Branding might be the last thing that a developer wants to do. We just want to code, right? You probably don’t see yourself getting out there as some type of personality in the programming world especially as you’re just getting started. I’ve had my struggles and doubts in wondering if I’m worthy of blogging or talking about development to people. You have to remember that we’ve all got something to say to someone, whether it’s another developer that’s struggling with mindset or some concept or a prospective employer/client looking for your unique skill set.
The thing is that you don’t have to be seen as some guru, although you can if you want, but simply a person with something to offer to the world. What can you help somebody with? As developers, we have the ability to solve many challenges for individuals and companies in unique ways. Even if you’re learning there’s value in showing others what you’re learning so that they can go on the journey with you and get inspired by your action. Putting yourself out there will elevate your efforts in multiple ways providing accountability to the world, even if it’s just a few people reading your blog, and incentive to be better technically so that you can pass your knowledge along to make others better in turn.
Your Super Power
So how do you want to convey your abilities to the world? What is your super power? This is where developing your identity or brand as a software developer comes into play. You have to determine what you want to communicate with clarity first. If you’ve been reading the “How to become a Software Developer” series then you should have a decent idea of what you want to offer. If you haven’t read the series then go back and do it! There are many ways to get your name out there so that people and organizations will come to you instead of the other way around. You need to be strategic about how you’re presenting yourself so choose wisely and be intentional with your brand and messaging.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to have your super power yet but you could be aiming to get there. You have to deliver on your promises or expectations but it’s okay to be working towards your goal as you’re helping others. Depending on your audience they’ll appreciate that you’re candidly learning as they are and working towards the same kinds of goals but maybe just a few steps ahead. It’s okay that you don’t know everything. Who really does right? The important thing is that you’re being honest and delivering.
Clarity
The most important aspect of your brand is clarity, you’ve got to become clear on what it is that you do and why you’re the best at it. Come up with a one-liner statement or tagline to help with this that’s easy to remember. Something along the lines of “I help ______ to _______ so that they can _________” for example “I help companies build cross platform mobile applications so that their app can be run on more devices and reach more customers. To take this another step come up with an elevator pitch which is a bit longer but goes into a little more detail. You could expand little further to include how you build an app maybe mentioning the languages that you specialize in or something a little more technical. Be careful to not make the statements complex as you want non-programmer people to understand them. They’ll be other times to get into the details with more technical folks.
Consistency
Once you’ve crafted your message and become clear about what you’re going to offer then you’ve got to be consistent about getting it out there. Think about how you best communicate whether it’s through writing or speaking. If you’re comfortable at both then great, you’ve got more options. I’d say at least once per week is good but as often as possible. Get out there by writing blog posts, recording videos, helping in forums, and posting sample code. Without a following of some kind you don’t have a brand. Develop your brand through a clear and consistent message.
Branding or Marketing Channels
Social Media
This is probably the easiest way to start, by building an online presence through sites like LinkedIn or Twitter. It’s likely that you’ve already got profiles on social media. Do you feel that those represent you and give the best picture of what you can offer? Be sure to tailor those to your newly minted brand and put some focus on one at a time to grow your following intentionally.
Blogging
Starting a blog and building your portfolio site is still the best way to establish your brand as a software developer. Your own blog gives you control whereas other platforms, such as social media, could change the game suddenly limiting your potential and impact. You can make your blog your own space showcasing your skills and crafting the perfect message for your intended audience. There’s a wealth of information floating around about creating a blog. The quickest way and probably the best, especially in the beginning, is to to use WordPress with some lower-end shared hosting that has the ability to scale if needed. If you just want to start getting some stuff out there then Medium may be a good option as I see the site come up quite often in searches for development related content.
YouTube
If you don’t mind hopping on camera or just doing some screen recordings then you could develop a following on YouTube as well. This is an area that I haven’t ventured into, mainly due to perfection and fear of getting on camera. As I don’t see too many developers with ‘hot’ YouTube channels this could be a prime place to gain some traction with your brand. Google owns/likes YouTube so from an SEO perspective putting some effort here could pay off.
Forums
Find some forums or community sites where you can contribute such as StackOverflow, Quora, or Reddit. A dedicated community site where you can become known and helpful among a group is a good place to develop some of your identity as well. I’m a member over at Simple Programmer. Being part of a group of developers with similar goals is motivating and it’s a great place to find help with career related questions. Gaining credibility and trust among a group of like-minded people can help you level up and get better through a degree of accountability.
Meetups & In-Person Events
It’s easy to forget about the old fashion way of ‘brand’ building which is meeting people in person. Look for local meetups to attend where you may be able to offer value. These could be more general meetups to ones more specific to the language(s) that you use. Meetup.com and EventBrite.com are a couple of top-of-mind sites where you can look. Conferences are a great opportunity as well if you go with a purpose and not just to pick up some swag.
Conclusion
So to summarize, do the following to kick-start your brand.
- Create your tagline and elevator pitch.
- Determine at least 1 channel where you’ll initially focus and put your effort there.
- Decide how often you’re going to publish content.The best time to get started is now.Remember that there are people out there looking for you and what you have to offer. Come up with your plan and start executing!
Hi, I'm Josh Cook. I'm here to help you transition into a career in Software Development.