Code as Marketing
Marketing to software engineers is difficult. We are a picky bunch. Our first instinct is always “I could build that.” As a result, our expectations are high. When we’re finally ready to plunk down hard-earned money for a service or a tool, it had better work. And if it doesn’t work, we are not quiet.
But software engineers are also big spenders. I’m thinking of just a handful of the platforms and tools I’ve used over the years:
Before paying for these or any others, I evaluate whether they accomplish the goals. Sometimes I personally paid for these. Other times I advocated for a client or company to purchase them.
So what convinced me to spend instead of build?
You may think that it was an ad, a sponsorship, or a pretty website. Or maybe it was one of the 4 P’s of Marketing (Product, Price, Place, Promotion).
But what about code? Look at this list again, and you’ll see tons of related open-source projects:
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In several of these cases, I kept using the products after I stopped using the code. While the code initially solves more specific problems, the products have much more to offer. And so I stick around and spend money.
That’s code as marketing.
In the coming weeks and months, I’m going to be getting into the practice of writing and releasing more open-source code.
What kind of code? The kind that gets you paid.
Ensuring you get paid for the product you’re building is the most important feature you can add. And yet so many startups skimp on billing and account management. The result is a mess that can take months and even years to clean up.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Follow along as I show you how!