Overview
Open source projects aim to gain momentum by attracting an ample user base and contributors, establishing a thriving and self-sustaining venture that resonates with the intended audience. However, the crux of the matter is discovering effective strategies to captivate users and developers for project reach and engagement.
ToolJet stands as an exemplary open-source low-code platform that empowers both developers and business users to swiftly craft applications by establishing direct connections with diverse databases and services. Our journey has led us to a significant milestone of 20,000 GitHub stars, accompanied by a vibrant community of 400 contributors. This achievement not only reflects numerical growth but also underscores our evolution into a thriving ecosystem of engaged users and contributors. In the spirit of fostering collaboration and learning, we're eager to share some of the strategic initiatives that have propelled our progress. It is our hope that these insights may provide valuable guidance to fellow open-source projects seeking to flourish in a similar manner.
1. Awareness Building
Cultivating awareness and garnering a dedicated user base is essential for sustained growth and development. A powerful strategy to achieve this is by actively engaging with platforms that cater to tech-savvy enthusiasts, such as Reddit's /r/selfhosted. This subreddit serves as a vibrant hub for discussions and recommendations surrounding self-hosted software and projects. By participating in relevant discussions, sharing valuable insights, and showcasing the unique features and benefits of your open-source project, you can tap into a community of individuals who are already enthusiastic about self-hosting solutions. This interaction not only brings your project to their attention but also establishes a direct line of communication, allowing you to receive feedback, address concerns, and foster genuine connections with potential users and contributors. In doing so, you not only increase the visibility of your open-source project but also lay the foundation for a loyal and engaged user base that can greatly contribute to the project's success over time.
Here’s how the subreddit /selfhosted helped us to boost the ToolJet 2.0 launch that brought awareness about the prominent features.
2. Strategic Launches
By strategically timing and presenting significant updates on platforms like Product Hunt, open-source projects can tap into a community of tech enthusiasts, innovators, and potential collaborators. In this case, Product Hunt's engaged audience, always on the lookout for novel solutions, offers a unique opportunity to showcase new features and improvements. This exposure not only generates interest and feedback but also creates a sense of excitement around the project's progress.
Our debut on Product Hunt propelled ToolJet to the top spot as the Product of the Day🔥 and an impressive 3rd position in the coveted Product of the Week rankings
3. Content Enablement
Leveraging current trends on platforms like DEV can maximise product visibility. By constant content production and aligning them with trending topics, you can effectively capture the attention of a wide audience. This strategy was supportive for us in the past, with our previous DEV blogs reaching thousands of viewers. For instance, our articles on building internal tools with ChatGPT's integration garnered substantial engagement, demonstrating the power of leveraging trending discussions to enhance content visibility and engagement.
4. Collaborative Outreach
Engaging in collaborative outreach allows open-source projects to establish symbiotic partnerships with like-minded companies, nurturing mutual growth and innovation. Identifying win-win opportunities becomes pivotal in this endeavor, ensuring that both parties gain value from the collaboration. Equally crucial is setting clear, prioritized outcomes to steer efforts effectively. Measuring results and gleaning insights from these collaborations then forms the foundation for future engagements. Notable instances of such collaborations for ToolJet, include with industry leaders like MongoDB, Stripe, GitHub, MariaDB, and more, where joint efforts have led to address the relevant audience effectively.
5. Nurturing Contributor Community
Cultivating an engaged project repository is crucial for nurturing community growth and maintaining a responsive development environment. Simultaneously, our active approach to encouraging contributor engagement is highlighted by our strategic emphasis on showcasing ToolJet’s expanding contributor base. This is achieved by creating and managing accessible good first issues, which offer contributors opportunities to address specific product concerns. Through this approach, we not only strengthen our community but also enhance the project’s overall quality by collaboratively addressing pertinent issues.
6. Community Engagement
Active engagement with users plays a pivotal role in nurturing meaningful interactions within a project's user base. Recognizing the significance of direct communication, ToolJet regularly hosts community calls in the last week of every month. These sessions provide an opportunity not only to share updates on releases and demonstrate features but also to educate users about specific usage aspects and best practices. These collaborative interactions encourage open discussions and valuable feedback from the community. The insights garnered from these conversations serve as a valuable resource for internal decisions, enabling them to refine and enhance their products based on community expectations and requirements.
7. Evangelizing on the ground
Elevating awareness of the open-source product through active engagement in relevant conferences and meet-ups stands as a potent strategy. These gatherings offer an optimal platform to spotlight the product's value, advantages, and distinctive attributes directly to a receptive audience. Notably, ToolJet has consistently participated in open source conferences like IndiaFOSS and FOSS Hack hackathons, leveraging the conversations, informative exchanges, and the cultivation of connections. These events effectively disseminate product information within a community that shares common interests and requirements. This proactive approach not only builds brand recognition but also positions the open-source product as a pertinent and influential solution within its niche.
Conclusion
As we reflect on this milestone, it's essential to recognize that each platform offers a unique landscape and experimentation is key. What worked for us might require adaptation for others. The journey is one of perpetual learning, where embracing new approaches, seeking valuable feedback, and nurturing authentic connections contribute to a thriving open-source ecosystem. So, while our story may inspire, it's your experimentation and commitment that will shape your own success story, leading to impactful stars, contributors, and accomplishments. We sincerely hope that these insights find their way into your project's growth journey. Thank you for taking the time to read through and explore our journey.
Feeling intrigued by our journey? Take a closer look at ToolJet on GitHub and consider giving it a star⭐️ if it captures your interest. Dive into the project's potential by exploring the good first issues and up for grabs – your contribution could be the next step towards shaping our collective endeavor.
Top comments (8)
Loved reading this piece... very pertinent points on how to leverage different platforms you have at your disposal to build a lasting brand presence, and a strong community. This goes a long way in not only building a brand presence, but an active community which can provide feedback and add value in the long run.
Absolutely @subhmsft , You're right, and I'm fortunate to presonally witness this, thank you much for extending on this.
Nice project!
Thank you @robsongrangeiro
Super excited
Awesome 🚀
Amazing journey, saved for future reference.
Thank you @ashutoshmishra