Database developer with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry.
I'm always happy to help if you have any questions about databases, integration or implementation.
Hi Hema! Great insights on writing for enjoyment over metrics. Quick question:
For writers promoting their own products (like me), how did you balance
sharing Dev Opportunity Radar without it feeling like self-promotion? Any
tips on tags or angles that worked better? Still struggling with visibility
despite short, clear posts.
Hey, I'm Hema 👋
Developer, writer, and creator of Dev Opportunity Radar, a weekly series published every Friday on DEV, helping people discover opportunities they might otherwise miss.
That's a great question, Tomasz. To be honest, I don't have much experience promoting a product, so I might not be the best person to answer that part.
For me, Dev Opportunity Radar started as a weekly series because I was frustrated by how scattered opportunities were. I'd often come across great programs only after the deadline had already passed, and keeping track of everything across different websites and social media was difficult. I wanted one place where people could discover opportunities before they closed. The website came later to make the series even more useful by making those opportunities easier to browse, but the weekly series is still at the heart of it.
What I've tried to do from the beginning is focus on giving value first. If I mention the website, it's because I genuinely think it helps readers get the most out of the series. For me, it's always felt like an extension of the series rather than something separate.
Another thing that's helped me a lot is genuinely being part of the community. Reading other people's posts, leaving thoughtful comments, and having conversations has taught me so much and helped more than trying to optimize tags or visibility.
That's just been my experience, though, so I'd definitely be interested to hear what has worked for other people building products on DEV too.
Database developer with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry.
I'm always happy to help if you have any questions about databases, integration or implementation.
Hey, I'm Hema 👋
Developer, writer, and creator of Dev Opportunity Radar, a weekly series published every Friday on DEV, helping people discover opportunities they might otherwise miss.
I do! I won't pretend I don't check the stats because it's always interesting to see what resonates with people.
That said, I've found that the numbers don't always tell the full story. Some of my favorite posts didn't get the most views, but they led to wonderful conversations or connected me with people I'd never spoken to before.
I have noticed more people reading my posts over the past few months, and I'm really grateful for that. But what makes me happiest is seeing familiar names in the comments, having genuine conversations, and knowing that something I wrote was helpful to someone. That's been far more rewarding than watching the view count go up.
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Hi Hema! Great insights on writing for enjoyment over metrics. Quick question:
For writers promoting their own products (like me), how did you balance
sharing Dev Opportunity Radar without it feeling like self-promotion? Any
tips on tags or angles that worked better? Still struggling with visibility
despite short, clear posts.
That's a great question, Tomasz. To be honest, I don't have much experience promoting a product, so I might not be the best person to answer that part.
For me, Dev Opportunity Radar started as a weekly series because I was frustrated by how scattered opportunities were. I'd often come across great programs only after the deadline had already passed, and keeping track of everything across different websites and social media was difficult. I wanted one place where people could discover opportunities before they closed. The website came later to make the series even more useful by making those opportunities easier to browse, but the weekly series is still at the heart of it.
What I've tried to do from the beginning is focus on giving value first. If I mention the website, it's because I genuinely think it helps readers get the most out of the series. For me, it's always felt like an extension of the series rather than something separate.
Another thing that's helped me a lot is genuinely being part of the community. Reading other people's posts, leaving thoughtful comments, and having conversations has taught me so much and helped more than trying to optimize tags or visibility.
That's just been my experience, though, so I'd definitely be interested to hear what has worked for other people building products on DEV too.
Do you track the popularity of your articles or look at statistics?
Have you noticed an increase in interest in your posts?
I do! I won't pretend I don't check the stats because it's always interesting to see what resonates with people.
That said, I've found that the numbers don't always tell the full story. Some of my favorite posts didn't get the most views, but they led to wonderful conversations or connected me with people I'd never spoken to before.
I have noticed more people reading my posts over the past few months, and I'm really grateful for that. But what makes me happiest is seeing familiar names in the comments, having genuine conversations, and knowing that something I wrote was helpful to someone. That's been far more rewarding than watching the view count go up.