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Comment by siddharthdeswal | Hacker News Reader

Here's how in-depth this link is, presented in (hopefully) easier to understand context for most people here:

"The Web App Development Guide for Marketers"

1) Get a database because they are the where all your data will be saved. "You should have a db if you have nothing else."

- MySQL book link

- Relational databases video

- more intro-to-databases links

2) "Fancy having a frontend?" A frontend is needed because your users will want to use your awesome app

- HTML link

- CSS link

3) Do's and Don'ts

- Have forms and buttons

- Don't make the forms too long. Here's some research to show long forms lead to lesser people submitting them.

... and so on and so forth.

View on HN

I don't think anyone (including the authors) would disagree that this is a very basic introduction to marketing for developers.

A point that's very separate from whether or not it has value.

There are still way too many developers who are making awesome products and then failing to get traction because they neglect the marketing basics. Something like this article that plainly lays out the basics is very helpful for setting a baseline.

> There are still way too many developers who are > making awesome products and then failing to get traction

Can you give some examples? My experience is that the "Build it and they will come" approach works surprisingly well.

It works if you can hit upon the sequence of events to get some viral attention. Hitting HN at the right time of day, or getting some other attention among your target users. That can be a matter of chance but usually requires at least some effort on your part.

Just creating a product and a website with no marketing whatsoever is unlikely to get the attention of anyone.

How do you find out / when is the right time of day to post to HN?

Google indeed can be your friend here.

One analysis I like is from 'minimaxir: http://minimaxir.com/2014/02/hacking-hacker-news/

There's also a Quora answer: https://www.quora.com/When-is-the-best-time-to-post-on-Hacke...

And wouldn't you know it, a submission on Hacker News itself for a post entitled "Best Time to Post? It’s Irrelevant": https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9426040

I'm sure there are others as well.

This has and hasn't worked for me in the past. The difference being that the successful project was something that people actually wanted. So much of the success hinges on finding the right product for the right niche. If you get that it will grow organically regardless of your marketing. Then the marketing is just a way to accelerate the growth.

In business school, marketing is defined as the 4Ps.

They include Product + Place.

So, finding the right product for the right niche is the key part of marketing strategy.

You're right, everyone figured out it was a very basic intro.

My point is it's so basic that it isn't useful.

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