This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Sonia Bobrik
When you’re building a product—especially in the tech space—it’s easy to believe that “if we build something great, users will naturally find it.” Unfortunately, the reality is far less romantic. The market is saturated, attention spans are shrinking, and even the most groundbreaking solutions can fade into obscurity without a strategic approach to communication.
That’s where public relations (PR) comes in. It’s not just about press releases or media buzz—it’s about creating a narrative that positions your brand in the right way, at the right time, for the right audience. And for developers and founders, PR can be just as important as coding your MVP or securing your first investment.
Why PR Matters Even for the “Build-First” Founder
Many developers pride themselves on letting the product speak for itself. The problem is, your product can’t speak until people know it exists. PR is the bridge between your creation and the audience that will value it. It builds trust long before customers or investors ever interact with your product directly.
A useful starting point for understanding this mindset shift is the concept shared in this article, which argues that PR isn’t a luxury—it’s an engine for growth. Just as code needs testing, your brand needs storytelling to survive in the competitive landscape.
Developers Already Practice “PR” Without Realizing It
If you’ve ever:
- Documented your open-source project for GitHub,
- Answered questions on Stack Overflow to share expertise,
- Written a blog post explaining a tricky technical challenge you solved,
—you’ve already practiced PR in a way. PR at its core is about communicating value, establishing credibility, and showing people why your work matters.
The difference? Strategic PR takes those same communication skills and applies them systematically to reach journalists, industry influencers, and decision-makers who can amplify your work.
The Trust Economy
In 2025, tech products aren’t just competing on features—they’re competing on trust. Investors are flooded with pitches, and users are bombarded with ads. People are skeptical by default. A strong PR strategy gives you credibility signals: third-party media coverage, expert interviews, and consistent brand messaging that tells your story without sounding like an ad.
This is especially crucial if you’re building in emerging sectors like blockchain, AI, or fintech, where misinformation and hype are rampant. As highlighted in this discussion, PR is often the missing link between having great tech and being seen as a legitimate, trustworthy player.
How PR Integrates with Your Dev Workflow
Developers often view PR as “marketing’s job,” but in reality, the process can integrate directly into your product lifecycle:
- Pre-Launch: Share sneak peeks, engage with early adopters, and connect with journalists who cover your industry.
- Launch: Prepare a clear press kit, issue a compelling press release, and offer interviews to targeted media outlets.
- Post-Launch: Publish thought leadership articles, contribute to open-source, and share user success stories.
You can even build PR checkpoints into your sprint cycles—every feature release or milestone can be an opportunity for a mini-media push.
Common PR Mistakes Tech Teams Make
- Waiting Too Long to Start – If you wait until you “have time,” you’ll always be playing catch-up.
- Focusing Only on Product Features – People remember stories, not specs.
- Ignoring Niche Media – Smaller industry outlets often have more targeted, loyal readers than giant mainstream publications.
- Not Measuring Impact – Track media mentions, backlinks, and referral traffic the same way you track API calls or error rates.
PR as a Developer’s Career Asset
Even if you’re not a founder, PR can boost your career as a developer. Getting quoted as an expert in industry media, publishing articles under your name, or speaking at events makes you stand out in a crowded job market. Your GitHub commits show your technical skills; your media presence shows leadership and influence.
For example, the approach described in this guide highlights how even post-funding, developers can use PR to influence product adoption, attract talent, and open doors to partnerships.
Action Plan for Developers to Start Using PR
Here’s a simple framework you can apply right away:
- Identify Your Core Message: What is the one problem your product solves better than anyone else?
- Map Your Audiences: Investors, early adopters, industry peers, media.
- Create a Content Pipeline: Blog posts, LinkedIn articles, short technical explainers, and press pitches.
- Build a Media List: Start with journalists and blogs that cover your tech niche.
- Engage Consistently: PR is not a one-time push—it’s an ongoing process.
The Bottom Line
Your code might be flawless, your architecture scalable, and your UI beautiful—but if no one hears about it, it won’t matter. Strategic PR ensures that your work doesn’t just exist in a GitHub repo—it lives in the minds of your users, partners, and investors.
For developers, PR is not about “selling out” or abandoning the craft of coding. It’s about making sure your craft reaches the people who will appreciate and support it. In today’s noisy tech ecosystem, that’s not optional—it’s essential.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Sonia Bobrik
Sonia Bobrik | Sciencx (2025-08-09T09:19:47+00:00) Why Developers and Tech Founders Should Treat PR as a Core Part of Product Development. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/08/09/why-developers-and-tech-founders-should-treat-pr-as-a-core-part-of-product-development/
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