Plink Turns 3 🎉 🥳 🎂 Reflecting and sharing its story
Hey there,
Plink turns 3 years old today! April 19, 2019 was the day that Plink became publicly available to signup for and start using. Some of you reading this have been customers since day one - thank you!
Birthdays and anniversaries of any kind offer an opportunity for reflection. I’ve enjoyed doing so today, and with that I’ve introduced a new About page on Plink’s website to tell more of the story and share who’s behind it, me Scott Mathson - Founder of Plink.
A look back on the story - For creators by creators
As a podcast host myself, having started publishing shows back in 2008/2009, I needed an easier way to share my latest podcast Makerviews (2018). Also being a web developer, I started exploring how I could create an automatically up-to-date, single link with listening options to my podcast and its episodes within major apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on. A way to share podcasts that was both a better user experience and more accessible to all listeners, no matter the device they were tuning in from.
Created out of solving my own need, I quickly recognized that I was indeed "onto something", then starting down the path of creating a SaaS (software as a service) and beta testing a minimum-viable version of this product with other podcast hosts.
Plink has since grown from being a tool/solution for a handful of creators, on through to now being used daily by thousands of individual podcasters and a variety of networks, media companies, and businesses. I'm proud to own and operate this startup... Read more.
Who’s behind Plink
Whether or not you knew it, you’ve been supporting an independent business. I’m making more of an effort, with the introduction of the About page, this email, and in general going forward, to make this fact known.
As a reintroduction, I’m Scott Mathson. And as you read above, I'm a maker and creator, myself. Alongside being the Founder of Plink, I have personally been into audio production both as a musician/songwriter and in having hosted podcasts, since 2008. I'm a solopreneur and have been working on Plink since 2018 (with a decade-plus of other tech experience including with Auth0 and Netlify leading into it).
As I’m sure every podcaster reading this can attest to - whether independent or part of a bigger network or company - it’s always a ride! There’s ups and downs, and highs and lows of running any business or creative endeavor.
Reflecting on the past years of developing and running Plink, what’s most exciting to me is the growing list of customers. The fact that we likely don't know each other, yet there's value gained on both sides and you're using my creation to help market, promote, and share your own creation. Amazing - and again, thank you!
On top of that, I'm proud of the partnerships that I’ve made as a bootstrapped solopreneur. Plink integrates with Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and others. I’ve had to make connections with the right folks at these (and other) companies in the industry, work to maintain those relationships, and have developed solutions to integrate with their technology to ultimately create the service that Plink offers. Much like a podcaster signing a big, marquee advertiser/sponsor - that’s exciting to me!
Thanks for supporting small businesses and startups like mine. Take care, and I hope that you’re doing well!
Best,
Scott Mathson, Founder @ Plink