You’re probably already collecting feedback from a host of people connected to your business, especially the users that you see as directly involved in creating value for your company.
How well are you listening to the developers that are instrumental in enriching the content of your platform or using your APIs — and are you focusing on developer outreach?
Asking developers what they want can create great gains for everyone.
You don’t have to do anything too complex to figure out what you can offer developers — this isn’t the world of web analytics, heat maps, and A/B testing. Improving your developer relations and helping to build an engaged community starts with simply sending an email.
Effective, informative, targeted developer outreach can help you get these four quick wins
- Gauge interest in meetups or discussion groups to address new APIs or SDKs
- Plan educational efforts like code labs, workshops, hackathons, webinars, etc.
- Spread the word about events and get your top developers to contribute
- Spark broader community interest in your platform or services, and in your developers
Getting your developers involved in the initial planning phases of these endeavors will make them a stronger part of your community. Letting them take active roles in the events, including teaching workshops or speaking at get-togethers, will help them promote their own work, creating value for all concerned.
Try these quick communication tips to begin your developer outreach:
- Create segmented mailing lists based on expertise and interest
- Personalize emails and be genuine in requesting input
- Respond quickly to suggestions and inquiries
- Track opens and responses to constantly improve communication
The more you make your developer community a foundational part of your company, the more the value will flow in all directions.