A Friendly Guide to Make the Most out of Peerlist

Welcome to Peerlist, the dedicated online space for builders!

Peerlist is all about putting your real work front and center, helping you make genuine connections with other software developers, engineers, designers and tech folk who truly get what building is all about.

Think of this as the place to show off your projects, learn from each other and connect on what you build, not just where you work. Here, everyone shares that drive to create, to innovate and to bring their ideas to life.

This guide will help you get the most out of Peerlist for yourself and help this awesome community of builders grow together.

Here’s What Helps You and the Community Thrive on Peerlist:

Build a Strong Peerlist Profile:

Think of your Peerlist profile as a dynamic space that evolves with your skills and achievements. It’s your way of showcasing your professional personality to the world.

Profile Picture:
Start by adding a professional photo that truly represents you, and avoid random images. This builds trust, especially when connecting with new people.

Bio:
Your bio is your first hello, your chance to tell your story. Keep it short, compelling, and to the point: who you are, what you do, or what you’re building.

Basic Profile:
Fill in the essentials: your name, your go-to tech stack, and your location. You can also add your calendar to connect directly with others.

Keep things concise and genuine. A quick way to optimize your profile:
Ask yourself, “If I saw my Peerlist profile, would I want to interact with it?”

Showcase Your Projects (Crucially Important!):

This is where Peerlist shines. Keep your profile updated by adding your latest projects, side gigs, open source contributions or cool features from your job.

Make sure to link your GitHub, Dribbble, Medium, etc., to your Peerlist profile, so people can easily access your work. An active profile tells people you're always building and growing.

Also when you share your work, always provide context. It's better to highlight a few well-explained, impressive projects instead of many minor ones without context. Focus on your best work.

Showcase Your Work (Crucially Important!):

This is why you’re on Peerlist and this is where Peerlist truly shines. Your profile is a living portfolio of everything you’ve built, shipped, or contributed to.

Keep your profile updated with all your work.

How?
Start by linking your GitHub, Dribbble, Substack, LeetCode, and other profiles that reflect your work across the web. These links turn your Peerlist profile into a central hub, showcasing your craft, creativity, and consistency.

Side Projects:
Use the Side Projects section to tell the story behind what you’ve built. Add demos, share context, explain your thinking. Show not just what you built, but why and how you built it.
This is your space to flex the work you're proud of, whether it's polished or a WIP.

Why it matters:
An active Peerlist profile signals to collaborators, hiring managers, and your peers that you're always building, always growing. And in a world where what you’ve done speaks louder than what you say, this can open doors.

Engage in thoughtful discussions:

Think of Peerlist as a place to have meaningful conversations, not just to scroll and observe.

See a project, question, or idea that resonates with you? Drop a thoughtful comment, ask what’s on your mind, or share a relevant experience. The goal is to help each other grow.

But don’t just comment for the sake of it, we’re all done with “interested” comments. Let’s not bring that here. Instead, share your genuine opinions! A great book you just discovered, an interesting podcast you’re planning to listen to, a challenge you faced at work, or even a rant about your unfinished side project, this is the place to share it all.

Real connections start with real conversations.

Connect Meaningfully with Fellow Builders:

Having a solid network is super important and Peerlist is a great spot to build that. Don't wait around. If someone's work or ideas are cool, follow them, shoot them a dm and strike up a conversation.

Instead of just saying "Hey," try asking about their projects, how they're learning new things or what they think about the industry. Show that you're genuinely curious.

Also, be willing to lend a hand! If you know something that could help someone else out, offer your support. Helping each other makes the whole community stronger.

Embrace the Genuine, Builder-Focused Vibe:

Peerlist is all about being real and sharing a love to build. Just focus on your journey and what you're actually doing. Share real experiences, good and bad. People appreciate honesty.

Try to be helpful whenever you can. Share what you know, offer ideas or just be supportive. Building stuff isn't always easy. So do not hesitate to talk about the tough parts, the changes you made, and what you learned. Other builders get it.

What to Avoid to Maintain a Positive Community:

To ensure Peerlist remains a valuable and focused space for everyone, here’s what’s generally not a good fit:

Do not be a wallflower:

Peerlist is a safe place and community where everyone can pitch in. Even if you're just starting out, your thoughts and questions matter. Don't be shy, share what you think, and try to engage regularly. Share updates, comment on things or ask questions.

Passive content consumption is good. But we are here to build a network and learn from each other. So jump into conversations whenever you can!

Avoid Sharing Links Without Context:

Sharing your work on Peerlist is encouraged, but dropping a link without any context can feel lazy and disconnected. If you're putting something out there, give people a reason to care.

Before you post, try answering a few simple things:

• Why are you sharing this? What's the backstory or motivation?

• What should others look for? Is there something specific you’d love feedback on?

• What makes it meaningful to you?

Adding a short note helps others understand your intent and makes them more likely to engage.

Also, don’t forget to reply when someone comments. Some of the best solutions I’ve seen started in the comment section. So if you think it’s just a comment, think again.

Tailor Your Content for the Peerlist Community:

What works on other professional platforms may not work on Peerlist. It has a different focus and audience: Builders showcasing their work, progress, and insights. 

Adapt your content to fit Peerlist’s builder-centric, work-showcasing nature. Focus on the technical aspects, the building process, and the lessons learned.

Also, avoid sounding like a preacher. Empty thoughts or engagement farming is generally frowned upon. It only contributes to noise. If you are sharing something, make sure you have insights or experience to share to back up that thought.

Focus on Sharing Value, Not Just Self-Promotion:

Think of your profile as your proof of work. Showing off what you've done is cool, but here it's more about the actual work done and what you learn in the process. 

If what you share is useful, people will notice. Constantly bragging without helping is something we avoid.

Maintain a Respectful and Constructive Environment:

Keeping things positive and respectful is super important for everyone. It's okay to disagree and see things differently. That can actually help us learn. Just make sure you’re always respectful and stick to the topic.

Negative or condescending comments have no place in the Peerlist community. Let's focus on giving helpful feedback and supporting each other. Be mindful of your language in online conversations to ensure clarity and respect in all interactions. Remember that behind every profile is a person eager to learn and build, just as you are.

Peerlist is a focused and valuable space because of the thoughtful way our members engage. 

I see people on Peerlist actively participating in the community while also taking accountability and action to ensure that this is a clean and productive space. I think we can stand to learn a thing or two from them.

Our community is growing at rocket speed, and it’s our responsibility to keep the atmosphere builder-centric and professional, with a friendly touch! Peerlist is a place where builders hang out, learn, and grow together. So let’s keep the momentum going.

Happy building! 🚀