How did Stack Overflow get initial traction? – Russell Ballestrini

Mad-Rapper-X-rb 14y, 340d ago

yea you forgot the most important part - the two founders both had very popular blogs/followings.

seriously?

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Sanjay-rb 14y, 340d ago

It also doesn't hurt that it was started by two individuals that were already huge in the DEV (esp. MS DEV) community...

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squidbot-rb 14y, 340d ago

I think one of the most important things was that Jeff Atwood and Joel Spolsky talked about it on their blogs, and those blogs happened to be two of the most popular programming oriented blogs. This got a lot of traffic and buy in from the programming community as they obviously felt the two had credibility and reasonable ideas.

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russell 1y, 53d ago

As a site builder, the key takeaways from this post are:

User experience matters: Stack Overflow used AJAX to create a fun and clean user experience, which helped it gain traction. Your site should also focus on providing a smooth and engaging user experience.
Gamification can drive user engagement: Stack Overflow introduced badges and karma to make the posting process feel like a game. This encouraged users to participate more actively. Consider incorporating elements of gamification into your site to boost user interaction.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial: Stack Overflow was designed to be easily indexed by search engines. Ensure your site is optimized for search engines by using relevant keywords, creating unique content, and structuring your pages effectively.
Target your audience: Stack Overflow was geared towards geeks and programmers, who are quick to adopt new technologies. Identifying and targeting your specific audience can help you create content that resonates with them and attract more users.
Build a strong brand: Stack Overflow's URL (StackOverflow.com) was easily memorable and recognizable. Choose a memorable domain name and create a strong brand identity to help your site stand out.
Encourage user-generated content: Stack Overflow's design and features encouraged users to create and share high-quality content. Foster a community of active users by providing incentives for content creation and engagement.

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As a site builder, the key takeaways from this post are:

1. User experience matters: Stack Overflow used AJAX to create a fun and clean user experience, which helped it gain traction. Your site should also focus on providing a smooth and engaging user experience.

1. Gamification can drive user engagement: Stack Overflow introduced badges and karma to make the posting process feel like a game. This encouraged users to participate more actively. Consider incorporating elements of gamification into your site to boost user interaction.

1. Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial: Stack Overflow was designed to be easily indexed by search engines. Ensure your site is optimized for search engines by using relevant keywords, creating unique content, and structuring your pages effectively.

1. Target your audience: Stack Overflow was geared towards geeks and programmers, who are quick to adopt new technologies. Identifying and targeting your specific audience can help you create content that resonates with them and attract more users.

1. Build a strong brand: Stack Overflow's URL (StackOverflow.com) was easily memorable and recognizable. Choose a memorable domain name and create a strong brand identity to help your site stand out.

1. Encourage user-generated content: Stack Overflow's design and features encouraged users to create and share high-quality content. Foster a community of active users by providing incentives for content creation and engagement.