B2Developer Marketing, Is it even a real thing??

Question

👋 Hey Product Hunt community, It's my first discussion topic in PH.

Basically my pov: Developers are not just code creators; they're crucial decision-makers, often having the final say in choosing the technologies or platforms their companies adopt. And they tend to speak a different language (quite literally😅)

I'm curious about your opinions(you can ignore my little nudge in the options😁)

PS., In Contentrain, we're experimenting some B2D operations for a while and trying to get some insights.

Feyzan A. · Accepted Answer

Hello! I agree with you, especially about speaking a different language :)

Harun · Answer

I've been to a few developer conferences recently and I've noticed that at some conferences or even single talks were nothing more than marketing for a specific product. Often the sponsors have their own slots for presentations - and then you have a bunch of developers in one room being told something about a product.

Can DEVE · Answer

In my opinion, how well their needs are met and ease of use are as important to developers as marketing.

Serkan Korkaç · Answer

As the developer population increases, our language will become stronger 😀

Sandra Djajic · Answer

This is my first time hearing this definition. Now, as I think about it, I realize I've been doing this for the past six months. Thank you for defining it! :D

Amulya Prasad · Answer

It's so real. Understanding and connecting with a developer gets tricky in Marketing. A marketer has to have developer knowledge to keep going. I've been working with Neverinstall 2.0 and I've spent time understanding developers' bottlenecks and their workflow. It has really helped me strategize my marketing efforts.

Arda Sanıl Onay · Answer

Yes, I think marketing in a normal market and marketing in a development ecosystem don't the same thing. In this case,The most important thing, is your target audiences are a specific crowd of people. And they have important knowledge about the ecosystem. Also, they know how they can meet their needs by using which product. That's why, you should think twice or three times before doing b2d marketing. Any simple mistake or upgrade can affect your users negatively or positively.

Fabian Maume · Answer

Yes marketing to developer is a thing. But it tends to be quite complex: developer do not like to be advertise too. It is important to focus on informative content and avoid being sales pushy. There are few channels which work well with developer: - Reddit - Twitter (organic rather than ad as developers heavily use ad blocker) - Product hunt (Just use "developer tool" as one of your launch topic) - dev.to good for content distribution - github you can list yourself in repo like this one: https://github.com/maxprilutskiy...

Matt Kealey · Answer

B2D seems very interesting. I might have to do a deep dive into it.

Deniz · Answer

@fabian_maume Hey Fabian,

Your comment is spot-on and really resonates with our experience at Contentrain. Marketing to developers does indeed require a thoughtful approach. Developers value authenticity, relevance, and value-add, not salesy or flashy messages.

I completely agree that channels like Reddit, Twitter, and dev.to are effective for reaching developers, and that the emphasis should be on organic, informative content. They provide fantastic platforms for us to share our ideas, engage in discussions, and even learn a thing or two from our fellow developers.

Thanks so much for your insights and support, Fabian. These kinds of exchanges are exactly what we're here for!

Deniz · Answer

@notcan Hey Can, our ultimate power user!

Man, you hit the nail on the head there! 👌 Indeed, we don't just want something shiny and well-marketed. We want tools that meet our needs, solve our problems, and, of course, don't make us want to throw our computers out the window in frustration😅

Deniz · Answer

@mattkealey I'm happy to hear that Matt! Here's a great link to start: https://github.com/ronakganatra/...

Eyüp Poyraz · Answer

I completely agree - developers are key decision-makers and more than just "code creators". They're critical thinkers, problem solvers, and their choices greatly impact projects.

For B2D, understanding developers' preferences, language, and work culture is crucial. They need powerful, flexible tools, great community support, and top-notch documentation.

Remember, while they value practicality, developers are also users. UX and simplicity matter. Good luck with your B2D experiments at Contentrain!

Deniz · Answer

@hrnsvnc Hey Harun,

You're absolutely right. The line between informative talks and product pitches can often blur at conferences. As someone focused on B2D marketing, it's essential for me to remember that developers value insightful, practical, and non-salesy content.

I believe there's a right way and a wrong way to do this - it's about bringing real value to the table, helping developers solve problems, learn something new, and improve their craft, rather than just promoting a product. Your feedback strengthens this idea!

Thanks for sharing your experiences and insights, really appreciated!

Deniz · Answer

@sandradjajic

SANDRA! It's super cool that you've been doing B2D marketing without even realizing it! That's the beauty of it – sometimes, we're already doing the right things intuitively. I'm glad that I introduced this concept to you!

If you have any insights or experiences you'd like to share, feel free to do so. It could provide valuable insights for the rest of us.

B2Developer Marketing, Is it even a real thing??

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