Open Source Marketing

When to Use

Use this skill when you need to market an open source project authentically. Trigger phrases include "open source marketing," "OSS marketing," "GitHub marketing," "promote my library," "grow stars," "launch open source," "open source growth," or "contributor marketing.".

This skill helps you market open source projects without being cringe. Covers GitHub optimization, community building, contributor experience, launch strategies, and sustainable growth.

Before You Start

Load your audience context first. Read .agents/developer-audience-context.md to understand:

• Who would use this project (role, tech stack, problem)
• Where they discover tools (communities, social, search)
• What alternatives exist (why would they switch?)
• How they evaluate OSS (stars, activity, docs, community)

If the context file doesn't exist, run the developer-audience-context skill first.

The OSS Marketing Mindset

What Works vs. What Doesn't

The Growth Equation

Growth = (Real value) × (Discoverability) × (First-use experience)

If any factor is zero, growth is zero.

GitHub Optimization

README Excellence

Your README is your landing page. Optimize it.

Structure:

# Project Name

[One-line description that explains what it does]

[Badges: build status, version, license, downloads]

[Screenshot or GIF showing it in action]

## Why [Project Name]?

- ✅ [Benefit 1 - specific, not fluffy]
- ✅ [Benefit 2]
- ✅ [Benefit 3]

## Quick Start

\`\`\`bash
npm install project-name
\`\`\`

\`\`\`javascript
// 5 lines that show immediate value
\`\`\`

## Installation

[Detailed installation for all platforms]

## Usage

[Core usage patterns with examples]

## Documentation

[Link to full docs]

## Contributing

We love contributions! See [CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/jonathimer/devmarketing-skills/tree/main/skills/open-source-marketing/CONTRIBUTING.md).

## License

[License type] - see [LICENSE](https://github.com/jonathimer/devmarketing-skills/tree/main/skills/open-source-marketing/LICENSE)

README Checklist

Repository Optimization

Issue & PR Templates

Bug report template:

---
name: Bug Report
about: Report a bug to help us improve
---

## Bug Description
[Clear description]

## Steps to Reproduce
1.
2.
3.

## Expected Behavior
[What should happen]

## Actual Behavior
[What actually happens]

## Environment
- OS:
- Node version:
- Package version:

## Additional Context
[Screenshots, logs, etc.]

Feature request template:

---
name: Feature Request
about: Suggest an idea for this project
---

## Problem
[What problem does this solve?]

## Proposed Solution
[How would you like it to work?]

## Alternatives Considered
[Other approaches you've thought about]

## Additional Context
[Examples, mockups, etc.]

Community Building

Community Spaces

…