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Brian Bethencourt for The DEV Team

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#DEVDiscuss: Marketing for Developers

Time for #DEVDiscuss β€” right here on DEV 😎

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?

Top comments (11)

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jd2r profile image
DR

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.

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jameslau profile image
James Lau

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_...]

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jd2r profile image
DR

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 :)

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cescquintero profile image
Francisco Quintero πŸ‡¨πŸ‡΄

Agreed with Sonmez mention. I've read some of his books and they got some good advice.

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fyodorio profile image
Fyodor

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 β€” ecpodcast.io/

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jameslau profile image
James Lau

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.

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fyodorio profile image
Fyodor

Yes, it's the old one, but I still relisten some episodes from time to time

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ben profile image
Ben Halpern

I think it's okay to think of a lot of day to day skills as in the realm of "marketing" β€” even if it's just marketing the quality of your PR.

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jasicarose75 profile image
jasicarose75 • Edited

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.

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ostrander9854 profile image
Ostrander

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.

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godot profile image
Godot

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.

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