Reach Developers and Creators | Carbon Ads

3 min read Original article ↗

storyblocks

Storyblocks uses native ads to reach creators on trusted sites like Dribbble and DesignTaxi, blending seamlessly with content. These campaigns see click-through rates 6.4 times higher than industry standards, helping creators find perfect assets for projects.

6.4x click-through-rate

bitpanda

Bitpanda leverages the BuySellAds Cryptocurrency network to reach targeted audiences, achieving high click-through rates and millions of impressions on sites like Bitcoin.com and Coingecko.

3x click-through-rate

circleci

CircleCI uses targeted native ads on developer-focused sites like Scotch.io and Think & Build to reach enterprise software teams. This strategy lowered cost-per-lead by 65% while improving lead quality.

65% decrease in cost-per-lead

hellosign

Developers are wary of traditional ads, but HelloSign reaches them with native ads on trusted sites like Coding Horror. These contextually placed ads drive click-through rates nearly three times higher than average.

180% increase in clicks

rollbar

Rollbar reached their developer target audience by placing native ads on high-quality sites like Coding Horror and Sitepoint, avoiding the pitfalls of traditional display ads.

2.4x increase in clicks

sysomos

Sysomos engages marketers at companies like Google and IBM by sponsoring newsletters such as Pocket Hits. This strategy bypasses ad blockers, delivering their message in uncluttered, high-engagement spaces, and has generated thousands of leads.

1000+ net new leads

dmarket

DMarket needed to raise funds before unlocking this new revenue opportunity for gamers and creators. Using native and display advertisements on cryptocurrency websites, the company reached investors who shared their vision for in-game trading.

47% More results

shhh

Seeking to drive developer signups and enhance brand awareness, [anonymous client] partnered with Carbon to build a scalable, efficient advertising strategy.

91% Descrease in Signup Costs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a typical buy look like?

Successful first-time advertisers typically start with a $5,000–$10,000 monthly investment over a 60–90 day period. If your brand is new to the market or in an emerging category, smaller tests often don't yield meaningful results. We recommend reaching a statistically relevant impression threshold across our audience for the best performance.

Can I select sites I want to target from the network?

Yes, but we generally don't recommend it. For some of our largest publishers, direct site targeting is available, but the true power of our network lies in reaching emerging sites. While these sites may be smaller individually, they drive strong performance when targeted collectively.

Is there a self-serve option?

No, we do not currently offer self-serve buying. Our approach involves working closely with advertisers to align on goals and strategy. However, once a campaign is live, you have the ability to manage and optimize it on your own.

What kind of messaging or offers resonate?

Our technical audience values transparency and authenticity. Full-featured self-serve demos tend to perform best. Webinars and whitepapers also resonate, particularly when they provide genuine value rather than serving as sales pitches.

What targeting opportunities do you offer?

By default, we exclude our 10 largest non-English-speaking countries to optimize audience relevance. However, we offer additional targeting options, including country-level refinements, operating system (OS), and browser-based targeting when appropriate.

Do you offer a dashboard to see performance?

Yes. Once your campaign is live, you'll have access to a real-time dashboard to monitor performance, view key metrics, and update creatives as needed.