If you’re a novice entrepreneur looking to create an MVP? Here are some suggestions that you can implement into Your NoCode Stack, as well as communities that can help you along your way.
Here, we present community tools that will help you start your journey.
Brisk Logic some working on an initial product that is viable using the off-the-shelf tools and no-code builders. My first company was built using a no-code database builder. We grew to over 1,000 users and started white-labelling our marketplace before bringing in an IT director to help us develop the product.
If you’re considering starting your non-code startup,
Here are some suggestions for tools that can make up the base of your No Code Stack.
Bring everything in your No Code stack together
The first step on your journey to no-code has been Zapier which is the tool that connects the apps you use and automate workflows. Zapier is the plumbing you use for everything you create, allowing users to connect an onboarding form created in Typeform with your existing database, within airtable*, and to your mailing list using Mailchimp. Zapier is by far my top tool for this task. Other tools are available, including Automate.io and Integrated however I’ve not bothered to look them up because Zapier is the best. Check out the complete listing of alternatives to Zapier available on G2 Crowd.Storage of data
There will be a need for a storage space to store your data and retrieve it. Airtable* is a highly-used database tool to do this. Airtable comes with built-in workflows and automation similar to Zapier and forms. So you don’t require an additional tool to collect data. The issue is that forms are simple and do not have complicated logic as a Typeform does. Airtable isn’t very flexible If you’re trying to accomplish something difficult. For instance, if you require logins or let users enter and edit data. I created my startup’s MVP with software known as Knack but it hasn’t received the attention it merits with the recent trend of no-code. Knack is an application for building databases, but I believe it’s selling itself as a bit sloppy. Knack allows you to develop complex applications and UIs which are quite adaptable. They’re not the most beautiful apps, but you can make use of CSS magic to enhance them a little. Based on the needs of your business You may also think about using a CRM system like Pipedrive or HubSpot* to help with data management. It is possible to add custom fields and workflows using this software. I’ve recently come across the Xeno which is an alternative to your no-code application that plugs into almost any front-end. I’ve had no prior experience with Xeno. However, if I were planning to develop something completely innovative, I’d be sure to investigate it and possibly combine it with Webflow as the front-end.All in one
There are also all-in-one applications that function as both data storage as well as a UI. The bubble is the most well-known example of this and allows you to develop a full web app with Drag and Drop. There are many other plugins available to expand your application, including connecting it to other tools or taking payments. The bubble is concentrated on UI as opposed to Knack for instance I’ve had a lot of trouble setting up the databases every time I tried to create something using Bubble. If you’re creating an online marketplace, Sharetribe is the perfect solution. Create a marketplace website similar to Airbnb and Upwork without writing code. If you’re building an eCommerce website, you cannot make a mistake with Shopify.Websites
One of the most memorable experiences of my professional life was getting to know WordPress. I was working for an entrepreneurial company and needed a site to launch as a side product. The co-founder placed me in charge and introduced me to WordPress. It helped me realize that building things for a non-technical user was much easier than I’d previously believed. I’m still in love with WordPress as it’s an excellent option to build a robust site quickly. It is possible to enhance it with a variety of designs and extensions. As we began Taskable I decided to move the service to Webflow* for the first time. I’d used it previously. It had a higher education curve than WordPress However, I observed how flexible Webflow was compared to WordPress. Additionally, the performance of the Webflow is superior to that of WordPress. In the beginning, I often regretted the choice, as it took some time to become comfortable with the system, and I would break things. But I am glad that we decided to go with Webflow for the long term. It is possible to use Webflow as an eCommerce site too. Tools such as Xeno make it an endpoint to a web-based application although I’m not familiar with this, and I’m not sure how user-friendly it could be. There are a lot of other builders of websites such as Wix and Squarespace which I haven’t utilized. My impression was that they weren’t as extensible as WordPress or as powerful and flexible as Webflow. It could be that this is not an issue, therefore take a look.Communities
If you’re thinking of creating a digital product a non-technical co-founder isn’t all you have to worry about and luckily. There are a lot of fantastic communities that will help you along your way. The majority of the issues you’ll face are ones that have been encountered several times before. You can rely on these communities to solve problems and gain ideas on how to solve the problem. Makerpad is the most popular community dedicated to non-coding. There are numerous tutorials, and tools lists along with a forum and an employment board. Additionally, Indie Hackers and Product Hunt are excellent places to socialize. Although they are not exclusively for non-coders there’s a nice mix of both technical and non-technical builders who hang out.Challenges and Opportunities
The path to no-code is an extremely lonely and stressful one. It’s still an infancy area therefore the burden of everything rests on you. This is why motivational factors are essential to succeed as a non-coder. The majority of people who work who are in the field are bootstrappers or solo founders who may not be as adept marketers as they are builders. Projects are more successful when you share ideas with other people and get individualized feedback improving iteratively, and then get blocked when you need assistance.- You can start on your own or find an online community that can help you.
- Although there are a number of communities popping up to help no-coders this one, The On Deck No-Code Fellow is the only place advanced and intermediate no-coders be sure to find their home. In its third cohort, ODNC is tailor-made for:
- Entrepreneurs who want to build an MVP and then test it
- Startup employees looking to automatize processes at work without coding
- Bootstrapped founders who want to earn profits from their non-code projects
- People who wish to get job openings in the startup sector by learning no-coding skills
- In the past year, we’ve honed the user experience in order to solve the biggest issues that no-coders have to face.
- It’s about the responsibility (Mastermind Groups) and the ability to get feedback (Think Tanks), forcing processes to be delivered (Capstone Projects) as well as the public’s visibility and exposure (Demo Days) or a community who cheers you on at each step of the way, ODNC has it all.
What is the future bringing?
As mentioned above, only 0.3 per cent of the population is proficient in programming. How do you let the remaining 99.7 per cents develop too? This is the possibility of no-code. In the coming years, we’ll see no-code becoming the initial step in development due to the advantages of its speed and effectiveness. Brisk Logic also predicts that this trend will continue to grow because of the massive shortage of engineering talent around the globe, bringing more users into the no-code world. As more and more users use proficient no-code tools to design solutions for the most popular scenario scenarios. We can expect a slack in the lower end of the marketplace. In the past, if you wanted to build a basic landing page it was necessary to hire developers. Today, you can utilize tools that do not require any code such as Card and create a landing page yourself in just a few hours. Similar to that, you can utilize Google Sheets and Glide to create a basic app within a couple of hours. The lowest end of the market for engineering talent is populated by people performing “routine” tasks like creating simple landing pages that are simple to create and don’t require a deep understanding of the principles of engineering. This lower section of the market is directly competing with non-code tools that allow non-coders to accomplish these tasks for less cost.Brisk Logic hope this article was useful to non-technical founders who are trying to find ways to start something. Do not wait for someone with technical skills to start and get started.
