😇How Radical Honesty Built a $20M Business

While other startups guarded their metrics, Buffer turned theirs into blog posts — and it changed everything.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How Buffer turned from just another scheduling tool into a standout brand — without a big budget.

• The gutsy decision to publish salaries, revenue, and internal strategies in public view.

• Why total transparency didn’t just grab attention — it earned long-term trust.

• The systems they put in place to make openness a real business asset.

• How this strategy helped them grow to $20M+ in ARR, fully bootstrapped.
  

But first, be sure to check out our sponsor:

Start learning AI in 2025

Keeping up with AI is hard – we get it!

That’s why over 1M professionals read Superhuman AI to stay ahead.

• Get daily AI news, tools, and tutorials

• Learn new AI skills you can use at work in 3 mins a day

• Become 10X more productive

Sign up and start mastering AI

The Social Media Sidekick No One Noticed

In 2013, Buffer was just another social media tool. It helped users schedule posts across platforms like Twitter and Facebook. It was clean. Simple. It worked.

The problem? So did everyone else’s.

Buffer wasn’t the cheapest. Or the first. Or the flashiest. It had no funding headlines, no hype machine, and no viral marketing gimmick. They were getting drowned out.

Then came a bold move: they stopped trying to outcompete — and decided to out-share.

Turn AI into Your Income Engine

Ready to transform artificial intelligence from a buzzword into your personal revenue generator

HubSpot’s groundbreaking guide "200+ AI-Powered Income Ideas" is your gateway to financial innovation in the digital age.

Inside you'll discover:

• A curated collection of 200+ profitable opportunities spanning content creation, e-commerce, gaming, and emerging digital markets—each vetted for real-world potential

• Step-by-step implementation guides designed for beginners, making AI accessible regardless of your technical background

• Cutting-edge strategies aligned with current market trends, ensuring your ventures stay ahead of the curve

Download your guide today and unlock a future where artificial intelligence powers your success. Your next income stream is waiting.

Get Your Guide

The Boldest Spreadsheet in Tech

Buffer made its entire company… public.

Not IPO public. Google Docs public.

Salaries? Published.
Revenue? Live dashboard.
Equity breakdowns, growth metrics, even failed experiments? All out in the open.

They called it transparency. But it was more like shock therapy for a secretive startup world. And it worked because it wasn’t a PR stunt — it was policy.

They created a culture of openness:

• Public spreadsheets for pay

• Regular blog posts breaking down strategy

• Real numbers, real-time

It made people look. Then trust. Then stick around. Customers appreciated the honesty. Job seekers felt like insiders. The press couldn’t stop talking about it.

While competitors guarded their metrics like state secrets, Buffer turned theirs into a brand.

The Trust Dividend

Buffer didn’t explode overnight. But it earned something more valuable: loyalty.

By 2020, the fully remote, bootstrapped company hit $20M+ in annual recurring revenue.

They did it without raising giant revenue rounds, chasing growth at all costs, or firing half the team to hit numbers. Instead, they built slow, steady trust — and turned it into staying power.

Buffer’s playbook made users feel like part of the journey. It attracted mission-driven employees. It built loyalty that no ad budget could buy.

The takeaway?

In a noisy market, being “good” isn’t enough. You need to stand out — and stand for something.

Buffer’s edge wasn’t code. It was character. They turned transparency from a buzzword into a business model.

And it worked.

🍫 Snackable Stats

​7,858,882 – The total number of posts published with Buffer last month.

​185,893 – Monthly active users.

9:00am – (On Wednesdays) The best time to post on Twitter, according to Buffer’s analysis of more than 1 million tweets.

15% – The percentage of Buffer’s net profit that was distributed as profit share bonuses in 2024.

11 – The number of social platforms supported by Buffer.

🍭 More Sweet Reads

The Best Time to Post on Social Media in 2025: Times for Every Major Platform
Want to maximize your social media engagement? Discover the optimal posting times across platforms to ensure your content gets the attention it deserves.

6 ChatGPT Prompts to Develop a Powerful Entrepreneur Mindset
Discover six powerful ChatGPT prompts designed to help entrepreneurs build a successful business mindset, leveraging AI to enhance strategic thinking.

Four AI Startups Secure $36 Million in Funding from Top Investors
Qevlar, HoneyHive, Solve Intelligence, and Delos collectively raised nearly $36 million to advance AI solutions, attracting firms like Insight Partners and Microsoft’s venture arm.

Best Business Bank Accounts for LLCs in April 2025
Better Business Advice ranks Mercury as the top business bank account for LLCs, highlighting its technological features and flexibility for small business owners.