dev-to-hashnode

Files (2)

• README.md
• SKILL.md

SKILL.md (first lines)

# Dev.to & Hashnode Publishing

Developer blogging platforms offer built-in audiences of hundreds of thousands of developers. This skill covers cross-posting strategy, platform-specific optimization, and building followers on Dev.to and Hashnode.

---

## Before You Start

1. Read `.agents/developer-audience-context.md` if it exists
2. Decide your canonical URL strategy (important for SEO)
3. Create accounts on both platforms to reserve your username
4. Understand: These platforms reward consistency and engagement

---

## Platform Comparison

### Dev.to vs Hashnode

| Feature | Dev.to | Hashnode |
|---------|--------|----------|
| Monthly visitors | ~10M+ | ~3M+ |
| Custom domain | No (subdomain only) | Yes (free) |
| Canonical URL support | Yes | Yes |
| SEO benefits | High domain authority | Your domain gets SEO |
| Monetization | No native | Sponsors, newsletter |
| Newsletter | No | Built-in |
| Series support | Yes | Yes |
| Code highlighting | Excellent | Excellent |
| Community features | Strong (reactions, comments) | Growing |
| Audience | Broader, more beginners | More senior, focused |

### When to Use Each

| Use Dev.to when | Use Hashnode when |
|-----------------|-------------------|
| Maximum reach is priority | Building your own brand |
| Targeting beginners/mid-level | Want custom domain SEO |
| Community engagement matters | Building email list |
| Quick validation of content | Long-term content strategy |
| Don't have your own blog | Supplementing your main blog |

---

## Cross-Posting Strategy

### The Canonical URL Decision

| Strategy | Pros | Cons |
|----------|------|------|
| **Original on your blog** | SEO to your domain, full control | Platforms may rank lower |
| **Original on Dev.to** | Maximum initial reach | No SEO to your domain |
| **Original on Hashnode (custom domain)** | SEO + platform reach | Smaller initial audience |

### Best Practice: Your Blog + Cross-Post

1. **Publish on your blog first** — This is canonical
2. **Wait 1-2 days** — Let Google index your original
3. **Cross-post to Dev.to** — Set canonical URL to your blog
4. **Cross-post to Hashnode** — Set canonical URL to your blog

### Setting Canonical URLs

**Dev.to** (in frontmatter):
```yaml
---
title: Your Title
canonical_url: https://yourblog.com/your-post
---
```

**Hashnode** (in editor):
- Click "Article settings" gear icon
- Paste original URL in "Canonical URL" field

---

## Dev.to Optimization

### Frontmatter Structure

```yaml
---
title: "Specific, Keyword-Rich Title (Not Clickbait)"
published: true
description: "One compelling sentence that shows up in previews and SEO"
tags: javascript, webdev, tutorial, beginners
cover_image: https://your-cdn.com/image.png
canonical_url: https://yourblog.com/original-post
series: "Building a CLI from Scratch"
---
```

### Tag Strategy

| Tag | Followers | Use for |
|-----|-----------|---------|
| #javascript | 200K+ | JS content |
| #webdev | 150K+ | General web development |
| #beginners | 120K+ | Accessible content |
| #tutorial | 100K+ | Step-by-step guides |
| #react | 80K+ | React specific |
| #programming | 80K+ | General programming |
| #python | 70K+ | Python content |
| #devops | 50K+ | DevOps, CI/CD |
| #opensource | 40K+ | OSS projects |
| #productivity | 40K+ | Dev tools, workflows |

**Rules**:
- Maximum 4 tags per post
- First tag is primary (appears in URL)
- Check tag follower count before using

### What Performs on Dev.to

| Content type | Performance | Notes |
|--------------|-------------|-------|
| Beginner tutorials | High | Largest audience segment |
| Listicles ("10 tools...") | High | Easy to consume |

From jonathimer/devmarketing-skills, MIT.

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