Indeed. JobHunch has gained traction, with features such as user reviews, jobs, and questions about companies, and is planning to expand nationally and globally, adding new features to improve its functionality and solve key problems in the job markets. The app's future plans include adding more opportunities to the job board, allowing users to anonymously disclose their salaries and share interview knowledge, and reaching product-market fit. Tobi Gbemisola built JobHunch after discovering no-code tools like Bubble through an Instagram ad and has been able to launch a functional app within two months using tutorials on YouTube and forums.