# open-source-marketing

**Market OSS projects without being cringe.**

## What It Does

Guides you through marketing open source projects authentically. Covers GitHub optimization, community building, contributor experience, launch strategies, and sustainable growth.

## When to Use

- Launching an open source project
- Growing an existing OSS project
- Improving contributor experience
- When you say "open source marketing," "promote my library," "grow stars," or "launch open source"

## Quick Start

```
/open-source-marketing

I'm launching an open source React component library.
Target: React developers who need accessible UI components.
Goal: Get first 100 stars and 5 contributors.
```

The skill will:
1. Load your developer audience context
2. Optimize your GitHub presence
3. Plan your launch strategy
4. Build contributor experience
5. Create sustainable growth tactics

## Key Frameworks

### The Growth Equation

```
Growth = (Real value) x (Discoverability) x (First-use experience)
```

### README Structure

1. One-line description
2. Badges (build, version, license)
3. Visual (GIF > Screenshot > Nothing)
4. Why this project? (3 benefits)
5. Quick start (<5 lines)
6. Installation, Usage, Docs, Contributing

### Launch Day Timeline

| Time | Action |
|------|--------|
| Morning | Hacker News (6-8am PT, Tue-Thu) |
| +1 hour | Twitter thread |
| +2 hours | Reddit to relevant subs |
| All day | Respond to everything |

### Contributor Funnel

```
User → Star → Issue → PR → Regular Contributor → Maintainer
```

## Files

| File | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `SKILL.md` | Full skill instructions |

## Included Guidance

- README optimization checklist
- Issue/PR templates
- CONTRIBUTING.md template
- Launch playbook
- Sustainable growth tactics
- Burnout prevention

## What Works vs. Doesn't

| Works | Doesn't Work |
|-------|--------------|
| Building in public | Spamming "check out my project" |
| Great docs and DX | "Code is self-documenting" |
| Celebrating contributors | Taking sole credit |
| Consistent presence | Launch and disappear |

## Tools

- **[Octolens](https://octolens.com)** — Monitor project mentions across platforms
- **Star History** — Track star growth
- **npm-stat** — Download statistics
- **All Contributors** — Recognize contributors

## Related Skills

- `developer-audience-context` — Know your users
- `community-building` — Discord/Slack community
- `developer-advocacy` — Talks, podcasts