#DEVDiscuss: Marketing for Developers

Publish Date: Aug 30 '23

17 13

Time for #DEVDiscuss — right here on DEV 😎

Marketing for Developers: The Unconventional Guide

Ivan Novak ・ Aug 24 '23

#startup #webdev #coding #tutorial

Inspired by @inovak's Top 7 post, tonight’s topic is... Marketing for Developers!

For developers, marketing is a blend of technical expertise and communication skills aimed at showcasing a product, tool, or service. Unlike traditional marketing, where the focus might be broader and less specialized, marketing for developers requires an understanding of the specific needs, languages, and problems that developers face.

Questions:

What role does social media play in marketing for developers?
Can you share examples of developers who have excelled at marketing?
How can developers work on building their personal brand alongside their technical skills?
Any triumphs, fails, or other stories you'd like to share on this topic?

Comments 13 total

GodotAug 30, 2023
Thanks @inovak, it's been a tremendous reference for me to check back and recheck to see which part I could work on for the week.
DRAug 30, 2023
I think one of my favorite marketing success stories is that of a guy named John Sonmez. His advice on how to market yourself as a software developer is really practical material on the subject. I've been reading his book Soft Skills for the past month or so and it has a really good section on marketing that's shaped some of my views on what is necessary and what isn't. Highly recommended.

Social media? I think it's necessary to some degree, but it's super easy to cross a line from promotion to distraction. To some extent, what we're trying to accomplish with social media is the building of a network (whether that be professional or more personal). It's good until you lose focus of why you're on the platform - then you'll end up wasting time and becoming too fixated on others. It's a tool to leverage your personal brand, and a very effective one indeed thanks to the sheer quantity of users that most social medias boast. Use it wisely.
- Francisco Quintero 🇨🇴Aug 30, 2023
  Agreed with Sonmez mention. I've read some of his books and they got some good advice.
- FyodorAug 31, 2023
  FWIW this guy sonmez is a decent 🍑hole which probably says something about the value of his insights
- James LauAug 31, 2023
  Looks like there is a Github copy of this book? Not sure if it is the same one.
  
  Here's the link: [github.com/aboelkassem/References_...]
  - DRAug 31, 2023
    Yep, that's the one! I read the second edition (published about 5 years later?), but the first is probably about the same. I got it from my local library, but the GH link seems like a viable option as well :)
Ben HalpernAug 30, 2023
I think it's okay to think of a lot of day to day skills as in the realm of "marketing" — even if it's just marketing the quality of your PR.
FyodorAug 31, 2023
A lot of interesting interviews about different business-related topics targeted to developers (including marketing) can be found in Ryan Chenkie’s podcast, definitely recommended for checking out — ecpodcast.io/
- James LauAug 31, 2023
  Hey @fyodorio, thanks for the link! But it seems like his podcasts stopped around 2021. Nonetheless, I ended up downloading well over 8 episodes to listen.
  - FyodorSep 1, 2023
    Yes, it's the old one, but I still relisten some episodes from time to time
jasicarose75Sep 16, 2023
Social media plays a significant role in developer marketing. They provide a platform to network with other developers, promote your products and ideas, and learn and share knowledge. I asked for marketing assignment help before, used essays.edubirdie.com/marketing-ass... for that. Now, thank God, I understand something about this myself. I can conclude... Marketing for developers requires the ability to find a balance between technical depth and the ability to communicate effectively with the audience.
- OstranderNov 25, 2023
  Marketing for developers often revolves around the strategic fusion of technical prowess with audience-centric communication. It involves leveraging the understanding of coding languages and software development to create impactful marketing campaigns. Whether it's crafting compelling content to showcase a new programming language or architecting a user-friendly interface for a website targeting tradesmen, the intersection of technology and marketing becomes pivotal. The proficiency to develop a Website for Tradesmen not only demands coding finesse but also requires an acute awareness of the trade industry's needs and preferences, ultimately aiming to bridge the gap between technical innovation and market demands.
chrdekFeb 4, 2025
To add valuable marketing info on your website/application or whatever tech service or product someone is promoting you need to be actively gathering insight about your marketing audience beforehand. Most developers or technical personnel know how to make a product but not sure how to actively promote it.
First site that comes to mind for this is:
Kickstarter in case you already have a good tech product in hand but not enough budget to promote it or don't know many people.

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