Meet the Maker Max Haining
from 100DaysOfNoCode

29/03/22 | Interview by Stuart Goulden

Photo of
                    Max Haining

100DaysOfNoCode is an online community helping anybody to bring their ideas to life faster with the power of No-Code.

To keep himself accountable and as a means to learn everyday, Max Haining announced his commitment to doing at least 30 minutes of no-code learning a day for 100 days during the pandemic; and there #100DaysOfNoCode was born.

What started as a self-initiated challenge to learn a new skill has since turned into a thriving space to learn and ship using No-Code tools.

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  1. Hi Max. Please introduce yourself and your own professional and no-code background.

    I’m a social entrepreneur and community builder from the UK. Obsessed with connecting people and empowering the next generation of citizen developers.

  2. How would you describe 100DaysOfNoCode? How did it all come about?

    100DaysOfNoCode is an online community empowering creators and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life with the power of No-Code. When I was just getting started in No-Code, I struggled with the lack of structure and accountability. So, in March 2020, at the start of the pandemic, I began #100DaysOfNoCode as a way for me to learn to No-Code and solve my own problem.

  3. Who is the average 100DaysOfNoCode member?

    They’re non-technical creators or entrepreneurs. They want to use no-code to automate their work, build side projects or full-scale ventures. After 100 days, they’re empowered to build their own ideas, make internet money, express their creativity like they were never able to before.

"After 100 days, they're empowered to build their own ideas, make internet money, express their creativity like they were never able to before."

- Max Haining, 100DaysOfNoCode
  1. The course reminds me of James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, have you read it?

    Yes I have and it’s certainly shaped how we have designed the learning experience. There’s two things we focus on that can be attributed to Atomic habits in some way…

    Firstly, goals are good but are nothing without a system to support them. That’s why we have 3 simple but powerful rules of the challenge including:

    1. Public commitment
    2. Learn for at least 30 mins everyday
    3. Share your progress

    These are the 3 pillars that drive the learning experience. Our second focus is making sure learning is sustainable. That’s why our content is bitesized and should only take 30 mins every day for learners.

  2. The 100DaysOfNoCode ecosystem has a lot of ways to onboard people and keep them engaged - Courses, Challenges, Weekly Workshops, Slack & more. What have you found the most effective format to be?

    It’s about serving people with different needs and at different points in their journey. Some people need a more high touch learning experience which is where something like our intense 30 day bootcamps come into play. Others are more self-motivated and only have 30 mins spare a day, which is where our 100DaysOfNoCode challenge fits. Each component works well in different ways for different people.

"Some people need a more high touch learning experience which is where something like our intense 30 day bootcamps come into play. Others are more self-motivated and only have 30 mins spare a day."

- Max Haining, 100DaysOfNoCode
  1. How important is the community element for learning and accountability?

    It’s the most important part. Community is a source of accountability, inspiration, learning and more that you can’t get if you’re learning solo.

    On 100DaysOfNoCode it’s just about creating opportunities for participants to connect and learn from each other. This could be 1-1 chats, peer groups, workshops, demo days or something else. All these touchpoints help to accelerate their learning.

  2. Have you ever skipped a day yourself?

    Nope! I have to set the example. But it’s ok if others skip a day, life happens! We just recommend never to miss twice.

  3. There seems a real emphasis on shipping something new within those 100 Days. Do any success stories jump out at you?

    Of course, tools are a big part of learning to no-code, but the most important thing is what impact you have with them. Have you solved a real world problem? Have you made someone laugh? We’re always more impressed by the impact you have rather than the features you build.

"We're always more impressed by the impact you have rather than the features you build."

- Max Haining, 100DaysOfNoCode
  1. How have you attracted new members?

    Organically, mostly via Twitter and word of mouth.

    For me, on social, it’s about being authentic and sharing openly about your journey with others. Others will far more likely root for you and your product if they are part of the journey themselves.

    Word of mouth comes from current students who tweet everyday using the #100DaysOfNoCode hashtag. Platforms such as Product Hunt have been a good growth jump but don’t rely on them as your only distribution channel - use it in combination with others.

  2. Is there anything that’s surprised you on the journey so far?

    That learning to no-code is more of a mental challenge rather than a technical one. Most people struggle to get over the “But can I actually build this myself”. Yes you can!

    The first breakthrough moment for most new no-coders is when they connect a front and backend tool together. After starting with simple landing pages, it’s a powerful moment to see data you have in one place, show up on the user interface of your application. Often the power of No-Code lies in how you can connect different tools together, and once you do, you’re off to the races.

  3. What’s the ultimate vision for 100DaysOfNoCode and what needs to happen to get there?

    The ultimate dream is to make the most accessible onramp into No-Code. And to make learning to no-code feel like more of a game than reading a textbook.

    For that to happen, in 2022 we want to empower more people, so we’ll be creating more content and spreading No-Code beyond the tech bubble.

  4. What would be your top tips for others looking to build an online business with No-Code?

    Try to speak to your users early. And validate as quickly as you can. Don’t fall into the build trap, and instead focus on getting as much feedback as you can in the leanest way you can. No-Code tools are great for staying agile, so use it to your advantage and iterate quickly.

"No-Code tools are great for staying agile, so use it to your advantage and iterate quickly."

- Max Haining, 100DaysOfNoCode
  1. And finally, what are your top 3 marketing tools you’d recommend to others?

    In no particular order, I like Fomo, Shoutout and Ahrefs.

    Fomo and Shoutout are great for showing social proof whether that’s from tweets people have shared or notifications from your Stripe account. This helps build trust with potential customers. I find Ahrefs to be the best platform for locking down key words to focus on for your SEO efforts.

To find out more about 100DaysOfNoCode and join the next cohort of No-Code makers, visit 100daysofnocode.com

Other interviews in this No-Code series:Jim Raptis of stylish screenshot editor, BrandBird → Ch Daniel of superfast Notion website builder, SimpleInk → Avi Wilensky of journalist outreach service, Press Notify

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