Burning money on paid ads for a dev tool – what we've learned (posthog.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the author's experience with paid ads for their dev tool, PostHog, and shares lessons learned about what works and what doesn't. The author clears up common misconceptions about paid ads, such as the idea that they are a subset of marketing and that all paid ads are basically the same. The article also provides channel-by-channel tips for running effective paid ads. The author emphasizes the importance of experimenting and measuring results to determine the effectiveness of paid ads.

Main themes

• paid ads
• dev tools marketing
• user experience
• social media advertising
• product development
• conversion rates
• onboarding process

What commenters say

• Some commenters criticized the website's design and user experience, citing issues with scrolling and loading times.
• Sponsoring open source projects can be a way to build awareness for dev tools, but its effectiveness is debated.
• Some commenters argued that social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok can be effective for targeting developers, while others were skeptical.
• Having a compelling product that resonates with the target audience is crucial before investing in paid ads.
• Conducting user interviews and testing landing pages with ads can help determine if a product is ready for paid advertising.
• The onboarding process after a user lands on a platform is critical to conversion rates.
• Some commenters shared their own experiences with paid ads, including successes and failures, and offered tips for optimizing ad campaigns.