Hacker News Reader

Comment by mr_eel | Hacker News Reader

This is actually some good solid advice, for _anyone_ selling software.

But I look poorly on the use of link-bait titles. It's deceptive and ultimately annoying, particularly when it employs a generalisation.

After all, there are a myriad of different people involved in the development of a site. Many stake-holders and many opportunities for mistakes and misunderstandings. The basic point is this; there are many reasons why a site doesn't do as good a job of selling as it could. Blaming it on web-devs alone and their perceived inability to sell is horse-pucky. Frankly, most web-devs aren't employed to sell, they're employed to make things. Why should they cop it?

View on HN

This post was actually directed in a passive aggressive way to a couple of developers who employed me, only to completely ignore the countless usability and best practices studies I cited. It was months of pure pain.

The simple truth is, I COMPLETELY VALUE web developers because the work they do keeps me employed. I don't code, but I also expect that they value the experience I bring to the table as a marketer as well. This post is essentially a way of saying, "I don't tell you how to code, so please trust me to do my job."

I agree with mr_eel. Your message is good but it would have been much more effective if you have used a less condescending tone.

Good web developers DO VALUE the importance of marketing and sales. I think we have a lot to learn from you, but with this kind of post you are helping to alienate developers.

Please don't take me wrong, that's just my humble opinion on the matter.

Well, I'm sorry. That was most certainly not what I wanted to do. I actually like developers a lot, and was just a bit frustrated because the developers I was working with at the time were incredibly arrogant. It's a total bummer when you spend your time reading up on marketing best practices and some jerk tells you that Forrester's or Nielsen studies on marketing don't mean anything.

I didn't intend for this post to get to the top of Hacker News. I should be more careful next time.

Just to reiterate, I totally agree with your points.

Also, I perfectly understand your frustration. I've had some opportunity to see the issue from both sides and it's unfortunate when someone refuses to see the value in your work.

"I don't tell you how to code, so please trust me to do my job." Seems to be a bit of a fallacious argument. If you could code better than the developer, I would imagine any developer interested in making a product would put you right in there. However, same goes the other way, if the developer is a better marketer than you... get another job...

Reply on news.ycombinator.com