Good insights, and not just software developers, really. We don’t like ads, sensationalism, or anything reeking of bullshit. If we have to talk to someone to find out the price, the product may as well not exist.
The way I’ve always looked at it, a good product/service can typically stand on it’s reputation. If a company needs to spend millions on advertising to move their stuff, they’re probably not all that good or are overpriced. Someone is paying for all that advertising and it always ends up being the consumer.
You can’t really have a “reputation” in this day and age without marketing. The fact that things like Stardew valley exist really only prove the point.
I don’t know about that. Tiktok, Lamborghini, Tesla, Krispy Kreme, The Dollar Shave Club, Tupperware, Rolls Royce, Costco, Trader Joe’s, Go Pro etc all do little to no traditional advertising and do just fine.
Not that there’s anything wrong with some advertising to get the word out, but when you’re getting spammed with ads from every angle, that company starts feeling a little scummy to me.
The Dollar Shave Club, go pro
I specifically know who these guys are because of their massive youtube advertising campaigns.
Krispy Kreme, tesla
Please. Walk outside. Or watch cable for a bit. Just because you don’t personally see them doesn’t mean they don’t also have budgets for advertising as well. Tesla in particular straight up gave up on the strategy of word of mouth once their product stopped being known as quality, or at least, higher tech than anybody else.
https://teslanorth.com/2024/03/29/tesla-advertising-spend-6-5-million-2023/
https://ingenuitydisplay.com/what-is-krispy-kreme-s-advertising-budget.html
trader joes, costco
Exceptions to the rule, like Stardew valley, which prove the rule. They are famous as not having a marketing budget because not having a marketing budget is weird and unheard of.