loader from loading.io

Dale L. Roberts Interview - Getting Started With Self-Publishing

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

Release Date: 08/10/2021

Prove Your MVP: The Founder Playbook for a Strong First Launch (with Angelo Zanetti) show art Prove Your MVP: The Founder Playbook for a Strong First Launch (with Angelo Zanetti)

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

If you’re building a new app or software product, your biggest risk usually isn’t “bad code.” It’s building the wrong thing, shipping it with a shaky first impression, and then wondering why growth never shows up. In this episode of Building Better Developers, Angelo Zanetti breaks it down into a simple founder goal: prove your MVP—prove the problem is real, prove the solution is worth paying for, and prove you can deliver value without burning your runway.  About Angelo Zanetti Angelo Zanetti is the co-founder and CEO of Elemental, a South African-based software...

info_outline Tiered Pricing in the AI Era: What Actually Works (with Dan Balcauski) show art Tiered Pricing in the AI Era: What Actually Works (with Dan Balcauski)

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

Tiered pricing is becoming the simplest way to sell AI-powered SaaS without turning your pricing page into a technical explanation. In my interview with Dan Balcauski, founder and Chief Pricing Officer at Product Tranquility, we talked about why AI is forcing new pricing decisions earlier than ever—and why “good, better, best” packaging often works because it keeps buying decisions clear while helping companies manage real AI costs.  The AI era is making pricing margin-aware again. Tiered pricing helps you protect margins without forcing buyers to learn your cost...

info_outline Minimal Viable Pricing: How to Stop Guessing and Start Learning (with Dan Balcauski) show art Minimal Viable Pricing: How to Stop Guessing and Start Learning (with Dan Balcauski)

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

Minimal viable pricing is the fastest way to stop debating what your product should cost and start learning what customers will actually pay for. In my interview with Dan Balcauski, founder and Chief Pricing Officer at Product Tranquility, we talked about how early-stage teams can set pricing that’s “good enough” to sell, validate value, and iterate—without getting stuck chasing the perfect number. Pricing can feel risky because it shapes perception, positioning, and revenue. But Dan’s message is practical: you don’t need perfect pricing to move forward—you need minimal viable...

info_outline Workflow Efficiency Metrics: ROI Without Micromanaging (Michael Toguchi) show art Workflow Efficiency Metrics: ROI Without Micromanaging (Michael Toguchi)

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

If you want real improvement—not just more dashboards—workflow efficiency metrics have to start with something most teams avoid: visibility. In Part 2 of our interview with Michael Toguchi, we move from “big ideas” into the operational reality leaders face every day: shadow tools, duplicate systems, fuzzy ROI, and the pricing pressure that shows up when AI makes work faster. This conversation is a reality check for ops leaders, engineering leaders, and consultants trying to scale without drowning in tool sprawl—or measuring productivity in ways that break trust. Workflow...

info_outline Process Before Tools: How to Scale Without Burnout (Michael Toguchi) show art Process Before Tools: How to Scale Without Burnout (Michael Toguchi)

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

If you’ve ever felt like your team is running on duct tape and good intentions, you’re not alone. In this Building Better Developers interview, Michael Toguchi (Chief Strategy Officer at eResources) makes a simple point that changes how you approach growth: process before tools. Before you buy another platform, automate another workflow, or roll out a new system, you need clarity on how the work actually gets done—and who it’s meant to serve. You can’t tool your way out of chaos. The real fix starts upstream—before the migration, before the CRM, before the next sprint. It starts...

info_outline Conversion Rate Optimization: Find Funnel Bottlenecks and Improve What Matters show art Conversion Rate Optimization: Find Funnel Bottlenecks and Improve What Matters

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

You validated the idea. You built the page. Maybe you’re even getting traffic. And yet… the conversions don’t match the effort. In Part 2 of our interview with Samir ElKamouny, we shift from “prove the concept” to conversion rate optimization—the discipline of diagnosing what’s actually limiting growth and improving the parts of your funnel that matter most. This isn’t about chasing shiny marketing tactics. It’s about execution: the kind that turns a funnel from “pretty good” into “predictable.” About Samir ElKamouny Samir ElKamouny is an entrepreneur...

info_outline Market Validation Strategy: Stop Building in the Dark—Validate Your Idea First show art Market Validation Strategy: Stop Building in the Dark—Validate Your Idea First

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

If you’re a developer or founder, you already know how to build. The hard part is building the right thing, for the right people, at the right time. In Part 1 of our interview with Samir ElKamouny, we dig into a practical market validation strategy that helps you avoid the most expensive mistake in software: investing months of effort into something the market didn’t ask for. Samir’s message is refreshingly grounded: big ideas are great, but execution is everything. And execution doesn’t start with code—it starts with clarity, research, and small tests that tell you whether...

info_outline New Year, New Momentum: What Developers Can Look Forward to in 2026 show art New Year, New Momentum: What Developers Can Look Forward to in 2026

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

New Year’s Day hits different when you’re recording with a live studio audience, passing the mic around, and starting the year with a mix of laughs, honest reflection, and big goals. In this Building Better Developers special episode, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche kick off 2026 by sharing a “good thing / bad thing” recap from a recent Christmas party—then opening the floor to the team to talk about the New Year developer goals. It’s casual, it’s real, and it’s a reminder that growth (personal and professional) usually starts with clarity. Michael’s 2026 New...

info_outline 2025 Year-End Reflection for Developers: AI Hype, Layoffs, and What’s Next show art 2025 Year-End Reflection for Developers: AI Hype, Layoffs, and What’s Next

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

It’s New Year’s Eve-Eve, and instead of recording from our usual virtual setups, we did something we’ve talked about for years: we hit record in the same room. If you’re watching on YouTube, you can actually see us together. If you’re listening on audio, you’ll just have to trust us—this one was in-person. In this special episode of Building Better Developers (our Building Better Foundations season), we keep it simple: a Year-End Reflection for Developers. What are we ready to leave behind from this year? What do we want to carry into the next one? And what’s the reality...

info_outline Year-End Reset for Developers: A Pre-Christmas Check-In to Finish Strong show art Year-End Reset for Developers: A Pre-Christmas Check-In to Finish Strong

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

The week before Christmas has a way of exposing how the year really went. Deadlines either slow down or pile up, calendars get messy, and the pressure to “wrap everything up” shows up at the same time you’re trying to enjoy the season. In this Pre-Christmas episode of Building Better Developers, and keep it practical: looking back on the year, calling out what worked (and what didn’t), and sharing why a year-end reset for developers is the best way to prepare for a better new year. Why a Year-End Reset for Developers Matters A year-end reset for developers isn’t just...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

.This episode starts a new multi-part set of interviews with Dale L. Roberts.  He is a guru of self-publishing with dozens of books to his name.  The focus is how to get started, platforms you can use, and how to find success in this far-ranging discussion.  Our first episode provides background on Dale and getting started.

A Self-Publishing Firehose

Start with a focus.  There is a lot to learn about self-publishing.   Many pieces go into being successful.  Dale refers to it as being a firehose of activity.  There are two ways a firehose works.  One is uncontrolled and sprays water everywhere.  The other is focused and puts out fires. Next, we talk about how to take reasoned steps.  That lays out a process to keep your efforts effective.

Stick With It

We all make mistakes.  Those mistakes come far more often when we are new or learning.  Writing and publishing a book is no different.  Your initial goal should be to write the book.  Of course, that is a challenge in and of itself.  Once that is done, then move on to the publishing process.  Note that the critical part of success in all of these is consistency.  Therefore, stick to your plan.  It can be easy to grow discouraged and quit.  However, staying the course and regular progress will get you to the finish line.

A Little Background

Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and video content creator. Dale’s inherent passion for life fuels his self-publishing advocacy both in print and online. After publishing over 40 titles and becoming an international bestselling author on Amazon.  Then, Dale started his YouTube channel, Self-Publishing, with Dale. Feedspot voted it among the Top 50 YouTube channels about self-publishing. Thus, Dale cemented his position as the indie-author community's go-to authority.

Contacting Dale

There are many ways to contact Dale.  However, these are the best ways to reach out or learn more about the various ways he can help.