How Kamran Ahmed Built Roadmap.sh to 700K Monthly Users
Who is Kamran Ahmed?π
Kamran Ahmed, the founder of roadmap.sh, hails from Pakistan and holds a degree in software engineering. With extensive experience in open-source development and startups, he is recognized as a Google Developer Expert and a GitHub Star for his numerous contributions to the developer community.
What problem does Roadmap.sh solve?π
Roadmap.sh helps developers navigate their career paths by providing structured learning paths and curated resources, easing the overwhelming confusion of what to learn next in the tech world.
How did Kamran come up with the idea for Roadmap.sh?π
Kamran Ahmed noticed a gap in the tech industry from his experiences as a developer and educator, realizing that many young developers, including himself in the past, struggled to find clear learning paths. This confusion he faced early in his career, moving through various tech domains without structured guidance, moved him to create roadmap.sh. Originally, he simply shared visual roadmaps on GitHub to help fellow developers, intending them to be concise guides covering essential skills and technologies.
He initially shared his roadmaps as static images, which quickly gained traction in the community, leading to further requests for more resources and roadmaps for other development disciplines. Kamran took this opportunity to seek feedback, continually refine the roadmaps, and eventually develop an interactive platform, overcoming initial hurdles such as technical constraints with the tools he used. Through consistent updates and community contributions, the roadmaps evolved from personal guidance charts into a comprehensive, community-driven resource guiding developers worldwide.
Kamran's journey emphasizes the importance of addressing real-world pain points from personal experience and iterating based on community feedback. The initial challenge of determining how best to structure these roadmaps set the stage for an evolving platform that continually adapts to the needs of its users, driven by both his commitment to open-source and the active participation of the developer community. Throughout this process, Kamran learned the significance of user engagement and iteration in creating a resource that truly resonates with its audience.
How did Kamran build the initial version of Roadmap.sh?π
Kamran Ahmed developed roadmap.sh initially as a set of static images created using Balsamiq, a wireframing tool, which he then posted on GitHub. The prototype was simple and meant for users to download or print as guidance for their learning paths. These images were later made interactive by reverse-engineering Balsamiq's JSON export capability and using a custom JavaScript tool to render them as SVGs on the website. This transition to interactivity was significant in user engagement. It took about a week to create these initial images and the project was met with immediate interest upon release, garnering around 10,000 stars in the first week. However, the process was challenging due to the limitations in tool compatibility and time constraints while managing a full-time job simultaneously.
How did Kamran launch Roadmap.sh and get initial traction?π
Here is how Kamran Ahmed initially launched his business, Roadmap.sh, and attracted his first customers.
Hacker News and Reddit Promotionπ
Kamran Ahmed initially got the word out about Roadmap.sh by promoting it on platforms like Hacker News and Reddit. He submitted the project to developer-focused communities on these platforms, leveraging their active user base, which is particularly interested in learning resources and tech guides. This strategic placement in niche communities generated significant initial traction and visibility for the Roadmap.sh project.
Why it worked: The development community on Hacker News and Reddit is receptive to practical resources that solve real problems, such as skill development and career paths in technology. This audience also appreciates open-source contributions, which increased the likelihood of engagement and sharing, leading to further organic spread.
Word of Mouth and Twitter Engagementπ
Once initial traction was gained from platforms like Hacker News and Reddit, word of mouth played a significant role in growing the user base. Twitter was another platform where discussions and shares about Roadmap.sh helped in spreading awareness. Users who found the resource valuable began recommending it to others in their network.
Why it worked: Roadmap.sh provided clear value by mapping out learning paths for developers at different stages of their careers. The simplicity and usefulness of the product led to natural recommendations from users who benefited from it. Furthermore, Kamran's position as a well-regarded figure in the developer community helped lend credibility and interest to the tool.
Organic Growth and Feature Updatesπ
After gaining initial users, Roadmap.sh continued to grow through word of mouth and consistent engagement with its community. Kamran regularly updated the roadmaps and responded to user feedback, which kept the content fresh and relevant.
Why it worked: Continuous updates and community engagement ensured that the project remained useful and engaging, converting initial curiosity into regular usage and advocacy. This commitment to evolving the content based on user feedback helped maintain interest and participation from existing users while attracting new ones.
What was the growth strategy for Roadmap.sh and how did they scale?π
GitHubπ
Roadmap.sh has its origins deeply rooted in GitHub, where Kamran Ahmed initially hosted the roadmap images that later evolved into interactive roadmaps. The project gained traction with a strong open-source community, featuring more than 1000 contributors and earning over 243,000 stars and 34,000 forks. This community-driven approach was integral in refining content and incorporating valuable resources from a vast array of skill-based and role-based roadmaps, such as back-end development and DevOps.
Why it worked: Roadmap.sh's presence on GitHub allowed it to tap into a large community of developers who contributed to the roadmaps and shared them, leading to widespread visibility and adoption. GitHub also served as a pivotal channel in building trust and credibility for the resource as it drew contributions from experienced developers globally.
Hacker News and Redditπ
Kamran initially shared his roadmap project in online communities like Hacker News and Reddit, which played a crucial role in the project's early growth. A significant initial push came from being featured on Hacker News, where users appreciated the clarity and utility of the roadmaps. This exposure helped Roadmap.sh reach around 10,000 stars within the first week of release.
Why it worked: These platforms are popular among the tech-savvy audience who are constantly looking for new tools and resources. By sharing the project on these forums, Kamran was able to reach and engage a relevant audience eager for developer-centric learning paths.
SEO and Organic Trafficπ
Roadmap.sh benefits significantly from organic search traffic. As Kamran shared, mentions and recommendations occur frequently on platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and various discussion forums. Organic growth was driven further by word-of-mouth as satisfied users shared the resource within their networks.
Why it worked: The website effectively targets specific needs of developers with its rich set of educational resources and roadmaps, which are inherently valuable for search engine ranking. Additionally, being a major open-source project, it garners natural backlinks, further bolstering its SEO presence.
Newsletterπ
Roadmap.sh sustains a large and active subscriber base with over 250,000 people receiving its newsletter. This newsletter provides updates on new resources, roadmap revisions, and community contributions, anchoring a retention strategy that keeps users engaged and returning to the site.
Why it worked: The consistent value provided through the newsletter builds a loyal community around Roadmap.sh. By regularly sharing valuable insights and updates, Kamran maintains ongoing engagement with his user base, which helps in nurturing a strong sense of community and sustained interest in the platform's offerings.
What's the pricing strategy for Roadmap.sh?π
Roadmap.sh offers free community-curated roadmaps and resources for developers, with no direct monetization, aiming to guide career growth without charging users.
What were the biggest lessons learned from building Roadmap.sh?π
- Embrace Community Contribution: Roadmap.sh grew by involving community members to contribute and improve content, which helped expand the project's scope and reach. Aspiring founders can leverage this by fostering a collaborative environment that encourages user input and collective growth.
- Adapt and Iterate: Initial challenges with static images were overcome by iterating towards interactive diagrams, showing the importance of being flexible and willing to evolve based on user needs and feedback. Continuous improvement keeps a project relevant and user-friendly.
- Focus on Value Before Monetization: Kamran initially built Roadmap.sh without a focus on generating revenue, emphasizing learning and providing value first. For aspiring founders, building trust and a strong user base are critical before considering monetization strategies.
- Be Resilient and Open to Change: Kamran's journey included relocating for opportunities and making pivotal decisions like returning to Roadmap.sh full-time. This underlines the need for resilience and openness to change, which are crucial when navigating the uncertainties of starting and scaling a business.
- Learn from Feedback: Kamran valued both negative and positive feedback, using it to enhance his projects. Founders should view feedback as an opportunity to refine their offerings and align more closely with user expectations and market needs.
Discover Similar Business Ideas Like Roadmap.shπ
Case study synopsis: In just 2 years, Eric and Kris grew their YouTube channel 'Tech Sales With Eric' into a full educational platform, higherlevels.com, generating over $10,000/month in revenue from organic YouTube traffic, and are now exploring paid advertising and affiliate marketing to fuel their hyper growth phase.
ScholarshipOwl helps students find scholarships faster and easier, generating an impressive $500K in revenue monthly and $6M per year since its launch in 2015 by founder David Tabachnikov, who leveraged email marketing and social media to drive growth.
More about Roadmap.sh:π
Who is the owner of Roadmap.sh?π
Kamran Ahmed is the founder of Roadmap.sh.
When did Kamran Ahmed start Roadmap.sh?π
2017
What is Kamran Ahmed's net worth?π
Kamran Ahmed's business makes an average of $/month.
How much money has Kamran Ahmed made from Roadmap.sh?π
Kamran Ahmed started the business in 2017, and currently makes an average of .
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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