To build a software or content company 20 years ago, you needed to design packaging, contract with disk duplicators, arrange distribution channels, set up order processing, handle shipping, and take care of hundreds of other logistical details. All that, in addition to building and marketing your product.
Being in the software business became much simpler 12 years ago with the introduction of the Apple App Store, and subsequently Google Play and other online stores like the Amazon app store. Talented developers could write a great app, put it up for sale in the App Store, and immediately reach a global audience of millions of users.
Today, we are undergoing another major transformation: it has become possible to run a profitable modern business that depends on technology without writing any code at all. If you are an artist making physical things, you can offer and sell your work through Etsy and Shopify. If you’re a podcaster who wants to offer a premium version of your podcast, you can use Gumroad or Podia. These companies also offer subscriptions and digital purchases for makers of premium content like photos, analysis, or courseware. Communities like Indie Hackers now include dozens of success stories from people who have built a successful tech business without writing a single line of code.
When you have something to offer to this world, modern platforms and tools provide a new way for you to reach your audience and be compensated for the value you create. You can reach a global audience, get paid for your work, and leave the logistical details to the platform companies to deal with. You can focus on what you do best, creating your unique value and staying close to your customers, from anywhere in the world. If you have a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, there has never been this much opportunity so closely within your reach.