Question

Topic: Strategy

How To Reach And Engage Software Developers (2)?

Posted by donli on 2/14/2019 at 4:03 PM ET 125 Points
Hi,

Not long ago I asked this question before.
Something odd seems happening.

Despite hyper and noise about blockchain the truth is the technology truly has great merits and forward looking entrepreneurs and corporations are seriously looking into leveraging it.
Thus, need for such expertise should continue to grow. But recently I didn't receive same amount of inquiries as before. And for those inquired the new bunch didn't end up buying. My method and style hasn't changed. So, it seems very odd.

Another thing, many college students seem to show an interest in
blockchain technology. Although i would need to reduce my price for
them but if the numbers is good then that's perfectly ok.

Btw, the suggestion of working with innovation centers sounded interesting but didn't work, googling could hardly find them.

Any further thoughts/ideas would be appreciated.


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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 2/14/2019 at 5:52 PM Accepted
    Are people inquiring about your offering buying or just looking? Did they find a better solution from your competition? What has changed in the marketplace? Have you done a recent competitive analysis to see where your strengths/weaknesses are?

    Interest is nice. Purchasing is best.
  • Posted by mgoodman on 2/14/2019 at 6:05 PM Moderator
    My guess is that you are too focused on the technology itself and not on the unique BENEFIT your primary target audience would realize if/when they employ the technology. Promise the benefit rather than the "tool" you use to deliver it.
  • Posted by donli on 2/14/2019 at 7:44 PM Author
    @Jay, I've already sold a few dozens in a short time, so, it's wanted.

    @Michael, good thought, Michael, thank you.

    Now, I'm thinking of how to reach college students majoring in computer science, but one concern I have for them as a target market is that college students tend to want to get stuff for free...
  • Posted by mgoodman on 2/15/2019 at 12:34 PM Moderator
    Regarding your student audience: Why should they want what you're selling? How will it benefit them? Will they get better grades? Will they earn credits toward graduation for what they learn? Will it help them land better jobs? Will they get paying internships? Will it enhance their social lives?

    If the benefit is attractive enough, you can probably charge them full price. If not, maybe the next step is to re-position the offering so the benefit is more compelling.
  • Posted by donli on 2/15/2019 at 5:03 PM Author
    Michael, thanks for posing valid questions.
    On a practical level, my blockchain training materials will help college students majoring in computer science or information technology and who are interested in blockchain technology to gain practical knowledge in the field quickly so that it would give them a leg up in competition in getting paid internship and/or some side gig with startups or companies that are interested in this nascent technology.
  • Posted by mgoodman on 2/15/2019 at 8:50 PM Moderator
    So you can guarantee students who purchase your material that they will get a paid internship or side gig, or you will refund all the money they paid.
  • Posted by donli on 2/15/2019 at 9:02 PM Author
    How many universities including elite ones guarantee that their graduates would immediate find jobs they wish to have? And many of them charge a leg and an arm.

    Having said that, though not guaranteed, my training materials will increase their odds of obtaining such paid opportunities by 30% to 55%. Wouldn't that be an attractive ROI for about $180 investment?
  • Posted by telemoxie on 2/18/2019 at 8:16 PM Accepted
    Are you saying that you are doing the same thing, but getting fewer results?

    What is the same? Are you using the same list? The same techniques? The same message? The same offer? Are you stressing the same benefits? If all these things are the same, I would certainly expect your results to decrease over time.

    Have you considered trying something different? Are you doing any A/B testing? Can you try different messages to the same people, or your proven message to new people?
  • Posted by donli on 2/18/2019 at 10:33 PM Author
    @telemoxie,

    Thanks for the questions.

    Let me add more context here.
    * Blockchain technology is complex. So, even good programmers would need to spend some good amount of time to study it to gain expertise.
    * Free documentation is not well organized, not suitable for learners.
    * My training materials are cohesive and designed to help learners to gain such knowledge in a logical manner. In comparison, some 2 or 3 days training program are both expensive and less effective.

    I think most likely it's because medium to learn about my training materials essentially remains the same, so, with the same audience, newer readers/interested parties are fewer.

    Btw, I don't have any list. I'm trying to figure out how to reach a large number of junior software developers or college computer science students quickly and cheaply...
  • Posted by mgoodman on 2/20/2019 at 1:00 PM Accepted
    If you prepare a good news release, you can probably get an article placed in college newspapers around the country. The keys will be to (1) offer valuable information about blockchain, (2) explain the benefit to students, and (3) make a compelling offer -- all without sounding like a blatant commercial.

    You might need to hire a copywriter to make this successful, but the task should be doable. Good luck.
  • Posted by donli on 2/20/2019 at 4:24 PM Author
    Good thoughts, Michael, thank you.
  • Posted by Shelley Ryan on 3/4/2019 at 2:57 PM Moderator
    Hi Everyone,

    I am closing this question since there hasn't been much recent activity.

    Thanks for participating!

    Shelley
    MarketingProfs
  • Posted by donli on 3/4/2019 at 3:03 PM Author
    Sure, thanks Shelley
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